autoevolution
 

GM Admits Tesla Was an Inspiration

In everyday life, inspiration is everything, and acknowledging the people who helped you head in the right direction is a noble gesture. Such a gesture occurred at the start of the Los Angeles Auto Show, when General Motors vice-chairman Bob Lutz admitted that the Volt model was inspired by the Tesla company and their commitment to the lithium ion battery technology that was just getting started then, back in 2006.

“In 2006 I could think of only one company that openly was planning to build an electric vehicle powered by lithium ion batteries and that was Tesla,” Mr Lutz said.

“I will tell you that they gave us the major impetus, and I am thankful to Tesla for furnishing us with the truth that was needed for us to champion the Volt to the corporation that other people believed in lithium ion technology as well.“

And now of course just about every car company in the business is planning a lithium ion powered EV or E-REV vehicle, including some companies that weren’t even on the radar in 2006, like Fisker.”


Tesla Motors already delivered more than 300 Roadster and Roadster S models, so the company is doing really well. GM used the electric technology to build a plug-in hybrid called Volt which is in the testing phase and will be available in 2010.

“We have massively expanded our commitment to the EV at GM … GM is moving from a company that for one hundred years has been based on mechanically driven automobiles to one that will be focused on electrically driven automobiles. And this is a big deal,” said Mr Lutz.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories