Archive for January, 2008
Breaking: Chevy Volt A123/Continental Prototype Lithium-ion Battery Pack Delivered!
The next major Volt milestone has been achieved.
GM has confirmed receiving the first Chevy Volt specific lithium-ion prototype battery pack from the Continental/A123 Systems production team. The pack was delivered to GM’s Mainz Kastel laboratory in Germany on the morning of January 31st.
GM already has at least two prototype packs from the LG Chem/Compact [...]
Popularity: 36%
Lutz: Forty-Mile Electric Range Mules in March or April
GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz told reporters in Flint, Michigan on Tuesday that the Volt remains on-schedule.
He said:
“We’re going to prove the skeptics wrong,”
and
“I hope to drive the 40 miles electrically by March or April and by June we’ll have running prototypes for the press.”
And for those of you wondering about the first prototype packs from [...]
Popularity: 37%
GM’s CFO Thinks There’s no Recession but Car Prices will Rise
GM CEO Wagoner and CFO Henderson
GM CFO Fritz Henderson had a luncheon with reporters yesterday and made a couple of financial comments.
He indicated that although the housing crisis will be a drag on the economy, and that the government needs to soothe public fears, he does not believe a recession is underway.
He also indicated that [...]
Popularity: 31%
Chevy Volt will Need Special Low Power Windshield Wipers and Audio System
Bob Lutz is clearly a guy who tells it like it is. When GMs father of the Volt gives an interview about the car its always worth listening closely, as what you get will be highly factual.
The Lansing State Journal published a very brief Q and A with Mr. Lutz, and thats where this [...]
Popularity: 35%
One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, VP of Global Program Management, Part 4
What are some of the safety issue of this car, are they different than standard cars, are you going to have to do different kinds of crash test safety?
We already have a standard program of very rigorous tests. Well run crashtests of all sorts, because frankly were looking to sell this vehicle globally. [...]
Popularity: 33%
GM-Volt.com Chevy Volt Waiting List Hits 10,000 Members
Today we have hit a major milestone. 10,000 people have signed up on our waiting list, expressing their desire to buy a Chevy Volt. This site was started on January 12, 2007 in response to GM unveiling the Chevy Volt five days earlier. It was my intent to create a place where like-minded [...]
Popularity: 48%
GM has Formed new Engineering Team for Hybrids, E-REVs, and Batteries
Today GM has announced the creation of a new international engineering team whose task is bringing the electrification of vehicles into the mainstream development process more quickly.
Robert Kruse, GM executive director for vehicle engineering of hybrids has been appointed to head the team which will stretch from China to Detroit.
Jim Queen, GM VP of Global [...]
Popularity: 35%
One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, VP of Global Program Management, Part 3
With respect to the Volt’s combustion engine, if it keeps at the same RPM will it be more efficient than an engine whose RPM varies?
You see this efficiency argument play out in CVT transmissions. You jump in a car with a CVT and what you do is you push the gas pedal down and the [...]
Popularity: 47%
One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, VP of Global Program Management, Part 2
Since its a new technology and drivetrain will it make the production process different and require new facilities that you don’t already have in place?
Oh yeah, we are putting different components in the vehicle but were using well understood principles. For example most of our cars what we have is what we call a ‘front [...]
Popularity: 38%
One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, VP of Global Program Management, Part 1
Jon Lauckner is GM’s VP of Global Program Management, and is reported to by all of the vehicle line directors including Frank Weber, the VLE for Chevy Volt/E-Flex. I had the wonderful opportunity to visit Mr. Lauckner in his office and the chance to sit down with him for a 45 minute chat about [...]
Popularity: 34%
GM-Volt Exclusive: Inside the Chevy Volt/E-Flex Design Studio
The Chevy Volt we have become familiar with is the concept car, or show car. After gaining broad public appeal in January 07, when it was first revealed, GM began the process of rapidly bringing the car to fruition. The interior and exterior design of this final or production vehicle is taking place in [...]
Popularity: 36%
Tesla Founder Martin Eberhard’s Opinion on the Volt
Tesla Motorcars as you may be aware, is on the verge of producing a fully electric car with over 200 miles of EV range, called the roadster. The company’s founder was Martin Eberhard who has subsequently left the company. Whether he’s disgruntled or not isn’t for me to say, nor frankly to care [...]
Popularity: 31%
Recent Posts
- Update: EnerDel’s Chairman on the Cost of the Th!nk Lithium-ion Battery Pack
- GM Marching to a New Beat: Expect Mutiple Volt Versions
- Exclusive: Interview With EnerDel Chairman Charles Gassenheimer
- Wall Street Journal Opinion - Chevy Volt Just a Political Tool
- GM on June Sales: Asia Doesn’t Have a Monopoly on Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
- Artist’s Estimation of the Production Chevy Volt
- Should GM Skip the Volt and Just Make More Efficient Gas Cars?
- Continental Says Chances Good of Getting Volt Battery Contract
- Lutz Explains Why the EV-1 Can’t Simply Be Reintroduced
- Ford Calls the Chevy Volt a Hail Mary Play
