AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
The Believer; With no shortage of idealists who'd like to reinvent the car, Larry Burns is in a position to do it.(News)
Byline: KEVIN A. WILSON
Next month, it will be a decade since General Motors' Richard Wagoner made Larry Burns the company's vice president for research and development and gave him one standing order: Reinvent the car.
Burns rolled out his answer in 2002: the Autonomy fuel-cell concept car, describing a new DNA for automobility involving not just a new power source-hydrogen-but total electrification of all systems needed for steering, braking, climate control and more.
We interviewed Burns in March in his office in Warren, Michigan, which he has decorated with photos of the Autonomy and its successors, the Hy-Wire and the Sequel, and of the Chevy Equinox-based fuel-cell demonstrator cars, now being tested by consumers on the road. The photos are there not as trophies of past achievements but as daily reminders of a continuing vision.
"I really believe technology can solve problems,'' says Burns. "We can remove the car from the environmental equation, and it will be good business.''
Faith in technology is expected of an engineer, perhaps especially of one who can hear only thanks to the technology of the cochlear implants he got after an infection left him deaf. Few observers, though, note the equally competitive fervor that Burns brings to the car business, the degree to which he believes in GM as much as in hydrogen.
"Do you know that only 12 percent of the world's population owns a car? Incredible, isn't it? That means there's a great market opportunity, but it's not one we can take advantage of doing it the old way. The issue is that our industry worldwide is 96 percent dependent on petroleum, and that's not a sustainable model for our future. When I say sustainable, it's not just about global climate change, it's not just about oil availability or price, it's about equality of access. Oil will play a continuing role, but to grow our business sustainably, we need alternatives, multiple sources to meet expanding needs.''
- INTERVIEW - LARRY BURNS: Global search.
- Magazine article from: The Engineer September 19, 2005 700+ words
General Motors' Larry Burns is expanding the car giant's focus from US- centric R&...calendar,' The Engineer was told. This is not surprising - as Larry Burns, General Motors' genial R&D chief, is responsible for...
- Larry Burns.
- Magazine article from: Design News September 22, 2008 700+ words
...amp;D and Strategic Planning Larry Burns is the man of the hour at General...influential as the 57-year-old Burns in defining the company's all...and hydrogen-powered vehicles. Burns' mission is nothing less than to...
- Burns: 'Cooperation would make sense'.(News)(Larry Burns)(Interview)
- Magazine article from: Automotive News Hamprecht, Harald November 21, 2005 700+ words
...half in the last 12 months, says Larry Burns, GM's vice president for r&d and strategic planning. Burns discussed his fuel cell development...all discussions. CAPTION(S): Larry Burns: Internal combustion engines will...
- Fuel for the future; Iceland has vast resources to produce hydrogen.(Larry...
- Magazine article from: Automotive News Moran, Tim November 20, 2006 700+ words
...future, say experts such as GM's Larry Burns. That's why this year General...million fuel cell vehicles annually, Burns says. "Hydrogen is not a new thing...CAPTION(S): GM r&d chief Larry Burns: 500,000 to 1 million hydrogen...
- Drivers not wanted - or needed, frankly; Feature by feature, vehicle is poised...
- Magazine article from: Automotive News Allen, Leslie J. October 29, 2007 700+ words
...transportation is autonomous driving,'' Larry Burns, vice president of research and...driving will be there by 2015,'' Burns said. GM is sponsoring one of 35...that drive themselves. * GM's Larry Burns: Vehicles that drive themselves...
- GM's head of r&d retires.(NEWS)(General Motors Corp.'s Larry Burns and Steve...
- Magazine article from: Automotive News July 20, 2009 700+ words
...bankruptcy, said that r&d chief Larry Burns and public relations boss Steve Harris will retire. Burns, 58, will be replaced by Alan Taub...steer marketing and communications. While Burns' responsibilities were wide-ranging...
- GM VP to speak at Leadership Network about hiring people with...
- Magazine article from: Crain's Detroit Business Scharich, Joanne May 31, 2004 700+ words
...disabilities, is hosting its annual breakfast meeting June 15 from 7:30-10 a.m. in Detroit. The keynote speaker is Larry Burns, vice president of research, development and planning at General Motors Corp., will address the benefits of hiring...
- Product chief Burns adds pizzazz in GM lineup.
- Magazine article from: Automotive News MILLER, JOE January 17, 2000 700+ words
...Aztek and Hummer H2, shown here last week. Larry Burns deserves substantial credit for GM's progress. Burns, 48, is GM's global product portfolio...offerings,'' said Chairman Jack Smith. Burns, a GM vice president, is an enthusiastic...