Comments on: GM discards plug-in Toyota Prius as class below Chevy Volt

By: Tom King

Tom King — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 08:29:10 +0000

From the picture the car already looks crushed – sort of like a post-compaction EV1.

I think it will be one of the newer and smaller companies that truly innovates an electric car. With GM losing a billion a month, these smaller companies won’t have to wait long for an opening in the market. I’m expecting something very fast and very cheap.

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 18:15:59 +0000

Geez, Let me get this straight. So with the Chevy Volt I can pick up my 2 kids from school and have room for their backpacks??? Bob Putz is much wiser not to address ANYTHING to do with Toyota. Those corporations have very little in common.

By: Doug Korthof

Doug Korthof — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 05:07:11 +0000

Lutz is SO ignorant! His lack of knowledge shines through like pennies in the bottom of a swamp.

The plug-in Prius can exactly duplicate the performance of a plug-in hybrid or a plug-in full-function EV (such as the Toyota RAV4-EV); it’s all in the way the vehicle’s computer works.

The existing Prius’ computer starts the engine at 33 mph or if the catalytic converter is cold; the plug-in prius can just NOT start the engine (currently, it doesn’t start until 62 mph); in this case, the performance is exactly similar to the serial hybrid, such as the VOLT, with a similar sized battery pack.

But Lutz doesn’t realize that the size of the battery pack, and the motor-computer settings, can actually turn the Prius into a serial hybrid.

But what do you expect of the guy who pushed the Dodge Viper?? Complete ignorance about EVs. Why doesn’t he take advice? I hear Alan Cocconi is working on the VOLT, perhaps Lutz should be humble enough to take a lesson from someone who knows.

Disgusting when the reporter fawns over a slob like Lutz.