Mary Barra needs to resign

[genxer]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Assume it’s a PHEV:
T1/T2 is probably your starting point because you already have engine, transmission, exhaust, driveline, and fuel tank packaged. So you need a place to put electric motors. There will need to be at least two. You will also need to place the batteries. New regulations will require PHEVs to travel a minimum of 70 miles on electric only. That will increase size of battery, so battery packaging is non-trivial. Current PHEVs in smaller, lighter vehicles achieve 20 - 40 miles all-electric on batteries in the 18 - 25 kWh range.

Assume it’s an EREV:
BT1 is probably your starting point. Battery and electric motors are already packaged. You don’t need a transmission or driveline. The exhaust and fuel tank are simplified compared to a PHEV and so they’ll be smaller. The engine is the main issue for packaging. Remember that frunk in Silverado EV? That would be gone or significantly reduced. The 200 kWh battery becomes a 100 kWh battery. That should free up enough space for a small (10 gallon or less) fuel tank.

Is the 80% of commuters driving less than 40 miles a day still accurate?
Auto reporting sites rarely makes the distinction of different plug in styles.
-PHEV should fulfill a buyer cost benefit.
-A small tank or engine in a BT1 EREV would be a like malaise-era choice. It's power should be made to be sustained over a large tank.
-High battery range regulation stacks the deck against plug-ins. The engine is an asset that should see use.

[Martinjlm]

Automotive News choice for Industry Leader of the Year is…

You guessed it. Mary Barra.

[Iron Lung Jimmy]

GM's stock price is up 49% YTD, which is far and away better than any automaker besides Tesla. She has one job - pleasing shareholders - and she's killing it.

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by genxer

Is the 80% of commuters driving less than 40 miles a day still accurate?
Auto reporting sites rarely makes the distinction of different plug in styles.
-PHEV should fulfill a buyer cost benefit.
-A small tank or engine in a BT1 EREV would be a like malaise-era choice. It's power should be made to be sustained over a large tank.
-High battery range regulation stacks the deck against plug-ins. The engine is an asset that should see use.

Sorry genxer, I missed this a couple months ago. At this point, data I’m seeing is saying it’s closer to 90%. Not sure how much impact work from home may have on this. I would expect those with longer commutes are more likely to work from home, even if it means changing jobs to do so.

As for buyer cost benefit of PHEV vs EV, for most people there is still probably better cost benefit with an EV over a PHEV. Even though fueling costs would be significantly reduced, there is still some impact of gasoline purchase vs electricity cost. But the big driver would be the other add-on maintenance costs that carry over from ICE into PHEV. Oil changes, exhaust system maintenance, brake system maintenance. I linked a video to another thread where a woman who 5 years ago decided to buy a Model 3 for $41k over a 2-yr old 3-Series at $37k did a walk through of here total cost of ownership compared to what it would have likely looked like if she had chosen the 3-Series. A PHEV would likely have slotted somewhere in between.

EREV for trucks and utilities that are actually used for towing and hauling make sense and would probably have a better cost position than a pure BEV for those uses. Sorta like doing a lot of towing with a gas V8 2500 series truck will likely have a higher total cost of ownership than diesel 2500 series truck, even though the cost per gallon of fuel is significantly higher for diesel. The diesel is just better equipped to do the job. Same thing for EREV vs EV when it comes to heavy duty vehicles.

[genxer]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Sorry genxer, I missed this a couple months ago. At this point, data I’m seeing is saying it’s closer to 90%. Not sure how much impact work from home may have on this. I would expect those with longer commutes are more likely to work from home, even if it means changing jobs to do so.

As for buyer cost benefit of PHEV vs EV, for most people there is still probably better cost benefit with an EV over a PHEV. Even though fueling costs would be significantly reduced, there is still some impact of gasoline purchase vs electricity cost. But the big driver would be the other add-on maintenance costs that carry over from ICE into PHEV. Oil changes, exhaust system maintenance, brake system maintenance. I linked a video to another thread where a woman who 5 years ago decided to buy a Model 3 for $41k over a 2-yr old 3-Series at $37k did a walk through of here total cost of ownership compared to what it would have likely looked like if she had chosen the 3-Series. A PHEV would likely have slotted somewhere in between.

