AND 
It’s Official: GM Intends to Build the Chevy Volt’s Engine in a New Plant in Flint, Michigan
According to new paperwork filed by GM, the 1.4 L 4 cylinder family zero engine that will be the Chevy Volt’s range-extender/generator will be built in a brand new plant in Flint Michigan.
The facility will be 530,000 square feet and cost $326 million. It will also produce the similar engine to be used in the upcoming Chevy Cruze slated to replace the current Cobalt.
The paperwork indicates that Volt engine production is indeed set for 2010.
The Flint city council still needs to approve the plan at a meeting set for August 25th, but clearly the city is exited at the prospects. Long known for building gas guzzling powerful engines, Flint’s turbulent relationship with GM was the subject of the scathing Michael Moore documentary Roger and Me.
The fact that the cutting-edge Volt engine will be built there, 60 miles from the Hamtramck plant where the Volt will be assembled, “strengthens Flint’s competitive position long term,” per Flint City council member Ehren Gonzales.
Source (Mlive)
88 Responses to “It’s Official: GM Intends to Build the Chevy Volt’s Engine in a New Plant in Flint, Michigan”
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July 29th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
So is this a done deal, or just an application pending approvals?
It’s also producing the engine for the Cruze, apparently. Although I don’t see any indication when during 2010 (the earlier the better!)…
I very much like to see as much manufacturing here as possible. Energy independence/security/resilience is important, but I’m a believer that some manufacturing independence is very important also.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
Awesome, I bet Flint is happy to see something new come in, as they have only lost or downsized for ages. Who knows how long the Truck and Bus assembly plant in that picture will last.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Spiffariffic.
Edit: Just when I’d jumped on the one-word-post bandwagon, y’all had to go ‘n spoil it.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
Good! Best news I’ve heard today!
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:10 pm
Heh, I love the optmistic spin on this line:
It would be 530,000 square feet, making it the seventh-largest of GM’s 10 facilities in Genesee County.
If it was the 10th largest, would they break down and call it the smallest?
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Good news for the city of Flint!
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Good news for Flint, but even better for the Volt.
If the Volt is vaporware as it has been characterized by some here, then
GM is spending a lot of time doing nothing for no good purpose.
I still would like to see who gets the LION contract and equally important
what the final Volt LOOKS LIKE! Oh yeah, and how much its going to cost.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
I have a brother working for one of the Big 3 in Flint, and he is loving this even if his employer isn’t doing it. Flint needs every job they can get.
We need EREV’s asap so we can start buying domesticly produced electricity instead of exporting our wealth to oil producing countries that hate us.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
I really like the fact that GM has decided on the engine and is going full steam ahead with various aspects of the production of the VOLT.
#7 CBK, I wouldn’t be surprised if they announce the Li battery contract + reveal the final look at the GM’s centannial anniversary celebration (as many have guesssed before myself), at the rate they are going with this
GO VOLT!!
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
This is excellent news! The geographic, political and econimical reasons for this move are clear and logical. Great move by GM executives.
One good move after another….what was the problem before when they made one shitty decision after another? Whatever it was, it seems to have been fixed.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
The Michael Moore documentary hit home. It is great to see the Volt magic already start to bring a future to that community. I am sure that GM will probably want to to build EREV cars there too in the future for the world market as I am sure the skills are still there in abundance.
Go Flint, go Michigan, go Volt, go USA (this from a Scotsman with a passion for EVs).
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
This is a second chance for American made products to compete globally. Now, more than ever we need our new leaders to make sure that global competition be based on quality, not just because it’s cheap.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
#8 ziv:
Yeah, and domestically produced cars too. Preferably produced by domestic companies who don’t export the profits.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Wait. They are building a new plant?
How long will that take?
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
“The fact that the cutting-edge Volt engine will be built there, 60 miles from the Hamtramck plant where the Volt will be assembled…”
The Hamtramck-assembled Volts better get 60-mile AER so they can make it to the engine plant.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
#8 ziv:
Yeah, I’m not too thrilled about exporting all those billions for oil to the countries that LIKE us, either.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
#10 Jason C:
Man I hope so!!!
#14 Rashiid Amul:
Good question. I was hoping that they were just converting an existing facility. There doesn’t seem to be any shortage, does there?
The time frame would seem to indicate conversion. It’s a pretty short time to build a new plant from a green field.
Whew, we just had a pretty serious earthquake here! I thought that our old building was coming down around my ears for a second.
