AND 
Bob Lutz Test Drives the First Chevy Volt Early Prototype and Says “it Was Electrifying”
We have previously heard that the first Chevy Volt developmental prototype has been driving around GMs Milford proving grounds for a couple of weeks.
Last Thursday the two key GM executives who originated the Volt concept got to test drive their brainchild vehicle. This included GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz and VP of global program management Jon Lauckner. Also in accompaniment was Volt Vehicle Line Director Tony Pozawatz.
Witnesses to the event reported that after the roughly 8 mile drive,reaching speeds of nearly 60 mph, Mr. Lutz stepped out of the car with a grin on his face that made him look like “a five year old on Christmas morning.”
Mr. Lutz had the following to say about his monumental experience which he has posted over on his Fastlane Blog:
“Yesterday we announced that the GM Board has approved the Chevrolet Volt program. Yes, development work has been going on in earnest, but now it’s official. In fact, recently, at GM’s Milford Proving Ground, I drove an official “engineering development vehicle” with the 16-kwh lithium-ion battery pack we’ve been testing for our E-Flex System and I have to say – pun half-intended – it was electrifying.
The first impression of the day, however, was made before I even got into the vehicle. It hit me on the drive out to Milford, as I passed gas station after gas station with prices for regular unleaded hugging the $4 mark: This makes the importance and potential of our all-electric glide through our proving ground roads even clearer.
Now, don’t run to the Chevy dealer and order your Volt yet: The “test mule” I drove – a previous-generation Malibu – wasn’t calibrated properly, and there are an awful lot of tests that this battery must pass before it’s cleared for production. Our battery teams in Warrenand in Germanyare working hard in our battery labs to determine that these batteries will work for the life of the vehicle. Still, the conditions in a real-world environment – where the battery is exposed to shaking, moisture and rapidly changing temperature conditions – are much more extreme than the controlled settings of the lab.
But I think it’s important to point out that in the six months since we’ve received the battery pack, we’ve tested it in the lab, then on the dynamometer, and now on the track. Eventually, if and when we settle on the right battery, our E-Flex System engineers will have a lot of integrating, tuning and tweaking to do before the Volt is ready for prime time. And we’ll keep you informed of our progress every step of the way.
Upon future drives, when the vehicle is closer to true calibration, I’ll have more driving details. But I will say that, while the car is still most definitely a work in progress, the thrill of driving electrically — that instant, silent torque — is certainly present and accounted for! Of course, as you can imagine, I miss the throaty roar of an engine. Once we get this whole battery thing perfected, our friends at XM Satellite Radio may have to start an Internal Combustion Channel.”
Thanks for the update Mr. Lutz, these are thrilling times indeed!
See what Bob signed on the prototype’s hood below:
Popularity: 9% [?]
Related posts:
- NBC Reporter Test Drives Chevy Volt Prototype Mule
- Micky Bly, GM Director of Hybrid Integration on the Running Chevy Volt Prototype
- Lutz: Dynamometer Tests on First Volt Prototype Proving Successful
- Bob Lutz: Chevy Volt Update
- More Mule Test Drives and Detroit Press’ Chevy Volt Top 10 List
(16 votes, average: 4.75 out of 5) 
Loading ...
June 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Way to go Bob and LYLE…
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:07 pm
22 May 08. Yes, history was made on that date. It will be made again soon as we get to see one for ourselves. I can hardly wait.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:09 pm
One small drive for a man, one giant leap for mankind. If I may steal Neil Armstrong’s famous words and change them slightly. I am really proud of GM today, aren’t YOU?
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Nice work team!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pm
Couldn’t tell much about the car from the picture. Is an “engineering develop vehicle” the same as a mule? Or is this a pre-production vehicle?
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Woohoo! Lutz’s quote says it all. We ARE making history today.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
I can see it all now. Somewhere around 2015 some upstart movie producer will make a short documentary movie entitled “Who Saved The Electric Vehicle?” I want to see that one. Bob Lutz and Lyle Dennis should have prominent mention in the documentary.