EREV for trucks and utilities that are actually used for towing and hauling make sense and would probably have a better cost position than a pure BEV for those uses. Sorta like doing a lot of towing with a gas V8 2500 series truck will likely have a higher total cost of ownership than diesel 2500 series truck, even though the cost per gallon of fuel is significantly higher for diesel. The diesel is just better equipped to do the job. Same thing for EREV vs EV when it comes to heavy duty vehicles.

No apology necessary. Time shift is the beauty of forum communication. Thank you for the statistic update. It good to see upside for W.f.H.

I haven't but will eventually catch up to more posts, videos. Beemers are more a brand-image buy, than ownership cost buy. So the Tesla image carries it up-segment still.

A big diesel EREV pickup can merge top-line trims for 1500 and 2500. Working truck 2500/3500 guys would balk at electrification.

Happy New Year Martinjlm!

[FarmerFran]

The thing that cracks me up about the "cost to own" is the amount of money people waste on general "stuff" day in and day out.

[lbls1]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

Automotive News choice for Industry Leader of the Year is…

You guessed it. Mary Barra.

Sorry for being a Johnny come lately, but I couldn't help but to comment. Guess why Barra is still on top, and why GM is in a good spot right now? it isn't because of EVs, though they've gotten good visibility from the technology. Its because.............you guessed it.....................of their full sized light duty pickup and SUV segment, and lightly of their midsized pick ups. Sorry if this sounds like a broken CD, but you will find out when you sit in one and drive one. Not necessarily the top optioned Trail Boss or High Country. Sit in a regular Silverado or an RST. Look at its innovation of options, the passenger room, the road feel and handling (with any engine). Case closed. Aside from being a bit large and a tad thirsty, these vehicles are very capable of handling any transportation duty, and hauling anything. These vehicles even look good. It is no wonder that, in terms of sales, Pickups are where the action is, and GM with Ford are the industry leaders of the genre.

[ariZona28]

Originally Posted by lbls1

Sorry for being a Johnny come lately, but I couldn't help but to comment. Guess why Barra is still on top, and why GM is in a good spot right now? it isn't because of EVs, though they've gotten good visibility from the technology. Its because.............you guessed it.....................of their full sized light duty pickup and SUV segment, and lightly of their midsized pick ups. Sorry if this sounds like a broken CD, but you will find out when you sit in one and drive one. Not necessarily the top optioned Trail Boss or High Country. Sit in a regular Silverado or an RST. Look at its innovation of options, the passenger room, the road feel and handling (with any engine). Case closed. Aside from being a bit large and a tad thirsty, these vehicles are very capable of handling any transportation duty, and hauling anything. These vehicles even look good. It is no wonder that, in terms of sales, Pickups are where the action is, and GM with Ford are the industry leaders of the genre.

Sure would be nice if they came out with a modern version of the early '90s SS short beds. Equip it with a hot V8 and a 6 speed manual trans. Slightly lowered. Sport suspension. Stripes and aero. Since it would be on an existing product line they wouldn't need to produce a new type of vehicle. Maybe special order only? I do realize that there probably isn't a high demand for this type of vehicle but it's nice to dream.

[Martinjlm]

Originally Posted by lbls1

Sorry for being a Johnny come lately, but I couldn't help but to comment. Guess why Barra is still on top, and why GM is in a good spot right now? it isn't because of EVs, though they've gotten good visibility from the technology. Its because.............you guessed it.....................of their full sized light duty pickup and SUV segment, and lightly of their midsized pick ups. Sorry if this sounds like a broken CD, but you will find out when you sit in one and drive one. Not necessarily the top optioned Trail Boss or High Country. Sit in a regular Silverado or an RST. Look at its innovation of options, the passenger room, the road feel and handling (with any engine). Case closed. Aside from being a bit large and a tad thirsty, these vehicles are very capable of handling any transportation duty, and hauling anything. These vehicles even look good. It is no wonder that, in terms of sales, Pickups are where the action is, and GM with Ford are the industry leaders of the genre.

