GM-Volt: Chevy Volt Concept Site Enthusiasts forum and informational site for the General Motors(GM) Chevrolet Volt Concept Electric Car Statistics Unique Visitors: Total Unique Visitors: Outgoing: Total Outgoing: 0 0 8 5288

Articles from GM-Volt: Chevy Volt Concept Site

A123 Unveils New E-REV Battery Cell for Chevy Volt 2007-12-03 06:33:23 On December 2 at EVS23, A123Systems publicly unveiled the lithium ion battery cell that they have co-developed with GM specifically for the Volt. It is a flat “prismatic” cell that is significantly larger than the cylindrical cells that we are used to seeing from A123. The cell is rectangular, and is designed to be stacked within the pack like slices of bread. GM chose a stackable, space-efficient battery format for the Volt so as to minimize the volume of the pack. Exact specifications of the cell have not been released. According to A123 engineers at the event, they have also developed proprietary algorithms that can precisely monitor their battery technology’s voltage and state of charge - thus eliminating concerns that the battery could suddenly drain completely empty without warning. They developed this software as a part of their hybrid electric bus program, which is independent of their collaboration with GM. GM’s Denise Gray has stated in the past tha ...

What Does GM Think About the New CAFE Standards? 2007-12-02 09:16:06 Rick Wagoner As we mentioned in our last post, the House has agreed on an average CAFE fuel economy standard of 35 mpg by 2020, with separate requirements for trucks and autos; a 40% increase from present requirements. The bill has not been fully presented publicly yet, and Bush will still have to vote on it. GM Chairman Rick Wagoner has already issued his comments saying the rules pose: “a significant technical and economic challenge to the industry'’ and that GM plans to meet the goals: “with an array of engineering, research and development resources. We will continue our aggressive pursuit of advance technologies that will deliver more products with more energy solutions to our customers'’ Source: (Bloomberg) ...

U.S. House of Representatives Reach Compromise on Energy Bill 2007-12-01 10:42:45 It was announced late yesterday by Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce that the House of Representatives finally reached a consensus on the new CAFE standards bill. They have agreed upon a combined 35 mpg standard by 2020 and still maintainig a distinciotn between cars and trucks; the automakers will like that. Incentives will also be included for building biofuel vehicles. The final document will be written over the weekend. Source (House Energy Committee) ...

GM Official Chevy Volt E-Flex Briefing Part 3 2007-12-01 09:21:12 The last of 3 parts of an official GM briefing on the status of the Chevy Volt, from LA, November 14th.  This segment includes Denise Gray, battery director. (Either JavaScript is not active or you are using an old version of Adobe Flash Player. Please install the newest Flash Player.) ...

Are You an EcoGeek? 2007-11-30 12:14:18 While at the L.A. Auto show for the Volt briefing, I met some very interesting bloggers. One of those was Hank Green, founder of EcoGeek.org, a cool blog devoted to planet-saving innovations. Hank is a genuine and earnest man of great talent. He put up a post so his readers could check out our GM-Volt.com Chevy Volt Q&A. If you haven’t already, I recommend you check out his blog too. Also, if you haven’t seen it as well, I was interviewed for WIRED magazine’s automotive blog about my experience with GM and the development of this site, should you be interested in that. One terrific quality of GM-Volt.com is the very wide range of opinions, political leanings, and concerns of the people that come and comment here.  We have one common denominator; we all want GM to make the Volt!  So whether you’re an EcoGeek or not, all are welcome. ...

GM Official Chevy Volt E-Flex Briefing Part 2 2007-11-29 23:00:22 (Either JavaScript is not active or you are using an old version of Adobe Flash Player. Please install the newest Flash Player.) ...

ExxonMobil Helping to Make Lithium-ion Batteries 2007-11-29 10:06:55 Clearly in a sign of times to come, big oil company ExxonMobil has announced it is developing a new technology to be used in lithium-ion battery cells. The energy company’s chemicals division in partnership with its Japanese affiliate Tonen Chemical have apparently been developing a new separator film. Separators are sometimes necessary in certain lithium-ion cells to prevent short circuits from propagating so far as to cause the battery to go into thermal runaway (i.e. explode) The new film separator technology will allow for larger and therefore more energy and power capable cells to be made without the risk of overheating. These cells would theoretically be optimal for automotive use. More details on the cells will be revealed at the upcoming 23rd Electric Vehicle Symposium and Exposition (EVS-23) in Anaheim, Calif. on December 2-5, 2007. Well I guess if you can’t beat em’, join em’. Source (Guardian) ...

GM Official Chevy Volt E-Flex Briefing Part 1 2007-11-28 23:00:33 Here is a live video of Tony Posawatz and Denise Gray giving the media a live briefing on the current status of the Chevy Volt/E-Flex program.  This took place in LA on November 14th.  This is the first of three parts, each ~8 minutes. (Either JavaScript is not active or you are using an old version of Adobe Flash Player. Please install the newest Flash Player.) ...

