[Quietcars] Bob's review of the Detroit 2009 Auto Show.

[Robert Wilson]

Hi Michael,

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> Date: Fri, 16 Jan 2009 09:35:09 -0500
> From: mrtownsend at optonline.net
> To: quietcars at nfbnet.org
> Subject: [Quietcars] Bob's review of the Detroit 2009 Auto Show.
. . .
>
> The auto industry has changed considerably since first I went to the New
> York Auto show in 1969 with my first foster family.

I graduated from high school in 1968. My understanding is once we reach AARP age, 55, we can preface our comments with:

"Back when we had to walk to school, against the blizzard, up-hill, both ways ..." 
. . .
>
> I am sure that there were some primitive systems out there that designers
> were using, and there were industrial uses for the electrically powered
> vehicles, but, yet, the hybrid was not thought of for public consumption.

Actually I've seen some credible reports of early GM hybrids along with the famous "turbine cars." Not in my report, I visited the Ford Museum on Tuesday and found a 1980s, three wheel, electric car with a 25 mile range. It had been in service for 11 years. I also went to see the spot where the GM EV1, the 1998 electric car was drug away from. It had been on display until last year.
. . .

>
> I found your review of the Detroit Auto Show's hybrid display and marketing
> very interesting and quite enlightening.

I will be adding more text about the engineering cut-away models. I'll post an update when there is enough or possibly just the text if it makes more sense.

>
> As a car nut, I see a lot of promise in the industry during a time of much
> speculation as to which players will remain as viable participants in the
> industry, during which bail-outs of GM, Ford and Chrysler have been
> prominent in the news, and Toyota, having lost money in a particular quarter
> for the first time in its nearly 71 year history, has also made the
> headlines.

Due to some of the displays, it was obvious Chrysler was having trouble. It looked more like a parking lot with very few people around to answer questions and no real viewer traffic. Of course we can't draw any conclusions since something else might have been going on at that time. But even the local Detroit paper had made a similar comment.

>
> Ford has sold Jaguar and Land rover to an Indian manufacturer, Tata Motor
> Corporation, and they are rumored to be ridding themselves of Volvo and
> divesting themselves of interests in Mazda, to an extent as well.

Ford had the good sense to arrange for credit two years ago. They also started the design effort that led to the Ford Fusion, a significant hybrid electric sedan. I had occasion to ride in one on a track downstairs and it is an impressive roomy vehicle. I was in the back seat. We did two laps on electric in the basement. This track had all of the hybrid and electric cars except for the Tesla and Fisker. 

The Ford engineering cut-away models show they are unique from the Toyota design. The Ford hybrid drive is long and fits in the space two extra cylinders would go along side the four cylinder engine. The motors are at each end and power and control electronics on the front side. All in all, a very nice organization and given the reported performance, it looks like they have made serious competition for the Toyota Camry hybrid. They also improved the engine with variable valve timing.

The Toyota hybrid transaxle design is significantly smaller and uses co-centric shaft electric motors. 

>
> GM is rumored to be ridding itself of the Hummer brand, as well as keeping
> an eye out for the quirky Saab nameplate and they are rumored to be thinking
> about loosening their grip on Saturn and Pontiac as well.

They sent the former head of Cadillac over to be in charge and the Hummers still had a place on the show. There were several folks over there 'kicking the tires.' (As opposed to some of my more radical hybrid owners who might kick the sheet metal.)

>
> The merger between GM and Chrysler has not been discussed lately, but nor
> has it been denied, and Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki, Kia and Hyundai are growing
> in market share because of innovative automobiles which are gas efficient
> and consumers are buying them because of price and warranty applications
> that are consumer friendly and wise.

Nissan appears to have a unique, single motor design with a significant battery pack. Other single motor hybrids lacked the ability to move on just electric power. But they are late to market and have yet to offer a product other than one licensed from Toyota.

>
> Bob Wilson had commented on the two engineering firms which have put forth
> sound and logical presentations on possible resolutions to the quiet car
> issue, with little response from either blindness organization, probably
> because these systems might be user programmable in that they can be turned
> off or changed to suit the ears and tastes of the driver or buyer, rather
> than being an industry standard.

The technology is very new and it is unfair to project anything from a non-response. Folks need to understand these systems and their capabilities. Understand that my interest is to see a significant improvement in vehicle and pedestrian safety, something that is a win-win, so I think the Denso and Volvo system have a lot of promise. Denso is the electronics company of choice for Toyota.

I especially like the visual recognition system of the Denso system and its ability to read signs. We are potentially talking about an electronic, co-pilot for the driver. I see either the Denso or the Volvo system as offering a realistic insurance rate reduction, something that helps the owner too. The nice thing about a win-win situation is everyone benefits and once proved out, every succeeds.

Well I must shuffle off to work, chat at you later,
Bob Wilson

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