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Video Update: Ask Your Chevy Volt Questions at the GM Centennial Event
September 14th, 2008 | Posted in: GM Q and A, Video
We are two just days from the presumed global unveiling of the Chevy Volt production car. I will shortly be heading out to GM headquarters in Detroit to experience and bring you all the details live at the source of the GM Centennial Celebration.
This is also an opportunity for anyone here that has questions to ask the GM Volt team. Place them in the comments of this post in short, simple, clear terms. I will do my best to get responses to unanswered questions from appropriate members of the Volt team.
We will be streaming the GM global webcast right here on GM-Volt.com at 8:30 AM EST on Tuesday 9/16.
Also on Tuesday, you will also have an opportunity for live webchat with key members of the Volt team including vice chairman Lutz on Tuesday from 10:30 - 1:30 EDT and can join a Future of Transportation Round table webcast at 1:30.
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Related posts:
- GM May Reveal the Production Chevy Volt on it Centennial Webcast, September 16th
- GM-Volt Exclusive Feature: Ask the Chevy Volt Leadership Team Your Questions
- Chevy Volt Video Update
- NEW FEATURE: Bi-Monthly Chevy Volt Video News Update
- Official (Sort Of): Production Chevy Volt Will be Revealed at the GM Centennial this Month
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Posted by: Lyle
September 14th, 2008 at 7:16 am
Congratulations Lyle we all have alot to thank you for. I would be there if I could. I still can’t wait for my volt. Thanks for all your hard work.
My question is how will the first few dealers in Florida be chosen so I can get my reservation in asap.
Take Care,
TED
September 14th, 2008 at 7:28 am
Two questions from me.
1. When will, you, Lyle get to drive a mule, or, production version?
2. Any timeline on awarding the battery contract?
LJGTVWOTR
September 14th, 2008 at 7:33 am
My only question/comment for GM is when are they going to give Lyle the keys (or whatever) and let him take it for a spin?? This coming week seems like the perfect time.
September 14th, 2008 at 7:44 am
How many kWh will it take to recharge the battery from the “Customer Depletion Point” to 100% ?
September 14th, 2008 at 8:02 am
In light of a ll the negative comments on design - will GM be doing anything to tweak the design to make it more “exciting”. I believe that it is important to have the car look great because it will be a flagship for GM although I do agree that getting off gas is #1
September 14th, 2008 at 8:06 am
1 quick question:
When will other all electric ranges be available? (apart from 40 miles)
>90% of my driving is 20 miles or less, so it would be pointless to pay twice too much for an expensive battery, and lugging around twice the weight.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:14 am
Question: Do they have a target price yet?
Reason: A month or two ago, there were comments about “mid- to high-40’s” and then shortly thereafter comments about how “$40k is looking possible”. Then we have the NYT article from the 11th bringing up the “mid- to high-40’s” again (posted here yesterday). The NYT article also talked about a 12 gallon fuel tank though, so … was that written on older information, or are we really looking at a near $50K vehicle?
Thank you.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Hi Lyle, Can You ask when they think the Volt will be available in Europe, (Ireland in particular)
Thanks for keeping us informed! You should do more video updates man
September 14th, 2008 at 8:21 am
Hello GM and thank you Lyle,
It is often the little things that make the car.
Here are my comments and questions:
1>Will the computer be chipable? We all know that people will try to hack for more speed. Will GM make the Volt chipable so the second buyer doesn’t find a bunch of clipped wiring?
2>How about a molded-in area for a front license plate?
Don’t wish to see a rusting bolt-on bracket adorning a nice car.
3>Will it be possible to have the government credit applied as a down payment? This will be a great selling point. The new President will be open to this (if my guess is right as to who will be in).
Power to the people.. Go Volt Go!
September 14th, 2008 at 8:22 am
Please ask management and/or marketing what they really think they are going to do with your “Wait List.”
As far as the vehicle price is concerned, please have it made clear whether the quoted price expectation is before or after any government incentive.
Thanks.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:24 am
WOW #11
When will dealers be able to order the Volt?
What is the time line for delivery for dealers across the country?
Has the base price been set?
September 14th, 2008 at 8:38 am
How many US models using E-Flex are currently in the works and is there any talk about an S-10 style small pickup?
September 14th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Will the front passenger seat back fold down for added cargo space?
September 14th, 2008 at 8:55 am
My burning questions:
1) Is GM considering building an “economy” version of Volt. This would have significantly less range (10 miles?) and would require less KWhr’s (4 KWhr vs 16KWhr). This would translate to roughly 25% of battery cost, along with smaller motors and supporting power electronics.
2) Will the Volts plug be used to warm the batteries while plugged in and charging? This seems to make sense, except you do not want the warmer running continously, so some type of timing mechanism would need to be implemented (I see problems, because how does the Volt know when I want to use it…).
3) Does the battery design provide any method to repair it. Is it possible to replace blocks of cells, and not the entire battery?
4) How/will GM provide a simple interface for updating the firmware that runs the controller? Maybe the USB interface that was discussed earlier? Will GM be charging for firmware updates?
5) Are they implementing any type of performance selection switch (Performance/Economy mode)?
6) Is GM really pricing in a second battery for the Volt?
7) to what extent is GM providing safety interlocks/shielding to the backyard mechanic? Most backyard mechanics are not aware of the dangers of working on 350 Vdc systems. Will the power section be sealed to prevent anyone from tampering (to some extent, since you cannot prevent someone from using a blow torch to cut of and locking mechanisms)?
8 ) What will be the recommended routine maintenance intervals on things like oil, oil filters, air filters, gas filters, etc since for some they may rarely be used?
9) Will the car still function if one of the two motors fails? I see issues either way.
10) Will GM send me a sample Volt in the mail?
September 14th, 2008 at 8:55 am
My questions
1) With the car around 40k, and their decision to make it “not a boy-toy” what are they doing to make me want to buy it for that price?
