Volt
v Tesla: Angus Manages revolutionary Expectations
Wednesday, May 07, 2008
"One
of the most fascinating decades" in automotive
history
When it comes to diesel vehicles, I think Angus MacKenzie
of MotorTrend has inhaled a few to many fumes. From
well-to-wheel, I just don't see much advantage with diesel
over gas vehicles - let alone hybrid
vehicles - at least in terms of oil consumption, since
it takes more oil to make a gallon of diesel compared to
gasoline.
Nonetheless, I think Angus has an unbelievably keen sense
of automotive trends, and I think his recent column Tesla
v. Volt: Balancing the Weight of Expectations provides
some great insight into the revolution emerging in today's
automotive world.
However, while Angus focuses on vehicles like the Chevy
Volt and the Tesla Roadster, I do think he, and much
of the auto industry, is in a bit of hybrid denial.
The Toyota
Prius has changed everything in the American auto
world far faster than most thought possible, including
Angus. And while electric vehicles, as GM loves to label
the Volt - it is just as easily labeled a hybrid vehicle
in its current iteration - receive most buzz today, lesser
electric hybrids, such as the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid,
might make far more sense in the near future.
In the end, the Chevy Volt is a game changer, for GM. The
Volt puts GM back in the game, literally. Still, those
believing the Volt is going to electrocute the plug-in
Prius, are probably still in denial.
In the end, it's not just technology, but cost-effective
technology that counts most in the electric revolution.
And that's a battle only consumers can decide, not the
media, not auto execs., the EPA nor Argonne.
Still, fortunately and most importantly, however, it will
be a "fantastic" battle, and that's what really
makes the hybrid / electric revolution so exciting.
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