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GM Gets the Volt its own Lawyer

November 21st, 2007 | Posted in: Production

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I applaud GM for being so open with us on the design and engineering process that’s bringing the Volt to life. They certainly have been very open with me, and doing their best to answer our questions and consider our advice.

No doubt the Volt is the lynchpin of GM’s future.

Besides the risk of promoting a car that doesn’t exist yet, there are risks of being so open. Corporate strategy usually keeps new technology secret until it hits the shelves. Think of the iPhone. In the case of the Volt, GM must pull from behind Toyota and needs the advantage of time. If they wait three years to tell the world about the Volt it could be too late. Now, because we know about it, many of us are waiting until the Volt comes out to purchase our next car.

Reuters has just published a new interview with GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. In it he notes that E-Flex team members are expressing anxiety about the aggressive production timeline (I agree from my interviews).

He also admits the Volt is “an effort to leapfrog anything that is done by any other competitor.”

To assuage the risk of other automakers copying the Volt, the article notes that GM has assigned a patent attorney to the Volt. Lutz goes on to say “I’m convinced we can do the Volt and put it on the road, but if we want a commanding and permanent lead on this type of vehicle … we have to control the intellectual property,” … “Otherwise it will propagate to other manufacturers too quickly.”

Source (Reuters)

Posted by: Lyle

51 Responses to “GM Gets the Volt its own Lawyer”


  1. bruce g
    Vote -1 Vote +1bruce g     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 3:45 pm

    Well done bob and team,
    You are sticking your necks out so you deserve the patent or copyright possibilities.
    I take it all leave is cancelled and Christmas Dinner will be held in the studio? :)   

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  2. mykallb
    Vote -1 Vote +1mykallb     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 4:01 pm

    If it is, give me the address and I’ll send over some Chevas and Urquell.

    M.  

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  3. noel park
    Vote -1 Vote +1noel park     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 4:26 pm

    More power to them. I hope they can make it stick.

    Give me the address and I’ll send them a check for a deposit on a Volt.  

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  4. Anti-Oil Jihadi
    Vote -1 Vote +1Anti-Oil Jihadi     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 5:00 pm

    Well now, we actually get to see corporate executives doing their job correctly.

    I’m sure it won’t be long until some anti-lawyer posts are made, but if GM wasn’t doing this then I’d be worried.

    This just makes me more likely to consider buying GM stock. The fall in the value of the dollar also motivates me to do so.

    GM: good luck getting IP law to be effective in corrupt China. I hope you have some line items in the budget for ‘bribes for the corrupt unelected communists.’  

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  5. Rashiid Amul
    Vote -1 Vote +1Rashiid Amul     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 6:02 pm

    GM, protect what you can. Do whatever you can to get the Volt ready for sale, but don’t forget to make it as perfect as possible. It must have high reliability.

    Bob Lutz and team, you are all doing great and trying to beat the deadline. In my line of work, I am always under deadline. Good luck making it possible. It’s not always easy.  

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  6. Ryan
    Vote -1 Vote +1Ryan     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 6:04 pm

    I’ll laugh my butt of it Toyoda licenses the E-Flex technology!  

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  7. pstoller78
    Vote -1 Vote +1pstoller78     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 6:22 pm

    I’m not sure which aspects of this setup GM will be able to patent. I would assume most of the patents would relate to the software used to control the system. I say this because the idea of a RxEV has plenty of prior art, it has been done before many times in the past. But the software/battery control systems will be what makes everything work efficiently.  

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  8. mykallb
    Vote -1 Vote +1mykallb     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 8:26 pm

    I’ve always wondered how Chevron could control a patent for using NimH batts. in BEV’s. Nimh batts can be made by anyone, and as long as you design your own pack BMS etc, I don’t see how this is possible, but apparently they have it. It might not even be enforceable but idk. That is almost analogous to having a patent to use ICEs in passenger vehicles.

    As far a what can be patented in the EVRE, don’t know either, but I’m sure that attorney they’re paying slightly more than minimum ;) will be well versed to help them get it.

    M.  

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  9. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 9:46 pm

    here is a link to a site about nanosolar, what’s exciting about these guys is that they have a technology (already up and running with sales now) that you just “spray paint” solar cells onto “tin foil”, or even just spray it on roofing shingles, trailers, probably even cars. and what’s even more exciting, the cost of producing electricity with this stuff falls from $3 per watt to just 30 cents per watt (solar is comparable to coal at $1 per watt-so 30 cents per watt is dirt cheap)!
    http://www.popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/green/item_59.html
    just imagine plugging your chevy volt into your house electricity that is powered by your very own “free” solar energy plant!  

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  10. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 9:52 pm

    solar energy  

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  11. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 9:53 pm

    popsci.com/popsci/flat/bown/2007/index.html
    check out your almost free energy to run your chevy volt…this stuff is here, now and being sold.  