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Is this “new plant” actually a new plant or are they re-tooling an existing plant? If they are actually building a “new plant”, won’t this take longer than getting the Volt out in two years?
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
“was the subject of the scathing Michael Moore documentary Roger and Me.”
Uhhh…. Sorry, but Moore’s films are NOT documentaries.
death to oil http://www.oiljihad.org
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July 29th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Don’t they have enough empty plants laying around doing nothing that they can reuse?
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Why a new plant when they probably have plenty of empty plants? WTF? No wonder they are going bankrupt! They are so inefficient!
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Thank goodness they chose somewhere in the US instead of England as was reported earlier. The jobs will be MORE than welcome as will that car! I’m hoping my 14 year old Ford will hold out until it’s available because I really want the Volt!
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Rudy Z #20
The asphalt in the employees parking lot is in bad shape at the empty plants.
ThombDbhomb #15
“The Hamtramck-assembled Volts better get 60-mile AER so they can make it to the engine plant.” Good One.
Jason C #10
“One good move after another….what was the problem before when they made one shitty decision after another?”
I think the answer is; Bob Lutz has taken over !
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
It is good news for the people of Michigan. This Mississippian wishes more such good luck to you in the future. We need the industrial strength your area of the country has so ably supplied for so many years. I just hope GM gets a better wage and benefits contract now and in the future to keep them more competitive with other automakers.
Maybe there will be a battery plant placed between the Volt plant and the engine plant. That would be really great. I love seeing industrial jobs in America.
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:52 pm
The cost differential between converting an older plant versus building a new modern plant suited to produce the desired product probably had something to do with the decision to build rather than convert. Plus, savings from the Brownfield and other tax savings, both state and federal, probably had some effect. All in all, I am sure GM and its bean counters went over every cost analysis with fine detail before committing to a decision to build. I say we accept GM’s decision as the right one and move on.
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I can’t wait until GM sends me the secret password to pick up my new Volt as it comes off the line in 2009. I’d crawl through broken glass from here to there AFTER donating a kidney (for the downpayment)!
Be well
Tag
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I’d like to see a similar Volt plat in Moraine, Ohio–just south of Dayton…for selfish reasons. But hey, this is good news for the Rust Belt.
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July 29th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
#24 N Riley
I echo your sentiments, I knew Michigan was having some tough times, but I just spend the weekend there and tough is a understatement.
Glad to see they are getting some automotive manufacturing ‘love’ again. With laboUr costs now at $14/hour, the weak dollar and a accomodating state government it ’should’ see alot more…hopefully.
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
#26 Tagamet
I hope you do indeed get one in 2009, although that is very early, unless you are one of the lucky hundred or two to “test” the pre-production Volt. But, let’s hope you don’t have to give up the kidney or crawl through broken glass to get it. That would be cruel and unusual punishment, even for you, Tag.
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
#27 Dave B
Maybe the Rust Belt will become the Automotive Belt again in the coming years. May the area use its new found wealth in profitable ways in the future.
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
#28 Statik
There are many areas of our country that are hurting. This one area, although I have only been to Chicago by air, seems much in need of new industrial jobs or jobs of any kind that would lift up its people. I just wish them the best, as I do for all people of the world. Most of us don’t deserve the things that happen to us when it comes to jobs and government. But, as usual, we are generally powerless to prevent it happening.
God’s grace to the people of Michigan and other areas like it.
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Yaa for Flint! Too bad Roger’s not around to see things come back to Flint after 20 years!
Hope all is good in CA, 5.5 hit!
GO GM, GO VOLT for 2010!
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
They better not design this thing cheaply and weak – as it isn’t supposed to be used all the time.
I have a nagging fear in the back of my mind that this range extender is only on there so we still have an ICE to maintain.
When you look at where the dealerships make their cash – they make a killing with replacement parts / oil / filters blah blah.
This engine better be tough.
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
N Reily,
Getting a test vehicle would be even BETTER. Having a personal involvement in this tech would be the thrill of a lifetime (and I lived through the 60’s)!
Be well,
Tag
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Im pleased for Flint, but the 1.4 litre engine is a standard part destined for many vehicles in the long run. The Cruze production in 2011 will easily outstrip the Volt.
I wonder how the battery factories are progressing?
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
Tag,
Do I get mine before you? I am 2023 on the Volt wait list. TED
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I’d love to be driving a mule around right now. GM you need some testing done in Florida? I could pick it up from you in Michigan this week. TED
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
If this plant is to be this engine specific then it is often faster to build a new facility lined up plumbed the way you need it than to study and modify existing facilities to suit your needs. Ever notice that a new store is built and in business faster than one being remodled.