2) interior trim level information. at 30-40k this thing would need a really nice interior.
September 14th, 2008 at 8:59 am
How far, how fast, how much? =)
Props to this website, it is awesome! Also, good job GM for making this become a reality. I hope that I can get one right away in central IL, but I’m afraid they may do initial releases elsewhere.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:06 am
I agree with #6.
When will other ranges be available? What other ranges are they looking into (mileage-wise - 20, 30, 40, 60. 100?))
And, if possible, what would be the savings by going down to lower ranges?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:06 am
1. How will the volt handle the ICE running out of gas; driving capability, restart, etc.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I would just want to know how cooling when parked would operate, if the solar option isn’t there. Or if it is, does it do that job? The longevity of the battery would be important.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Lyle,
I’m dying to know if they will use a transmission, or just a simple gearbox in the volt. I know some of the volts inspiration came from the Tesla which was designed to use a two speed transmission, but manufacturing difficulties forced them to adopt a single speed gearbox, and make up for the performance losses by other means. GM and their partners have far better resources for designing and manufacturing a new style transmission than tesla does, so I’m hoping they take advantage of these areas where they have the advantage. I’m hoping we will see at least 2 speeds to help give the volt performance and characteristics people are accustom to with gasoline cars. Teslas updating their power electronics to better leverage its massive battery pack, more powerful motor, and likely 1000 lb weigh advantage allowed them to make up the performance loss by switching to a single speed. No one expects the volt to perform like a tesla, but we would like the volt to achieve its full potential. Ask GM for us how they plan to get those battery volts to the ground please.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Who designed the User Interface of the console? Will it have a similar touch interface to Apple’s iPhone? Will it have voice capabilities similar to Ford’s/Microsoft’s Sync?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:18 am
Please ask what the roof is, front to back. Sunroof? Convertible? Photovoltaic? Or is it just an odd decoration, like the grill?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:24 am
1. Winter is quite cold in some markets for a number of months every year. How does the all electric range (AER) vary with outdoor temperature?
2. Will there be user selected modes of operation, for example, a switch that allows the battery to be maintained at 80% state of charge in anticipation of a mountain climb later in the day?
3. How is the stale gas issue being dealt with?
4. When the driver takes his foot of the gas pedal, will the car just coast like today’s ICE cars, or will there be some light regenerative breaking, or …?
5. Will the cost of one battery replacement be built into the price?
6. What is the anticipated price range?
7. How many charge/discharge cycles have been tested in the lab? What are the results to date?
8. How many charge/discharge cycles have been tested in the lab under winter conditions? What are the results to date?
9. Is the 40 mile AER with all ancillary electric loads (air conditioning, etc.) running?
10. Is the 40 mile AER for end of life?
11. What AER is expected at beginning of life?
12. How will driver behaviour affect AER? (e.g. heavy foot vs. light foot)
13. What safety issues, different from a standard ICE, is the design team dealing with?
14. Will there be any heating/cooling of the battery packs when the car is not being used and not being charged?
15. Will there be any heating/cooling of the battery packs when the car is not being used and being charged?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:26 am
#1 Question on my mind has to do with production. If the car really is popular like I believe it will be, is it possible to increase production sooner or are they limited by the supply of battery’s. Put simply, what is the limiting factor in the production of the volt?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:29 am
What is the hold up with the battery contract? Is there a problem?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:29 am
What is the price?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:29 am
What will the battery replacement cost be?
Will the batteries be prone to failure if not plugged in constantly while not in use?
How easy is it to replace the batteries if they fail?
How is air conditioning/heating handled in an electric car?
I am anxiously awaiting this car. I have high hopes that if successful, it will put America on top once more as automotive giant.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:36 am
What is the roof made of and is the wide A-pillar a design concession for the roof?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Two questions:
1. How is the battery kept cool while driving in desert heat, say 105 degree air temperature?
2. What effect on battery longevity will driving or being parked in 105 degree air temperature have?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:42 am
I don’t recall if this has been answered before.
Does the Volt have a typical transmission P-R-N-D-D1-D2 or a CVT?
If automatic, is it a 5 speed or 6 speed?
If not, please explain.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:50 am
I have paid a deposit for the first volt at my dealership in Surrey, B.C. Canada. Flag Chevrolet
Will every dealership get some of the first volts??
Will GM react favorably to me putting my money where their mouth is, by prioritizing dealerships where people have paid a deposit??
Brian in Surrey, B.C. Canada
September 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Does GM have a plan for anything that can compete against the Toyota Prius/ Honda Civic Hybrid / Honda Insight ? Something the volume market can afford that gets better than 45mpg?
Top 10 May 2008 Sales (source: kicking tires)
Honda Civic: 53,229 (including hybrid)
Toyota Corolla: 52,826
Toyota Camry: 51,291 (including hybrid)
Honda Accord: 43,728 (including hybrid and coupe)
Ford F-Series: 42,973
Chevy Silverado: 37,020
Nissan Altima: 34,428 (including hybrid and coupe)
Ford Focus: 32,579
Chevy Cobalt: 26,702
Chevy Impala: 23,803
September 14th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Continuing from #23:
16. How is GM defining end of life for the batteries, and what are the conditions for reaching it? (charge cycles? miles? years? current AER?)
