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GM's Lutz says hybrids, electrics are future

Detroit News -- General Motors Co. will keep making big trucks and SUVs because U.S. buyers demand them, but a major portion of them will be gas-electric hybrids in the near future, retiring Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said.

Lutz didn't give details, but said GM must apply hybrid technology to more vehicles in order to meet fuel-economy standards that will rise 40 percent to an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The cost will likely be spread across GM's lineup, since charging individual buyers for a hybrid system would make vehicles too expensive. GM has seven hybrids in its lineup now.

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Submitted Mar 13, 2010 By: MyVue08

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03mdx Champion Author Syracuse Posts:1,968 Points:627,520 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:39:19 AM Ignore 03mdx Report Abuse It certainly looks like this is the wave of the future, but other options still need to exist.
RochBear Champion Author Minnesota Posts:5,563 Points:1,053,165 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:39:07 AM Ignore RochBear Report Abuse Why not go with Diesel. It is cheaper than a Hybird, and has a LOT more low end power, and gets just as good or better milage than hybrid.
theawesome1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:3,656 Points:809,165 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:37:39 AM Ignore theawesome1 Report Abuse 2020? Typical Nobama company, they love their 24 mpg cars, trucks, everything they build. TIME IS NOW FOR 50 MPG CARS, CUV former SUV & TRUCKS.
TommyTraveler Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:3,696 Points:723,005 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:37:15 AM Ignore TommyTraveler Report Abuse I hope things get rolling.
jimraehl Champion Author Utah Posts:2,187 Points:670,615 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:36:59 AM Ignore jimraehl Report Abuse Anything to restrict citizens' freedom of movement.
adr47 Champion Author Saskatchewan Posts:2,406 Points:539,495 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:36:20 AM Ignore adr47 Report Abuse GM is playing catch up
Bubba44612 Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,671 Points:917,950 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:34:39 AM Ignore Bubba44612 Report Abuse Go with hydrogen fuel cells or just plain hydrogen and have some water for a byproduct.
gasman50 Champion Author Portland Posts:3,929 Points:1,437,825 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:33:46 AM Ignore gasman50 Report Abuse Too much Gubmn't regulation and ownership. We need a regime change in Washington DC
cj003 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,390 Points:979,725 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:33:33 AM Ignore cj003 Report Abuse its about time GM started thinking like all the other automotive companies and started to build eco friendly cars and trucks.
Bleeder Champion Author Virginia Posts:3,926 Points:817,730 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:33:24 AM Ignore Bleeder Report Abuse If they were not being forced to do it (i.e. meet standards) they would have goine out of business. They just don't get it.
wizzard1222 Champion Author St. Louis Posts:3,718 Points:1,345,140 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:30:41 AM Ignore wizzard1222 Report Abuse Only it it has milage range + low battery replacement cost + low initial cost... + VALUE !!!
FocusGuy Champion Author Seattle Posts:2,116 Points:457,375 Joined:Apr 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:28:39 AM Ignore FocusGuy Report Abuse put this company to sleep. please.........
riverrising Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,714 Points:676,950 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:28:20 AM Ignore riverrising Report Abuse it'll take 4 ppl income to fiance one rig.
granma3xnow Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,998 Points:410,675 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:27:52 AM Ignore granma3xnow Report Abuse Same old, same old.
cableman31 Champion Author New York Posts:4,047 Points:1,071,805 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:25:57 AM Ignore cableman31 Report Abuse All electric cars will be history in 10 years.
hwmillerster Champion Author Missouri Posts:1,858 Points:499,915 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:25:46 AM Ignore hwmillerster Report Abuse Hybrids are probably going to dominate the car industry because they will carry a way of charging their battery that doesn't require a charging station.
