Comments on: Interview With Denise Gray, GM Battery Director http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:07:32 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Bennie Vaughn http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-34405 Bennie Vaughn Tue, 25 Mar 2008 21:55:47 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-34405 aper lobed thymocyte nonmaritime snooded pehlevi thermosynthesis velte <a href="http://www.imf.org/external/country/NLD/" rel="nofollow">IMF - Kingdom of the Netherlands-Netherlands and the IMF</a> http://www.lauerdesign.com aper lobed thymocyte nonmaritime snooded pehlevi thermosynthesis velte
IMF – Kingdom of the Netherlands-Netherlands and the IMF
http://www.lauerdesign.com

]]> By: Paul http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-4137 Paul Thu, 16 Aug 2007 04:26:45 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-4137 From the Volt specs I’ve seen, it looks like the generator can only make about one third of the power that the batteries can deliver to the electric motor. And it will certainly be possible to drive the Volt in a way that uses more power than what the generator can deliver. This means (IMHO) that the generator will be used to charge the batteries (not run the motor), and the volt batteries (not the generator) will power the Volt electric motor. So the battery is just a big energy store with power going in (from the generator or wall plug) and out (to the motor). After driving 40 miles, both will automatically happen at the same time. So GM has to consider a lot of special case scenarios. For example... At what point of battery discharge does the generator turn on? It must turn on before the batteries are completely dead. What happens if your batteries are very low and you drive the car in a way that uses power faster than the generator can provide it? Suddenly your car is one third as powerful as what you’re used to. Or maybe GM will gradually taper down the available power as your battery reaches a lower and lower state of charge. Should the generator be able to charge the battery when the Volt is “off”? Sounds like a great feature, but it probably won’t be automatic. You wouldn’t want the generator ICE to start automatically while it’s in your garage. It might fill your house/garage with CO and CO2. Where should GM draw the line between flexibility and simplicity? It won’t appeal to most people if it requires a degree in engineering. I have the degree, so it wouldn’t bother me though. ;-) Where should GM draw the lines between features and safety? Automatic features are great, as long as they don’t poison you with CO in the middle of night. GM has a ton of very interesting power management questions to resolve. As an engineer, I think it would be a great project to work on. I just hope they pick the right answers. If they do, I will be first in line to buy a Volt in three years. From the Volt specs I’ve seen, it looks like the generator can only make about one third of the power that the batteries can deliver to the electric motor. And it will certainly be possible to drive the Volt in a way that uses more power than what the generator can deliver.

This means (IMHO) that the generator will be used to charge the batteries (not run the motor), and the volt batteries (not the generator) will power the Volt electric motor. So the battery is just a big energy store with power going in (from the generator or wall plug) and out (to the motor). After driving 40 miles, both will automatically happen at the same time.

So GM has to consider a lot of special case scenarios. For example…

At what point of battery discharge does the generator turn on? It must turn on before the batteries are completely dead.

What happens if your batteries are very low and you drive the car in a way that uses power faster than the generator can provide it? Suddenly your car is one third as powerful as what you’re used to. Or maybe GM will gradually taper down the available power as your battery reaches a lower and lower state of charge.

Should the generator be able to charge the battery when the Volt is “off”? Sounds like a great feature, but it probably won’t be automatic. You wouldn’t want the generator ICE to start automatically while it’s in your garage. It might fill your house/garage with CO and CO2.

Where should GM draw the line between flexibility and simplicity? It won’t appeal to most people if it requires a degree in engineering. I have the degree, so it wouldn’t bother me though. ;-)

Where should GM draw the lines between features and safety? Automatic features are great, as long as they don’t poison you with CO in the middle of night.

GM has a ton of very interesting power management questions to resolve. As an engineer, I think it would be a great project to work on. I just hope they pick the right answers. If they do, I will be first in line to buy a Volt in three years.

]]> By: Lyle http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3968 Lyle Tue, 14 Aug 2007 15:21:38 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3968 I think GM will try to keep the car as simple as possible and limit its use to just being a car (not an emergency generator). The learning curve for the general public should not be steep or the car will not get widely adopted. I suspect the generator(ICE) will go on when the battery gets below a certain level, and only when the car is on. I think GM will try to keep the car as simple as possible and limit its use to just being a car (not an emergency generator). The learning curve for the general public should not be steep or the car will not get widely adopted.

I suspect the generator(ICE) will go on when the battery gets below a certain level, and only when the car is on.