Way to go Bob and Lyle. Way to go GM. Go Volt.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
N Riley #5… Not a pre-production, it’s essentially a mule with the full 16kWh pack installed.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Eric C
Well, I thought so, but I was just hoping. Really can not wait for the show all next month. I do believe it will be in July in the U.S. and not in Europe as some has suggested. Just a month of so until we get to see it.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I have got get off this site for a while and do some work. It gets almost addictive after a while. Keep it going and I’ll catch up with you later.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
Every piece of news is encouraging, and the news is coming faster and faster, and not just from GM, but Nissan, and other manufacturers that follow GM’s lead.
As I stated on the previous article, having the factory in Hamtramck, within a stone’s throw of GM headquarters and Tech Center, means the Volt will be showered with attention.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
It is good to be the King!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Get ‘er done boys. Don’t look back, somethin’ might be gainin’ on ya.
Someone the other day likened this to the great mobilization, both industrial and emotional, which won WWII. I sure hope so! If it is, we can do it together. If not…………………………………
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
#10 N. Riley
>> this site
>> gets almost addictive
ALMOST addictive? I’m almost ready try out methadone at this point! It’s eating an hour-plus of my day, almost every day, just keeping up with all the comments!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
“Last Thursday the two key GM executives who originated the Volt concept got to test drive their brainchild vehicle”
Yupe, last thursday, MAY 22ND–2008, which of course was Easter.
“Let’s wait for the Easter Bunny. Somebody’s going to have egg on their face. And I don’t like having egg on my face.”
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
Yes…I went there.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
That is awesome. I look forward to having that same feeling as I’m driving past all the gas stations, seeing the $4, $5, $6 per gal signs go by…also looking forward to the “always on” torque.
Thank you GM.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Statik #16: In the big picture, does it really matter if it happend on Easter, or in mid-May? Thought not.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
I previously mentioned Statik to always be on point….
I’m a strong believer in “always think the worst…then when things actually do work out…you feel that much better” which is why it is good to have a ‘Statik’ type around…….keeping us Volt-a-holics grounded…..
but Statik, you lost me on the Easter egg thing…..
Anyhow, thanks for another great little tidbit here Lyle.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
This is very exciting. I’m also very interested in seeing some of the other applications of the powertrain. The Volt will be a 4 seater and compact. I would love to see something with some cargo space. I’m waiting on buying a new vehicle until 2010 to see what happens. Toting around a family and a stroller is a necessity for me, as well as intermittent trips to Home Depot and such. This E-Flex platform sounds very versatile. I’m sure GM’s CUVs like the Vue and Outlook could be updated with this powertrain as well. If they got 20 electric-only miles, they would be perfect.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
EV-1 made history!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
YES!!! America’s gonna kick some import butt!!! I want mine painted “stars and stripes”!!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
#18 MarkinWI
Well, in November he said March, four months…and it turned out to be six. About 50 percent longer.
They said the Volt is coming to market in 2009, then 2010, then late 2010 about 6 months ago about the same time as the Easter claim.
It’s a trend…and the trend is whatever they say, is too ambitious. (Akin to the sub 30k tag, or the fancy roof or the big gas tank or the look of the exterior or….etc.etc.)
Keeping with being 50 percent behind. I’ll ask you, in the big picture…do you mind waiting for your new Volt expected by Nov 2010 to come in June 2012? (provided you are still the one of the ‘early ones’).
I think you will.
I think you will.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:34 pm
#19 Murray
That’s me…the lightning rod, lol.
That quote, “Let’s wait for the Easter Bunny. Somebody’s going to have egg on their face. And I don’t like having egg on my face.” is from Bob Lutz when he and Toyota where having a ‘whose stick is bigger competition”
Read the original Lutz quote in all it’s glory here:
http://www.autoblog.com/2007/11/20/lutz-promises-viable-demonstration-of-volt-by-easter/
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
That mule will be worth a zillion dollars one day.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Notice it was the white mule, not the red one.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Statik:
You really are a glass half empty kind of guy………….
Please let us have some good news now and then without your perpetual rain cloud spoiling the parade!
