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GM-Volt - Chevy Volt Concept SiteGM-Volt - Chevy Volt Concept SiteDedicated news, information, and discussion site for the Chevy Volt electric car. Articles
Bob Lutz Reponds on the Recent Crock of Global Warming Comments
2008-02-22 12:01:00 We discussed a few days ago, along with several other major blogs, Bob Lutz ’ comment about global warming, where he had called it “a crock of s–t”. Apparently the GM vice-chair was quite amazed about how that took off on the blogosphere. He has now responded on his own blog, and makes the point that ... More About: Global Warming , General , Comments , Global
Bob Lutz: ?The Road Ahead?
2008-02-21 12:00:00 GM’s outspoken Vice-Chairman, and father of the Volt wrote an opinion piece for the Feb 25th edition of Newsweek entitled “The Road Ahead .” His task was to predict the future automotive landscape and writes that it will be “markedly different than today”. First he predicts some change in “proportion”, cars will be smaller, but feels that those ... More About: Lutz , The Road
Volt Hurdles Other than the Battery
2008-02-20 13:50:00 Most GM executives involved in the Volt program say the battery is the major stumbling block to development. Other new low-power components have to be made for the car in order to allow the 40 mile range, but these are mostly minor engineering tasks. Normal cars have tremendous supplies of energy for the accessories to ... More About: Engineering , Battery , Efficiency
You?re Invited!: VOLT NATION Town Hall Meeting
2008-02-19 08:00:00 GM-Volt.com has reached the next level. For more than a year I have served as your intermediary. After building visibility and credibility to the point I could meet with actual GM executives in charge of building the Volt, I brought your questions, ideas, and enthusiasm to them. We let them know we are here and holding ... More About: Sightings , Nation , Town , Hall , Meeting
The Latest with Frank Weber, E-Flex/Chevy Volt Vehicle Line Executive
2008-02-18 12:00:00 I sat down for a brief Q and A with Frank Weber. He is the vehicle line executive for the Chevy Volt and all of E-Flex systems for GM. He knows a lot about what’s going on and is very forthright and forthcoming. What was GMs motivation to build the Volt? Societal challenge. Look ... More About: Engineering , Vehicle , Production , Executive
Poll: Should the U.S. Government Provide Tax Credits to Plug-in Car Buyers?
2008-02-17 06:01:00 When we first heard GM was planning to increase the price of intial Volts to more than $30,000, government subsidies in the form of tax credits was discussed as an option to lower cost. Certainly tax credits have been a factor in the adoption of early hybrids such as the Prius. We even heard directly from Congressman ... More About: Politics , Government , Financial , Poll , Plug
Tesla Motors Chairman Elon Musk on GM, Toyota, and the Whitestar
2008-02-16 12:00:00 Elon Musk, founder of Paypal, is also chairman of Tesla Motors , the silicon valley start-up that has recently rolled it’s first production electric car, the Roadster, off the production line. Musk himself owns that one. He was interview by Michael Kanellos of CNET and they covered a range of issues. When asked about whether he felt the ... More About: Toyota , Chairman , Competitors
Chevy Volt Program is Costing GM Nearly One Billion Dollars
2008-02-15 12:00:00 We often discuss how much the Volt will eventually cost us, the consumers, as that’s the bottom line as to whether people will actually buy or be able to buy the car in mass numbers. We don’t hear too much though about what the program is costing GM. An article in the Wall Street Journal by the ... More About: Financial , Program , Dollars , Chevy , Chevy Volt
Bob Lutz Turns up the Heat on Global Warming
2008-02-14 12:00:00 By now many of you have probably heard about this. Originally reported in D-magazine is a “closed-door”conversation between GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz and several journalists. On the topic of the Chevy Volt, Mr Lutz reportedly called global warming “a total crock of sh-t”. He went on to say he’s a skeptic rather than ... More About: Global Warming , Environment , Global , Heat
Driving the Volt
2008-02-13 18:19:00 Peter Savagian is an engineer at GM who worked on the EV-1. He recently presented data from his study on the effect of driving electrified vehicles. The presentation examines and discusses the implication of plug-in hybrid and E-REV utilization. Per Peter, “GM’s Advanced Propulsion Technology Strategy is to remove automobiles from the environmental dialogue.”, and “another ... More About: Environment , Research , Driving , Efficiency
GM?s Financials
2008-02-13 06:01:00 Yesterday was a big day for GM financial news, as the company posted a 2007 loss of 39 billion dollars, the single greatest yearly loss for any automaker in history. Of course nearly all of that loss was due to the writedown of $38.6 billion that was given to the autoworkers union to pay ... More About: Financial
Congressman Jay Inslee on the Status of Plug-in Vehicle Tax Credits
2008-02-12 12:39:00 The other day I was surprised to receive a note from Congressman Jay Inslee. Mr. Inslee has been an instrumental proponent of plug-in electric vehicle adoption. Congressman Inlsee writes: I am thrilled to discover your site. Thanks for spreading the news. I am a Congressman from Seattle who a leading advocate for renewables and clean ... More About: Politics , Financial , Vehicle , Status , Plug
Chevy Volt to Cost About $35,000?
