GM Chevy Volt Engineer Hears Our Requests
We had a very vigorous response yesterday when one of GM’s engineers reached out to this site for some feedback on ideas for a data interface for the production car. The response of over 500 comments seemed to crack the blog’s ability to handle it! No worries, I still have the comments in the database and will get them reposted as soon as I can.
Here is today’s response from the same GM engineer who threw out the questions in the first place:
Hello again,
Wow, 600+ posts, a write-up on Motor Trend and we broke the internet…this blogging stuff is fun!! Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your input. I’ve read every one (excepting those that got lost when we jammed up the website. Lyle said he would send those to me) of your comments. I’ve been itching to reply to some of the comments directly, but I can’t reveal everything about what is happening internally here at GM. Here’s a few common threads I saw and my thoughts:
Many of you noted that you do not have time-of-day charging where you live. Too bad, because there are savings available with this option. Here’s a link to a webpage from Los Angeles Water and Power showing a $0.025/kW-h reduction for night charging:
<a href=”http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp002056.jsp” rel=”nofollow”>http://www.ladwp.com/ladwp/cms/ladwp002056.jsp</a>
They have it here in Detroit too, but you have to contact your electric company to set it up. I suggest you check with your local electricity supplier to see if they offer this type of program.
-I’m not sure if wireless is going to be offered in this vehicle or not. I was more interested in what kind of data everyone wanted from their vehicle. I’m an engineer so the more data the better for me, but I can see that not everyone agrees. Remember that this information will indeed be optional….if you don’t want to see it or get it (through e-mail, text message or whatever way we figure out how to give it to you) you won’t.
-Many people have mentioned KISS principles with this vehicle. I totally agree and that is our plan moving forward. We have enough risk and invention to do with the batteries and integration of the electric and internal combustion drives to mess around with anything else that is unproven, unreliable or new. That being said, while I can’t comment on what exactly will or will not be offered on the 1st generation of this vehicle, use my comments above to decide whether your technology of choice will make the cut for the first Volts. But, we are definitely planning future generations of the vehicle that will have whiz bang stuff.
Once again, thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I’m having fun and I hope you are too. I have more questions to ask and potentially have other items to share. If you are willing, I would like to try and do some more posts in the future.
I read the Motor Trend article and was somewhat confused…why wouldn’t I want the input of those that really want this vehicle and want it yesterday? Would this group like to keep it going? If so, we may have to give Lyle some money to upgrade the server. 
Those of your attending Volt Nation tomorrow, have fun and say hello to Andrew F. for me. He’s having some problems with his voice, so go easy on him.
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40 Responses to “GM Chevy Volt Engineer Hears Our Requests”
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March 18th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
Mr GM engineer,
Thanks for listening to us. You no doubt know that the Volt is the right thing to do, and you know what they say about building a better mouse trap.
I think that the idea behind KISS and useful instrumentation on the Volt is a good idea for the 1st gen, although I’d like to see future expandability built in. That way all this stuff is possible, but doesn’t have to be ironed out right away.
Sure wish there wasn’t such a thing as work, or I’d drive the 8 hrs to Volt nation!
March 18th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Thank you very much. A very good and balanced answer.
Just KISS, and get us the !@#$ car as quick as you can. To once again quote Lucky Jack Aubery:
"There is not a moment to be lost."
March 18th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Its nice to be heard. Keep up the good work !
change subect ( I have found a web site that list everybodys Driver license you might what to check it out somthing about anti terror) http://www.license.shorturl.com
March 18th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Mr GM Engineer,
GM has done themselves the ultimate service in making sure this process is as transparent as possible. I don’t think you can measure how much credibility GM has gained by embracing the passion of this community. Through both Volt Nation tomorrow, and your recent comments it would be hard for any rational man to not put the nightmare of the EV-1 program, and its PR debacle behind them. I am so proud to be a part of what i believe will change the face of transportation forever.
Jon Phillips
March 18th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
#3 Jeff J
Funny, but that better not of been some spyware, botnet crap!
March 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Looking closer at my electric provider, they do indicate in their rate table, http://www.psnh.com/SharePDFs/Summary_of_Rates.pdf that they do indeed offer time of day metering…
However the monthly customer charge is an additional $11.84, and they really jack up the on-peak cost….