It’s actually kinda both. Her mission is to optimize GM’s bottom line and increase shareholder value. She’s clearly doing both things through customer acceptance of legacy product (trucks and utilities) but also through fixing the early software and production volume issues with the EV launches. EV sales are up over 40% y-t-y and on the verge of (if not already) profitable at a variable cost level. GM finished the year second behind Tesla in terms of EV sales.

[Aqua Blue RS/SS]

Originally Posted by lbls1

Sorry for being a Johnny come lately, but I couldn't help but to comment. Guess why Barra is still on top, and why GM is in a good spot right now? it isn't because of EVs, though they've gotten good visibility from the technology. Its because.............you guessed it.....................of their full sized light duty pickup and SUV segment, and lightly of their midsized pick ups. Sorry if this sounds like a broken CD, but you will find out when you sit in one and drive one. Not necessarily the top optioned Trail Boss or High Country. Sit in a regular Silverado or an RST. Look at its innovation of options, the passenger room, the road feel and handling (with any engine). Case closed. Aside from being a bit large and a tad thirsty, these vehicles are very capable of handling any transportation duty, and hauling anything. These vehicles even look good. It is no wonder that, in terms of sales, Pickups are where the action is, and GM with Ford are the industry leaders of the genre.

I don’t know that I’d say the trucks especially look good but they do what is intended of them in a top notch degree. I really don’t like the way any of GM’s current stuff is styled like inbred transformers but that is the auto Industry in general these days. I had a ‘22 Silverado 2500 HD and it was the best performing truck for truck stuff that I’ve ever owned or driven.

[lbls1]

Originally Posted by Martinjlm

It’s actually kinda both. Her mission is to optimize GM’s bottom line and increase shareholder value. She’s clearly doing both things through customer acceptance of legacy product (trucks and utilities) but also through fixing the early software and production volume issues with the EV launches. EV sales are up over 40% y-t-y and on the verge of (if not already) profitable at a variable cost level. GM finished the year second behind Tesla in terms of EV sales.

That is a good fiscal account of GM's condition. I really wasn't that upset with Barra as I viewed her as a good manager professional. I did not expect her to be especially keen with gm's past product history or with automobiles in general. But on the other hand, if she is the CEO of the company then she is responsible for the state of the company regardless if it was due to her action or inherited. Management can be cruel in some ways, in that you take responsibility for many factors and personnel not necessarily directly from your action.

[lbls1]

Originally Posted by Aqua Blue RS/SS

I don’t know that I’d say the trucks especially look good but they do what is intended of them in a top notch degree. I really don’t like the way any of GM’s current stuff is styled like inbred transformers but that is the auto Industry in general these days. I had a ‘22 Silverado 2500 HD and it was the best performing truck for truck stuff that I’ve ever owned or driven.

Quite alright as I don't expect people to agree with my tastes or share my opinion. The rationale for my late taste for trucks, ironically is due to the severe lack of car material. I don't think I'll ever jive with the crossovers or with EVs, but it seems that many auto players have either abandoned cars or have given up in designing desirable transportation. It seems that GM, in recognizing that the trucks are their last stronghold in the automotive market, is fighting hard to stay in it. Thus the presence of state of the art technology in the truck equipment and options, their strong performance on the road, and their good looks IMO.

[lbls1]

Originally Posted by ariZona28

Sure would be nice if they came out with a modern version of the early '90s SS short beds. Equip it with a hot V8 and a 6 speed manual trans. Slightly lowered. Sport suspension. Stripes and aero. Since it would be on an existing product line they wouldn't need to produce a new type of vehicle. Maybe special order only? I do realize that there probably isn't a high demand for this type of vehicle but it's nice to dream.

I'd love that too. Take a look at the 6.2 L pickups. Performance wise they are almost there (in today's standards). The 90's SS and even the short lived 2003 and 2004 SS Silverados could not even touch today's regular version with the 6.2 L v8. If Chevy tried then they would certainly make a giant performer of a truck. GM isn't focusing on performance per se, however. GM is trying to stay more on the side of fuel economy and clean emissions.