GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

A very thoughtful discussion on the birth of the Volt appeared in today’s Wall Street Journal. The story goes that GM has been feeling the heat and threat from Toyota, a company now known for its green-ness due to the Prius. Seeing the risk of being known as a company that turns out gas guzzlers (i.e. Maximum Bob and his Viper), GM realized that now was the critical turning point in history to re-invent itself. Larry Burns was noted as saying that GM had to come out with it’s equivalent of Apple’s iPod. And so the Toyota Prius-crushing Volt concept was born.

Now that the horse is out of the barn, and treading on the public relations disaster that the EV-1 was, GM is betting the farm on the Volt. Although early estimates are that the car will not be a high volume vehicle, and that the profit margin could be slim to none, GM must get the car on the road. The Volt will allow GM to become known as the leader of the green revolution, and that indeed this new image will be their only hope of survival in the upcoming brave new world of carbon taxes, peak oil, and renewable energy usage. Indeed GM is committing considerable resources developing all the other parts of the car, even though the heart of the car, the final form of the Li-ion battery does not exist.

We at gm-volt.com commend GM for this most honorable effort, and are here to see this car to production.

Bob Lutz was quoted as saying some very interesting things. See source article here. He was commenting on the Federal decison to increase fuel economy ratings. In the discussion, which took place on May 10th, he said that the Volt’s consumer cost would be less than $30,000. He also said that the Li-ion battery is now only 2 to 3 years away from mass production, and that the vehicle could have a combined electric-combustion range of 750 miles.
He also quite thoughtfully invoked the need for a Manhattan Project-like effort of the Federal government to wean the U.S. off petroleum and onto renewable energy.

For those who follow the Volts’ development carefully these are some very important pieces of information from Bob. Its the first time we’ve heard a possible price-point for the car, and a number likely to make a lot of people happy. Also we are tantalized by the prospect of the car arriving a year ahead of time.

With the Zaap Obvio and possibly Tesla sedan slated to arrive in 2009, an early Volt arrival will be a very good thing.

Larry Burns gave an interview to Automotive News in which he elaborated on some details of the Volt’s production process and plans, and included that a formal production program for the vehicle exists, with initial engineering work already underway.

He says that GM has allocated specific funds for development, with expectations being that 500 million will have to be spent. Also, the engineering team has chosen the next-generation Delta platform ( same as next Cobalt and Astra) upon which the car will be built.

As per the typical GM production process, from the point the Volt is currently at, it should take sbout 36 months for the first Volts to roll off the production line. Thats May 2010 for those keeping score.

Lets hope its available in ALL cities, not just west coast U.S.

To those who think the Volt will be a low volume vehicle, we say think again!

On May 7th the national average cost of one gallon of regular unleaded gasoline hit $3.07. This is up from the previous record of $3.03 on August 11, 2006.The imperative for all electrc cars like the Volt clearly presses on.

Soon as the cost of battery technology drops and gas prices continue to soar, we will all drive electric cars.

Yesterday, the Sentate Finance Committee, subcomittee on Energy, Natural Resources, and Infrastructure heard testimony from some of of the leading people of the electric car/ Chevy Volt movement.  These included David Vieau of A123 systems and Martin Eberhard of Tesla Motors.  All of the transcripts from the meeting can be read in their entirety here.

The main thrust of the testimony was to persuade the committee to continue to give grants and credits to automakers and battery makers to help them continue the inevitable drive towards electric vehicle adoption.  Also on the agenda was to support continuing tax credits for consumers who choose to purchase these cars.  David Vieau specifically mentioned the cost of $10,000 for the 40 mile Volt battery pack, the prototype of which can be currently installed into Prius’s.

Tax credits remain an important tool in promoting widespread consumer adoption of electric cars, considering their increased cost.  They will also help allay certain fears people have about these cars, such as catching fire, EMF’s, etc.  Whenever a new technology arises, fear is a common reaction of the population.

Remember, its always all about the money!