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  12. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 21st, 2007 at 9:55 pm

    this stuff makes solar electricty for 30 cents a watt, which is way less than coal @ $1.00 per watt. we need the volt asap, so we can drive around not only independent from oil, but, also driving for free. : )  

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  13. ug
    Vote -1 Vote +1ug     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 2:14 am

    Throwing patents out there would be good for GM but bad for the industry as a whole, and I would hope they would be thrown out due to prior art like this from 100 years ago:

    http://www.ecogeek.org/content/view/1131/

    Unfortuantely the patent system is woefully broken.  

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  14. wirenutjd
    Vote -1 Vote +1wirenutjd     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 10:54 am

    The world needs this new technology, not just GM. Make it like computers, let your technology be “cloned” for the good of the Human race and not your profit margin.  

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  15. Estero
    Vote -1 Vote +1Estero     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 11:00 am

    I too am not sure what GM will be able to patent. The software & battery control systems are new and perhaps patentable. If so, they need to do that! There is no reason for GM to do all the research and development for others to get for free.

    If the roles were reversed and it was Toyota (or others) developing this ground breaking technology, there is no question in my mind they would seek patents and then license the technology to GM (and others) for big bucks.  

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  16. Rashiid Amul
    Vote -1 Vote +1Rashiid Amul     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 11:10 am

    Profit is everything in a free market society.
    GM has to make money on the Volt’s technology (eventually). They can patent the technology and then license it to anyone who wants to pay for it.
    This isn’t the same as keeping the technology secret. The world can still use it under license.

    On a side note: It is Thanksgiving in the USA. Happy Thanksgiving Lyle and to your family.

    Happy Thanksgiving to all of you at GM
    and GM-VOLT.com. Now I have to go help my wife prepare Thanksgiving dinner. We are having lots of guests which will present another opportunity to talk about the Volt.  

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  17. Estero
    Vote -1 Vote +1Estero     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 11:14 am

    #13 wirenutjd said:

    The world needs this new technology, not just GM. Make it like computers, let your technology be “cloned” for the good of the Human race and not your profit margin.

    Sorry to throw cold water on your dream world, but new patents are issued almost daily for computer software & hardware technology. It is one of the things that has led to what ug #12 so accurately said “Unfortuantely the patent system is woefully broken.”

    Don’t believe this? Try doing some research on the internet! You will soon learn Microsoft, Apple and many other computer technology companies have filed many, many patent infrigement suits and have been sued themselves for the same reason.  

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  18. Doug Korthof
    Vote -1 Vote +1Doug Korthof     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 12:21 pm

    GM better use that lawyer to analyze why they are still fighting to keep California’s air dirty.

    Why did GM destroy the EV1?

    GM at the time said its lawyers forced it to destroy the EV1 due to liability concerns.

    Perhaps this new lawyer will explain why GM has liability problems that Toyota doesn’t have.

    Toyota sold the last 328 Toyota RAV4-EV for $42,000 each brand new (they are still worth about that price on the used market).

    Now if Toyota didn’t have liability problems, why did GM have liability problems?

    Or could GM just have been LYING??  

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  19. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 1:36 pm

    doug 17, god man it’s thanksgiving, can you give your toyota paid hate a little holiday rest here?
    you might as well leave the premises, as know one here is listening to your bullsh*t posts.
    haven’t you been reading anything on here?
    even if gm and the volt fail, gm has spurred others on, and great things will happen, regardless of whether the volt ever gets mass produced (which i think it will, but even if it doesn’t).
    happy thanksgiving to all (even the hate spewers, lol).  

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  20. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 1:37 pm

    i need to get my knows and no’s straight, lol  

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  21. bruce g
    Vote -1 Vote +1bruce g     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 1:47 pm

    Im sure if the Linux community get going we can have a Linux Volt.
    That may not be a bad thing either, it could enhance GM’s position.  

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  22. Mike756
    Vote -1 Vote +1Mike756     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 1:53 pm

    I am reading this site on Thanksgiving, but I have an excuse. We went to visit my wife’s family and she ditched me at the hotel with the 4 year old so she could visit her friends. I’m begining to wonder if I’m going to get any dinner.  

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  23. Grizzly
    Vote -1 Vote +1Grizzly     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 4:05 pm

    # bruce g Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 1:47 pm Quote

    “Im sure if the Linux community get going we can have a Linux Volt.
    That may not be a bad thing either, it could enhance GM’s position.”

    #####

    Unfortunately Linux was created by a poor student, not a publicly held corporation.
    Moreover, any student with an idea, motivation, and some time can create software, but producing automobiles is a different story.

    You might see GM lease the technology to other companies, probably part of the purpose of pursuing the patents.  

