Exclusive: Interview/Podcast With Chevy Volt Chief Engineer on Current State of Volt Development

16 Responses to “Exclusive: Interview/Podcast With Chevy Volt Chief Engineer on Current State of Volt Development”

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   DC Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 3:38 pm

   This is a nice interview.

   The issue that only 40 miles electric with A/C off is pretty big.

   I wonder electric mileage what the car will get when the A/C is blowing full?  
   
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   Estero Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 4:41 pm

   The engine is being reported to operate at a constant speed. Doesn’t that suggests it is capable of sufficient charge to operate the A/C.

   The only issue is using the A/C when operating the Volt strictly on electic.  
   
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   Ziv Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 7:17 pm

   Wikipedia states that automobile AC units require 4kW of power (about 5 hp) which is about 1/6 of the power required to move a midsized car at about 60 mph (IIRC), if you use the AC nonstop. So it may end up cutting the range at full speed by 15% and perhaps even more at lower speeds, or stop and start type of commuting. But I am not knowledgeable about this at all. I hope that my guess is worst case, though.  
   
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   Lyle Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 8:51 pm

   Great calculations Ziv. I also like Estero’s point, it seems that the A/C could conceivably be powered directly off the ICE, leaving the battery alone to power the drivetrain. Of course, in that scenario, there would be fuel consumption (*6x 50 mpg ~300 mpg equivalent rate).

   It seems like Nick and his crew noted “a lot of work” was needed to figure this out for the car.  
   
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   kent beuchert Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 9:10 pm

   Those energy figures on AC are probably not appropriate – the VOLT will use a heat pump. The energy used for AC varies depending upon size of interior as well and tinting of glass to reduce heat gain, etc. Paint color can also cause about a 10 to 15 degree change on the interior, as I recall. The only issue is when the car is running off of “grid electricity,” in other words, when driving that first 40 miles after recharging. Assume 4kW were correct. Generally, travelling 40 miles can take 35 minutes (on the highway) which would require around 2 kWhrs, or about a 8 mile reduction in range. I assume a heat pump would be more efficient and would require less, perhaps 6 to 7 miles. As the speed slows, the AC bite is larger of course. Probably the best course would be to turn
   on the AC while the car is still plugged in, using grid electricity to cool it down
   before starting to drive. A lot of the AC is used intially to cool down a hot interior. That would not only be the most comfortable but also the best way to minimize the electricity needed to cool the car for that first 40 mile jog.  
   
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   Ziv Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 9:58 pm

   Sorry, I put the link to Wikipedia’s figures on auto ac in my own header not in the body of my input. Like I said, this isn’t my area of expertise, and I like the points that Kent brought up. A 15% loss of range on hot days wouldn’t be a deal killer, but it would be less than optimal.
   I guess I won’t be taking my first Volt in midnight blue…
   Side issue, I just wonder how long after the Volts start to get popular that the first plug-in kiosks with some sort of extension cords will start to spring up in parking lots. How about a parking meter that charges you for parking at a dollar an hour, (going rate in NOVA) plus you can plug in for the going rate for electricity, plus a 25% profit for the supplier/county… Kind of like the semi-public headbolt heater plugins in the colder states.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_conditioner  
   
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   kent beuchert Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 11:01 pm

   Checking the power consumption of window A/C units, I find one that’s rated 12,000 BTU and cools 400 sq ft and only draws
   8.4 at 120 volts, or 1 Kw. Another 15,000 BTU window unit draws 15 amps at 120 volts or 1.8 Kilowatts. Seeing these figures for units much larger than would be required for a compartment as small as the interior of a sedan leads to me to doubt that 4Kw power estimate for A/C. Looks like 1 or 2 kilowatts is required, or around 2 to 3 mile reduction for highway run of 40 miles.  
   
