Archive for March, 2008
Error in Motor Trend Magazine’s Plug-in VUE Advertisement Section
One of our readers pointed out an ad the other day in the April edition of Motor Trend in which the Saturn VUE plug-in, slated for production in 2010 is described as having a 34 mile all-electric range. That news certainly got that reader excited, and potentially many others.
This information although exiting did not match [...]
Popularity: 4%
Volt will be Either a Tremendous Victory or a Terrible Defeat
As some readers previously noticed, the Economist published an excellent article about battery technology. It is concise, well-written, and accurate.
The article goes through the historical evolution of the battery right up to today’s cutting edge lithium-based technologies. Specifically discussed are the chemistries used by LG Chem and A123, the two companies that are [...]
Popularity: 3%
North Carolina To Build Statewide Network of PHEV Charging Pods
North Carolina apparently plans to take the initiative to position itself as a state that welcomes plug-in electric cars.
Utility companies Duke Energy and Progress Energy are pledging $3 million dollars over 5 year to go in part towards building “a statewide network of charging pods at parking lots, gas stations and truck stops.”
This may [...]
Popularity: 3%
Volt Pricing to Take High Battery Warranty Cost into Account
GM vice -chairman Bob Lutz told reporters some of the Volts recently increased pricing reflects the high cost of warrantying the lithium-ion batteries.
He said:
“We are going to bake in a very substantial warranty cost for the battery in our overall pricing calculation,”
and
“We need to be conservative, simply because it’s the first time we’ve done anything [...]
Popularity: 3%
Lutz: Volt Prototype Road Tests Bumped to July
Bob Lutz just told reporters today that the first Chevy Volt prototype road tests with working lithium-ion battery packs have been moved to July. This is one month later than they were initially planned for in June.
The very first public plans were for media road tests on Easter. This was then changed to [...]
Popularity: 3%
Will Volt Roll-out be “Severely Limited”?
As people have pointed out in the comments of the last unrelated post, Larry Burns who is GMs chief of R&D has been quoted as saying, with respect to the Volt:
“We’re not going to sell it in every city and we’re not going to sell it though every Chevrolet dealership,” and
“It just doesn’t make sense [...]
Popularity: 3%
More with Contintenal EV Director on the A123/Conti Chevy Volt Battery Pack Development
Below are more questions and answers with Darryn Nowicki Electric Vehicle Director, Continental Automotive, one of the Chevy Volt pack-making team members.
What is the process of building up to be able to make packs on a mass scale?
As far as being able to mass produce the batteries, we are gearing up to be able to [...]
Popularity: 3%
Interview: Darryn Nowicki Electric Vehicle Director, Continental Automotive, Part I
Continental Automotive is the Chevy Volt battery pack integrator working with A123 Systems. I had the chance to interview Darren Nowicki who heads Continental’s North American Hybrid Electrical Vehicle Unit, and has integral knowledge of the Chevy Volt battery packs development.
Are you involved with the Continental team that has designed the initial prototype and future [...]
Popularity: 3%
Bob Lutz’ Boss Cool on Global Warming Comment
Not to beat a dead horse, but this item continues to persist in the media.
As many of you know, Bob Lutz recently was quoted as saying global warming was a crock of sh*t. This resulted in an impressive run of internet and print media discussions, in the end Lutz made it clear that his [...]
Popularity: 3%
Weighing the Benefits of Driving a PHEV
Justin Hyde of the Detroit Free Press published a short article questioning the benefits of plug-in hybrid adoption.
He makes a point about a law of diminishing returns occurring with increasing mpg. In the example he gives, he reports that going from 25 to 45 mpg will save a 15,000 mile per year [...]
Popularity: 3%
Production Chevy Volt will not Have a Polycarbonate Roof
One aspect of the Chevy Volt concept that draws attention is its polycarbonate roof. Some are thrilled by the unique aesthetics while some more pragmatic folks are concerned abouts its greenhouse effect and the need for electrically powered A/C that might reduce the car’s EV range.
In recent interviews about the actual production Volt, it [...]
Popularity: 3%
An Analysis of the Toyota PHEV versus the Chevy Volt
For a while, GM and Toyota have publicly argued that each PHEV architecture is superior over the other, comparing the Volt (an E-REV) to the prototype Toyota PHEV, basically a Prius with a 10 mile range battery in the trunk.
Ron Grebman of CalCars wrote a terrific analysis whether GM or Toyota is correct in asserting [...]
Popularity: 4%
Recent Posts
- Automaker Loans Deferred to December and Will Only be Provided Based on Automakers Plans for Viability, GM Agrees
- BREAKING: Bipartisan Auto Aid Deal Reached
- Its Down to the Wire for GM
- Detroit 3 CEOs Chastised by Congress: Loan Hopes Dim as Senate Cancels Vote
- Automakers Are Running Out of Time
- Auto Company CEO’s Testify Before the Senate
- Are Chinese Automakers Considering Buying GM and Chrysler?
- The Automaker Bailout Congressional Debate Has Begun
- Production Volt Interior Further Refined: Center LCD Screen, Center Stack Buttons, and Vents
- GM CEO Calls Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing a “Fantasy”