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  24. ug
    Vote -1 Vote +1ug     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 4:19 pm

    The purpose of the patents is to try to one-up Toyota. Toyota’s parallel hybrid system is a true innovation. Chevy did not invent the serial hybrid and there is no way they should be able to patent the concept. They may do some interesting things in implementation, but nothing truly groundbreaking. That’s not to say they won’t get a patent on file, but it will be bogus and I would hope the other automakers would challenge it rather than wussing out and paying GM’s extortion fee.  

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  25. Estero
    Vote -1 Vote +1Estero     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 6:03 pm

    #24 gu said “That’s not to say they (GM) won’t get a patent on file, but it will be bogus and I would hope the other automakers would challenge it rather than wussing out and paying GM’s extortion fee.”

    You don’t know anything at all about what patents GM may apply for and receive. Yet, you’ve already determined them to be “bogus” and any fees paid to GM will be “extortion”.

    That sounds like “my mind is made up, don’t confuse me with facts”.  

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  26. Jimmy
    Vote -1 Vote +1Jimmy     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 6:14 pm

    #24 Ug:

    Why the negative tone? No one is going to make you buy a Volt. You are free to buy any car that interests you. Sometimes blogs bring out the worst in people.

    Happy Thanksgiving,

    Jimmy

    P.S. Only 1,090 days and counting until we can all buy a Volt.  

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  27. Dan
    Vote -1 Vote +1Dan     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 6:17 pm

    I’ve recently bought 1,001 GM shares at an average price of $31.18 (and it’s down to $27). The more GM can patent the Volt the better. I don’t think infringement will be a problem, considering there’s not a lot of small, sketchy players in the auto industry.

    And naturally GM deserves to profit as much as possible from this mammoth invention. If there were no profit at the end of the tunnel, and Toyota could just copy the concept, it would make all of this investment for naught. Would pharmaceuticals invest in new drugs were there no patents? Would Monsanto invest in new seeds if they could just be copied by another agricultural company? All of these new technologies are crucially important. wirenutjd, the profits are what provide incentive for any new technology. In addition, re-investing the profits in R&D allows more and more innovation in the future. Without them, we’d be the USSR, not the USA.  

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  28. bruce g
    Vote -1 Vote +1bruce g     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 6:34 pm

  29. bruce g
    Vote -1 Vote +1bruce g     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 6:37 pm

  30. Grizzly
    Vote -1 Vote +1Grizzly     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 7:51 pm

    bruce g:

    Gotcha. Thought you were making an analogy wrt GM’s technology.

    Since any car like the Volt is going to need an OS, I agree.  

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  31. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 8:03 pm

    mike 22, hope you had dinner!
    i too had hoped not to visit the site today, being thanksgiving, but just need to know…
    ug 24, the volt is not a hybrid, it’s an electric car with a range extending engine.
    there is quite a difference.  

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  32. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 8:13 pm

    bruce g 28/29 very kool…  

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  33. bruce g
    Vote -1 Vote +1bruce g     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 8:39 pm

    Freescale seems to be a very large automotive chip manufacturer and they are advocating for linux, though not necessarily at a engine controller level..but this is not an Operating Systems blog so enough..  

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  34. ug
    Vote -1 Vote +1ug     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 10:16 pm

    ==
    Why the negative tone?
    ==

    Because the patent system is broken. It is being used as an anti-competitive business gimmick instead of what it was intended for–to reward genuine inventions. This is not an invention. It’s dusting off an old concept and making it sound like an invention. In fact the initial reaction many had to the Chevy Volt concept was that it was a technological shortcut on their part by not having to go the parallel way.

    Just look at the prior art:

    http://www.evmaine.org/html/ev_trailers.html

    If these kinds of grass roots efforts can produce a serial hybrid, then it shows you that despite the snazzy “Eflex” branding, Chevy is not inventing anything new, conceptually speaking.

    They might come up with some specific techniques to throttle the generator or save power on the accessories. That’s it.

    But people come on here and post about how Chevy “deserves” patents to financially reward them. Nobody “deserves” a patent unless they invented something.  

    (Quote)


  35. ug
    Vote -1 Vote +1ug     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 10:30 pm

    “hybrid, it’s an electric car with a range extending engine.”

    http://smartgreenenergy.com/quick-summaries/quick-summary-understanding-hybrid-cars/  

    (Quote)


  36. bruce g
    Vote -1 Vote +1bruce g     Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 10:31 pm

    Ug,
    Could you give examples of “genuine inventions”?  