]]> By: OptimisticMF http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3900 OptimisticMF Mon, 13 Aug 2007 16:36:47 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3900 Let's keep it on topic. One question I have is, will GM incorporate the option to recharge the battery from the internal generator, or just run the vehicle if the batteries are low? If I'm away from home or park on the street, can I park the car and have the generator power up the car? I'm assuming "no" since, logically, its cheaper to recharge the batteries with electricity, rather than whatever fuel you're using, but you never know what circumstances will dictate. What sort of control will the driver have over the generator? I guess this ties into some of the questions about whether or not there will be an outlet to run other equipment off of the generator in the event of a power failure. Let’s keep it on topic. One question I have is, will GM incorporate the option to recharge the battery from the internal generator, or just run the vehicle if the batteries are low? If I’m away from home or park on the street, can I park the car and have the generator power up the car? I’m assuming “no” since, logically, its cheaper to recharge the batteries with electricity, rather than whatever fuel you’re using, but you never know what circumstances will dictate. What sort of control will the driver have over the generator? I guess this ties into some of the questions about whether or not there will be an outlet to run other equipment off of the generator in the event of a power failure.

]]> By: Brian http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3850 Brian Sun, 12 Aug 2007 18:20:28 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3850 Susan K When you talk down to people like that all you are doing is hurting the green image. Stop being such a snob. Susan K

When you talk down to people like that all you are doing is hurting the green image. Stop being such a snob.

]]> By: Susan K http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3846 Susan K Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:17:48 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3846 Since electronic parking meters run off electrical lines run down under sidewalks, and since cars park nose in to the sidewalk, shouldn't the plug be in the front near the socket? An added benefit: psychologically, you would then "go get" your own electricity, rather than "take it in the butt", like gasguzzlers... http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/08/12/autobloggreen-interview-with-daniel-kammen-on-phevs/ Since electronic parking meters run off electrical lines run down under sidewalks, and since cars park nose in to the sidewalk, shouldn’t the plug be in the front near the socket?

An added benefit: psychologically, you would then “go get” your own electricity, rather than “take it in the butt”, like gasguzzlers…

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/08/12/autobloggreen-interview-with-daniel-kammen-on-phevs/

]]> By: Susan K http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3824 Susan K Sun, 12 Aug 2007 08:43:04 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3824 People are stupid. They consider short term up front costs only, thats why they get taken in by balloon mortgages and reverse amortisation. If they had had to buy 15 years worth of gasoline together with their last new car purchase they would realise how much more expensive gasoline is than running a car on a 15 year supply of electrons in a battery. So why not make it easy for even the morons to understand that the EV is a better buy: charge upfront for the car only (just like buying a gasoline car without a gas supply) and then charge a monthly fee for the use of the battery. Then you'll have the flexibility to improve, change and reduce battery prices as they enter the mass market, and you can get our Volts on the road before civilization collapses. People are stupid. They consider short term up front costs only, thats why they get taken in by balloon mortgages and reverse amortisation.

If they had had to buy 15 years worth of gasoline together with their last new car purchase they would realise how much more expensive gasoline is than running a car on a 15 year supply of electrons in a battery.

So why not make it easy for even the morons to understand that the EV is a better buy: charge upfront for the car only (just like buying a gasoline car without a gas supply) and then charge a monthly fee for the use of the battery.

Then you’ll have the flexibility to improve, change and reduce battery prices as they enter the mass market, and you can get our Volts on the road before civilization collapses.

]]> By: Steven B http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3820 Steven B Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:41:26 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3820 Thanks for your answers. That sucks to have to drive so far for commuting. And it's sensible to use such an EV in those two ways. For me, I wouldn't mind using some gas or ethanol, or hydrogen if we get around to putting the infrastructure in place. But everytime the issue of increasing battery storage comes up, I wonder about the impact on overall efficiency, available space in the car, weight and its effects on performance, as well as cost. What do you guys feel about those issues? Thanks for your answers. That sucks to have to drive so far for commuting. And it’s sensible to use such an EV in those two ways. For me, I wouldn’t mind using some gas or ethanol, or hydrogen if we get around to putting the infrastructure in place. But everytime the issue of increasing battery storage comes up, I wonder about the impact on overall efficiency, available space in the car, weight and its effects on performance, as well as cost. What do you guys feel about those issues?

]]> By: Matt986 http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3806 Matt986 Sun, 12 Aug 2007 03:35:59 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3806 I think for those of us with short commutes, we can think of the Volt as an EV with a range extender. For those that commute more than 40 miles, you will have to think of it as a PHEV. I think for those of us with short commutes, we can think of the Volt as an EV with a range extender.

For those that commute more than 40 miles, you will have to think of it as a PHEV.

]]> By: BlackSheep http://gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3804 BlackSheep Sun, 12 Aug 2007 01:58:58 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/08/11/interview-with-denise-gray-gm-battery-director/#comment-3804 My commute to work every day 70 miles round trip a larger battery would be nice. However I will take what I can get. I would have to fill up about once every two weeks considering I car pool about half time. My commute to work every day 70 miles round trip a larger battery would be nice. However I will take what I can get. I would have to fill up about once every two weeks considering I car pool about half time.

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