2008-02-11 19:57:00 Originally it was GM’s goal to produce the Volt for under $30,000. Over time it became apparent that reaching that goal would be difficult considering all of the new and unique technology that would have to be created for the car. In January, Bob Lutz said the car could wind up closer to $40,000 but he ... More About: Financial , Cost , Chevy , Chevy Volt
GM Would Share Volt E-Flex Technology Among Brands
2008-02-11 12:00:00 Some GM news coming out of the North American Dealers Association, besides GM CEO Wagoner asking dealers to fight state level emissions regulations, had to do with the Volt. A report noted that dealers were told by GM that brands other than Chevrolet could also one day get E-Flex technology. This shouldn’t of course surprise us ... More About: Technology , Share , Brand , Brands
Chevy Volt A123/Continental Battery Pack will be Tested in Michigan
2008-02-10 16:26:00 Lyle Dennis outside the Warren Michigan battery lab building Recently we heard that GM had received it’s first new prototype lithium-ion battery pack from the A123 Systems (battery cell maker)/ Continental Automotive Inc (pack integrator) and that it had arrived in Germany on January 31st, on schedule. Two packs from the other team, LG Chem (battery cell ... More About: Battery , Pack , Tested
Chevy Dealers Need a Jolt from the Volt
2008-02-09 09:00:00 GM relies on its dealers to sell cars to consumers, and the dealers rely on GM to produce good products, brands, and advertising. As U.S. sales declined over the years dealers also suffered. GM is considered by many to be in the midst of a turnaround spearheaded by Rick Wagoner, in his role since 2000. Clearly ... More About: Jolt , Financial , Brand , Chevy
Video: The Worst Chevy Volt TV Commercial Imaginable
2008-02-09 03:18:00 There’s no bigger a fan of the Volt than me, and I’m happy Chevy is advertising a car that doesn’t exist yet, but couldn’t GM spend their money better than on this commercial? There certainly have been better ones before (see post). From the front page, you will have to click on the title to see the ... More About: Video , Commercial , Advertising , Chevy Volt
New Study: Using U.S. Farmlands for Biofuel Production will Increase Global
2008-02-08 06:01:00 Ethanol supply produced from corn grown on U.S. croplands has been increasing and is thought by some as an opportunity to reduce petroleum consumption. Indeed carmakers like GM have been promoting E85 engines, and the U.S. government has been subsidizing farmers to produce corn. The use of corn ethanol as being net energy positive ... More About: Environment , Study , Biofuel , Fuel , Global
Production not Chemistry is Reason for Delay in Mass Producing Plug-in Cars
2008-02-07 06:01:00 Popular Mechanics has just published an article outlining the race to mass producing plug-in cars. The article includes a few quotes from GMs advanced battery director Denise Gray with whom I have spoken on several occasions. The article reviews some of the lithium-ion battery chemistries and correctly notes that its only the laptop-type (cobalt oxide) ... More About: Cars , Battery , Production , Reason , Producing
The E-Flex Cadillac Provoq and the GM Fifth Generation Fuel Cell
2008-02-06 12:00:00 The Cadillac Provoq is GM’s latest E-Flex concept car, a luxury crossover with all wheel drive and fuel cell range-extender. Nick Zielinski who used to be the ICE Volt’s chief engineer is now the chief engineer of the hydrogen Volt and Provoq, as well as the fuel cell Equinox. I had a few ... More About: Fuel , Cell , Hydrogen
Q & A with Bob Reuter Chief Engineer, Plug-in Saturn VUE
2008-02-05 06:01:00 GM has announced its intention to produce a plug-in Saturn VUE with a large lithium ion battery married to a 2-mode hybrid drivetrain. This car quite possibly could be the first-ever plug-in hybrid that gets brought to the U.S. market. I had the chance to ask the vehicle’s chief engineer a few questions. When will the ... More About: Chief , Plug , Engineer , Chief Engineer
One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, GM VP of Global Program Management, Part 5