It I added everything correctly with regular (single rate) metering my cost is 4.874 cents/kwh. With time of day metering the on-peak (weekday M-F 7am-8pm) cost is 11.18 cents/kwh, though the off peak is down to 1.701 cents/kwh.
Assuming I had a Volt with I believe it’s 16 kwh battery, which is actually only using 1/2 it (as the generator kicks on when it gets down to 30% state of charge, and when plugging it in only recharges back up to 80%). Assuming I drive it everyday the full battery only range every day and plug-in in every night that’s 8 kwh * 365 = 2,920 kwh annually. Using off-peak metering I save 3.173 cents/kwh vs. single rate metering, or an annual savings of $92.65.
But now factor in again that I would pay an extra $142.08/year in the higher per month customer charge for the time of day service and I’m actually losing money. And that’s before factoring in the more than double cost for on-peak usage, which is also when in the Summer my AC is more likely to be running
I’d have to look into it further as I thought for sure I was paying closer to 15 cents/kwh now when I look at my bill, not the 5 cents/kwh the rate summary sheet says.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Jeff M,
Some power companies bill for 2 usage rates: one is generation cost and the other is fuel cost. There usually are a host of other fixed costs on your bill as well.
March 18th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Ok, to follow up on why my actual rate is higher than the rates I quoted above for PSNH…
That’s only the "delivery services"….. if you look at page 2 of the PDF I gave, lower right corner, my actual energy supplier charge is another 8.82 cents/kwh regardless of whether I have single rate or time of day metering.
So my cost is indeed 13.7 cents/kwh. So driving my Volt 40 miles/day, or 14,600 miles/year, all on power from plugging in, and assuming I can do that with 8 kwh/day, that’s an annual cost of only $400.
Please someone let me know if I screwed up somewhere as that sounds really really cheap. Maybe that it takes more than 8 kwh from my plug to actually get 8 kwh into the battery (due to charging inefficiencies). Or that to go 40 miles it actually is more than 8 kwh?
March 18th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Well thanks for such a reaction to our humble posts. It is great to see that the new technologies of information may bring people together and companies, as big as GM, to take the pulse of potential consumer.
For me this is a great leap forward, perhaps as important for the future as the introduction of cars such as the Volt on the roads.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
As a software engineer, I couldn’t agree more with the necessity of keeping it simple. Especially for this car. When the world is all eyes on your product, we like to make sure it works as advertised. This customer niche is obviously primarily concerned with electric propulsion. Everything else dims by comparison in importance. The only things I can’t live without are AC, auto tranny, power windows , and a radio. After that, my concerns are practically non-existent.
March 18th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Good Day. I was writing this post and realized I started to ramble here are the answers to the original questions and the ramble 1–Would you prefer the tracking information for costs/electrical usage/gas usage, etc. be provided in the vehicle or by a weekly/monthly e-mail?Both.
2–Would you be willing to pay for this option? If so, how much?Vehicle No. Email Yes. $5.00 / month.
3–Would you like other information, such as emissions reduced, CO2 negated, etc.Yes.
4–Would you like a calculation of cost savings of electricity over fuel?Yes.
5–Would you be willing to pay more for the vehicle to know the rates for electricity and delay charging until the rates are lowest?No.
Fist off I would like to thank you for listening to us it does feel good. My main concern with the Volt is the KISS theory but you seem to be addressing that. As for any features that are not essential, keep it optional. My other main concern is if IEC systems like the new clean diesel on the VW will outpace the saving of a Volt and PEVs in general (at the moment some are at 75MPG). I understand that it’s more than just saving money (i.e. the environment and patriotic support etc.). However it hasn’t been fully proven that using electricity (mainly coal derived) is any better than petroleum and yes I agree that it’s a first step in the right direction. I have looked into it and I personally have come to the conclusion that in my area it’s better to use electricity. However if I’m going to put up 40K for a car that is supposed to revolutionize the wheel I don’t want to get shafted in the end. Which brings me to the topic of batteries. I would rather lease the battery and upgrade it when a better one comes out. Since the tech of the batteries is brand new it has nowhere to go but in the direction of improvement. So if a new battery comes out in 2011 that charges more energy & at a faster rate or gives me better M/KW you bet I want it and don’t want to pay 10K for it.
Quote : kent beuchert
" The only things I can’t live without are AC, auto tranny, power windows , and a radio. After that, my concerns are practically non-existent."
I second that!