9C1 Champion Author Chicago Posts:17,700 Points:3,280,645 Joined:Jul 2001	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:25:08 AM Ignore 9C1 Report Abuse Lutz is the last of the real car guys in Detroit.. Now the bean counters, who are the people who screwed up the car companies fot the last two decades, will run things completely. You will not have cars you want, you will have what they want. And you will like it.
v240 All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:690 Points:660,580 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:24:56 AM Ignore v240 Report Abuse While more hybrids being made and sold will drive down the price of this technology, large vehicles should cost more - a lot more - due to the greater cost of making and operating these vehicles (trucks, SUVs and vans). People who buy efficient and reasonably-sized vehicles should not be subsidizing people who buy the trucks, vans and SUVs. [Edited by: v240 at 3/13/2010 8:26:45 AM EST]
fcdriver Champion Author Tennessee Posts:2,859 Points:601,470 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:24:10 AM Ignore fcdriver Report Abuse if they could just make them a little cheaper
gabbygusIN Champion Author Indiana Posts:2,375 Points:597,100 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:22:38 AM Ignore gabbygusIN Report Abuse They might be our future, but unless the price comes down, they will not be selling very fast!
RocketGeek Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:5,615 Points:1,137,010 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:22:16 AM Ignore RocketGeek Report Abuse So the cost goes up across the lineup. Sheesh.
mfeldstein Champion Author Ottawa Posts:3,742 Points:1,053,415 Joined:Feb 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:20:09 AM Ignore mfeldstein Report Abuse Hybris, electrics are the transition. Hydrogen is the future.
fillerupyeoww All-Star Author Columbus Posts:964 Points:675,565 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:18:25 AM Ignore fillerupyeoww Report Abuse Semi's will need an extra trailer just for the battery.
goalie1950 Champion Author Phoenix Posts:1,625 Points:326,400 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:18:14 AM Ignore goalie1950 Report Abuse Lutz has always been portrayed as this visionary no matter what car company he's worked for. Unfortuantely, this guy's expertise has been very much over rated thru the years of his automtoive career. In reality, he is nothing more than an overpaid auto executive that should have hung it up a long time ago. Lutz should be the poster child for what was/is wrong with Detroit and the auto makers.
jeepman64 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:909 Points:847,660 Joined:Aug 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:17:23 AM Ignore jeepman64 Report Abuse AvantiMick, you're right and Obama is the one who will dictate the energy policy, so I would say Lutz probably has a pretty good idea.
AvantiMick Champion Author Indiana Posts:8,026 Points:1,603,420 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:16:14 AM Ignore AvantiMick Report Abuse What does he know, Obama runs his company!!
DWME Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,113 Points:215,775 Joined:Aug 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:15:21 AM Ignore DWME Report Abuse Yeah, don't see anything more exotic getting a foothold in this market.
BBHybrid Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:2,623 Points:528,455 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:14:03 AM Ignore BBHybrid Report Abuse anything to get more MPG is a good thing
chemist74 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:9,862 Points:1,688,535 Joined:Apr 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:10:44 AM Ignore chemist74 Report Abuse I though it was interesting that GM will likely spread the cost of the hybrids across the other vehicles they sell so the people who do not buy hybrids will pay for the hybrids individuals buy because "charging individual buyers for a hybrid system would make vehicles too expensive". Does this mean that I could buy a fully equipped Cadillac, pay the price of their cheapest subcompact and have the cost difference spread over all of the other cars GM sells?
TommyR Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,676 Points:1,571,565 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:10:26 AM Ignore TommyR Report Abuse No, really? Duh! Of course they are the future. Lets get them rolling out quickly so we can stick it to Big Oil. Of course it won't happen too fast because Big Oil and our politicians in their pocket won't let it. They want to exploit the last drop of profitable oil before the switch to all electric.
Hangnail309 Champion Author Manitoba Posts:1,439 Points:760,615 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:09:25 AM Ignore Hangnail309 Report Abuse We'll see ...
napermike79 Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:2,015 Points:934,505 Joined:May 2001	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:08:35 AM Ignore napermike79 Report Abuse What a man of vision! Only he is 10 years to late... What a con artist this guy has been.
