Comments on: BREAKING: GM Releases New Production Volt Photos

By: Dan Petit

Dan Petit — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 00:23:21 +0000

I was having a conversation with very good friend today , and the subject matter came up about my being opposed to the retrofitting of “anything with 4 wheels” with electric assist propulsion. I had previously written about my opposition to anything which was not carefully engineered in a proper Original Equipment Manufacturers developmental program. While the gist of the conversation seemed to not allow me to explain why OEM designs are the only ones likely to be economically-feasible for the motoring public, I am glad for this space to explain it here.
In diagnosing the most difficult advanced systems compromises, (really messed up processor communications), for the 92 local Austin Texas shops whom I support, it is absolutely clear that when expensive computers/processors & their internal software become damaged, the causes are from the very slightest and simplest deviations in electrical wiring, servicing errors and omissions.
Every day, simple errors are causing also the nearly-immediate (over the course of 2 days to 30 days) destruction of not only processors and their internal software systems and subroutines, but as a result of that, the destruction of automatic transmissions as well as other electronics such as Instrument Panel Cluster, ABS systems, and on and on.
Do It Yourself unskilled servicing ALWAYS causes damage-risk, if not in the short run, then always in the long run. Non-factory add on equipment not grounded at the 12 volt battery (for one example out of about 75) is a really gross error as simple as that concept is. These are damages that range in the $400 to $4000 range.
Yet the attempt at the re-engineering of an extremely wide variety of “anything with 4 wheels” with anything as powerful as assisted propulsion while expecting Internal Combustion Advanced Systems to remain able to communicate reliably is just not casually-realistic. While anything going onto the road with an Internal Combustion Engine (with a drive-assist), is still subject to the annual emissions tests, longitudinal field studies over both Summer heat and Winter cold driving conditions with extensive recording of baseline datastream ranges for a wide variety of operating conditions (before as well as very extensively afterward), would be needed.
While there are highly qualified organizations in Austin who can do this extremely well as properly-equipped, my objection is where unskilled “Do It Yourself” “incorporated” or “LLC” *marketing* may cause severe public safety risks, without any clear recourse against insufficiently-skilled set-ups. Electrical-Automotive design skill which is sufficiently thorough is EXTREMELY RARE, and, once discovered, such dedication ought to be *highly* compensated.
This is one of the reasons why I am relentlessly supporting the openness that GM has, so that we can all understand the extremely important things that are required for GM to set the Industry-standards for safety, value, reliability, and environmental improvement that are very critically required of us all.
Dan Petit, Austin, TX

By: Dan Petit

Dan Petit — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:30:18 +0000

One of the techs who I have taught waveform diagnostics suggested that he would put in a 220 volt recharge plug if I “were to get a Chevy Volt”. That brought about several ideas that might have some merit.
How about a smart outlet system which is sensitive to the following conditions:
1. There happens to be a lot of surplus energy in the grid, and that could light a green LED on the 220 plug authorizing a “go ahead” if there is an energy request.
2. There is not a wattage surplus on the grid, but if there are these subconditions present, a limited charge can be authorized:
*Ozone action day, and, I am going home preferably on electricity only based on my distance and AC request and traffic conditions.
*There seems to be some difficulty with the ICE or, I do not want to buy gasoline today.
a Yellow LED would be lit on the 220 outlet, and, the energy used will be at a higher cost per kilowatt, say 25% more.
3. There is a shortage of energy on the grid, and, a RED LED would be lit. Only if there is an emergency where there must be a recharge of the traction battery in order to get the vehicle operable, the owner could plug-in three to five times successively, and, a restriction-of-energy-request could be manually overridden based on conditions and even a cellphone call. A RED LED could go flashing and be charging up the vehicle to a minimum required charge and the cost of that energy would be 50% to 100% more than the regular cost of electricity in addition to an operators cost for manual override.
This is absolutely necessary to prevent brownout potentials, which greatly overload EVERYONE’S HOME AND BUSINESS AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS.
While most recharges could be overnight, there actually could be a significant “buffering” effect when a “Green LED” request is in progress if the outlet were able to be turned off momentarily by the grid authority.
While the switching mechanism (or a “Contactor”), in addition to the necessary electronics would be necessary, these types of smart outlets would actually really be necessary (at very high production scales by, possibly 2012, for apartment and condominium residents, and also for the use of their guests. When charging, the charge authorization request could be a limited-watt-hour or partial charge authorization where a Yellow LED could be flashing in addition to the Green LED or the RED LED.
(No commitment toward any set Kilowatt Hours to be delivered).
Composite carbon energy production of the grid will always be far less than to run an Internal Combustion Engine on an Ozone Action Day.
Dan Petit Austin TX

By: Dan Petit

Dan Petit — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:37:51 +0000

If there will be an SUV version of the Volt, maybe there could be a “Science and Educator Edition” (SEE), which would not have all the distracting luxuries that most people may want. Not having carpeting is a good thing if you don’t want a harbor for molds, dirt, etc. Just a quick wiping-clean of a vinyl floor has always worked great. (Stepping on greasy service bay floors would have ruined the carpet in the vehicle I am now driving, as I teach shop techs).
A single in-dash CD, power windows for a 2 door model, possibly with remote mirrors would be good. Less (options) sometimes being “more” regarding retention of value and cost of ownership very-long-term.
Maybe there could be a special program where key individuals who would be providing educational content to the public regarding the Volt would be desirable, in some form of reduced-cost program.
Dan Petit Austin TX

By: Dan Petit

Dan Petit — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:22:35 +0000

I just saw on the news (12-10-8) that the loans to GM were blocked. Supposedly the reason was to force Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
The problem I have with that is that since GM is entwined with literally thousands of companies, that this may trigger a Chapter 11 bankruptcy cascade and possibly an immediate layoff of perhaps tens of thousands before Christmas. I doubt that those opposed to the loans to GM have thought about that possibility.
I agree 100 percent with what seemed to be the story line on the local news (if true) that the White House would direct part of the 700 billion bank “bailout” (which bank bailout I do not think will yield as good a return on taxpayer investment as well as a formal loan to GM). Directives from the White House in this regard would impress me if those opponents were not just staging all of their opposition.
Dan Petit Austin, TX.

By: Dan Petit

Dan Petit — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:19:20 +0000

I’m thinking of several more approaches for us to be able to finance a Volt. Lots of folks are using their home’s equity to finance major improvements to the home as well as for other things.
Since most home values tend to go up somewhat every year, and, since second mortgages often can be financed easily at very low interest rates if you have sufficient equity, the first idea is to have a national standard for the very very lowest fixed interest loan with a second mortgage in conjunction with the purchase of a Volt.
Current guidelines as I understand them prohibit the use of two sources of security regarding second mortgages. However, for those folks whom are great at calculating the real benefit in reducing the fixed interest rate to possibly an even lower rate than the 3 percent “conventional loan” that I proposed earlier, if there were a way to “double-secure-for-one-percent or one-half percent” fixed Federal Loan with Federal protections, where there is available a better than 50 % equity in a home, and, the addition of a Volt purchase would not bring the net available equity lower than 40 % equity, then the purchase of a Volt with it’s own anticipated depreciation as the loan retires, and, the second security of, say, no more than 85% (15% cash down), of the depreciated value of the Volt as a second security, then maybe the Volt could qualify for a 1% or a half-percent Federal Loan wherein the Lender makes the 1% or the half-percent when utilizing the home equity second mortgage. The Volt title would be part of the equity or not part of the equity of the home.
Dan Petit Austin TX