Lets get it done – Route 66 in a Volt is waiting!!
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July 29th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
No, TED; 2023 is the year you’re getting yours!
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Ah, yes, Michael Moore, the man who claimed that GM could survive by paying UAW wages. That documentary provided zero information about union wages and practices and productivity – Moore was a shill for the UAW. It was a family thing.
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
#39 Jackson
If that is the case, some of us have a very long wait.
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Keep in mind that the 60 miles needed to make it to the Engine plante will not be a problem. Remember the 40 AER is end of life and results when charged to 85%. The volts will have a 100% charge at the plant which will give them that little extra range to get to the new 1.4L plant.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Just kidding for those that might be fooled.
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Hey GM, I have an idea! Let’s close 9 existing plants (including one engine facility that already exists in Flint), and build a new $326,000,000 plant in Flint. How do we pay for this total waste of money? Hmm… Let’s fire 30,000 workers and strip people of their insurance benefits when they reach 65! Then let’s rehire people at $12/hr because we suckered the UAW into agreeing to our two-tier wage scheme!
Oh, wait, we are already doing that? Nevermind then.
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
Interesting…the trend has been to build any new auto manufacturing plants south of the Mason Dixon line. What about the recently idled plants? Maybe the tax breaks are the deciding factor…or the battery packs will be produced in the area. The shipping of the heavy battery packs would be expensive.
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
18. Kent
20. Rudy Z
21. Speculawyer
In the source Mlive article, the following statement was made, so it could very well be a existing plant.
“..according to an application asking Flint to designate the proposed plant location a brownfield redevelopment site, cutting GM’s state tax bill.”
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
Although the 1.4 L may seem a bit of overkill as a generator, it seems to be pretty savvy to build the engine for Volt and for the new Cruze. Maybe this is a good strategy to bridge between ICE-only to EV cars. One engine type with high production to drive down costs and simplify production.
I am sure smaller engines can be used later as the battery technology improves.
The news release said GM is building a “brand new plant” with production of engines slated for 2010.
Sounds like they are on track. I’m betting a new plant can go up quicker and cheaper with more reliable infrastructure to support the computer-aided manufacturing and robotics now used. Old plants mean old plumbing, old wiring, old everything that must be replaced.
Go for it GM! It would be great to be proud of you again. I’m 55 and there was a time when I would own nothing else. Now there isn’t a car in the line that I want. But I am on the VOLT waiting list.
Mike
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July 29th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
#36 Ted,
“Do I get mine before you? I am 2023 on the Volt wait list. TED”
Wait you think the wait list is in chronological order?
It is actually being generated by the number of keystrokes you type into these thread discussions. You don’t really think I just sit around all day commenting here for ‘fun’ do you?
…it’s either that or by the ‘What is the most you are willing to pay for a Volt (in USD)” question on the ‘new wait list’ faq. Which I confess I left blank…doesn’t seem right to tell someone you are trying to buy something from what your ceiling is. “I am willing to spend up to $500,000 on your house…now what was your price again? 500K! Lucky day for me! What a coincidence!”
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July 29th, 2008 at 5:27 pm
#26 Tagamet:
Easy big fella. I know we’re all anxious, but let’s not get carried away!
#47 Statik:
Do you think that you move up or down the list based upon the number of keystrokes? I hate to say it, but I sense that quality may count as much as quantity, if you take my meaning.
I have often thought that, if the GM brass ever read this blog, some of us might just sort of mysteriously fall off the list altogether. I include myself, I hasten to add.
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July 29th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
How many engines does one plant make, typically?
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July 29th, 2008 at 5:37 pm
Yeah, I wonder if they’re actually building a new plant or retooling/refurbishing.. doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense to close perfectly fine facilities and then build a new one just for the hell of it.
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July 29th, 2008 at 5:38 pm
EEStor Announces Certification of Additional Key Production Milestones and Enhancement of Chemical Purity
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/eestor-announces-certification-additional-key/story.aspx?guid=%7BAB6D95CC-0C6B-4734-83CB-990B4451270C%7D&dist=hppr
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July 29th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
It is usually cheaper and faster to build a new plant for a significantly new product, rather than refurbish. [as noted by N. Riley @25] Even so, it’s a 2-year project.
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July 29th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
973 on the list. Stand aside…. let this early bird get his Volt.
