Archive for March, 2008
Lutz: Why Do You Need Fuel Cells?
GMs vice-chairman is Bob Lutz, he is the father of the Chevy Volt and shepherding its development along personally. When he says something about the car, it has validity, and often he will be the first to leak out news, sometimes I suspect, against the wishes of GMs PR people. One thing is certain [...]
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A123 Systems Currently Makes Enough Batteries for 100,000 Cars
A123 Systems is a U.S. based battery company that has created a patented lithium-ion battery chemistry using a nanophosphate cathode material. These cells are felt to be among the most energy and power dense as well as safest in the business.
They with pack-integrating partner Continental Automotive, are one of the two teams developing [...]
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Volt Nation Meet-Up: GM Opens More Invitations
Volt Nation is fast approaching on March 19th 4:30 PM at the Jacob Javits Center during press days of the New York City Auto Show.
This historic and groundbreaking event will allow us all to get together, inspect the Chevy Volt show car, and have a townhall Q and A as well as one on one [...]
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BUSH: U.S. Must Get Off Oil, and Mentions the Chevy Volt (sort of)
Yesterday President Bush attended the Washington Renewable Energy Conference and made a speech.
Some key comments:
“We’ve got to get off oil”
“dependency on oil presents a real challenge to our economy.”
“The dependency upon oil also puts us at the mercy of terrorist”
“our dependence on fossil fuels like oil presents a [...]
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Yet More Talk about Volt in 2009
We had recently heard some comments about Volt production in 2009 by both an executive at GM and the CEO of Continental Automotive.
GM sources and Continental sources have told me these statements are incorrect. In particular the Continental CEO was likely referring to the Mercedes lithium-ion hybrid packs we have heard about.
This has also [...]
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Exclusive: GM has Received Second Continental/A123 Chevy Volt Prototype Battery Pack in Michigan
GM has confirmed that they have indeed received the second prototype Chevy Volt battery pack from the Continental Systems/A123 team. The 16 kwH pack arrived at the battery lab in Warren, Michigan on Monday March 3rd. It now takes its place alongside the first two prototype battery packs from the LG Chem/Compact Power [...]
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More Chevy Volt in 2009 Talk
Recently we heard comments from Continental’s CEO about production level battery packs and Volts in 2009. GM spokesperson Rob Peterson told me that 2010 was still the plan.
Today we are hearing some more talk aboout 2009. In an article in CNN, GM exec Robert Babik told the reporter “GM is rolling out its all-electric Chevy [...]
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Ric Fulop on How A123 Cells are Made, Nanophosphate Cathode Patent Awarded
Yesterday A123 Systems, one of the two companies awarded Chevy Volt contracts announced that they were awarded a key patent for their proprietary nanophosphate lithium-ion battery cathode. their system is widely acclaimed for its thermal stability as well as energy and power density, and getting this patent is critical for the companies future success. Per [...]
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GM Announces its Next Generation Hybrid System: Includes Lithium-ion Battery
GM currently builds cars using two different hybrid powertrains, the 2-mode hybrid, and the belt-alternator-hybrid system (BAS). The latter is found in current Malibus, Auras, and VUEs and gives a 10 to 15% efficiency improvement. This relatively low cost system replaces the belt and alternator with a small electric motor and a 36 volt [...]
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GM has Tested and is Encouraged by A123/Conti Battery Pack
As those following things closely have noticed, GM received its first prototype Chevy Volt lithium-ion battery pack from A123/Continental on January 31st.
We have heard before, and I have witnessed firsthand that the LG Chem/CPI pack has performed up to GMs specs. GM has been a little quiet on details about the A123 pack. [...]
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Production Chevy Volt in late 2009?
One of the prime objectives of this site is to get the facts straight and dispel rumors. All along the E-Flex team has told us they are working towards November 2010 production. Certainly working prototypes will appear earlier than that, and something like a captured test fleet might even arrive a year earlier.Automotive component maker [...]
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How Many Chevy Volts Should GM Make in its first Year?
There has been a lot of back and forth about this question. From our standpoint we want GM to make enough so that everyone who wants one gets one. GM seems interested in making sure the car operates properly on a wide-scale before opening the flood gates, although thats more of my conjecture [...]
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Recent Posts
- The 2009 Detroit Auto Show Should be Electrifying
- Chevy Volt Battery Temperature Control
- EEStor Gets a Trademark Patent on EESU and Provides Specs for a 24V EESU
- More Future Volt Competition?: Lotus E-REVs and Solar-Powered Toyotas
- Poll: Which 2010 Hybrid Would You Buy?
- Happy New Year From GM-Volt.com
- 10,000 Camaros Have Been Pre-Ordered, How Many Volts Will Be?
- How Will Air Conditioning Affect the Chevy Volt’s Electric Range?
- Volt Chief Designer on the Public Reaction to Chevy Volt Redesign
- US Battery Companies Seek Government Funds to Establish US-Based Lithium-ion Production Capacity
