GM changes approach to emissions control rollbacks

[meyerweb]

I'm posting this because it's industry news. Please let's not turn it into a discussion of politics.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/23/c...ors-trump.html

WASHINGTON — General Motors abandoned the battle to nullify California’s fuel economy rules meant to curb global warming.

The company also signaled that it was ready to work with the incoming adminsitration to reduce climate-warming emissions in the auto sector.

“Biden recently said, ‘I believe that we can own the 21st century car market again by moving to electric vehicles.’ We at General Motors couldn’t agree more,” Mary Barra, the General Motors chief executive, wrote in a letter Monday to leaders of some of the nation’s largest environmental groups.

Ms. Barra said her company, one of the largest automakers in the world, was withdrawing its support for litigation that seeks to strip California of its ability to set its own, strict fuel economy standards, and she urged Toyota and Fiat Chrysler to do the same.

Ms. Barra also spoke by telephone on Monday with Mary Nichols, California’s top climate regulator, who is a leading candidate to run the Environmental Protection Agency in a Biden administration.

More at the link.

[George]

Barra said it best. Good for her, as she continues to prove her ability to lead General Motors into this totally new reality. Like it or not, big change is coming, and it only makes sense to observe, listen, and learn, with an open mind, without any of the rants.

[Plentyfast]

Good for GM, no one is going to leave them for Dead ever again, they will Control their Future.

All Smart Auto Manufactures should be going the same.

The Best Part about The Future, is being around to experience it. 👍

[Plasboy]

Barra said it best. Good for her, as she continues to prove her ability to lead General Motors into this totally new reality. Like it or not, big change is coming, and it only makes sense to observe, listen, and learn, with an open mind, without any of the rants.

I’ve generally got a pretty open mind and I don’t necessarily dislike EV’s but I don’t like having something rammed down my throat. As long as I have the option of IC or electric I’m ok but I have the feeling that may not be the case in the not to distant future.

[hogyld]

The U.K. is restricting all new vehicle IC production effective 2030. As such, like it or not, regardless of where you might be on the political spectrum, the writing is on wall. The future is coming, and the future is now.

[Frenzy36]

Their decision - Obviously they could care less How their Customers feel . They will loose my money after I purchase their last gasoline engine ZO6 Corvette. But it will still be OK. I can spend my money on restoring other gasoline cars.

They should live in a state that has Hurricane season and realize some people Will Never purchase a EV. No way to charge them if there is No Electricity. We can at least have a supply of fuel available to leave a catastrophic disaster. I don't even want to get into our Grid Collapsing and Electric Prices Skyrocketing, How efficient is it going to be to redevelop the Grid throughout the Whole World and what will that do to our resources ?

[DavidM]

California has an electrical generation and distribution issue now. Even without EVs it is going to get worse for them due to their policies toward energy generation and population growth. I haven't been deeply involved in California politics for about a decade now but I haven't heard of any big policy shifts on that front. It will be interesting to watch the ripple effect the movement to EVs throughout the economy. Smart investors have and will be in front of this wave.

[Plasboy]

Their decision - Obviously they could care less How their Customers feel . They will loose my money after I purchase their last gasoline engine ZO6 Corvette. But it will still be OK. I can spend my money on restoring other gasoline cars.

They should live in a state that has Hurricane season and realize some people Will Never purchase a EV. No way to charge them if there is No Electricity. We can at least have a supply of fuel available to leave a catastrophic disaster. I don't even want to get into our Grid Collapsing and Electric Prices Skyrocketing, How efficient is it going to be to redevelop the Grid throughout the Whole World and what will that do to our resources ?

Wait till they decide to limit the fuel supply.

[George]

I'm posting this because it's industry news. Please let's not turn it into a discussion of politics.

Your request failed...unfortunately.

[DavidM]

Not really a political post. Both parties in California have been involved in policies that make getting new power generation in state very difficult. California has had a growing population forever almost and has the population mass to generate population growth without any in migration. Try getting an environmental impact report in California for almost anything. It can take years and cost a fortune. I know, I did it for almost 25 years and that includes Republican and Democratic administrations. Didn't really seem to make a difference. California policies toward emissions, energy generation, coupled with their huge and growing population have and will create issues. Adding huge numbers of EVs will make that problem worse. I have not heard or read anything that tells me how California is going to address the issue and it is a real issue for them. Maybe the movement towards EVs will force them to make some policy decisions in that direction.

[HTX HTC]

Today I filled up 17.3 Gallons in less than 10 mins. Good for 400 miles range if my right foot allows. No EV will ever give me the same freedom, much less the audial drama of a down shift, or the simple joy of start and idle. I do have an electric truck on order, but it is not a GM.

[John]

Even our non-environmentally-oriented home builder shocked me last month when he told me he knows his next work PU truck will be all electric. Our new DD is halfway there (reveal next week). We can not personally cope with all-elect range anxiety for our primary vehicle. Seven years ago we had seven vehicles (yes just for the two of us), and at that time we could have easily had an all electric vehicle as one of them but now we are down to the Corvette and the new one.

Our C8 Z06 could well be our last new Corvette — but then think of all the mods we could afford for it over the next decade.

[meyerweb]

Today I filled up 17.3 Gallons in less than 10 mins. Good for 400 miles range if my right foot allows. No EV will ever give me the same freedom, much less the audial drama of a down shift, or the simple joy of start and idle. I do have an electric truck on order, but it is not a GM.

But you can "fill up" your EV at home overnight, and most car trips are much shorter than the range of modern EVs. But for EVs to be practical for long trips, there does need to be a massive investment in infrastructure. There weren't many gas stations in the early days of automobiles, either.

[John]

Good points meyerweb. Maybe our next Corvette after our C8 Z06 would not be until a C10 when there are super quick charge (10 minute or less), electrical stations all along the way, with batteries then for even entry level electrics being 600+ mile range. We could do that for there will be ice cream stands next to each charging station. What symbiosis.

[Plentyfast]

Do you remember the Name of the last person who stood in the way of Technology and Progress? Neither do I

I too, will always have my Gas Powered Automobile, at least my Corvette ... but do like the New E-Hummer

I’m old enough to remember the days of my Grandfather complaining about, pumping his own Gas, the 55 MPH Speed Limit and having to use Seatbelts. Oh The Calls of Infringement on his Freedom was was defining.

We’ll survive, until we don’t., but Progress will move on, with or without us.

So Enjoy The Drive while you can and however you choose while there’s still a choice.