17. What are the conditions that must be present for warranty replacement of the batteries?
18. Will 220 volt charging be possible?
19. Will it be possible to configure a timer in the Volt’s software on the start time for charging to take advantage of time-of-day electrical rates?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:58 am
Fun questions so far, I think many have been answered in previous posts. I have to go back to the FAQs and re read some of them, but I believe that if GM builds a cheaper Volt-like car with a smaller battery the performance will take a serious hit. A smaller battery isn’t like a smaller gas tank, if you reduce the battery size your torque goes in the toilet. I doubt that GM will be pricing the Volt with a 1 for 1 replacement costed in for the battery. Other battery packs in RAV4-EV (admittedly not LiIon) and the plug in cars built by Hymotion haven’t had batteries wearing out, so hopefully neither will the Volt given its more advanced pack cooling system and its reduced charging profile, i.e. from 85% to 35% normally, (hopefully with an over-ride for the one day a year you really, really need to climb Pikes Peak…)
#23 Shaft has a good summary of the stuff I am interested in, especially whether the 40 miles all electric range is at end of life as has been mentioned in the past.
My major concern isn’t that the car won’t be built, it is that it will be so expensive at first that it will be a niche market, not a game changer. We need to be using domestically produced electricity, not foreign oil. I don’t care if the Volt looks as boring as my Mom’s Focus, if it plugs in and has a 40 mile range, I will buy it, if I can afford it. If I can’t afford the Volt, I will buy the Insight or another high mileage car, and I will be buying much less than my present 12 gallons a week of gasoline refined from foreign oil after 2010.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:58 am
1. What is the Volts useful Life expectancy without a major overhaul?
If a battery life is designed for 100K miles then the car must be expected to at least meet or even exceed that design. I would expect may 200K useful life expectancy.
2. What would a regular maintenance schedule consist of?
This would help calculate the present and future worth of the vehicle and see exactly what costs could be expect relative to ones usage (at least for those of us who know how).
3. How many cars will be produced and What states will get release of the vehicle first.
This will help everyone know if their state (come on NC) or which they can expect to travel and get in line (until more info is available).
Thanks for your efforts Lyle.
GO-VOLT
September 14th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Has GM been approached (or at least open to the idea) by the aftermarket world for cooperation to help them quickly bring to market aftermarket add on’s for the volt?
I know many people would like Volts individualized. Many simple add-ons do not require GM coordination, but some of the more technically advanced ideas probably would. For Instance, I for one would love to see someone come out with a wheel hub motor option for the real wheels that is either powered by its own smaller battery, or from the main battery. Having all wheel drive in the winter, or that added boost upon acceleration would be real nice. I would envision it to be an on-demand only sort of system. Maybe an aux battery option to run accessories (as opposed to the main battery) or to tie directly into the main distribution system to work on parallel with the main battery to extend overall range.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am
I am about 5200 on the list and live in NY. How much and when?
September 14th, 2008 at 10:05 am
Lyle, Ask GM to walk around the entire car and go over the all the substantial engineering & performance considerations which drove them to change the production design to be different than the concept car. Just about all of it was Aero, packaging, and mfg.. but it would be interesting to hear the details directly from them.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Congrats Lyle!
I know that this is “small potatoes”, but the GMNext site has a cool countdown clock to the celebration Tuesday. Any chance we could have one for the Volt’s release? Some of us are already counting the days.
I’d also like to know about the roof panel. I’m not big on sunroofs, but it’s obviously not a deal breaker.
Please give the team our “Props”.
Safe trip,
Tag
“LJGTVWOTR!!”
No plug, No sale!
September 14th, 2008 at 10:11 am
What is the gross towing weight of the Volt going up a 7% grade climb driving against a 100mph head wind as you driving up Pike’s Peak? (hehe, just kidding….)
September 14th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Shaft@33
GM had said that the Volt will have a “smart plug” that will accept 120 or 220V. That was way back at Voltnation I, so I hope it hasn’t changed.
Be well,
Tag
“LJGTVWOTR!!”
September 14th, 2008 at 10:16 am
Why doesn’t GM concentrate on the Western European market first (I’m writing from Italy)??
Americans, as all this nonsense about the looks (which are nice BTW!) of the Volt shows, don’t seem to really need a Volt, yet… :o)
We are already used (for many different reasons) to drive smaller cars, we are paying fuel $ 8-9 per gallon, 40 miles a day cover the daily commute for an even greater percentage of people over here and current generation hybrids like the Prius are having zero success in Western Europe because WE ALREADY HAVE SINCE MANY YEARS MUCH CHEAPER (and much better looking if that’s what interests you the most) 45-50 MPG CARS!! (for example my car, an Opel -A GM although with a FIAT engine!- Corsa 1.3 CDTI Speedtronic gets 48.5 MPG in real life use and costs full optional € 14,500 compared to the Prius’ sticker price of € 27,000)
A car like the Volt, if rightly priced, would make a killing over here and I bet that we in “socialist and green Europe” would get, as private citizens, even more govt subsidizes/incentives to buy/run cars like the Volt.
Ciao and bravo for this site! :o)
September 14th, 2008 at 10:18 am
Question: will there be an option to buy a Volt without the second battery cost?
September 14th, 2008 at 10:21 am
#30 Nelson asks:
I don’t recall if this has been answered before.
Does the Volt have a typical transmission P-R-N-D-D1-D2 or a CVT?
If automatic, is it a 5 speed or 6 speed?
If not, please explain.
———
The Volt does not have a transmission. The electric motor doesn’t need one. The ICE only charges the battery.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
My question will be, if GM is not treating it as a confidential information ,I would like to know whether they have fixed on a battery manufacturer and if so what is the charge cycle/milage/year guarantee they are prepared to give to GM for the battery pack
September 14th, 2008 at 10:34 am
How much does the charger weigh ? How large is it ? Any chance Volt 2.0 could give us the option of unplugging it from the car and putting it in the garage ?
September 14th, 2008 at 10:37 am
What is GM going to do with all the gas trade ins and are they going to be worth anything as a trade in, after this gets going gas cars wont be worth much
September 14th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Please ask these questions about charging the Volt.
1. what has to be on the end of the cable that plugs into the Volt. Is it the female end of a standard extension cord? Is it a special “Volt-only” fixture, or some unusual kind of fixture? Does it come with the car?