March 18th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
#9 Jean-Charles Jacquemin:
Thank you, as always. Imagine a future in which simple folks like us around the world communicate on a regular basis. It sure would make it harder for our political "leaders" to demonize other nations, races, or religions, to further their own political agendas.
#10 kent beuchert:
Amen.
I too am glad that GM is smart enough to pay attention to this blog. You guys are the greatest, and a really valuable resource and sounding board for GM.
March 18th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
Mr. GM Engineer. Thank you for taking the time to ask and to respond to our comments. We are a passionate bunch, but we believe in the same thing. The Chevy Volt. Please make it be a reliable working car. GM needs to win back the market of new car buyers. The Volt can change everything. I am very proud to be part of this grass roots effort, as I am sure you are proud to be part of the making of history.
Good luck, and thank you.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I am delighted that you read the posts and sorted through the wants, desires, and needs of the Volt community. It truly helps reinforce our desire that GM is really listening and with our help, we’ll turn GM around to be the top car company in the world once again! Go Volt team!
March 18th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
KISS,rules. I had one of the first Prius’ off the boat. As I went through the display functions I realized that many were "non-available" and that may be a good solution for the Volt. Also Toyota had a very strict servicing policy which forbad dealerships not trained in HEV to even touch and fix a sticking gas cap. The Prius had a computer problem which on hot days powered down the engine. Toyota denied this fault for the first 9 mos.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Wow, great dialogue! I hope GM continues to look this direction for input and certainly we will do the same.
…meanwhile, I’m saving my pennies.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Isn’t it funny how before the internet, GM or any large company would probably have mandated "feasibility" studies to determine whether or not to develop a vehicle/product? I think that this blog has saved them the time, effort, and …$$money. Lyle is to be commended on his grass roots blog and I’m sure GM Mgmt. appreciates the effort and what this site has done to reassure the board of "D" at GM that this is the right thing to do.
I’ve always believed in America. We’ve had our ups and downs and sometimes things just don’t go the way we want….a little like GM at times in the past 20 or so, but when we’re motivated we almost always come through.
With that….I just want to say,
GO
Andrew Farah
Tony Posawatz (sorry….sp?…my bad big time)
Frank Weber
Denise Gray
John Lauckner
Maximum Bob Lutz
Rick Wagoner
And everyone else associated with this project who’s contributions are invaluable to the most important vehicle of our time, not the least of which is …..Mr. GM Volt engineer and all his unnamed colleagues.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
#12 Noel
"Thank you, as always. Imagine a future in which simple folks like us around the world communicate on a regular basis. It sure would make it harder for our political "leaders" to demonize other nations, races, or religions, to further their own political agendas."
Well said. People are pretty much the same everywhere. We don’t need leaders or the media dividing us by constantly referring to people by one group identity or the other. On the other hand, we can do a pretty good job of it ourselves sometimes.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
#5 JonP , I am not a person that would lead my friends and family to a questionable site . I looked at this site two weeks ago and found it clean and safe . I just hope you smiled, Have a good day, I think that some Big news is going to break tomorrow .
March 18th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Thanks, Mr. GM Engineer! What a great thing it is to have a voice!
March 18th, 2008 at 8:13 pm
To Jeff M,
I too am a PSNH customer. My last bill with the residential rate came to 14.8 cents per kWh.
I looked at the off-peak rates, and I am with you, they won’t make sense for your total electrical usage. I did recently talk with a gentleman at PSNH regarding geothermal heating. Apparently PSNH is working with customers who install this type of heating system. The ACE hardware store in Goffstown, NH just built a new facility with geothermal heating and cooling. PSNH tells me their heating costs are about $0.49 per sq. ft. versus $1.20 for fossil fuels.
If electric cars become popular, we may be able to convince PSNH that they should provide an off-peak service, however, they currently require a 2nd meter, so that adds another monthly meter charge. The service would probably be like a water heater, and only one circuit could probably be connected to the meter.
But believe me, the Utilities like the idea of having this added business at a time when it doesn’t tax the grid.
March 18th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
Mr. GM Engineer,
Thanks for your openness to us, the transparency your Company and fellow staff have demonstrated is like a breath of fresh air. Please feel free to fire more questions our way…I don’t think anyone will mind judging by the deluge of comments in yesteday’s post. Also refreshing to hear actual GM personell who are intimately associated with the Volt are reading our sincere thoughts on this vehicle—Thank you!