I look forward to the day you buy your Volt, and post a glowing review of the car and how happy you are that you made your purchase!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
The Volt program at GM is the kind of thing that only Bob Lutz could do. After so many years as the industry acclaimed ultimate motor head, it is poetic that he should drive the first spike into the coffin of the internal combustion engine. If Bob and GM are serious this time about the viability of electric vehicles, then the planets have truly aligned. Perhaps Mr. Lutz had a cathartic moment at Excide. What ever the reason, I embrace this attempt to re-prioritize GM’s business model to address environmental and economic pressures to do what right instead of what’s expedient. The team that brought us Hummers and Vipers will now escort us into the light. I think I’ve seen everything.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Oooh, check out the cup holders, vato!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
Jim I
Yes Statik is a half empty glass kind of guy. The only thing is his glass is upside down, sometimes. But he is a fun read. Interesting, Interesting.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
You know, seeing Lyle in front of that sliver Volt makes me re-think my choice of white. I love white cars, but a sliver one would look great. But I do not like black or grey interiors. And that is about all any sliver colored vehicles ever seem to ship with.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Darn, I can’t seem to spell today. Should be silver…………..
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Statik, Please see my #70 previous thread for Clothing details, wants.
Mien Green. Yep gotta get one now. lol.
Looks like Lyle should be on track to get his ride with the other Journos next month. Can’t wait for that report. As noel says
Tick Tock, Tick Tock, Tick Tock.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
N Riley:
“I love white cars, but a sliver one would look great.”
You blinked.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Please tell me Mr. Bob Clutz that your going to produce the body type like we’ve seen in the auto show. I don’t want a Malibu body on this car, I want what I saw at the auto show, in the magazines and on the websites. I want something different!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
Can someone please tell me why GM can only get the volt to do 40 miles per charge when the Telsa Roadster gets 220 miles per charge? You would think GM would have a knowledge base that would blow any private car maker off the map. I’m so confused (picture Vinnie Barbarino saying this)
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
#35 Jim
The Tesla has a 56 kWh battery vs. the Volts 16kWh battery.
The Tesla costs $109,000 for the base model Vs. the Volts est. $30 - 40,000.
The Tesla seats two people. The Volt seats four people.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Statik:
Fair is fair, they had the prototype out running before Easter, and Lutz didn’t claim he had to be driving it personally by then:
http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/14/big-news-from-bob-lutz-first-chevy-volt-prototype-hits-the-road-and-gets-40-miles-electric/
Lutz was probably too busy out securing financing or something to have time to drive it between then and now.
But in any case, if Lutz is anything, he is certainly a car guy and if he enjoyed driving it, it’s probably going to be fun to drive.
Keep up the good work, GM.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
Jim-35
http://www.teslamotors.com/
http://www.teslamotors.com/design/under_the_skin.php
“several thousand consumer grade lithium-ion cells” $$$
Cost $106,000.00
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
#36 NZDavid
Thanks David but you would think that GM could do an “upper” end model that would do in between the two. I would guess even though your paying a little more for a higher end model you would still save a bundle in cash from using less gas. Work for me is 31 miles each way so the Volt gas motor would kick on to charge the batteries on the way home eliminating some savings in gas purchases.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:15 pm
#36 NZDavid
” #35 Jim
The Tesla has a 56 kWh battery vs. the Volts 16kWh battery.
The Tesla costs $109,000 for the base model Vs. the Volts est. $30 - 40,000. The Tesla seats two people. The Volt seats four people.”
**** **** ****
The Volt is also being designed so that it’s batteries last 10 years or 150K miles. Tesla….???….. Tesla warranty???
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
#38 Tom,
Good point but like any technology…. Prices will come down with mass production. Remember Plasma TVs when they first came out? I purchased my 55 inch Hitachi last year for $2K, 5 years ago it was $10k (estimates of course). Check out the Volt website. They were comparing two battery packs. Check out the specs size and energy output between the two releases…..
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
#26 Jim I wrote
“Statik:
You really are a glass half empty kind of guy………….
Please let us have some good news now and then without your perpetual rain cloud spoiling the parade!”
……..
I agree.
I hereby christen you with the nickname …… Eeyore.