I would prefer Black with All the bells and whistles… but
No matter what…. just get me a Volt ASAP
and just when are we going to see the production unit pictures… exterior and interior..
Ray
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July 29th, 2008 at 6:38 pm
honestly, if they got the ICE finallized, final design finalized, plus probably have the batter decided, they can probably begin construction on the NEW (if it is new) plant late this year or early next year..I don’t think we’ll have to worry about timeline being met =)
My humble two cents!
SAM
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July 29th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
They have a plant in Austria that presumeably could supply a few thousand engines to get the Volt started. The plant exists and the engine will in 2010, I think.
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Noel #17 says,
Whew, we just had a pretty serious earthquake here! I thought that our old building was coming down around my ears for a second.
—————————–
Noel, are you and your family okay? I heard it wasn’t too serious.
I just hope everyone is okay and wishing you the best, my friend.
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
Most likely this plant is being built mainly to make engines for the Cruze, with Volt engines as a small fraction of the total. Nice to have a plant that can go either way, though, depending on demand.
No doubt GM can bring in similar engines from another plant for prototype Volts, but for production models, my guess is they will wait for this plant to open. Why not wait? There has to be a battery plant somewhere, too. We’ve heard nothing of that one yet, so it’s likely to be the limiting element in starting Volt production.
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
Noel, we would like to hear from you, when convenient, that you are yours made it through ok (we hope).
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Well I still think the 1.4 is way to big for the job. I guess GM can make it work. GM has been good at that for years. When I owned another brand of motorhome I once paid $400 for a starter. When I got my GMC motorhome a “new” starter from NAPA cost me $85. Most of the parts on the GMC motorhome are used on a lot of other things GM built. They are all a whole lot cheaper than parts that are special to the motorhome. I hope it works out the same for the Volt. JMHO
Take Care
Arch
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
I wonder if that Moron Michael Moore will make a movie about how GM is helping Michigan with these new ventures.
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:31 pm
I’ve read several articles that indicate that the plant will, in fact, be a new facility and not a repurposed existing facility. Can GM really build a 530,000 square foot, $326 million plant; fill it with all the necessary equipment; and hire and train employees in what amounts to 18 months when they have yet to even get the necessary government approvals for the building? I doubt that Flint, MI is going to turn GM down, but it still takes some time to work a project like that through the bureaucracy. Where I live, it takes literally years to complete any significant commercial or industrial building.
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
I wish that GM would stop using the phrase “40 Mile Range.” Most people don’t understand this and equate it to the current Prius boasting of hundreds of miles range. Instead, GM should advertise the range as the total number of miles the Volt can be driven starting with a full charge and then using the gasoline engine to recharge the battery until the fuel tank runs dry on fuel. That will give a figure of mileage range that equates to most of the public’s thinking.
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Actually I thought “Roger and me” was a great movie because of the great portraits it painted of ordinary people, such as the guy who did evictions. “If your going to be evicted, it’s important that it be done by a nice guy.” and “2 poor people never get anywhere marrying each other”. GM, a few moments of arrogance nothwithstanding, was in the movie as a backdrop, not a subject.
[I realize this comment moves me to the "definitely not eligible" list for the Volt until 2025, and maybe not event then
]
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Hooray for Flint! “Put your hands up for Detroit!”
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July 29th, 2008 at 8:55 pm
Hopefully, this engine will be one of the best, most high tech, high quality, high reliability engines that GM has ever made. This engine ought to give the Volt a good resale value. I bet it lasts 200,000 miles easy. I’m sure 2nd owners of the Volt will get a “new and improved” battery once the first one goes bad. They’ll probably get one with more all electric range (AER) for less money than the 1st one. Hopefully we’re looking at $3,000-4000 batteries in 2014 … maybe less.
Heck if the Volt is still in good condition, maybe 3rd owners will get a 3rd battery SUPER cheap and the Volt will keep going for 360,000 miles. Never know. I bet the electric motor on the Volt will be VERY reliable and high quality. They should last a long time. So will the IC engine since it won’t be running very much.
GM better make sure they design ALL the parts on the Volt to last a long time. Resale value will be a big selling point. Just ask all those Accord and Camry buyers who’ve sold their cars for good money. Quality matters. It makes them trade the old model in for a new one sometimes. The reputation of the carmaker matters a lot. I hope the Volt helps GM get a lot of much needed goodwill from car buyers. Those engineers and assemblers in Flint need to build the Volt right. High quality and reliability. It’ll be the flagship car for GM for 5 years at least.
