Bob Lutz, the Chevy Volt and the Easter Bunny

GM's Lutz says that the feasibility of the plug-in hybrid technology will be proven by next Easter and rivals will have egg on their face Caption: 2007 Auto Show, The Javits Center Credit: Andrew Famiano Bob Lutz, GM's vice chairman for product development, told a group of automotive journalists that the feasibility of the Chevy Volt plug-in hybrid concept will be proven by next Easter. By that time, he said that GM will have put the Volt's electric drive system and lithium batteries in stripped down Chevy Malibu bodies -- referred to as "mule" vehicles -- and tested the ability of the Volt system to achieve 40 miles of gas-free range. The vehicle is primarily powered by an electric motor, with a small gasoline engine on board to extend its range. Mr. Lutz made his comments in San Francisco at a meeting of the Western... [read full story]