Lyle, please make the change to his username.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Now that these announcements have been made, perhaps we can start planning the 1st annual Volt owners barbecue…I’ll bring the plates.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Roll it out as fast as you can! Like our very lifes are dependent on it! Because it is ! This triumph can turn America back into the great innovators we are, and lead our econmy into the next century!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
#35 Jim,
The Volt is targeted at 40 miles per charge (MPC) because most people drive less than 40 miles per day. This is classic 80/20 marketing. You start with a product that covers 80% of the market, and then after that’s successful, you go after the other 20%.
Also, the Tesla Roadster is a pure battery electric vehicle (BEV). The Volt is an extended range electric vehicle (E-REV). So if you want to take a cross country tour, the Tesla Roadster wont work, but the Volt will. By the way, Tesla’s plans for their 3rd generation car to be a range extended electric vehicle (they call it REEV) for around $30,000.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
#39 Jim,
Doubling the range of the Volt would porbably add around $10,000 to the cost and eliminate the 2 rear seats. On the plus side, you would get a lot more instantanious horsepower.
Is there any way you can plug in at work?
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 6:25 pm
By the way, if anyone wants a spell checker, just install the ieSpell add on. This way you can spell check anything you type anywhere on the internet. Just google ieSpell.
Of course, you have to remember to run it.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 6:29 pm
#45 Dave G:
Yeah, it’s just a simple 110 or 220v plug. Just drag out an extension cord when the boss isn’t looking, and viola! Or make a deal with him or her to pay for the electricity.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
#43 Rob Sauce:
Amen. Preach on brother!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
#40 Grizzly
Yep good point I forgot about that!
Tesla 5 year 100,000 mile warrranty (Lithium Cobolt), the Volt 10 year 150,000 Mile warranty (Lithium Iron).
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
I can just see future headines now,
‘Thanks to the Chevy Volt, American Oil Companies Invite OPEC to bid on supplying oil at $10 per barrell’. .. or ‘Chavez cries foul because Venezula not invited to bid’.
Sound too good to be true ? With EVs in world wide use it could be a situation where gas needs for the general public will be greatly reduced.
One thing I do believe that when the Volt catches on and gets even better and if gas prices drop considerably, there’ll be no return to gas vehicles because drivers will prefer the outperforming EVs over gas, hybrids or otherwise. Gas has had its day like buggy whips.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:05 pm
Dave G # 46,
An option for everyone (not just Windows users) is the Mozilla Firefox browser, which includes a spell checker. See:
http://www.mozilla.com
I use it daily on Linux and Mac OS X! I also recommend the Adblock Plus plugin.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Just wanted to throw this out there, GM is looking to buy battery manufacturer cobasys from Energy Conversion Devices and Chevron. These guys have been making the hybrid batteries for Saturn. Although it has been posted here before that Cobasys will have nothing to do with the Volt, I gotta figure they wouldn’t be buying a battery company just to let a third party make their batteries. Might not make it into the Volt but future EV’s will probably use em.
http://www.autonews.com/
Been loving the great news lately. Thanks Lyle for keeping us up to date.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
“Our battery teams in Warrenand in Germany are working hard in our battery labs to determine that these batteries will work for the life of the vehicle.”
What does that mean? The batteries will last super long, or the car won’t? I hope we don’t have to buy a new Volt when the battery craps out!
Or…that the batteries are specially patented that ONLY their battery will work in it…crushing any after market options for a replacement battery?
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
Bob’s post is a little worrying to me. His comments on the driving experience of the Volt powertrain were very restrained — especially for Bob Lutz! He called it a “work in progress,” which is true, of course. However, I am sure the engineers did all the easy adjustments before inviting Bob over for a drive!
One wonders how the mass of the mule compares to the mass of the future Volt vehicle.
o.jeff
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:34 pm
For those who prefer the throaty roar of a gas engine, (Bob Lutz), they can put a cd in their disc player called the sound of obsolescence and they can hear that throaty roar while they’re driving in their EV.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
2010 is the new NEVER. Get a clue. Bob Lutz (older than John McCain) can’t taste his food anymore.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:49 pm
Tom 53
I think the folks that show the most battery innovation will win the GM contract. It wouldn’t be appropriate for a company to do all the R&D and then let some other company produce sub grade knockoffs. Would you even want to risk your vehicle with another makers battery ?