    (Quote)


  37. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 23rd, 2007 at 12:18 am

    ug 35 it was my understanding, and i’m not saying that i was correct, that a hybrid was a car that runs off of different types of fuel, especially at this stage of the game, a gas engine with a small electric motor for extra service.
    the volt runs totally on an electric motor.
    the gas engine is no more than the same thing as plugging into a wall outlet to recharge the battery. i think they are two different creatures, but i don’t really care, the volt is a kool idea.
    as far as patents? i don’t know what gm has in mind, really don’t care, just want to see this car or something like it hit the market.
    as i said, i think harley was making golf carts with a similar system back in the 70s, at least that’s what i heard. i have no proof, and feel no need to look it up.  

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  38. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 23rd, 2007 at 12:21 am

    bruce g 36, i think i see where you’re going with this, but you may be stepping into a bunch of research to prove ug wrong.
    i’d skip it myself, lol…but if you decide to go for it, i’m behing ya!  

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  39. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 23rd, 2007 at 12:22 am

    behind, god, i need to get my typing/spelling right on here…  

    (Quote)


  40. Grizzly
    Vote -1 Vote +1Grizzly     Says:
    November 23rd, 2007 at 1:14 am

    # bruce g Says:
    November 22nd, 2007 at 10:31 pm Quote

    “Ug,
    Could you give examples of “genuine inventions”?

    *****

    How about Parallel Hybrid technology that Toyota did NOT invent? I guess if you’re ug that’s a “genuine” invention.  

    (Quote)


  41. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 23rd, 2007 at 1:43 am

    that’s some funny shit grizz, good move.
    lmao…  

    (Quote)


  42. bruce g
    Vote -1 Vote +1bruce g     Says:
    November 23rd, 2007 at 4:01 pm

    Yeah,
    Thats the trouble with inventions..I think there is usually prior art to debate.
    I thought the basis of inventions was novelty compared to prior art but Im not a lawyer..im a blogger..and inclined to never let the truth get in the way of a good story…lol

    Even e=mc*2 probably had prior art.  

    (Quote)


  43. ug
    Vote -1 Vote +1ug     Says:
    November 24th, 2007 at 12:13 am

    What are some genuine inventions? Look up some of Tesla’s.

    http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Biographies/TeslaBio-Patents.htm  

    (Quote)


  44. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 24th, 2007 at 2:23 am

    ug, you’re iggied, lol…  

    (Quote)


  45. big one
    Vote -1 Vote +1big one     Says:
    November 24th, 2007 at 11:53 pm

    -  

    (Quote)


  46. D.J.
    Vote -1 Vote +1D.J.     Says:
    November 25th, 2007 at 9:03 pm

    Maybe GM will patent the Volt and sell the rights to a big oil company. Then it can get squashed like the EV-1s did.

    Doug Korthof, I’m very greatful that you get your voice out there. I, too, am on yahoogroups.

    Can someone please explain this “iggy” thing? Does it have to do with Garfield the cat?  

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  47. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 25th, 2007 at 9:41 pm

    d.j. you still here? sorry but i don’t have time for idiocy filled remarks, so you are iggied. rotf lmao @ dj because i am certain that he was once again doing nothing more than slamming the volt, or the u.s. or something of that nature.
    good bye dj…lol  

    (Quote)


  48. Grizzly
    Vote -1 Vote +1Grizzly     Says:
    November 26th, 2007 at 12:39 am

    Suuure looks like ‘ol Douggie-boy is back in sheep’s clothing ;) .  

    (Quote)


  49. D.J.
    Vote -1 Vote +1D.J.     Says:
    November 26th, 2007 at 1:27 am

    James,
    I do like the Volt, never said I didn’t. It’s a little over the top for a high fuel-efficient vehicle but it IS a plug-in.
    I’m sorry I’m not part of the mass american sheeple who can’t think for themselves, open their eyes, and see what is happening in front of them. It was speculated from the get-go that this vehicle was just GM PR work and we would never see it. So far they have pushed it into 2011. I just can’t imagine people are going to continue to visit this site and daydream about this vehicle for the NEXT 3 YEARS. I hope I’m wrong and it is released. Don’t get me wrong,I do appreciate this site and the work that is put into it. I’m glad that this forum is open for discussion.

    If I’m “iggied” then so be it. I’d rather you ignore me than think that there is some adolescent weirdo out there stalking me.

    Let’s go GM!  

    (Quote)


  50. james
    Vote -1 Vote +1james     Says:
    November 26th, 2007 at 1:34 am

    48 grizz, think you’re right.
    dj, are you still babbling on on here?
    you’re iggied, i stopped reading your slanderous posts some time ago, so if you’re trying to bother me you might as well forget it.
    good bye dj, and still LMAO @ DJ, LOL
    god bless the e-rev electric volt, god bless nano solar and God Bless America!!!  

    (Quote)


  51. ug
    Vote -1 Vote +1ug     Says:
    November 27th, 2007 at 8:02 pm

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