2. How long can the electric cord be?
3. Is a data connection to a power company (or any other kind of a data connection) required (as mentioned in an earlier post)?
4. Where exactly is (are?) the place(s?) on the Volt that the cord connects to? Is this a location that can be reached with one hand, or does one have to lift or turn a cover with one hand and plug in with another?
5. Is the plug-in mechanism simple enough that one can do it in the dark?
6, Can plugging in be done in the rain, or in the snow, or does it have to be a dry location to plug in safely? In effect this question asks, does one have to have a garage to have a Volt?
7. Will the Volt require a special charging circuit in one’s home? (for 110? for 220?)
These are nitty-gritty questions, but important to owners. A task that one has to do every day needs a smooth mode of operation. Also, at this time GM has specific answers, if the design now is finished.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:39 am
My question will be
Driving the VOLT is it like -
driving sports car (10 points) or driving an ordinary car like Aveo (1 point).
September 14th, 2008 at 10:41 am
More questions…
1) What type of plug will the Volt require? Will it be custom plug, that requires a custom cable?
2) What are the service requirements for both the 120 and 220V options (amps)? Most outlets in US are 120V/15Amp, and run on a multi-circuit outlet (ie: if the Volt requires near full service amperage, and I plug something in another outlet, sharing same breaker, my breaker will trip!)
3) People in apartment type buildings are going to have a problem plugging in. Has GM come up with any brilliant solutions/ideas to get around this issue?
September 14th, 2008 at 10:51 am
#43 Mike D asks “Question: will there be an option to buy a Volt without the second battery cost?”
Of course any information GM gives is welcome. However, the question arises because Mr Lutz said that the warranty costs included a 2nd battery.
Mr Lutz is a marketing person who speaks enthusiastically but loosely and gives statements that often are informative in a general way but wrong on details. Likely his statement means that GM accountants and engineers are trying to estimate numbers for warranty costs, and they are allocating an amount for the replacement of some fraction of the batteries during the first 10 years. That is to be expected and involves some average, statistical estimate of the numbers of battery failures over time.
Almost surely the Lutz statement does not mean that each car owner will be buying a 2nd battery, or would be getting a discount for not buying a 2nd battery, just that a battery replacement will be available in the warranty period if required under the warranty.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:01 am
Oh, yeah… These last questions remind me of another good reason to try it on in W. Europe first: we all have 220 volts in our homes/apartments so, if I got it right, our charging times are almost halved compared to those using 110 volts (without any adaptation/upfront expense needed) :o)
My house, for example, has two 230 V, 3.3 kWh, 15 A lines (1 for my apartment and 1 for my parents’ plus the rest of the house).
While no one here is interested in the Prius and other similar expensive useless crap, I and all of the people I have talked to about the Volt (no one knew about it!) are VERY excited about cars like that (if it doesn’t reveal to be too expensive for the savings it allows!)!!
Basicly, the Volt gets, with the ICE on, a slightly better mileage than the latest diesel engines most of us use over here PLUS it runs almost AT NO COST (what would the cost of a charge be? 1-2 euro?) for what for most of us is the normal daily commute!! You can’t beat that if the price is right! :o)
September 14th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Will GM cardmember earnings be redeemable on the Volt?
Where is the plug(s)?
September 14th, 2008 at 11:13 am
When and if GM gets a loan from the US taxpayer, will they sell all production Volts here in the US first, for at least the first 2-3 years?
September 14th, 2008 at 11:17 am
1. Performance data!!! (0 to 60, 40 to 70, yada yada yada…)
2. How much!!! (for real)
3. Transmision (Gears, CVT, or what?)
4. Selection of battery supplier???? (routing for A123)
Go Lyle!!!
I hope this event nets some more flattering images of the final car, as I am now on the fence!.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:20 am
BTW, that’s another interesting question: how many kWh (and at which voltage and amperage) does it take to fully charge a Volt at the customer depletion point?
I have just checked and I am paying (it’s the best price around, for example, my parents are paying almost 20% more than me) 0,093 Euro a kWh (it would be interesting to know how much do Americans pay, on average, for a kWh, IIRC the electricity costs less in the USA) so if my calculation are right (I have no idea how to calculate it rightly) it should cost me less than 80 cents to fully charge a Volt!!!!
September 14th, 2008 at 11:22 am
At this point I would like to understand more about the future drive-trains and the cars that will contain them.
The Volt will be a massive and valuable field test but being the first it will be very expensive (this is not an economy car by any stretch). GM is not going to sell the 2012/2013/201x models cheaper than the 2011. My guess is they will kill it after 3 years but have the replacements ready.
I am over the Volt at this point (I may get one depending on price but it’s pretty much an expensive toy.) It’s not going to be worth owning but I know the economies of scale will allow the drive-train to be used in future cars at far lower costs.
That’s what I am interested in now.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:29 am
Will GM use an advanced glass technology such as low-emissivity or insulated glass to minimize heat gain or loss in the Volt’s passenger compartment?
September 14th, 2008 at 11:29 am
How are the electrical connections made from the ICE generator to the motor? Are there two separate lines, one going to the battery charger and one going directly to the drive motor (so that no battery charging is possible)? I’m hoping that the battery is always connected and that even though the battery will not be charged much past the upper set limit that it will act as a buffer to store any extra energy produced or produce when more is required. Much like a capacitor for differences in energy demand and supply.
I don’t like the idea of two separate lines. It has been suggested by non-technical people but It would be nice to know from the engineer who designed it. I just feel it will be easier to control if there was only one line. There will not be a need to switch to the direct line where it will be less efficient when the battery is not connected (small energy differences in supply and demand must be discarded). The battery will be able to handle small charging and discharging because that is what is happening during brake regen so I don’t see why it would be a problem to always have the battery connected.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:38 am
- Will GM employ advanced thermal insulation technology to minimize heat gain or loss through the Volt’s doors, firewall, floor, etc?