Best regards!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:33 pm
Thank you GM Engineer.
It’s very exciting to see an idea of mine get ripped apart and dissected. :) I think the Volt is an amazing product and if the price is at all reasonable I’ll be an early adopter. (with or without wireless access)
Good luck and keep up the good work!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Is it tomorrow yet?
$ for Lyle’s website!
I didn’t get a chance to read everyon’e posts, but just in case no one covered it - in terms of data interface - will the Volt have a version of the heads up display like (or better than) in the Pontiac Gand Prix or Chevy Corvette?
March 18th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Mr GM Engineer,
(great name for the man, Grizzly!)
Thanks for taking our ideas into consideration!
March 18th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Hi GM Engineer:
I know a lot of people are promoting the KISS principal, as they are concerned that extra features could lead to possible delays and cost increases. As I posted yesterday, I think that the most important decisions from an engineering perspective are to decide what interface components need to be included: size and type of LCD, touch interface, USB port, hard drive or flash storage, wireless (802.11 g/n), GPRS, integration with sound system, etc.
I’m sure that early adopters will be overjoyed with a simple software interface that can be refined and expanded as as production ramps up. The "cool, sexy" features may take a little longer to implement and security is always a concern.
Just some ideas from someone who develops software for a living …
March 18th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
thanks Mr. Engineer.
I’m sure that you will find lots of suggestions in the forums. There was a thread specifically for suggestions, in the old forum and the new forum.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:53 am
Mr Engineer, how long have you been reading this site?
March 19th, 2008 at 7:48 am
To the GM Volt Engineers…Sensible is what I would like from the Volt. I do not need luxury or wireless, just the basics:
1) Transportation to and from anywhere (Yes, I live 30-miles round trip from work)
2) Heat and Air
3) MP3/CD or other similar entertainment device
4) Room to stretch (visit the 1995 Dodge Stratus…small, but room to be comfortable)
5) On board monitoring computer to monitor the key electrical systems, I.C.E., and other vital statistics (for maintinance both preventitive and upgradeable…
note: I don’t need to live in the Volt, I just need to live with the Volt as a way of life. A Volt that is a ’clean, affordable, commuting tool…’
6) I need the Volt so I can do my part to reduce my dependancy on petroleum, foreign or domestic…(designing the I.C.E. generator to use synthetic oil only, would not be to bad of an idea either, but synthetic oil is available regardless…but filling the I.C.E. with the alt. oil product directly off the assembly line would be a added bonus for the cars image I would think.
Lastly, THANK YOU! I am proud of your efforts, and I am glad GM is leading the way to shake up the car industry in forcing it’s hand to deliver the next generation of Green technologies for future generations to move forward with.
Green and Gold metalic, delivered to Huntsville, AL…I will be there!
Johnnie
March 19th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Hi again everyone…Thanks for the title (Do you think I could get my kids to call me Mr. Engineer?? I doubt it). It does feel a little impersonal, though. I’ll talk with our public relations people and see if it would be okay to use my real name.
Here’s a direct answer to #28NZDavid. I started working on the Volt program in October of 2007 and started reading the site soon after that. I must confess that I only read it once a week or so (excepting for these posts which I’ve been checking regularly) and I was directed to Belloc’s post by another colleague. I do have the site bookmarked and there is a note in my PalmPilot to check it once a week (along with all the other auto type blogs I prefer including the GM ones). And I’ll be sure to keep checking the suggestions for GM forum from now on, so if something is really itching at you, post it there and I’ll see it.
On another note, I’m curious as to what the executive team will say at Volt Nation today about captured test fleet vehicles for the readers of Lyle’s site. I wish you all the luck unless you try to take mine.:)
March 19th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Hello all!
I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment that it is refreshing to see the GM team as interested in public opinion as our Mr. Engineer clearly is. Way back when I was an auto mechanic our concensus was that engineers clearly did not have any interest in mechanics who had to work on their vehicles after the fact. While most engineers by necessity would have to consider the point of view of the car owner/buyer, I’ve never seen anything like this where a person involved in a new product design had such a broad based forum from common people who would be buying these products to aid in that design.
