On October 18, 2007, Spark Plug (Veterans Energy Solutions’s Blog) was invited by General Motors (GM) to an exclusive event for online media unveiling the Chevrolet Volt concept car in Cocowalk (Coconut Grove). We were pleased with this new clean (green) technology car that will help VES achieve its mission of Energy Independence. Previously, “The Big Three” gambled on big, gas-guzzling SUVs when gas prices were low, which ultimately put them on the path to be overtaken by Toyota. In 2004, Toyota surpassed Ford to become the number 2 automaker. GM had been the world’s number 1 automaker since 1931, until the first quarter of 2007 (http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9803216). Toyota took the legitimate claim to the title of the “World’s Largest Automaker” because of their work in increasing fuel economy standards. This was a major strategic blunder by GM!
Since then, GM has turned things around and has put out a number of Flex Fuel and Hybrid vehicles, one of which VES owns. VES bought GM’s 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid. This, as does everything VES does, has some strategic implications behind it. In Florida, transportation is ranked number one in fuel consumption by end use sector (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=FL):
1. Transportation – 33%
2. Residential – 30%
3. Commercial – 24%
4. Industrial – 13%
VES has chosen to attack the top two end uses and GM just became a partner in helping us achieve our mission of Energy Independence.
After touring the Volt and taking a few photos, we had dinner with the Senior Creative Designer from GM’s Advanced Technology Studio Team Mathieu Boimare at the Jaguar Restaurant. We carried on further discussions over wine and fine dinning. I was impressed by the wonderful buzz surrounding the Volt and by how receptive Mathieu was to our suggestions and how helpful he was in explaining how the design and concept came about. The Chevrolet Volt is an electric car ahead of its time. Its posh design and green technology puts it in a class of its own. It’s just too bad we could not take it for a spin. The Volt is slated to come out in 2010.
Since then, GM has turned things around and has put out a number of Flex Fuel and Hybrid vehicles, one of which VES owns. VES bought GM’s 2007 Saturn Vue Hybrid. This, as does everything VES does, has some strategic implications behind it. In Florida, transportation is ranked number one in fuel consumption by end use sector (http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=FL):
1. Transportation – 33%
2. Residential – 30%
3. Commercial – 24%
4. Industrial – 13%
VES has chosen to attack the top two end uses and GM just became a partner in helping us achieve our mission of Energy Independence.
After touring the Volt and taking a few photos, we had dinner with the Senior Creative Designer from GM’s Advanced Technology Studio Team Mathieu Boimare at the Jaguar Restaurant. We carried on further discussions over wine and fine dinning. I was impressed by the wonderful buzz surrounding the Volt and by how receptive Mathieu was to our suggestions and how helpful he was in explaining how the design and concept came about. The Chevrolet Volt is an electric car ahead of its time. Its posh design and green technology puts it in a class of its own. It’s just too bad we could not take it for a spin. The Volt is slated to come out in 2010.
VES will keep you updated on all new clean (green) technologies that will help reduce the top energy end uses in the State of Florida. Look for another post after the South Florida International (Miami) Auto Show at the Miami Beach Convention Center on November 9th-18th. We would like to thank Mathieu Boimare, Gloria Huang and the rest of the GM team that made this event possible. And remember, every little bit counts. Thanks GM!
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