September 14th, 2008 at 11:39 am
- Will GM employ advanced sound reduction technologies (such as elastomeric laminates) to silence the Volt’s internal combustion engine noise due to starting, stopping & operation?
September 14th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Question fo GM:
Is the 40 mile range only achievable if you are close to home and the vehicle knows it will be charged soon?
September 14th, 2008 at 11:44 am
“I have just checked and I am paying (it’s the best price around, for example, my parents are paying almost 20% more than me) 0,093 Euro a kWh (it would be interesting to know how much do Americans pay, on average, for a kWh, IIRC the electricity costs less in the USA) so if my calculation are right (I have no idea how to calculate it rightly) it should cost me less than 80 cents to fully charge a Volt!!!!”
I just checked a day or so ago, and the average US price for electricity is 10.44c per KWh, which would make it slightly less than what you’re quoting for Europe, once the currency exchange is figured in.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:46 am
#41 Tagament:
auto ranging power supplies (110-230V) are common in electronics. Those cheap bastards at HP and Dell use this technology in their products so I would be shocked if GM didn’t.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:49 am
ONLY THING THAT MATTERS NOW:
“Is GM giving us their estimated price on the Volt allowing for NO REBATES OR IS THE REBATE (propsed $7,500) COOKED INTO THIS NUMBER?”
We have all the primary specs now, all the rest of the techncial secondary specs some third class engineer will be happy to dump on you as we go alone. If you get a ‘big cheese’ don’t waste the opportunity by asking him how many watts the stereo is. We want to be able to paint a reasonable picture of what the cost will be…and this is the biggest obstacle in our way to be able to do that.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:51 am
Lyle,
GM has release some concerning statements over the past year about the Volt running in R.ange E.xtended mode. GM has referred to this mode as “limp home” or “get you home” mode. This raises big questions about taking the Volt on a vacation or long trip where the battery is continually at a 30% SOC. I’d like GM to clarify this and comment about using the Volt for long trips, since they seem to infer from statements made that RE mode is only to “limp” you home. I can’t be the only one with questions about this.
Thanks
September 14th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Thanks Lyle for this great opportunity.
I’m wondering if the Volt will have instrumentation to assist the driver in getting more mpg or mp kWh?
Also, I’m the opposite of #49 Natan B. If the acceleration is 0-60 in less than 9 sec, that part’s great! But, I’m wondering if the Volt will have a smooth comfortable ride (more appealing to the masses), not sports car like?
September 14th, 2008 at 11:57 am
Has GM considered offering larger diameter wheels & tires as an added-cost option (extensive US Govt testing shows larger tire diameters actually reduce rolling resistance)?
September 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
I remember well GM touting the the pricing for the Volt at UNDER 30k, almost from it’ inception. In this economy, 30K represents a major investment for middle class folks, Now, the banter is centering around 40 to 50K. As with the Tesla, the dream gets popped by reality, and personally, I, as well as almost everyone I know, just plain can’t afford a car in that price range.
And the Volt is supposed to compete with the plug in Prius? From my vantage point, they are shooting themsilves in the foot, and Toyota will continue to rule the hybrid sector.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
My questions involve the HVAC system and how it affects battery life. Could such an all electric system also be used in conventional cars to simplify the mechanical systems and power sucking - allowing a smaller engine.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
I have to add my vote for asking about a less expensive Volt with a 20-mile AER.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
Glad to see that Lyle is going to be there. This blog has probably helped out the Volt design team a good bit … trying to understand their customers better and so forth. Maybe they even got a few technical ideas from us. Who knows?
I’ll be tuned in on the 16th. I have a shortcut on my desktop to remind me. The first practical electric car by a mainstream automaker is about to make its debut. This is a big event for the auto industry. It’s not just another car unveiling. It’s good for America and every one else in the world for LOTS of reasons. I think people are going to LOVE driving past those gas stations on the way to work every morning and only having to buy gasoline or E85 a few times a year. I look forward to putting some good bumper stickers on my Volt in 2011.
In 10 years, we’ll see E-Flex cars everywhere. We can look back and say we were on this blog cheering on GM to build the first one. We were encouraging them and trying to help them build the best Volt possible. I’m sure we’ve helped get a lot of people on the Internet excited by the new wave of electrified cars that are on the way.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
I agree with #69 angelo festa, I am also puzzled why the talk is 40-50k. 30-35k is a number that is still high, but I would make the investment. At 40-50k That is out of reach and then other options such as looking to electric convertions, Prius, Mitsubishi (20k), Honda etc. will become more affordable.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
“I just checked a day or so ago, and the average US price for electricity is 10.44c per KWh, which would make it slightly less than what you’re quoting for Europe, once the currency exchange is figured in.”
Hi, I have found the data for 2008 in Italy and it’s 13.2 Eurocent (around $ 0,19 at current exchange rates). I don’t think we should consider exchange rates anyway but the overall “costs of life”. For example, I am going to get a degree in nursing and would be earning here in Italy around € 1,400 per month while I would make 2.5 times that in the States… So yes, whichever way you look at it the electricity costs a lot less in the USA :o)
Back to the economy of the Volt: to make it economically convenient for me it should cost no more than € 25,000 given my daily commute, my annual mileage and my actual expenses in gasoline.
What makes the Volt so exciting to me is that I could and would take a whole lot more joyrides (something which both I and my wife love doing and we have to very much limit ourselves on like most of the people here) than we do now and that would cost us next to nothing!!!!
You guys in the USA really don’t know how good you have it there in The Greatest Nation on Earth :o)
Don’t let the pro-European BS from both Europeans and (some) Americans fool you: having lived in both places, life in the US (warts and all) is so much more exciting, fulfilling and rewarding than in “socialist” Europe.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
If a second battery is being priced into the car to provide a 100k warranty to meet CA law, can folks that don’t live in CA get a 50k warranty on the battery and not pay the additional cost being priced into the car?