I doubt that defective battery replacements or upgrades will be much of a concern. GM and their dealers have always stood behind their products and that will most certainly continue.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:55 pm
#52 gsned57
OK, that’s officially making my head spin. GM started (what would become) Cobasys with the Ovshinsky’s back in the EV-1 days to develop Ovshinsky’s NiMH forumations for batteries for cars. GM sold its 60% share to Texaco (later merged with Chevron and restructured the venture into Cobasys) when they got tired of EVs, cashed in their chips and went home.
Now they want it back?!? Why?
I’ll bet that’s going to cost them.
Hmm, plot thickens. A little reading shows that the licensing agreement (settlement
between Panasonic and Cobasys forbids “Matushita, Toyota, and PEVE (Panasonic) to sell certain NiMH batteries for transportation applications in North America until the second half of 2007, and commercial quantities of certain NiMH batteries in North America until the second half of 2010.”
(from wikipedia)
Coincidence then that 2010 is the date for the plug in Prius? Maybe Toyota cannot sell a Prius with bigger batteries any sooner than that. That could be good news for the \Volt, but it’s totally unrelated to buying Cobasys.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
It took me a while to get past the excitement of Bob being able to drive his car and be able to read his comments calmly. I think he is telling us that the car did run but it did not run very well, and they hope to fix it.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
More history on the same day, A123/Hymotion has partnered with Toyota dealers to install their “L5″ PHEV conversion kit. When the next generation Prius hits the showroom, spring of 2009, and the kit is installed, folks will be able to buy a PHEV with about a 20 mile AER for about $37,000. And that is in 2009, not 2011.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
How does it go? And thus a new world has mow begun. Depending upon the outcome of the EEStor devices, the Volt may or may not morph into a more affordable and capable vehicle, but it can be said that , irregardless, the age of electric propulsion has begun. But practical and viable electric propulsion, not the failed technology of the EV-1.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
Thank you Bob Lutz and Jon Lauckner for publicly putting our names and talent behind the VOLT program. I believe that what you guys are doing with the VOLT program will go down in automotive history as a significant positive inflection point.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
kent beuchert
The technology did not fail for the EV-1, the politics and economics did. The expression “ahead of its time” comes to mind.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 8:46 pm
Kent #62
Thank God the Volt isn’t dependent on Eestor!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
I want to believe in GM and the hopes that GM will save the day but I only saw one comment about the real history made with the EV1. The car worked well and had a great following only to be crushed in the desert and the electrical power patent sold off to Texaco. I don’t want to wish ill-will anyone but their practices have brought them to this point. For the factories being shut down and the people that won’t have work, I’m truly sorry for them. I can only hope that Toyota, Nissan or Chrysler can save those people.
Interesting documentary on GM’s practices of pushing SUVs and killing the electrical car can be found on the web. Very interesting reading.
http://www.sonyclassics.com/whokilledtheelectriccar/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Killed_the_Electric_Car%3F
http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com/
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
“GM is just plain lying. Wagoner should be fired for killing the EV1. The GM Board is full of dummies and sycophants. The first step would be to FIRE Wagoner, who destroyed the EV1 and delayed hybrids. Wagoner got lots of money for goofing up GM. Why?? ”
…
Sorry, that was just some recent you-tube text from our friend Doug Korthof who was in “Who Killed The Electric Car”.
http://www.youtube.com/liveoilfree
Interestingly, despite the recent good news, Doug still seems to be on his anti-GM jihad.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
P.D.F.T.T.
….beat ya to it Tag
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
Sorry this is off topic, but I just stumbled across this company (apparently legit) that sells battery conversions for several ICE vehicles:
http://www.lionev.com
Thought some might find this interesting.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
About batteries, I’m sure the EV-1 was nice - in California, where frost conditions will make the evening news. I doubt the EV-1’s NiMH battery would fare so well in International Falls, MN in January (now that’s cold!).
