Chevy: The new fuel-savings leader?

Chevrolet's new mantra: "From gas friendly to gas free." Yes, GM's message at the L.A. Auto Show is all about how it's going to "reinvent the industry" through its "fuel-savings leadership."

In fact, Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman, stayed on-message at the news conference, emphasizing "energy efficiency, energy security and environmental responsibility," before going on to talk about how there is no one silver bullet, which is why Chevy is pursuing as many solutions as possible.

All inspiring, except Chevy doesn't exactly have any solutions right now.

Yes, the concept cars sound nice. The all-electric Chevy Volt, the hydrogen fuel-cell powered Chevy Equinox, and even the teensy Chevy Beat mini-car (right) all sound excellent. But they're not available, and we don't know when they will be.

The only Chevy car that's close to being available is the 2009 Chevrolet Aveo5 subcompact -- which Lutz said has a highway fuel rating of 35 mpg (the media materials say 34). That's the only car that would come close to meeting the "35 miles per gallon fuel economy standard by 2020" in the Senate version of the energy bill. No wonder GM and other car companies are lobbying heavily against this version, which still needs to be reconciled with the House version of the energy bill that doesn't include the fuel efficiency standards.

The rest of the Chevys are less efficient than the Aveo5. Many are huge gas guzzlers, in fact. Despite its impressive new PR pitch about fuel solutions, Chevy's promotion of itself as a fuel-efficiency leader is unlikely to be at all effective if the company doesn't actually start offering fuel-efficient vehicles for sale.

Photos by Siel

Comments

[James]

I'll be out there in front of the L.A. Auto show protesting again, just like I have been for the last four years.

Last L.A.Auto show, I helped Rainforest Action Network, RAN, infiltrate.

After paying our admission, we spread out and placed the well known "gas guzzler citations", on as many of the worst offendung SUVs on display as we could before we got kicked out, two of our people took over a GM press conference before getting kicked out, and we did a couple of impromtu stage shows at some of the revolving vehicle stages, before,again, getting kicked out.

It was fun.

We drove security out of their minds. By the time we left for good that last day security were running around like chickens in Tyson's slaughterhouse, trying to figure out what we planned to do next.

We went to Casey's at Grand and Wilshire, downed some Guinness, ate and let them worry about it.

LOL!

[Emma]

I've been wondering about bio-diesel. Is most of it made from unused vegetable oil or is most of it salvaged from fried foods? If it is virgin veggie oil, isn't that just taking me one step away from the petrolium, rather than alleviating a need for it? As long as farming takes as much oil as The Omvivore's Dilemma claims it does, doesn't bio-diesel just make me feel good about myself, as the plants take oil to grow them? (Bio-diesel from waste veggie oil is another thing, obviously, because making something out of waste is always a good idea.)

[Dani]

Emma, the answer (in part) to our energy woes is not to completely supplant dependence on oil with dependence on something else that might be damaging in another way. Bio-diesel can be part of the larger answer. We need to use a variety of sources. We need more efficient cars. We need better legislation and more public transportation. We need those great bike dispensing machines found in Europe.

As far as legislation goes, it is so frustrating to see companies like GM say they are interested in energy efficiency when they are really just using it as a marketing tool but not doing anything about it. Because these manufacturers are not going to make changes on their own we need to support legislation like the Energy Bill that will require the 35 mpg by 2020. I am working with a coalition that has a petition you can sign to support it as well. Go to www.energybill2007.org.

Interestingly, there is a grassroots movement afoot by auto dealers and makers that do NOT support the big auto industry lobby that is trying to undermine this energy bill. See more info about this at: www.35mpgby2020.org. See who is on what side in the auto industry.

[Siel]

Hey James -- Hope you have lotsa eco fun this time around too :) The "chickens in Tyson's slaughterhouse" image is hilar -- though maybe not so much for vegans....

Emma -- Yep, there are issues with biodiesel, esp. as big corps enter the picture -- Here's a comprehensive Grist series on the issue if you'd like to read up on it. But you'll be glad to know that there are orgs and companies who ARE conscientious about where their biodiesel comes from, foregoing virgin oil and waste cooking grease. Meaning that if you decide to be a conscientious biodieseler, you can select from conscientious biodiesel companies / orgs / groups :)

[Chevy Volt Optimist]

Tough call, even the new cars hit 40 mpg by 2010 is that anything special. Existing combustion Hondas already do that. THe future may very well be in the Volt, but at a price tag of 40K I am not so sure.

If you want to learn more about the volt, check out videos, pics, news and more at http://www.chevy-volt.net

[Nancy Wilson]

35 mpg? I started driving a VW Rabbit in 1976 that got 35mpg and I've seldom had a car since then that didn't get 35. My 96 Aspire, with five gears has done 42+, but that's at 60 miles an hour- not 75 or 80.

The first step is obviously to keep the speeds down, especially in urban areas. A de-emphasizing of automobile racing would set a better example for drivers.

I moved back here to Indiana three years ago just in time to see the speed limit raised from 60 to 70 on the Interstates (like you big boys out west!) and just as gasoline was topping three bucks. It just shows me how out of touch our leaders are these days- The war sentiments haven't helped, because while it's not supposed to be about oil, I think a lot of boys still really think it is.

Smaller begets smaller. People will not feel the need to wrap a great big vehicle around them when there are fewer big vehicles around them. Smaller vehicles and slower speeds will ease the transition to alternative power.

A healthier and quieter environment will be the reward, as well as safer highway travel. People just need to visualize it a little more, instead of feeling that something is being taken away from them.

[Talks]

2009 Aveo5 fuel economy is very poor when compared to Toyota and Honda. Honda fir EPA for automatic is 27/34 where as Aveo5 is 24/34.
3mpg difference in city driving is very huge considering the todays fuel prices. Even the Toyota corolla which is more powerful(132hp) and bigger than Aveo5 produces better mileage 27/35 Automatic.

GM is either oblivious to customer requirements and its Competitor vehicle performance or they lack the technology to produce better mileage cars. I think its the latter. Grow up GM!