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   kent beuchert Says:
   August 10th, 2007 at 11:17 pm

   I’ve mentioned this before on other blogs, but it’s clear to me that once plug-in appear, the same thing will happen everywhere that happened in So California back when that impractical EV-1 was still around – offices installed 120 outlets in their parking lots for their employees. National average electrical rate is around 8.5 cents per kWhr, but 7 cents for commercial (stores,etc.) For a 120 15 amp circuit (typical), the cost is 12.5 cents per hour. Installing 120 outlets in a cluster of parking spaces would cost about
   zilch. I’m certain that grocery stores,
   doctor’s offices, theaters, shopping malls would all make these available for their customers – it’s simply too cheap and attractive not to. There probably is no reason to charge for the juice. Shop an hour and suck up 1.8 kWhrs, or around 7 miles of driving.  
   
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   Tom Crowley Says:
   August 11th, 2007 at 9:01 am

   Now the fun begins
   The big question is how efficient the AC or Heat pump will be?
   That will depend on how much room they give up in the front end of the car for the condensing coil.
   The larger the coil the less power will be needed to run the compressor.
   Saying a Heat pump is more efficient is not correct.
   Heat pumps can move the heat from inside the car to outside and from outside to inside the car,
   AC can only move heat from inside to outside of the car.
   With the battery section going to be liquid cool that heat could be move to inside the car like your current cars.
   so using a Heat pump would not be needed if they can get enough heat off the battery cooling system.
   Tom  
   
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    Matt986 Says:
    August 11th, 2007 at 11:17 am

    Well, for heating, I can use a space heater as an example. I have a little space heater that can get a 12×15 room nice and toasty relatively quickly. It uses 1000W (1kW). That’s for the heating element and the fan in it.

    If the Volt was made with a nice, efficient AC unit, and a small space heater type heating unit, it seems like we’ve evidenced that they could each draw maybe around 1kW, which during use wouldn’t decrease the range of the vehicle too much.  
    
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    mlhm5 Says:
    August 14th, 2007 at 12:22 pm

    The point is not how the Volt handles the AC, but if in fact the Volt will ever be marketed.

    I, for one, would like to see the numbers from a real world business/marketing plan on the final design(s), the number of cars GM intends to manufacture during the first 12 months, how it will compete with the Prius and diesels that will be available during the year they launch the Volt. After all GM is tentatively committing to 2010 which is just two model years away.

    Honda’s new 2.2L diesel will be in the Accord and will be a world beater with an estimated 50MPG as will Toyota’s diesel. Both plan to be in the market in 2009.

    GM is being very cagey for a company who is committed to marketing this vehicle within 2+ years and may just pull the plug when the Honda Accord 2.2L diesel is announced along with the PHEV Prius.

    I could be wrong, but wasn’t it GM who promised a hybrid, then pulled the plug and announced that the new “silver bullet” was hydrogen?

    With a record of under delivering on new technology, GM may have a shareholder problem if they don’t market a Volt that is competitive with the diesel Honda Accord and the PHEV Prius.  
    
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    Paul Says:
    August 15th, 2007 at 12:52 am

    Maybe this is a crazy idea, but…

    It seems like an on-board thermal mass could provide plenty of heating/cooling on the road using very little electricity.

    For example, a gallon of frozen ice could provide a few hours of cooling. Likewise, a gallon a melted salt could provide a few hours of heat.

    During recharging (when Volt has plenty of electric power), the thermal mass could be re-frozen or re-melted (as appropriate) for later use on the road.

    The phase change of a thermal mass can capture/release a tremendous amount of energy at a constant temp. This energy transfer is 100% efficient, and it will never wear out.  
    
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    Edward Faroh Says:
    August 27th, 2007 at 9:52 pm

    Uh…

    What’s a “Thermal Mass”?  
    
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    GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Concept Site » GM Expands Chevy Volt/E-Flex Leadership Team Says:
    October 19th, 2007 at 9:46 am
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    explain bc and ad in a timeline Says:
    July 31st, 2008 at 3:34 am
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    WILLIAM HUSAR Says:
    October 18th, 2008 at 11:23 am

    NICK ZIELINSKI ON JULY 20 GM MEDIA SENT E-MAIL THANKING ME FOR THE CONCEPT OF USING THE KINETIC ENERGY OF THE REAR WHEEL DRIVING THE GENERATOR TO CHARGE THE BATTERY WHILE DRIVING NO GAS REQUIRED DETAILS AVAIALABLE whusarb@aol.com  
    
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