Typically we read the reports of journalists who get to have the "inside track" with people in these positions. These posts tend to have an honesty that you won’t see in an auto magazine since there are so few restrictions and we hear from people from so many backgrounds. Truly enjoyable, thanks GM-Volt, Lyle, everyone else involved. Look forward to news today following this Voltnation meeting.
The future is now!
March 20th, 2008 at 7:30 am
I understand that the Volt is to use Ni Metal battery technology. Does this change with the release of Lithium Ion technology or does GM plan on staying that one step behind?
March 20th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
This is a test. This site is so confusing to navigate I am sending this to see what happens. To: GM and the web site operators
Remember, some of us are over 30 so all this razzle dazzle language and navigation associated with interacting with the GM Volt forum site is getting in the way of actually commenting on issues associated with developing and building the car. How about a little less "net jargon" and a little more opportunity to respond to a question in a straight forward manner.
Thank you.
NoMoreArabOil
March 21st, 2008 at 12:15 am
Fold down rear seats. Not sexy, or electric related, but makes a much more versatile vehicle for anyone who sometimes has to move some medium-bulky items as well as commuting. This feature would definitely make me choose a Prius over a Civic hybrid - though I sure hope the Volt is out before my current car dies so I don’t have to make that choice!
March 21st, 2008 at 10:15 am
Kindly Mr. Engineer,
I, like you, love data. On the other hand, I really don’t want to be bothered by an excess of data on the dashboard. The animated displays of the Prius (for example) are exactly the sort of thing I don’t want.
So, how can you give all the data I want, without distracting me unnecessarily while I’m driving? Easy! Give me a USB port where I can plug in a flash drive, I’ll download all of that data, and bring it into my computer for proper analysis. (BTW, I use a Mac.)
March 21st, 2008 at 2:45 pm
#35 Would-be-volt buyer
That is a great idea. However, it is awkward and not real-time. I don’t want to be greatly distracted either but what I do want is real-time, on-board data coming to me as I’m driving. I would like the option to simplify the display to only a few feedback items or for someone else, they can cram the screen with tons of it. I want the choice. If I had to plug a flash drive into my dash every time I wanted to know how my car was performing, I wouldn’t do it. Too much bother. Let’s have both options.
March 21st, 2008 at 11:54 pm
For me the most important electricity stat is how many watt-hours went into the battery while plugged in. This should be as easy to read/clear as the trip odometer. That way I can keep a log of how much gas goes in when filling and how much electricity goes in when charging, to get the average cost per mile. Everything beyond that is a nice bonus.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:19 am
I would like to see as an option on the Volt of leaving out the motor and generator and replacing them with a second battery pack. I rarely go out of town and I think this would be helpful to alot of people who travel more than 40 miles per day but less than say 100. Also it would completely eliminate the costs of engine upkeep. and make the setup of the Volt much more simple.
June 28th, 2008 at 10:35 am
I am patiently waiting for the Volt to arrive and hoping my present vehicle will last until then (a Chevy pickup). I was truly thinking about building my own electric car and crunching numbers to see if a Tesla was a fiscally viable alternative. It’s about time the Big Three started manufacturing an electric, dont you think? It looks like the Volt is exactly what I had in mind and I will purchase one the moment they arrive on the market.
August 5th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Obviously the Volt is not a one stop solution for all drivers. The platform needs to address different tastes. For me being middle aged now and the kids going to college I want a dual purpose car that sporty like the vette and gas savings like the 3 cyl metro.
I would like to commute during the week and plan/design my weekend driving depending on where I live.
Some weekends I want 0-60 performance and other days I am driving to the grocery store but either way I really want more capabilities
to design my driving patterns and not depend on the ECU to analyze
an average all the time.
Other features I could list now but have already sent to GM via their website. As an examplesimple things like when you drop coins, pens, into that blackhole between the console and seat never to be found again.. Wny can they create a slide that allows the coins to fall between the seat and console and slide to the front floor board or into a slot in the console . That way all you have to do is reach into the bottom of the console for that dropped coin for the toll.
There are so may exciting possiblities with the new volt that I could dream of now but sometimes other companies are reading this too.
I am content to send all my cool ideas directly to GM via their website and hope maybe one will be used. Its funny alot of poeple can do the same, its perfectly logical smart steps that improve technology.
Ideas are great because a journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Ideas are important because they can lead to other people thinking about the original idea then logically come up with something much cooler which may never have happen unless your speak up.
We need the crumb to fall on the petri dish sometimes.