2008-02-04 12:00:00 This is the final segment of my interview with Jon Lauckner, GMs VP of global program management, considered Bob Lutz’ first deputy and who has been very involved with the Volt project from day one. What are the terms of GMs battery contracts with the battery suppliers? ‘A’ we shouldn’t talk about what we’ve agreed with the ... More About: Management , Engineering , Global , Production , Part
Chevy Volt Design Freeze within Weeks
2008-02-03 13:33:00 A report out of Australia mentioned a few new facts about the Volt, garnered from original interviews with GM executives. We have heard that the Chevy Volt’s design team, headed by Bob Boniface is very close to a final design for the production vehicle. Just how close? Well, according to this article: “…the styling for the 2011 ... More About: Design , Freeze , Weeks , Chevy Volt
Does GM have a Geographical Rollout Plan for the First Volts?
2008-02-02 12:00:00 We patiently wait for the Volts to be built, and hope they will be available late 2010 as promised. We have heard for months that GM hopes to produce Volts in the tens of thousands; in fact 60,000 was a number tossed around previously (see post), and exec will tell you themselves they would ... More About: Production , Plan
Breaking: Chevy Volt A123/Continental Prototype Lithium-ion Battery Pack De
2008-01-31 21:30:00 The next major Volt milestone has been achieved. GM has confirmed receiving the first Chevy Volt specific lithium-ion prototype battery pack from the Continental /A123 Systems production team. The pack was delivered to GM’s Mainz Kastel laboratory in Germany on the morning of January 31st. GM already has at least two prototype packs from the LG Chem/Compact ... More About: Battery , Production , Prototype , Breaking
Lutz: Forty-Mile Electric Range Mules in March or April
2008-01-31 06:00:00 GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters in Flint, Michigan on Tuesday that the Volt remains on-schedule. He said: “We’re going to prove the skeptics wrong,” and “I hope to drive the 40 miles electrically by March or April and by June we’ll have running prototypes for the press.” And for those of you wondering about the first prototype packs from ... More About: Timeline , Production , Mile
GM?s CFO Thinks There?s no Recession but Car Prices will Rise
2008-01-30 12:00:00 GM CEO Wagoner and CFO Henderson GM CFO Fritz Henderson had a luncheon with reporters yesterday and made a couple of financial comments. He indicated that although the housing crisis will be a drag on the economy, and that the government needs to soothe public fears, he does not believe a recession is underway. He also indicated that ... More About: Financial , Rise , Recession , Prices
Chevy Volt will Need Special Low Power Windshield Wipers and Audio System
2008-01-29 12:00:00 Bob Lutz is clearly a guy who tells it like it is. When GMs father of the Volt gives an interview about the car its always worth listening closely, as what you get will be highly factual. The Lansing State Journal published a very brief Q and A with Mr. Lutz, and thats where this ... More About: Power , Audio , System , Engineering , Special
One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, VP of Global Program Management, Part 4
2008-01-28 12:00:00 What are some of the safety issue of this car, are they different than standard cars, are you going to have to do different kinds of crash test safety? We already have a standard program of very rigorous tests. Well run crashtests of all sorts, because frankly were looking to sell this vehicle globally. ... More About: Management , Engineering , Global , Part , Program
GM-Volt.com Chevy Volt Waiting List Hits 10,000 Members
More articles from this author:2008-01-26 14:24:00 Today we have hit a major milestone. 10,000 people have signed up on our waiting list, expressing their desire to buy a Chevy Volt. This site was started on January 12, 2007 in response to GM unveiling the Chevy Volt five days earlier. It was my intent to create a place where like-minded ... More About: General , List , Hits , Waiting 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
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