And we have only EEStor’s word that the ultracaps will live up to their hype, they’re so secretive about displaying any sort of prototype. And independent experts on battery chemistry say the ultracaps cannot possible hold such a charge, it’s physically impossible. We will see.
Right now, GM’s tech’s are testing the Volt’s L-ion battery in harsh enviromental conditions like extreme cold, heat, ability to handle vibration, rapid charge / discharge, etc. They cannot afford to have the Volt’s battery less than perfect for their “moon-shot” vehicle.
However, I am glad GM is putting massive resources behing the Volt’s development. While Ford is still playing with dead-end hydrogen technology (hard to store, expensive fuel cells, less efficient that electric alone), and Dodge is wading into hybrids with non-plugin technology from the Prius (Yawn), GM is way ahead of the tech curve - right now. Don’t think that Toyota isn’t watching the Volt very carefully. It is a potential Prius killer if brought to market. Prius MPG of 45 / 53 versus Volt MPG of infinity (if driven carefully) is a pretty easy choice to make,
I hope the Volt has a rear-view mirror, because Bob need to keep looking in it, to see who is catching up. He may see a Toyota in the mirror soon, if the Volt takes too long coming to market.
Mine’s the metallic gold one with cupholders, as far as the eye can see. Ah, cupholders for my Big Gulp - life is good.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:41 pm
“We are making history today.”
Can we have some perspective, here? What history is that?
Is this the first 8 mile drive in an electric car? Not by 100 years.
First 8 mile drive in an RE-EV? Well, it might be. Does it have the ICE in it? Did the ICE fire up? No?
Then, this is, what, the first 8 mile drive in a warmed-over Malibu EV conversion, which is not even the equal of things people have built recently in their garages, let alone the Toyota Rav4-EV or GM’s own EV-1, by an egomaniacal GM exec?
Oh, yeah. That’s history in the making.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
I keep hearing about “How come the Tesla goes 220 miles on a charge and the Volt only goes 40?”
Keep in mind that if you go on a 500 mile trip, the Telsa is out of juice at 220 and the Volt is still going. Two out of three times a week, maybe more, 40 miles is enough charge for me to not need the range extention. The days I need to go over 100 miles or the plans change last minute, I wouldn’t have to change vehicles.
A real coup would be several different models with the basic drive system. Give the consumer a choice in styles. I’m not necessarily looking to advertise that I’m driving an E-REV. It’s only important that I know. I don’t care about impressing others with it.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
#43
Dang, Eeyore…that would have been sweet handle!
#27 Jim I
“Please let us have some good news now and then without your perpetual rain cloud spoiling the parade! I look forward to the day you buy your Volt, and post a glowing review of the car and how happy you are that you made your purchase!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
I can’t do it Jim, I just can’t do it! Side Note: I also look forward to that same day
#38 Dave P
“Fair is fair, they had the prototype out running before Easter, and Lutz didn’t claim he had to be driving it personally by then:”
http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/14/big-news-from-bob-lutz-first-chevy-volt-prototype-hits-the-road-and-gets-40-miles-electric/
You know that announcement link is from May 14th right? You know Easter was in March this year?
That link is the announcement that the mule had hit the track on THE DAY BEFORE (May 13th, 2008)–> check the source link for Bob’s quote, “Tuesday’s (May 13th, 2008) road test comes after last week’s testing of the Volt powertrain on a dynamometer that simulated real-world conditions.”
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
Steve #70
That 220 also depends on how you drive the vehicle. I could see a lot of people getting much less than that w/o consciously lead-footing it.
The other point about the Volt is why when you need to go over 40 would you borrow or use another vehicle when the Volt’s RE will afford you 50+ mpg and the option for E85?
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:04 pm
In other news:
CAW leader Buzz Hargrove meets with Wagoner, chief financial officer Fritz Henderson and GM Canada president Arturo Elias tomorrow morning at 8AM.
This is going to be ugly.
Here is is quote, “He refused to go over possible courses of action if GM doesn’t honour the collective agreement. We’ll jump off that bridge when we get to it,” he (Buzz) said.
