VIA Motors announced that Bob Lutz, former Vice Chairman of General Motors and father of the Chevy Volt, will introduce the world’s first extended range electric Pickup Truck, SUV and Van, in a press conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tuesday, January 10, 2012 at 12:15 pm EST.
“VIA Motors has developed the first extended range electric powertrain capable of replacing the V8 engine. It was my great privilege to introduce the Chevy Volt, and it will be a great honor to introduce the world’s first line of eREV Trucks, Vans and SUVs by VIA Motors.”
After retiring from General Motors in 2010, Bob Lutz has continued his vision for extended range electric vehicles in his recent move to join the VIA Motors Board of Directors. Known as both the king of the American “muscle car,” bringing to market iconic cars like the Chevy Camaro and the Dodge Viper, Bob Lutz is also considered the champion of GM’s greenest production vehicle, the Chevy Volt. Mr. Lutz has both a keen eye for what Americans prefer to drive and an understanding of their desire to adopt cleaner, more efficient technologies.
“This new breed of full size utility vehicles can deliver the power and performance of a V8, with better fuel economy than many smaller cars, by driving on electricity for about $2 a day,” adds Alan Perriton, Chief Operations Officer for VIA Motors, and himself a former GM senior executive. “It actually costs less to own and operate a clean VIA electrified truck or SUV than a gas truck,” added Perriton.
In addition to the full size Pickup Truck, VIA will unveil two exciting new eREV vehicles at the North American International Auto
Show: a full size, four wheel drive SUV, and a three-quarter-ton, full-size Cargo Van at its booth on the main floor of the show. Like VIA’s eREV truck, all three vehicles can drive 30 to 40 miles on advanced, non-flammable, lithium ion batteries, then up to 400 miles using the onboard generator, averaging up to 100 mpg.
VIA Motors has begun taking orders for 2012 for its extended range electric pickup truck from many of America’s largest fleets.
Production of VIA’s eREV pickup is scheduled to begin in 2012, with plans to ramp up production to 20,000 units per year over the next few years including the eREV SUV, Van and other large eREV vehicles.
About the North American International Auto Show The NAIAS is considered one of the largest and most important auto shows in the world, where all major automakers present their newest and top selling vehicles for industry, the press and the public, over two weeks at the Cobo Center in Detroit from January 9-23, 2012.
About VIA Motors
VIA Motors is a privately held electric vehicle development and manufacturing company. VIA has developed a proprietary 650-volt eREV drive system technology designed for full size trucks and SUVs called the VIA V-Drive(TM). VIA employs a streamlined second stage manufacturing process to integrate its proprietary eREV powertrain technology into new OEM vehicles it calls VTRUX(TM). VIA VTRUX deliver up to 40-mile EV range and up to 400-mile extended range, averaging over 100 mpg in typical daily driving. Initially, VIA plans to sell directly to fleets, then later to consumers. More information on VIA Motors may be found at:
http://www.viamotors.com. To see a video with Bob Lutz announcing the Detroit Auto Show and VIA Motors, go to http://www.viamotors.com/news/naias-promo.
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