Washington Auto Show

The past couple of days you could see the same new Chevy models being test driven around my block many times. GM invited visitors to the Washington Auto Show in the neighboring Convention Center for a test-drive in one of their models. As I happened to be one of those visitors on Friday, I happily used this chance to experience a hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicle (Chevy Equinox, see the model in the picture). After signing up, I passed some ten people waiting for their turn in the Camaro, Chevy's muscle car, as their was no one waiting for the fuel cell car. After circumdriving my own block I was pleased by the silence in the car and had experienced a powerful acceleration upon pushing the throttle shortly. Nevertheless, I must admit feeling slightly disappointment. The test drive had been pretty...normal. This was just a fine car, but nothing spectacular for me as a driver. The benefit for the environment is not obvious behind the wheel, but the insecurity of not knowing where to refuel is. I guess I'd have to reason hard to let the distant environmental benefit make me accept the insecurities and higher prices the first small series. A clean car is not a mobile phone, which gives you additional functions, clear and direct benefits. If it's not money, how else could sufficient new buyers be seduced to choose a clean vehicle and let the market take off?

At the Auto Show in several other places one could find confirmation that the environment is an important theme, but not yet a real buyers' concern. Compared to the American models, the big European ones, like the larger Volvos, looked small. Going small was clearly a road less taken by the producer than hybridization, as most brands now showed at least one or two hybrids, but quite often as a fuel saver in a big SUV or truck. Of the hybrids, Toyota's Prius is still the most fuel efficient, according to the fuel economy labels, which were present on every vehicle on display. An average sized Dutchman like me (6 foot 1.2 inch) still has to bend his neck sitting in the backseat. My impression after scanning fuel economy labels randomly is that very few automakers are ready for the coming 35 mpg fuel economy requirement.

Plug-in hybrids were only on display as concept or demonstration models. Chevrolet showed its Volt, which should enter selected markets later this year. According the long-legged girl presenting the model, it can do 40 miles in full-electric mode, allegedly enough for 76% of American daily commuter trips. A range-extender on board can kick in and generate electricity from regular gasoline to make the car go for another 200 miles. The Volt looked quite nice to me, but not as hot as its big brother on the other side fo the aisle: the Cadillac Converj concept car. There was very aerodynamically shaped electric sports model with (just like the Volt) a range extender. What's more, natural materials were used for the interior, like mulched and compressed bamboo and organic LED displays. Very very nice, but, unfortunately, whether this concept car will ever make it to the showrooms remains a question. As the lady presenter told the audience, most questions are about its color.