I believe we have been thinking the second battery is costing $10k. What is the additional cost being priced into the car for the second battery?
September 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Statik,
Excellent point about getting the vital info from the big cheese.
Grizzly,
My understanding was that “limp home mode” was for when you were out of gasoline and that long trips were covered by the generator allowing good car performance. Could be wrong.
Be well,
Tag
“LJGTVWOTR!!”
September 14th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
- Will you make a pure EV car ? When ?
- What conditions would you accept to get $25B of subsidized credit
September 14th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
statik said ““Is GM giving us their estimated price on the Volt allowing for NO REBATES OR IS THE REBATE (propsed $7,500) COOKED INTO THIS NUMBER?””
——————————————-
I repeat the question here as it is critical. Presumably the higher numbers are pre-rebate and intended for political consumption as “this is why we urgently need a rebate so that real people can buy the car.” GM will wiggle around and say they have not set the final prices yet, which no doubt is true.
However, GM should tell us the basis on which they are giving out numbers. Are the prices from GM pre-rebate, or are they not?
September 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pm
The pictures of the car look great!! I am sold.
How much will a new battery pack (with installation) cost after the batteries wear out?
Will you be able to recycle the old battery pack and get some sort of credit towards a new battery pack?
How long will a battery pack last?
September 14th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
[Q] What will be the marketing philosophy for the interior trim?
(i.e. Is there going to truly be a “bare bones” trim? Or will the “lowest” trim level have lots of options as “standard” thus allowing GM to make a significant profit on “options” being sold as part of the “standard” trim level)
I have serious concerns about being forced to pay for “options” that I do not want or need.
September 14th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Please ask, in some polite way, whether there is an aspect of the Volt’s performance (acceleration, ride, handling) that we can realistically expect to be above average for that size car? Or realistically expect to be below average?
Generally the Volt concept started out with discussion of exceptional characteristics in all respects, e.g. fast acceleration. The production Volt seems to have moved back uniformly toward the average for cars in its class, or just a little below, with the one exception that it can be plugged in.
The question remains, is the car as now designed expected to be exceptional in any performance aspect, other than plugging in?
September 14th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Lyle,
weill GM try to put out 3 models of the Volt like LT, LST etc
Bare minimum with cloth seats
Medium with up-scale trim
Max with Leather seats and Nav system etc
September 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
***Will there be a conventional (parallel) hybrid version of the Volt at a lower price point in larger quantities?***
***When will Volt 2.0 be released?***
***When will other E-FLEX vehicles be revealed/produced?***
***Will the Volt have available leather seats?***
September 14th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
#65 statik - You’re right that price is the most important question but it’s way too early. We won’t get a useful answer at this point. Better to ask about the tires. Which brings me to …
#68 nasaman - Do you have a cite for the government studies? TIA
Q for GM: Since under inflated tires can significantly contribute to lower efficiency, will GM have a sensor system that reports the tire inflation or a system whereby the user can set the psi at which a low pressure warning is given?
Q for GM: What is the expected coefficient of rolling resistance at 35 mph and 60 mph?
Q for GM: Will the Volt, like the EV-1, have a special suspension so that the tires can run at a higher psi? If not, why not?
September 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
LJGTVWOTR!!!”
September 14th, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Lyle:
It is good to know that GM-Volt.com will be in attendance!!
I let the first 85 posts get through the technical questions. Mine are more general in nature.
Here are my question:
It has been stated that there will be 10,000 units produced in the first model year. How many will be available for sale in the United States in November, 2010, and where will they be sold?
Thanks.
Jim
Go GM Volt Team!!!
September 14th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Will the range be adjustable with the car. By that I mean if I know I am going on a 350 mile road trip, can I set the engine to come on sooner and save some watts for the hills on the trip? If so, can I set the mode in some display or will I have to manipulate the “destination” of my trip to achevie the desired results. Will there be a “Maximum Generation” mode for situations like going down the grapevine in CA?
September 14th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Will the battery be on a lease basis?
September 14th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
One question: How is GM going to make the Volt affordable to the middle income folks?
They can’t pitch it by “total cost of ownership” alone. I still have to be able to make the monthly payments. No interest loans, 100K bumper-to-bumper warranty, etc. would ease some of the financial pressure.
September 14th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
84 DonC…….You asked, “Do you have a site for the government studies?”
There are several, but one of the most recent & comprehensive is….. http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/sr/sr286.pdf (on page 68 they say, “A sorting of the data by rim diameter suggests that tire dimensions can indeed have an effect on rolling resistance measurements. Tires with a rim diameter of 15 inches or lower have an average rolling resistance of 0.0106, more than 10 percent above the average of 0.0093 for the tires
with a higher rim diameter.”
As a tutorial, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_resistance may be interest to you. Here they state, “Smaller wheels, all else being equal, have higher rolling resistance than larger wheels.”
September 14th, 2008 at 1:41 pm
If you are driving cross-country on the ICE and you make a brief stop for gas, when you start out again will the ICE remain off until you reach a predetermined speed and/or power draw?
September 14th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
this is my question. will i ever be able to get a e-flex esclade esv
or at least a hybird esv not one of those weeni mini dorky esclades
September 14th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Question for Bob Lutz
Bob, you said the Volt would be very distinctive looking. How do you explain this very common, bland production Volt? How do you plan to sell a $40k+ car that looks like 90% of the other cars on the road?
September 14th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
______________________________________________________
My Question: What does the VOLT Team believe are the current three biggest challenges for GM with regards to achieving profitable high volume production and sales of the GM VOLT and what is GM doing to address each of those challenges?
