Updates on the Chevy Volt

[DGthe3]

From
http://www.hybridcarblog.com/2010/04...ges-ahead.html
via www.chevroletvoltage.com

Just got off a conference call with GM regarding the Chevy Volt. In a nutshell, everything is going great. After testing the Volt battery pack in essentially every type of weather and driving condition possible, all systems are go for the November launch. Still, a few notes did stick out.

First, 40 miles of EV range has been the average, although 20 percent variation in both directions is expected. Once in range extended mode, the Volt should still achieve about 50 mpg and offer a range of at least 300 additional miles beyond the original 40 miles of EV range.

Second, GM is forecasting a nice price reduction in battery costs by the second generation thanks to supply base efficiencies, and the third generation battery pack could see as much as a 50 percent reduction in cost.

Third, while GM seemed very careful on this issue, the future of the Volt could include a smaller battery pack and shorter EV range. Again, GM was very guarded on this point. Likewise, GM's Andrew Farah, the leader of the Volt program, claimed that new energy densities in lithium-ion technology might also provide the same 40 miles of EV range but in a smaller battery pack.

Nonetheless, my read in between the lines is that GM is increasing their Volt focus on costs, and I believe that if GM realizes that a 20 or 30 mile Volt would double sales, then they'd offer such an option by the third generation battery pack. Of course, such a battery pack is still several years away.

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Also from wired.com (again, via chevyvoltage.com)

General Motors is doubling down on its bet on electric vehicles, saying it will invest $8 million to double the size of its battery laboratory in Warren, Michigan.
The investment comes as GM races to put the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle in showrooms by the end of the year and follows January’s announcement that it will spend $246 million on a factory that will build electric motors. GM also spent $43 million retooling a factory to build battery packs. Together, the huge investments suggest General Motors is serious about making hybrids and electric vehicles a core competency.
“GM is building on its commitment to lead the development of electric vehicle technology – from battery cell design to the charging infrastructure – and today’s investment furthers our work in this area,” Micky Bly, GM’s executive director for EV systems and batteries, said in a statement.

The plan calls for increasing, from 30,000 square feet to 63,000 square feet, the size of the Global Battery Systems Lab that opened last year at GM’s sprawling technical center in Warren. In a further sign of how GM is looking to the future, the plan calls for renovating several areas once used for engine testing.

General Motors says the expansion will increase capacity in six areas, including safety and abuse tolerance and manufacturing engineering. In those cases, facilities once used for high-altitude engine testing and engine dynamometers will be reconfigured to develop and test batteries.

“We’ve made the commitment to design, develop, validate and manufacture automotive battery technology in-house,” said Bly.
Much of the work done at the battery lab is used at the Brownstown Battery Pack Assembly Plant, which since January has been producing 16 kilowatt-hour lithium ion packs for the Volt. The packs are assembled at Brownstown using cells from Korea.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Excellent! The more expensive, first-gen cars will fly off the lots thanks to people to "have to have them" and have money to throw at their latest interests. Subsequent Volts will come down in costs, more in line with other cars in its class......wait.....

...there are none.

[FenwickHockey65]

I've been advocating a Volt with lesser EV range for a while now. Maybe 20 and 30 mile ranged variants for people who can't afford the 40 mile ranged Volt or have shorter commutes. I could make do with 20 miles of electric range here in Columbus.

[PAUL SS]

I like the Volt and so does my wife who is looking at a new car next year.

Can you get me a ctf car?

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Excellent! The more expensive, first-gen cars will fly off the lots thanks to people to "have to have them" and have money to throw at their latest interests. Subsequent Volts will come down in costs, more in line with other cars in its class......wait.....

...there are none.

Nissan Leaf, I think, would fit that Category.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Nissan Leaf, I think, would fit that Category.

leaf doesn't have a 'range extender'

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

leaf doesn't have a 'range extender'

Isn't it a fully electric vehicle though? It could sort of be seen as competition.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

I've been advocating a Volt with lesser EV range for a while now. Maybe 20 and 30 mile ranged variants for people who can't afford the 40 mile ranged Volt or have shorter commutes. I could make do with 20 miles of electric range here in Columbus.

How would that compete against a 40 MPG Cruze that is half the price?

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by Hylton

How would that compete against a 40 MPG Cruze that is half the price?

Well, the 40 miles is essentially free, considering it is from electric power.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Well, the 40 miles is essentially free, considering it is from electric power.

True (to a point) but assuming that fuel costs on a Cruze is 1,000 a year and that someone can invest the 15K saved from buying a Cruze instead of a Volt over the same time period, I don't see the Volt being better value than the Cruze.

And what is the battery life of a Volt going to be? 10 years? More $$$

[ZED SLED]

It would sure suck to be in a Nissan Leaf and need to go 1 more mile. Not like someone can come by with a gas can. I want the range extender.

[nova]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Well, the 40 miles is essentially free, considering it is from electric power.

Unless you've got an extension cord running from your neighbors house I wouldn't call it free

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Isn't it a fully electric vehicle though? It could sort of be seen as competition.

But the Volt isn't purely electric. The closest competitor I've heard of is the plug in Prius. But its still a conventional hybrid. To my knowledge, nobody else has something like the Volt on the way.

[Hylton]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Isn't it a fully electric vehicle though? It could sort of be seen as competition.

Originally Posted by DGthe3

But the Volt isn't purely electric. The closest competitor I've heard of is the plug in Prius. But its still a conventional hybrid. To my knowledge, nobody else has something like the Volt on the way.

Most "so-called" electric vehicles also have an engine which is mated to the transmission/driveline. The vehicle toggles back and forth depending on either driver demand or remaining battery power.

With respect to the Volt, only the electric motor is mated to the drivetrain and the gas motor is only used to regenerate electrical energy when the battery power is down. You may actually see a Volt gas engine start up when the car is stopped which some people may find unusual. Regardless, I like the fact that GM has this new approach toward electric vehicles.