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
I hope the Volt gets Detroit rockin’ and rollin’ again like it used to. The rock band Kiss used to call the motor city “Detroit Rock City” you know.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TgsoJrzplUI
It’s time to electrify some cars in Detroit like Kiss does with their screaming guitars. Let’s hope the Volt is a smash hit and it takes off like Kiss did back in their heydey.
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:28 pm
If they’re building a, well, building from scratch, then what’s the reason for the picture of the existing, well, building?
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:30 pm
What city would say no to this….None…Done deal.
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:42 pm
#48 noel park
“#47 Statik
I have often thought that, if the GM brass ever read this blog, some of us might just sort of mysteriously fall off the list altogether. I include myself, I hasten to add.”
Whaaaat? Hehe.
…I wouldn’t sell us one either.
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July 29th, 2008 at 9:46 pm
Gm Volt Fan, NO, No, NO!
The ELECTRIC engine and 16kWh battery will give the Volt an excellent resale value, not the ICE.
I can see a second battery at some stage but a third? It will just not be cost effective to refit a twenty year old car in the normal course of events.
I agree, totally, with your last paragraph. Just read that a RAV4 EV sold for $60,000 which when new was $30,000 (twice the price of the ICE version). And thats on the NiMH battery!
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July 29th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
Any word from Noel yet?
HEY NOEL, CHECK IN HERE, PLEASE.
I did hear that it was “just” a 5.3 and no major damage and no fatalities.
Still, no fun.
Tag
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July 30th, 2008 at 12:43 am
According to the Wall Street Journal, GM Canada will no longer offer leases as of August 1, 2008.
The good news? GM won’t be forcing customers to lease Volts, only to take them back after three years and crush them all.
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July 30th, 2008 at 12:43 am
Kent Beu # 40
“Ah, yes, Michael Moore, the man who claimed that GM could survive by paying UAW wages. That documentary provided zero information about union wages and practices and productivity – Moore was a shill for the UAW. It was a family thing.”
*** *** ***
Surprised…..?? Are ye? Are we??? Of course we aren’t…any quote of M-squared should be viewed with an eye of suspicion!
Just a question….Were you born yesterday???
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July 30th, 2008 at 1:23 am
#19 and others: If you think “documentary” was some pure form of ‘truth’ before Michael Moore arrived, get a grip.
There has yet to be invented any form of filmmaking, writing, storytelling, painting, photography, sculpture, architecture or any other art form which does not reflect the point of view of its creator.
Michael Moore has a shtick. It works for him. He doesn’t agree with your point of view. Deal with it.
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July 30th, 2008 at 8:03 am
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080730/AUTO01/807300346/&imw=Y
GM to let workers see Volt
General Motors Corp. plans to show employees a near-production version of the Chevrolet Volt during the automaker’s 100th anniversary celebration in September.
GM, which will mark its centennial on Sept. 16, will let employees take a peek at the extended range electric vehicle but not allow them to use any cameras because of concerns about the competition. GM has been working feverishly on the Volt to begin production in late 2010, with assembly set for its Hamtramck plant.
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July 30th, 2008 at 9:05 am
Antranig Van@75
Two words:
Red Herring.
JMO,
Be well,
Tag
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July 30th, 2008 at 10:31 am
#59 Arch says: “Well I still think the 1.4 is way to big for the job.”
————————————————————————————–
I used to think the same thing, but then I realized that a larger engine tuned with an Atkinson cycle can be more efficient than smaller engine.
For example, the ICE in the Prius is a 1.5L, 76hp, Atkinson cycle. A normal 1.5L with Otto cycle would be way more than 76 horsepower, but also way less efficient.
The Volt may get 50 MPG yet. We will see…
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July 30th, 2008 at 10:33 am
#55 bruce g says: “They have a plant in Austria that presumeably could supply a few thousand engines to get the Volt started. The plant exists and the engine will in 2010, I think.”
————————————————————————————–
Right. GM will never have the new plant up by 2010, so let’s hope they can get engines for the initial production from somewhere.
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July 30th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
To those wondering why they would not reuse an existing plant…
Just because the building exists, doesn’t mean that it will be a good fit for the production lines. It might take more $$ to retrofit an existing site in order to make it work for the platform they are building. Also, many of the plants (existing and closing) are old, which means that energy bills to keep the ambient environment up to OSHA standards would probably be high due to lack of insulation. Also, the equipment in these closed plants have probably been scavanged by other plants (that’s what happened @ Ford), so either way, they’re going to be sinking money into new equipment, so why not roll the cost of a new facility (even if it’s on already owned land).
