Ouch... another NANO, VOLT and U.S. automaker FAIL.
Say 'Ta, Ta' to volt and NANO...
A Flemish company has announced plans to sell what it claims to be the world’s only true zero emissions vehicle, the HPV
“The vehicle is really exciting,” says Dirk Apers, who spearheaded the project. “The components are relatively simple and easy to mass produce. Also, since the vehicles cost less than $1,000, we hope they will be useful for providing cheaper transportation not only in the developed world, but also in developing countries.”
The HPV, which stands for Human Powered Vehicle, works with the use of a biological engine that harnesses the driver’s body energy. While this energy would be an inefficient way to power heavy, traditional cars, the new vehicle’s intelligently designed ultra light body makes the power transfer frighteningly efficient. A WorldWatch Institute report on the HPV found that per passenger-mile the vehicle required only 35 calories of energy, compared to 1,860 for a traditional car.
Although other zero emissions cars, such as the “water car” and the “air car,” have so far failed to capture widespread consumer investment, experts believe the HPV has serious market potential for several reasons. Among these is the price. With the average American spending an average of $240,704 to $349,968 on motor vehicles in their lifetime, according to Motor Trend, getting a set of wheels for under a grand may have appeal. The vehicle is also more compact than traditional motor vehicles. In a German demonstration of 100 of the vehicles, they took up only a fraction of the space used by the same number of traditional cars.
Also look for 'Chinese Electric Cars Coming To Costco, Wal-Mart'
While seeing Chinese cars on display at the Detroit Auto Show has become somewhat common these past few years, there is one place they were hardly expected: Costco!
Yes, the big-box discount store Costco could be selling the Chinese-designed and Mexican-built vehicles says one auto exec. The CEO of GS Motors — Kathleen Ligocki — told the Hybrid Cars website that she thinks the US will follow in Mexico’s footsteps. GS Motors sold 4,000 China-made vehicles in Mexico last year at…Costco and Wal-Mart.
Ligocki, who previously served as president of Ford of Mexico, said the next step is for Chinese-designed cars to go into production in Mexico in 2010. She expects them to hit the American market about five years later. Hybrid Cars reported that GS is building an assembly plant in Michoacan, Mexico, with the China-based FAW Group who has formed joint ventures with automobile giants such as Volkswagen, Toyota and Mazda.
GS Motors will launch the FAW brand in Mexico this year with the F1 Hatchback, an entry-level car sold for under $5,500. FAW, one of the largest Chinese automakers, is allied in China with Volkswagen.
GS Motors is hurrying to get the first Chinese cars to America via Mexico—but they are not alone. BYD (Build Your Dreams) showed plug-in hybrid and electric model in Detroit last month and promised to bring them to the US as early as next year. While Ligocki and other industry executives believe Chinese cars will inevitably enter the US market... read full from source gas2.org
HAASE Comment - 'Earth to G.M., Get in the game!'
Your recent bailout cash could have bought both these companies and secured a stable future in the global auto market for deacades while saving it at the same time !