Though the press was biting at the bit for more details on former GM CEO Henderson’s sudden resignation yesterday, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, who replaced him at the show, humorously but forcefully would not answer questions.
Instead, Lutz covered GM’s product plans. Some of the more interesting highlights for consumers included:
- Confidence in the upcoming Chevy Volt’s lithium-ion battery pack. The automaker is so confident in the EV that it built a battery plant which starts production early next year.
- The Volt will first be available for sale in California. Other markets will be announced later this month.
- One of my pet peeves about electric vehicles is the lack of public charging stations. Well, GM, like Nissan and other automakers, has announced that it will be working with Pacific Gas & Electric, SCE, SMUD, and EPRI to develop such a grid in the state. To start in 2011, the study will include over a 100 Chevy Volts who, using Onstar, will provide data on the vehicles’ performance and the efficacy of the grid.
- David Thomas of Florida won the Volt’s “Name that Color” Contest. His entry, Viridian Jewel, allowed him to drive the Volt, the first consumer to do so. (Outside the press, of course.)
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