There are a lot of factors that goes into making a decision on whether to build new or retrofit old, so don’t be so quick to criticize the decision.
Also, I’ve seen a plant area from one area being resused at another that was such a bad idea. The “cost-save” of reusing existing equipment for a platform nearly twice the size of the original platform hurt overall productivity. It’s not always the best idea to reuse existing.
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July 30th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
#26 Tagamet: There is no way a Volt will be rolling off the line in 2009. If they are building a new plant, I doubt it will be up and running as a facility until mid-2010. I say this as an engineer who works in large construction projects regularly. Designing, building, and troubleshooting a highly automated auto plant in 1 year is very unlikely. Not impossible, but very improbable.
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July 30th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
#80 Jim in PA
Hey! No stepping on Tag’s dreams!
…thats my job,hehe
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July 30th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Many thanks to all for your concern about the earthquake I am really touched. I did sort of go on about this on this morning’s thread, in response to RB and others. So I won’t bore you again here.
Sorry if my comment sounded a bit dramatic. It’s always pretty exciting when the room is rocking, but we’re all fine. You heard if first, anyway!
Again, many thanks. Deeply appreciated.
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July 30th, 2008 at 5:45 pm
Statik@81
Thanks?
Be well,
Tag
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July 31st, 2008 at 11:13 pm
This is the third major revision update of the of the Family 0 engines that are built in GM factories around the World, first introduced in 1996.
GM calls the Family 0 the smallest widespread engines from I-3 1.0 liter to 1.2 and 1.4 liter I-4 that it builds worldwide. The originally proposed I-3 1.0 liter turbo, is a member of the same family produced in the same engine lines and merely a chopped off I-4 block.
The I-4 turbo is the engine going into the Cobalt replacement the Cruze and the I-4 for the Volt wil have the updates of the third revision too. DOHC, VVTs, multivalves, Alloy heads, GDI, dual turbo ready, HCCI ready, and local US production to ensure there are no problems with exchange rates as there would have been importing the same engines from a European Family 0 engine plant.
The Plant that I want to see announced is the plant of the winner of the battery selection contest. I want that facility located as any major supplier usually does, near the assembly plant right here in the USA. I’d like GM to even participate in the construction of the factory, and its automation. That is GM’s real competence, mass manufacture. Longterm, it needs to know how to make battery factories.
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August 1st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I’m gonna say the volt will get 54mpg. Any takers?
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August 2nd, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Like everyone else, I really hope GM can pull the Volt concept out of idea-land into reality in a way that works and is affordable to the average car buyer.
2 questions I’ve been wondering about the Volt lately:
1) Why a brand new assembly plant for the engine – couldn’t they have retrofitted an existing plant and retrained the employees there to build the engine? Lately all I hear about is how they are closing plants left and right. Or does opening a new plant allow them to hire new staff at new rates and contract terms that are less costly than legacy plants?
2) This is a bit more out there: in theory, if you are gonna build a combustion engine that acts strictly as a electrical power generator (ie. not a mechanically linked drive source), isn’t it more efficient to go with a gas turbine based generator than a standard reciprocating engine? This would essentially be the same technology that powers an M1 tank, the APU on a commercial jet, or the power plant for alot of rail locomotives.
Ok, I realize the Volt needs to get to market quickly and cost effectively and going with what you have off the shelf is the best way to go in the short term. But in the long term, if the Volt is a hit, is it possible to create a small gas turbine electric generator that would fit in a small car and burn fuel more efficiently? I’ve seen those little 4-6 inch jet engines for model planes – maybe something a big bigger that could spin a electro-magnetic generator cost effectively?
I figured turbines might be less maintenance and more efficient. And in the winter, imagine how much quicker it would be to get some heat into the car! (yeah, I’m from Canada…) Peace-out.
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August 4th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
how do you go about getting a job at the new plant? Do u have to be refered like GM now or does anybody know a new way of being employed.
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August 6th, 2008 at 1:59 am
GM has previously announced it will build [Family 0] engines from 1.0 to 1.4 L capacity in North America. The Volt will still get a 1.0 L APU, the Cruze and other cars will get the new 1.4 Turbo, There are also 1.2 and a smaller 1.4 L engine in this family, either of which could be built at Flint for NA-produced subcompacts such as the Aveo sedan and the Groove-inspired B-MPV (substantially bigger than the concept minicar).
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