________
Lyle,
Your significant individual contribution to promote awareness of the electric VOLT automobile has made a meaningful positive difference towards steering America in the direction of secure energy independence. You example provides inspiration to me and others of how one individual can stand up, pitch-in, and make a material difference; The Power of One.
Please express to the VOLT Team the gratitude that I (and many others) have for their individual efforts. Each member of the Volt Team is making a real and meaningful contribution towards making America a more secure nation; The Power of One.
Thank you Lyle and the GM Volt Team!
_____________________________________________________
September 14th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Where can I find a full technical specifications of the car detail if it out?
who and what is the motor made from?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
What is GM doing to reduce battery costs ?
Hows about allowing people the option of purchasing 3rd Party “Battery Insurance” and cut the Volt’s MSRP by $10k ?
“Priced nicely under thirty”…
September 14th, 2008 at 3:25 pm
#64 scott sez:
“auto ranging power supplies (110-230V) are common in electronics. Those cheap bastards at HP and Dell use this technology in their products so I would be shocked if GM didn’t.”
We perfer to call ourselves megalithic cheap bastards thank you!
I’m betting the Volt can handle 120 or 230V and auto-ranging to boot.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
My question is: When I’m driving the Volt and have depleted the 40 miles of range in the battery and the gasoline generator kicks on to give me power to continue driving. Let’s say I stop at a train crossing or sit outside with just the air condition on, will the Volt allow the gasoline generator to charge the battery all the way up since the battery is depleted and the car remains powered on, or will the gasoline generator quit?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
#84 DonC
#65 statik - You’re right that price is the most important question but it’s way too early. We won’t get a useful answer at this point. Better to ask about the tires. Which brings me to …
———
Howdee Don, I know it is too early for actual pricing.
I want to know if the guesstimates that they are giving out now, like Wagoners mid to high 30s estimate a couple weeks ago, are pricing a rebate in or not. For Wagoner/Lutz to give out even a guesstimate, they have to be cognizant of this factor…but by not stating the obvious, that guesstimate is useless.
If he is guessing 37K flat with no rebate, that could mean $29,500 to the consumer. If he is assuming the $7,500 proposed legislation into the $37,000 and it does not go through…or is not approved in time, the cost of the Volt to the consumer is $44,500. Big, big difference.
I want to know their mindset…and I would like them on record on how they are guesstimating. If we don’t know then GM can easily just tack on a extra $7,500 at their whim and say it was there all along. They could give us the old, “Well the high 30s estimate INCLUDED the rebate…it was just assumed…or we implied it”
This is trick Toyota pulled with the Prius, and when the rebate expired, the car’s price decreased…quelle surprise.
September 14th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
Bob Lutz made has talked about a full electric version (with more batteries and NO ICE.) and seems quite favorable of such. He also mentioned it should be even cheaper to make and sell comparitively. Any update at all on a full electric version in the future, or at least a confirmation of such? Thanks Lyle!
Respectfully,
Chris
September 14th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I know it has been asked, but I want to let you know many people want to know:
What about our Wait List?
Thanks!!!
September 14th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
[Q1] Is the initial production run estimate of 10,000 units based on real world limitations (”can only build X in Y time”, “will not have enough of material X until later”) or is it an just a business decision?
[Q2] If it is purely a business decision then would GM consider increasing the initial production run? Is GM currently considering increasing the initial production run?
September 14th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Will the Volt’s 40 mile range allow for 4 passengers on a hot summer day with the AC running in typical city type traffic?
September 14th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
Nasaman & DonC - Re: rim diameter
It makes sense that larger diameter would have less rolling resistance keep everything else the same based on the incident angles to overcome that create the resisitance. Think of the tire as if it weren’t rolling and how the compression and tangential angles interplay. The downside of the larger rims is the increased moment of intertia associated with a larger rotating mass. Spinning the mass up and slowing it down loses energy, but of course this is mitigated some by the regenerative braking. I think you would have to know a lot of specifics to determine which consumes more energy, but my guess is that it will pretty similar for most drivers.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I am #77 on the wait list -will i be able to get one of the first cars ?
September 14th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Questions for GM:
1.) Will GM Card earnings be allowed for the Volt?
2.) Have they reconsidered a V2House option?
3.) Since the battery is allowed to run below the range extended point under certain circumstances per Andrew Farah’s mountain climbing explanation, will the Volt be designed so that the user can choose to use this additional battery capacity on occasion?
4.) There is a tremendous backlash from many followers of the Volt development against looks of the production model. While not overwhelmed, I am OK with the production version. My concern is the reduced demand from the general public. Will GM consider some cosmetic upgrades or tweaks at this point that would have little or no affect on range but would produce a more concept-like aggressive appearance?
5.) What is the current projected 0-60mph time or time window?
6.) Will there be a less expensive 5 year warranty option?
September 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
In what states will the Volt initially be sold?
Through how many dealers in those states?
About how many cars per dealer?
When might the number of states be expanded?
I realize that GM is not going to lay all this out in detail, but maybe they could give some ideas of their current thinking. What we have is now a bit old.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:47 pm
As a retired G.M. employee I hope that G.M. won’t let Toyota&Honda out design us.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
This question is asked from the perspective of the nation, not GM.
Does the GM contract with the two battery companies place any restrictions on their sale of these batteries to other vehicle manufacturers? This question applies to both the loser and the winner.
Lyle, thank you again for all your efforts.
September 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
1) Will the Volt be available initially for lease only, or can consumers purchase-to-own?
2) What states can we expect the Volt to be available in initially?
3) Will the Volt be able to generate electricity for consumers like a generator (during emergencies and power outages)?
September 14th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Lyle
Nice video at the top of this post. The comment that GM sources say the car is not intended to be a “boy toy” raises the following natural question:
Who does GM expect will be the customers for the Volt? (male, female, young, old, US, Chinese, or whatever) That is, what demographic. Who do they think the Volt will appeal to, who also will have the money to buy it?