“These are senior people. I’ve dealt with them for many, many years. I just find it impossible to think they would look me in the eye and say, ‘Yes, we agree, but no, we’re not going to (reverse the decision).” Refering to GM signing off on a new deal two weeks ago that guaranteed production through 2011, and agreeing to produce the next gen light truck body in the Oshawa plant.
I dunno if the link will work, I’ll try to post it the next box…but you can google if your really interested.
Gm may face a wildcat strike as a possibility if it goes badly. It wouldn’t be so bad except for the face GM produces the Impala at max capacity (5,500/wk) and everyone they can make is already sold. Total inventory is under 22 days atm. Thats 1,100 a day @ 25k a pop…27.5 million/per day lost…probably not what GM really wants to see happen at this moment.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
Hi Steve, GM has made it pretty clear that the “E-Flex Architecture” (that’s what they call the Volt’s drive system) will eventually migrate to many other vehicles. The Volt is just the first one, so it’s getting all the attention.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
Yupe, I tried to post the link…site doesn’t like yahoo forwards.
I’ll try a similar story from the Toronto Star
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/437616
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
How do convertibles make out in the wind tunnel tests? Red convertible - would be nice!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
A whole lot of people today and other days as well keep clamoring for a larger battery pack. I am clamoring for just the opposite.
I want an all electric range of 100000 miles. But there are trade offs. By upping the range to 60 or 80 or 200 miles per charge you are cutting the number of cars and trucks that can be built on the e-flex system. Battery production isn’t unlimited.
I would much rather have a 20mpc vehicle that gets me on average 125 miles per gallon than to watch someone else drive their 40mpc vehicle while I am waiting in line for mine. If I could charge at work I wouldn’t spend any money on gas with the 20mpc vehicle unless I go out of town.
Actually right now I would love to be able to buy a vehicle with the e-flex system with only a 1mpc capability but the ability to upgrade the battery later. That would get me better mileage than the prius gets or at least as much.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:27 pm
# 60 DaveP
Oh no, please tell me you’re jocking right. They aren’t really going to buy Cobasys and the NiMH tech back?
From GCC:”China has virtually stopped the export of lanthanum, a rare earth metal that you need for NiMH-batteries. It will last until 2010 and 2011 before Lynas and Arafura, two australian companies, will start a rare earth production outside of China. The small Mountain Pass mine in California can’t help much to lower the shortage.”
Also from the same article: “Reported US sales of hybrids in May 2008 declined 20% from May 2007 to 35,943 units. This drop is largely, but not solely, due to a 37% drop in sales of the Prius to 15,011 units in May 2008 from 24,009 units in May 2007. Toyota characterized the decline as due to “limited availability”.
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
I’d like to take a minute to pat myself on the back as this seems to be a slow post night:
http://gm-volt.com/2008/06/01/exclusive-ceo-of-zenn-motor-company-on-eestor-eestor-storage-units-cityzenn-and-zennergy-drive-systems/#comments
Post #11, two days before annual meeting:
“Tuesday is going to be ex-ci-ting. We get the May autosales…GM is going to have to come clean on future SUV outlook and US market share…along with their fancy new plans for a ‘bold future’”
-AND-
http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/30/gm-buys-out-19000-workers-time-to-get-lean-and-green/#comments
Post #3 Four days before the meeting:
“… look for further ‘restructuring’ at the meeting. Certainly reducing truck shifts is a given (and possibly foreshadowing of which plants will be shuttered) and trying to move some workers to cars…and getting rid of another 5-7K possibly”
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Hey Folks, how about a quick break for another “electrifying event”?
Electric dragster sets a world record of 160mph/7.63secs in the 1/4mi!
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Worlds-Quickest-Electric_163899.htm?emc=el&m=182544&l=9&v=9ef8dc5753
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:45 pm
My above comment in moderation but here’s the link.
http://www.resourceinvestor.com/pebble.asp?relid=43162
Check out para 10 & From the two above the graph down.
Scary stuff.
Tag I need a couch!
[Reply]
June 5th, 2008 at 10:47 pm
#79 Nasaman
Thats pretty sweet! I love any kind of electric propulsion, it’s so earily quiet.
Hope there wasn’t any blind people or small children on bicycles going across the track, they would have gotten hit.
[Reply]