Archive for July, 2008
Live in an Apartment and Want a Volt? Coulomb Technology Aims to Help
We have considered for some time the implications of being an apartment dweller and being able to own and drive a Volt. An idea I’ve had is charging meters similar to parking meters. It turns out a Silicon Valley startup called Coulomb has already taken that idea and ran with it, developing a [...]
Popularity: 7%
GM Launches Major Collaboration with EPRI and 30 Utility Companies to Ready the Grid for the Volt
Today at the Plug-in 2008 Conference in San Jose California, GM is announcing a major new collaboration with the Electric Power Institute (EPRI) and 30 major utility companies.
The endeavor is a landmark, first of its kind effort through which GM will work directly with both those utility companies and EPRI to ensure that the codes, [...]
Popularity: 7%
Chevy Volt Chief Designer Bob Boniface on One Versus Two Charging Ports (With Poll)
A while back we discussed whether the Volt should have one or two charging ports. The concept car has two ports, one on either side on the front quarterpanels. GM has been stealth about what the production car will have. I discussed it again recently with Bob Boniface, the Volt’s chief designer [...]
Popularity: 8%
GM CEO Confirms 4-Cylinder 1.4 L Engine Being Considered For the Volt’s Range Extender
The initial Chevy Volt concept model had a 3 cylinder 1.0 L engine as the generator to keep the battery charged. The model with this engine suggested the vehicle would get 50 mpg when running beyond the 40 mile EV range. Recently we heard rumors on this point, neither confirmed nor denied, that [...]
Popularity: 9%
Chevy Cruze Pictures Surface on the Internet
Clearly we are all here waiting for our Volts. But we have heard there may be some limitations in price and availability at first.
Now that consumer sentiment has shifted gears from truck to small cars, GM is accelerating the production of the latter.
One that stands out is the Chevy Cruze. It will be [...]
Popularity: 8%
McCain: Eyes of the World are on the Volt
After getting his personalized VIP Volt tour, presumptive Republican presidential candidate Senator McCain spoke to about 500 GM engineers at the Technical Center in Warren, MI. He had apparently spent about 10 minutes at the Volt design display including getting into the concept car. In attendance were CEO Rick Wagoner, Vice Chairman Bob [...]
Popularity: 8%
GM Showing McCain Production Version of Chevy Volt
At the time of this writing Senator John McCain, presumptive Republican presidential candidate is gettign the VIP tour of the Chevy Volt in GM’s Warren Technical Center.
As per the Detroit Press, he will be seeing the production version. From the article:
“Before the meeting with GM employees, McCain will get a VIP overview of the upcoming [...]
Popularity: 7%
Mass Fuel Cell Adoption Would Cost $200 Billion and Al Gore Challenges US to Go 100% Fossil Fuel Free in 10 Years
A new study was just published in which researchers estimated it would cost $200 Billion in research and infrastructure to bring fuel cell vehicles to mass market levels.
The study analyzed the cost of bringing 2 million fuel cell cars to the roads by 2020 and 25 million by 2030. It was determined that to achieve [...]
Popularity: 7%
JD Power Survey Says: Yes to Hybrids, No to E85, Maybe to EVs
J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Alternative Powertrain Study was published Tuesday.
In the study of more than 4000 people planning to buy a car in the next 2 years, 62% indicated they were considering buying a hybrid. This number increased from 50% the year before.
A JD Power director indicated that this change represented improved education [...]
Popularity: 7%
John McCain to Visit Chevy Volt on Friday
It has been known that John McCain has been planning a trip to Michigan to meet with GM CEO Rick Wagoner this Friday. It will be the first time the two men meet face to face. Obama recently met Wagoner at a conference.
Word has just come out of GM that McCain will meet Wagoner at [...]
Popularity: 6%
The Trials and Tribulations of Tesla
Tesla Motors has played a pivotal role in the electrification of the automobile. It was indeed their effort at producing an electric car that caught GM product czar Bob Lutz’ attention and helped push him to build the Chevy Volt. In Lutz’ own words “if some Silicon Valley startup can solve this equation, no one [...]
Popularity: 7%
Bob Lutz: No Chevy Beat But Maybe 500,000 Chevy Volts
After today’s financial press conference, GM vice-chair Bob Lutz gave some interviews.
Previously we had heard rumors the Chevy Beat might come to the U.S. market. It seemed an ideal car for the current market due to it’s small size and high fuel efficiency. But unfortunately Mr. Lutz told reporters that the car would [...]
Popularity: 7%
Recent Posts
- Summary of Thursday’s Senate Hearing: Automakers Fight to Survive
- VIDEO: GM’s CEO Arrives to Capitol Hill in Chevy Volt Prototype, Senate Hearings Underway
- GM CEO Will Drive Volt Mule Inside Washington DC Today, UAW Agrees to Drop Job Bank
- GM: Out of Time, Out of Money, Out of Options
- GM Submits Long-Term Viability Plan to Congress: $18 Billion Needed
- Detroit 3 Viability Plans Go To Congress Today: GM’s CEO Will Drive to DC in Hybrid Malibu
- GM-Volt Exclusive: Bob Lutz Details Volt Mule Energy Use in Highway Driving
- GM’s Canceled LA Auto Show Conference: Was it Going to be the Volt Battery Contract Announcement?
- Flextreme Concept Wins Prestigious Design Award, Still Not Production Intent
- What Would Happen to the Chevy Volt if GM Failed?
