General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) is gathering hundreds of employees, dealers, investors, analysts, media and policymakers to share details of its strategy to grow the company’s electric vehicle (EV) sales quickly, efficiently and profitably.
“Our team accepted the challenge to transform product development at GM and position our company for an all-electric future,” said Mary Barra, GM chairman and CEO. “What we have done is build a multi-brand, multi-segment EV strategy with economies of scale that rival our full-size truck business with much less complexity and even more flexibility.”
The heart of GM’s strategy is a modular propulsion system and a highly flexible, third- generation global EV platform powered by proprietary Ultium batteries. They will allow the company to compete for nearly every customer in the market today, whether they are looking for affordable transportation, a luxury experience, work trucks or a high-performance machine.
My senses were on overload as I walked through the side door leading into a bay area with two lifts. On one of the lifts was a teal-colored Jeepster. On the other, a stunning blue Cherokee Chief. And resting near the rear entryway, a completely stripped-down white Cherokee Chief awaited its resurrected life as a modern classic. It was as if I had entered a modern-day Dr. Frankenstein laboratory, only this time it wasn’t a person being resurrected. It was a slew of old school Jeeps whose previous life had been completely worn and had entered a transitionary phase en route to becoming much improved. It was akin to Jeep Life 2.0. The doctor? Daniel van Doveren and his crew at Jeep Heritage.
adjective: accorded a great deal of respect, especially because of age, wisdom, or character.
Adventure travel has long lurked in the marrow of the bones of homo sapiens. There must be something irresistible about the allure of exploring the unknown when men and women like Sir Ernest Shackleton, Amelia Earhart, and those trusting or foolish enough to join them are willing to leave the comforts of home to risk life and limb. Modes of propulsion are many and, once lit, the flame of adventure leaps quickly from candle to bush to tree. For some, Scouting first whetted the appetite. For others, it was a walk in the woods with Dad or a fishing trip with Grandpa. Perhaps it was that pre-adolescent thrill as the clutch was jerkily engaged on the old Jeep. Maybe it was the magical centrifugal sensation during a first motorcycle ride that stuck in our gut like a captive butterfly. Whatever event or combination thereof, when the tinder of adventure is ready, a spark is enough to set our world ablaze.
Whether riding on or off pavement, wearing proper safety gear is crucial while on two wheels. Two pieces of gear that have become mainstays of my adventure riding travels include the tried and true, American-made Darien jacket from Aerostich and the latest in helmet technology, the Krios Pro ECE, from Klim.
Although synthetic fuels are considered a realistic alternative to make car traffic more climate-friendly, availability is poor. Porsche wants to change this. “With electricity alone, you can't move forward fast enough,” says Michael Steiner, who is in charge of R&D at Porsche.
