If ever a car needed a makeover, it was the '06 Malibu.
Based on earlier post claim of 25% fuel efficiency, we have a 39mpg hwy / ?? mpg city candidate? Under $25k, this is a good step..

Rafael Seidl,
They could add CD, to shut down half of the cylinders, under low load (V6-V3). GM V8s already have it, though to accomplish the smooth operation/transition Honda has with their V6 CD system may be a bit of a challenge.

_GM should push to have a BAS version all their models by 2010. This would improve fleet fuel mileage, since some may not opt for the 2mode, but want better than conventional drivetrains. They can market it as "freedom of choice".
_Demonstrate clean and quiet electric generator mode in disaster/blackout prone areas. Do the same when the Tier2Bin5 diesels reach market.

I just finished reading a report of an energy analysis of a number of regular and hybrids that covered ALL energy expended in every facet of the vehicles life, from cradle to grave. It showed that hybrid versions are much less energy efficient than their non-hybrid brothers. This is tellingme that hybrids are a fraud that has been sold to a gullible public by automakers and environmentalists eager to rip off same. Plug-in hybrids that are serial would be cars that would be energy efficient, in addition to freeing our country from dependence on foreign oil. They should be supported.
I call on everyone concerned about our energy situation to boycott non-plug-in hybrids. They have acheived nothing other than depleting our wallets and making
some ignorant environmentalists self satisfied.

The Vue Greenline has the 2.4l with BAS and gets 27/32 and weighs about the same. Considering the Malibu is more streamlined than the Vue, the highway might be higher, but they quote 31. Since all the EPA numbers will be revised for more real world conditions, the numbers will to down.

Well, consumers who want a vehicle which uses less foreign oil would do just fine to buy a hybrid. We get very little power (for manufacturing or otherwise) from oil.

I used to hear the same thing about PV solar panels, that they took more energy to make than they could ever produce. After someone added up all the processes and the energy involved, it turns out the average PV panel takes around 3 years of energy to produce and the average panel lasts 30 years. I would like to see the detailed listing and calculations on something like the Prius before I make up my mind on this issue.

Compare GM's concept cars with the roadmap above showing what they're actually going to sell to the public. Bit of a gap there. Perhaps closing it is next on their agenda?

Also: on the CNW hybrid study the flaw there (from memory) was overestimating second and third order development costs then using very low production numbers to amortinze them.

Thanks, SJC, for the update on the Volt. So, it's truly not up to GM to decide when to release the Volt, but rather, it's up to the battery industry. So, Kent, you can wait all you want, but the public will go ahead to enjoy the higher fuel efficiency of the HEV today.

As Rafael mentioned, a modest (but low-cost) fuel efficiency gain spread over a large number of vehicles sold can make a bigger total fuel saving than that of a super-duper high-mpg model sold at much smaller sale volume due to its high cost!

Here is the ABCNews video on the Volt:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=2782881
Here is the writeup on it:
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Autos/story?id=2782289&page=1

The video is very informative, but the "several hundred thousand dollars" comment on the price comes from the reporter and not a GM Exec.

It would be foolish to ignore how behind the big three are when compared to Toyota. However, we have every piece of the puzzle in America to put together a car that will blow the Prius, Highlander, Camry and Lexus hybrids:

Altair Nano has the batteries: 15,000 cycles (0 to 100%), can be charged in 10 minutes (6C), 4000 Watts/kg.

AC propulsion has the electric drivetrain: 248 hp, 3 phase AC squirrel cage motor, 80% (at max power) to 95% efficient, great torque up to 8000 rpm, 13500 max rpm, includes 2 speed transmission and differential for 140 lbs.

Use a small HCCI engine at a constant RPM (you can couple it with a small CVT to get a variable power output with constant rpm). This will make the lightest, most efficient genset for a series plug in hybrid configuration.

If the Big Three wait until Toyota makes the switch from NiMH to Li-ion fast charging (Toshiba was the first company to announce this technology), and the switch from the permanent magnet DC motors to the high power density AC motor drivetrain, they will not have time to catch up.

GM has showed us that they are in the OIL business by fighting the electric car in California and crushing perfectly useable EV1s. Their interest in the hybrid car is simply a front to divert attention from TOY0TA. Any statement that batteries are too expensive is a front to delay the introduction of suitable batteries. GM, Itself, could commission the cheap manufacturing of 100 year old Nickel Iron Technology batteries in China. Modern plastics and Fliessband construction could have them cost less than lead acid batteries and have a life of a hundred years. When the car was junked, the battery could be used for power load leveling for the next 75 years....

Henry:

I don't personally subscribe to all the conspiracy theories of the world. I can't condemn someone who TRIES, and GM is definitely Trying. Look at the Volt as a better example than even this Malibu. I checked out another green Blog website that interviewed Chris Paine, the Director of "Who Killed the Electric Car", which had the following comments about the Volt:

Sebastian - We came to Detroit for the unveiling and the Volt looks great. It's a beautiful design and the result of what looks like earnest and incredible hustle at GM over the last 12 months. I was impressed. The proof, of course, will be when the car is sitting in your or my driveway, but in the meantime you can be sure that all of our pressure as consumers and citizens has made a difference.

GM has listened and made some good decisions to return to the EV table in earnest. I do not agree with their press faulting the EV1 nor do I believe that everything must wait for the perfect lithium battery; but by the same token I don't feel that this is just a PR play at GM. We talked to senior executives and many employees who looked us in the eye and spoke from their hearts. One executive said "the public won't forgive GM twice" which is a revealing and accurate comment.

From what I can see, GM is doing the right thing and I'm supporting them as long as they keep making good decisions and moving plug-in cars into production reality. It's a week we can all be proud of.

CHRIS

So as you can see, even Chris Paine likes the Volt.