Toyota Prius works on a tan while Chevy Volt chooses unveil date
High gas prices are creating a high pitched buzz surrounding green cars as consumers seek out ways to save money on energy costs. Jumping at the opportunity to build its brand, Toyota recently revealed that the next version of the Prius will include an option for solar panels which could help power some of the car’s electronics. Meanwhile GM is trying to simultaneously steal back the green limelight while pushing attention from its plummeting cash reserves by announcing an unveil date for the production version of the Chevy Volt.
Toyota and GM are racing neck and neck to produce a next generation vehicle that uses a fuel source other than gasoline and so far the leading source seems to be stored electricity. Perhaps in more of a publicity stunt than anything else, Toyota just announced that its next generation Prius will include an option for solar panels which will provide part of the power necessary to run air conditioning, according to Reuters.
The underlying challenges are caused by the limited amount of energy solar panels collect and the relatively small surface area available on a car. So while it’s an innovative idea, the cost of the upgrade may not justify the energy savings it provides.
But GM wasn’t about to give up its spot in the limelight. It struck back by announcing that the production version of the Chevy Volt will be unveiled in September. The original version of the Chevy Volt was shown in January 2007, but it’s undergone significant changes to improve aerodynamics, according to Reuters.
Faced with dwindling sales and reduced cash reserves, GM is also hoping that by announcing an unveil date for the Chevy Volt, excited buzz will outshine the company’s darker underbelly of uncertainties.
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July 8th, 2008
Nothing like manufacturing some facts. The Chevy VOLT unveiling was described as “imminent” two weeks ago, long before Toyota made any claims about solar panels, and actually long after the Volt team was considering some for its car. Your false claim that the solar panels had anything to do with the unveiling are totally absurd – that event has been in the planning statges for months, a fact anyone who keeps up to date with the Volt development would know. Jeez!