GM expects 'inexorable shift' to electrically powered vehicles
Thu 12 January 2006
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General Motors is working on a new hybrid vehicle incorporating a battery that can also be plugged in to recharge. The company said that it expects more and more vehicles to be electrically powered in future.
Reported in the Financial Times, Rick Wagoner, GM's Chief Executive said at the Los Angeles Motor Show: "We see a logical journey from standalone, largely mechanical automobiles to vehicles that run on electricity".
Plug-in hybrid vehicle advocates in North America say that fuel costs are half those of conventional hybrids and can also cut carbon dioxide emissions.
So far, only a small number of conventional hybrids have been converted to plug-ins as the cost and weight of the batteries has discouraged commercial production.
GM's Rick Wagoner said: "The technological hurdles are real but we believe they're also surmountable".
Also at the LA show, Ford displayed a prototype of a hydrogen fuel-cell Explorer sport utility vehicle that, it says, can travel 350 miles on one tank of hydrogen.
Other carmakers including DaimlerChrysler, Volkswagen and BMW unveiled fuel-efficiency initiatives at the Los Angeles show.
Related Links
Financial Times news link
Los Angeles Motor Show website link
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