EV-1 and the Volt: as per GM 2007-11-28 07:07:16 Well, our first Q & A session is over. 42 question asked with detailed answers.  I hope everyone enjoyed it.  There was one last question, though… I asked Scott Fosgard, who is director of GM communications, whether GM is specifically reaching out to former EV-1 drivers. I actually asked this question at the behest of Doug Korthof. Many of you have heard of Doug, as he appeared in the Who Killed the Electric Car? movie, and he has since filled the web with anti-GM commentary.  I happened to run into Doug in person at the LA Auto Show where I found him outside holding up a picket sign and a bullhorn telling passersby not to buy GM products. I recognized him, and went up to introduce myself.  The picture above is of Doug where I found him. I consider myself open-minded and diplomatic in spirit. Rather than debate Doug I thought it best to see what question he wanted me to ask the GM people, since he felt only people in support of GM could be invited to the type of press e ...

Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part 6 2007-11-27 06:50:49 Q: One of the most common request we get are whether GM will out solar panels on the roof, are you considering that? A: “As Denise mentioned there are certain technologies we do scans on continually. Before we started in the Volt program and E-Flex project her team had made assessments that battery suppliers were building the technology to handle it. Did they have the business acumen, i.e. integration into the vehicle, etc, etc. So were looking at a lot of pretty cool stuff. Solar panels in particular we’ve got a study team looking at it. But, in all honesty, from a Gen-1 perspective”..” it is very unlikely.”..”You’d hate for the battery to work, and then you have an issue with the solar panels.”..”And those are the kind of things that I think are a key message.” Q: How is the drivetrain configured, will a clutch mechanism be necessary? A: (TP) “The internal combustion engine will be directly connected to the generator ...

Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part 5 2007-11-25 23:00:55 It’s not over yet. We still have some more answers to your questions to GM executives about the Volt. Q: Is GM giving you every resource necessary to complete the Volt project? A:(DG) “I have never seen so much of ‘Denise, what do you want’”..”open checkbook”..”and do more and do it faster.”..”This is a growth area, its kind of a min-company within a bigger company”..”The message that GM is continually hiring in certain areas is one that I have to get out to the public, because there are good people who think GM isn’t hiring” Q: We get people on our site who are interested in working with GM on the Volt. A: (DG) “Send them my way! Seriously! Honestly. I’m telling you, we cant find people fast enough.” Q: Are you considering the possibility of multiple driving modes such as economy, making the battery last longer but not allowing accelerations, or a performance mode, letting you go ...

Chevy Volt Close-up: it’s Electric 2007-11-24 13:36:46 (Either JavaScript is not active or you are using an old version of Adobe Flash Player. Please install the newest Flash Player.) ...

GM Calls the Volt an E-REV 2007-11-23 09:32:17 We have had spirited discussion along the way about exactly what the Volt is.  Common misrepresentations have included calling it a hybrid or series hybrid, or more commonly a plug-in hybrid.  Bob Lutz has specifically said the Volt is not a hybrid (see post). Calling a car a hybrid signifies that it’s driveshaft can be turned both by an electric motor and a combustion engine.  A plug-in hybrid is a car that has extended electrical capacity supplied from the grid allowing for extended driving in all-electric mode.  Modified Priuses and the upcoming Plug-in Saturn VUE are examples of those. EVs and BEVs are cars that only have an electric motor and a rechargeable battery.  They usually have overall limited ranges.  The Tesla and EV-1 are examples. GM toyed with different terms to describe the Volt.  They have decided on the term E-REV (with the dash, pronounced ee-rehv), which stands for extended-range electric vehicle.  They like the marketing opportunities of “REV ...

New Chevy Volt Theme Park in Disney’s Epcot Center? 2007-11-22 12:55:44 At the L.A. Auto Show last week, Bob Lutz announced a deal between GM and Walt Disney Productions. The entertainment company agreed to take ownership of 10 Chevy Equinox hydrogen fuel cell vehicles as part of the project driveway program. This will be an example of an experimental fleet. Today, an article appeared suggesting there might be a new theme park in the Epcot Center featuring the Chevy Volt. I don’t know the source of this comment, nor am I aware of any press releases. However, it would be an excellent idea. Over 10 million people pass through Disney’s Epcot Center each year, and a ride/show about the Volt will help to educate the public (not everyone reads this blog yet!) about the importance and value of plug-in electric vehicles. And, it should lead to greater sales. BTW, Happy Thanksgiving! Source: (Half Life Source) ...

GM Gets the Volt its own Lawyer 2007-11-21 14:34:54 I applaud GM for being so open with us on the design and engineering process that’s bringing the Volt to life. They certainly have been very open with me, and doing their best to answer our questions and consider our advice. No doubt the Volt is the lynchpin of GM’s future. Besides the risk of promoting a car that doesn’t exist yet, there are risks of being so open. Corporate strategy usually keeps new technology secret until it hits the shelves. Think of the iPhone. In the case of the Volt, GM must pull from behind Toyota and needs the advantage of time. If they wait three years to tell the world about the Volt it could be too late. Now, because we know about it, many of us are waiting until the Volt comes out to purchase our next car. Reuters has just published a new interview with GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. In it he notes that E-Flex team members are expressing anxiety about the aggressive production timeline (I agree from my interviews). He also admits the ...