We are getting more and more clips from the show to share with those who could not attend. The first clip is yours truly giving the opening comments. In the second clip you can see GM vice chairman Bob Lutz showing off some photos of the Continental/A123 pack. He had them safely hidden in a pocket. Having him there was actually a surprise too.
[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7NC0v1qb40]
[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=935Iqmvn3OA]
This entry was posted on Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 6:35 pm and is filed under Volt Nation Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Mar 21st, 2008 (7:01 pm)Lyle,
Thanks…much clearer view of the pack. Sure looks like it was a great event. Makes me wish I’d played hooky from work and gone anyway.
Mar 21st, 2008 (7:05 pm)Great Lyle, exciting stuff. Wish I did not have to go on a road trip just now for a few days stumping about hill tops. Well done everyone who went.
I am really pleased to hear about the increase in battery packs delivered. Lyle, do you have a date for your mule drive yet?
Kin Regards all.
Mar 21st, 2008 (7:27 pm)The battery pack photos shows something setting on top of the middle section. Any idea what that might be?
Mar 21st, 2008 (7:52 pm)Whatever it was it must have been top secret because they’ve pulled the video again.
Mar 21st, 2008 (8:09 pm)I would like to see the video of Lyle’s introduction (no longer available).
Mar 21st, 2008 (8:11 pm)This is the video that shows at 7:36 in the top left corner how the pack fits in the bottom of the vehicle.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XJl4U4gZUTs
Mar 21st, 2008 (8:14 pm)Here is the video that shows how the pack fits in the bottom of the vehicle. It’s at 7:36 in the top left corner.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=XJl4U4gZUTs
Mar 21st, 2008 (8:15 pm)…oops sorry about the double post.
Mar 21st, 2008 (8:45 pm)I know this is off topic however I think GM in changing its image relating to cars is good.
I own a GM now a Cadillac however one thing about GM need to change.
They do not support there older vehicles. The discontinue parts if the car is over 5 years old. I have an old Classic Cadillac Allante and simple parts for this car are impossible to get.
My parents have a Cadillac Seville and struts for this car and other parts you cannot get anymore.
GM suffers from a poor image because people think their cars are not long lasting not because their cars don’t last because that is the opposite. My old mercedies vehicles have had a lot more problems in fact quite a few more problems than my Cadillac cars. But when there is a problem MB parts and service will take care of it. It will cost a lot of money but the dealer Always has the parts no matter how old my Benz is. The sad thing is I love my cadillac much more than my Benz and I prefer to drive it.
My old cadillac cars is like a puzzle to get the parts off ebay etc.
A lot of folks trash there GM cars because of lack of dealer support and lack of parts support. GM needs to crack down on dealers to keep them fresh and up to date. There is a Cadillac in Bethesda MD is an example of a dealer that looks like its falling apart with large holes in the exterior of the building . How can they sell GM cars if the dealers looks terrible its very bad on image.
My challenge to GM is to support your old vehicles and stop discontinue parts.
The image of making a GM last for 30 + years will help the company and allow GM to cash in on parts profits by keeping the vehicles on the road longer.
When the Volt arrives I will be one of the first people to hopefully get one I hope GM supports me if I keep this car 10 years!
Greg
Mar 21st, 2008 (10:06 pm)Lyle …nice job. I wish I could have been there.
Mar 21st, 2008 (10:28 pm)There are a bunch of videos from the event from a AutoBlogGreen guy in the audience here.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-first-volt-nation-meeting-held/
Mar 22nd, 2008 (9:39 am)Something that has not been said directly but emotions indicate GM has been leaning towards the A123/Conti solution since they announced the final 2 suppliers. The meeting in New York only solidified this impression for me. The twinkle in the eyes of the GM folks came more when they were speaking of the A123/Conti battery and you can see it in this video as well. Perhaps someone gleaned more information from Voltnation that explains why they are favoring A123 (cost, life, power, range)?
Mar 22nd, 2008 (10:48 am)Lyle,
Wish I could have been there. Kudos to you for recognizing the impact that the Volt can have on not just GM, but our country and our world. Thanks for creating a place where we can help shape how GM puts this car into the market.
Mar 22nd, 2008 (3:11 pm)Koz #11
I got the same impression. Lutz specifically mentioned how excited they were when it arrived. I don’t believe he ever expressed the same excitement for the CPI pack and it was the first to arrive for testing.
Mar 22nd, 2008 (8:45 pm)I believe that in some earlier posts, it was mentioned that GM and A123 had a cooperative agreement, where GM would get more involved in the chemistry of the Li-Ion batteries and work in conjunction with A123 on the design of the cells.
I do not know of any contractual arrangements between GM and A123, but if they do have a cooperative (perhaps exclusive) agreement, and A123 has patents on their nano-technology, this means GM may have exclusive rights to some of the best Li-Ion cells that can be currently manufactured. If so, this would give them a big advantage over other competitors.
Mar 22nd, 2008 (11:13 pm)Autobloggreen has a nice "piece" on their site. Looks like most of the info was actually gleaned from HERE (lol)
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2008/03/20/new-york-2008-first-volt-nation-meeting-held/ Maybe next time they’ll cover it themselves. (wink)
Mar 23rd, 2008 (9:56 am)CHEVY VOLT: American-made, American-FUELED
Well, I’m on the waiting list, and I’m in a van pool to keep my American dollars here in America rather than pump my income to the Middle-East. Let’s hope the count down to an affordable, mid-sized electric car keeps going. Sooner is better.
CHEVY VOLT: American-made, American-FUELED
Mar 24th, 2008 (12:04 am)Just hate to keep preaching but I’d like to see GM help out A123 with plant and capital while fully respecting their rights to intellectual property and capital.
I’d also like these plants to be in the North American neck of the woods, free from the uncertainty and unpredictability of most plants in the "familiar" country in Asia. Mexico would be the target. GM has plenty of facility there and I believe it would work. Taking control is what this is about, and this would be the start.