The Back End: July 2008

TALEPIPE Huffs and puffs along the automotive road

Quotations are from press conferences and media reports.
Compiled and edited by managing editor Peter Craig.

W E I R D    S C I E N C E ?

“…it can’t look like a science project. It’s got to be something that people want to buy.”

—Bob Boniface, GM’s design director of flexible electric vehicles, on the Chevy Volt

J U S T    I N    T I M E

“Dealer stock for Prius is best measured in hours rather than days.”

—Toyota Division general manager Bob Carter sums up the top-selling hybrid car’s dealer supply issues

H O W    G R E E N    I S    M Y    R A L L Y ?

“…this is a very green event. Just go outside and look at those beautiful Mustangs and you’ll be green with envy.”

—Actionline’s Carla Kalogeridis, at supercar maker Carroll Shelby’s Automotive Executive of the Year ceremony

C A L I F O R N I A    D R E A M I N '

“California [will have] a role as a laboratory for innovative approaches.”

—Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers’ Dave McCurdy on how the country can have a progressive national fuel-economy policy

A L L    C H A R G E D    U P

“There will be a very loud splat when I hit the ground, or there’s going to be a revolution.”

—Better Place chief exec Shai Agassi on his bid to bring an electric car to Israel and end its dependence on oil