Helms Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:4,254 Points:1,227,750 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:07:39 AM Ignore Helms Report Abuse interesting observation....coming from someone decidely part of automotive's past
Lukus Champion Author Halifax Posts:3,504 Points:712,265 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:06:18 AM Ignore Lukus Report Abuse If GM had a clue as to the future they would not have taken all the 'all-electric' cars of a few years ago from the leasees in California and destroyed them.
turbodog Champion Author Mississippi Posts:1,823 Points:391,150 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:05:59 AM Ignore turbodog Report Abuse I want a diesel/hybrid and ready now.
naw62 Champion Author Maine Posts:4,560 Points:1,248,795 Joined:Sep 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:05:53 AM Ignore naw62 Report Abuse Electric won't make the cut
tankneverfull Champion Author Charlotte Posts:4,242 Points:830,470 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:03:57 AM Ignore tankneverfull Report Abuse Yes they are the future! So to that end let's get production to a point that more than 50% of all automobiles produced are hybrids/electrics.
Zonk Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,588 Points:1,151,290 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:03:48 AM Ignore Zonk Report Abuse The price-value relationship is what matters.
MRED3 Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:2,260 Points:443,020 Joined:May 2009	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:03:39 AM Ignore MRED3 Report Abuse GM and Ford are doing the right things to move forward but you have the unions sicking them dry and us in this country.We need to stop the unions in this country before it`s to late.
MightyDude Champion Author Minnesota Posts:5,351 Points:1,675,320 Joined:Mar 2003	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:03:15 AM Ignore MightyDude Report Abuse is Lutz really the tooth fairy in disguise?
hank1326 Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,106 Points:773,000 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:02:08 AM Ignore hank1326 Report Abuse Make them affordable and keep the production domestic.
toyrunner300 Champion Author Calgary Posts:2,137 Points:1,005,975 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:00:43 AM Ignore toyrunner300 Report Abuse Hybrid will be affordable, read before put a comment. He wants ""The cost will likely be spread across GM's lineup, since charging individual buyers for a hybrid system would make vehicles too expensive"". So, small price difference....
Cruiser340 Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:7,541 Points:1,818,010 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 7:00:08 AM Ignore Cruiser340 Report Abuse they need to make these at home,not Mexico or China.
packards42 Champion Author Washington Posts:1,675 Points:305,305 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:58:48 AM Ignore packards42 Report Abuse What ever it take for fleet average of 35 mpg. That a good number, we can make it happen.
Badmoon Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,356 Points:677,990 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:58:37 AM Ignore Badmoon Report Abuse If we coulkd keep using less fuel every year that would be a great thing.
abcdMA Champion Author Worcester Posts:3,143 Points:622,485 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:58:22 AM Ignore abcdMA Report Abuse we need to have sinificant infrastructure improvements to support electric cars if they become popular
Skychief Veteran Author Florida Posts:259 Points:182,485 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:55:19 AM Ignore Skychief Report Abuse Lutz is an idiot. It may be true that hybrids are the future, but Lutz is still an idiot.
NJColt Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,855 Points:1,674,530 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:55:05 AM Ignore NJColt Report Abuse yeah, future as in when we are flying space ships. Big oil won't let it happen
RichardoB Champion Author Fayetteville Posts:2,977 Points:1,068,160 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:54:11 AM Ignore RichardoB Report Abuse Unless there is a breakthrough in battery technology, EV and hybrid vehicles won't be cost effective.
Don1222 Champion Author Michigan Posts:6,222 Points:765,105 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:53:07 AM Ignore Don1222 Report Abuse Buy American, Made in The USA.
tomok Champion Author Portland Posts:18,326 Points:1,369,085 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:52:52 AM Ignore tomok Report Abuse Electrics and Inbreds are not the sole future for vehicles. There will be many different ‘fuels’ available, you decide what you will use as a fuel as for the price and availability of each fuel. Still need more vehicles with high MPG, a reasonable cost, are ‘multi’ fueled and very reliable.
dan30thz28 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,273 Points:1,056,220 Joined:Feb 2006	Message Posted: Mar 13, 2010 6:50:55 AM Ignore dan30thz28 Report Abuse We'll see.