————————–
Discussion of question
It is all well and good to say that it is a car for everyone, but that will be a car that has no special appeal to anyone, and really a very bland car. For a car with such astonishing technology, it also is a sad statement, if that is all GM can say.
I have to admit a little offense to the “boy-toy” terminology. We boys are willing to pay more and tolerate more from our automotive toys. That is, for a little sporty style and a little bit of edge on performance, we are willing to greatly increase our interest and our payment.
In contrast, the production car is nice looking (in my opinion), and very very feminine (in my opinion). Upper-income females are a good demographic, and some in that group have said they liked the production car better than the concept.
I am genuinely wondering who GM has in mind as their target prospective-customer demographic for the Volt?
September 14th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Same as questions on #2. Most importantly.
When will you be able to drive a mule? Can some automotive experts in the waiting list be able to test and provide feedback.
Additionally
a) When are they going to disclose the battery contract/award?
b) Had they started re-tooling the Hammtrack and Flint plants?
September 14th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Will you honor the waiting list at GM-Volt.com
Why only 1 battery supplier?
No quality control spin please!! Both suppliers and many others are capable of quality control. Why not have 3 or 4 suppliers?
If this is a “game changer” then why is only one supplier a player in this new game?
Why so much aero? Killed the style. We know highway milage goes up. Been there know that. But why not sacrafice some aero for looks? Who is going to use this vehicle as their highway driver?
September 14th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
When the Volt is running in EV mode, will it have a very subtle and aesthetically pleasing hum or whir?
September 14th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
#90 nasaman
Thank you very much for the National Research Council study. That one is very nice with all kinds of good information.
It’s going to take me a while to get all the way through, but from skimming I don’t see that strong a relationship between rim size and RR. First rim size is just one component. You have section size and aspect ratio, so it’s hard to sort the variables out. The report puts it this way: “changing tire geometry is difficult without changing other characteristics of the tire that influence hysteresis, … [making it] difficult to know, a priori, how specific changes in tire dimensions will translate to changes in rolling resistance”.
When I looked at the data I saw more tendencies than anything. Fifteen inch looked as good a sixteen, and they both looked better than seventeen and eighteen. This may not be surprising since the report noted that the differences between tires of the same rim size were much greater than the differences between tires of different rim sizes. Finally the study pointed out that tires with the smaller 13 and 14 inch rims cost about half that of tires for the larger rims, so it’s hard to know what role the construction and materials of the tire are playing.
I had looked at the Wikipedia entry and discounted it. On this issue it cites a test showing smaller rims have lower RR but dismisses it on the basis of the testing procedures, citing as support an authority that doesn’t seem to say that at all.
In any event, I think it is fair to say that a larger rim size (not necessarily larger tire size) doesn’t have any effect on RR. Plus there seem to be some very good tires in every size so it wouldn’t seem that tire size per se is such a big deal. IOW there wouldn’t seem to be any reason for GM not to make the tires larger.
After they fix the grill of course!
September 14th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
#99 statik — They are not going to give any estimates at this point other than to say it will cost GM $100K to make each car, and even then GM will lose billions!
They’ll do that because they do not want to get locked into pricing at this point. Pricing is always tricky and it’s really tricky for the Volt. On the cost side you have to apportion all those development costs, so the cost of the vehicle depends on how many you sell.
Hard to say until you have a good idea how many you can sell, and that will depend on gas prices. If oil is $200/bbl that’s one thing, if it’s $75 that’s another. (Keep in mind last year Toyota needed incentives to move the Prius, this year it’s got a six month waiting list).
I’m kinda hoping oil drops so I can get mine!
September 14th, 2008 at 6:40 pm
How is price determined?
Will GM sell Volts at a loss to get them started?
Will GM attempt to recoup costs and make a profit with the first 10k Volts?
September 14th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
the SMART car took reservation for $99.00 over the web, allowing the manufacture to know what kind of cars with options to start with.
WILL GM DO SOMETHING SO SIMPLE LIKE THIS?
have a great trip
GM should have at least one VOLT at every dealer for people to try & not sell it, until the next one comes in.
September 14th, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Will there be a regular “start” key or will it be a RF (radio frequency) type device?
How will the heating and cooling work for the interior?
How will the use of heating or cooling or other onboard accessories affect the range on the batteries?
September 14th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Will you be able to access the car with a WiFi device? For example, could you tell the car to get warm while still plugged in? Or read out its maintenance history to your laptop?
September 14th, 2008 at 7:08 pm
@42 Scossa’s comments got me wondering…
- How many Volts of the initial 10,000 Volt run will actually be sold in the United States, how many in Europe, Asia, etc ? 10,000 Volts are not a lot, divided by the entire world.
———————————————————————-
- And (to reinforce Statik’s very important point), what is the price of the Volt, before any and all rebates ?
———————————————————————-
Honda is about to introduce it’s Prius-killer, the Insight. At “comfortably under $18,000, it may be a Volt-killer, too - assuming a $40,000 Volt cost.
- How can GM justify buying a Volt with $22,000 price difference between the Insight and the Volt ?
——————————————————————–
I’ll say it again - if you’re strapped for cash, no way can you afford a Volt, maybe a Prius or an Insight. If you can easily afford a Volt, gas prices are probably not a big concern - they will probably buy a Lexus hybrid. The Volt’s big demographic appears to be the “Die, OPEC, Die!” crowd and the “stop greenhouse gases” crowd. (C’mon, how many of you said “I don’t want to buy one more drop of their oil”, or something similar) ? Which leads to my next questions :
- How does GM intend to reduce battery costs in the future, to make the Volt truly a car everyone can afford ?
- The battery is the major reason for the Volt’s high cost - how much profit per battery does the contractor get ?
————————————————————————-
NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition ! (Bring in — the Comfy Chair) !
September 14th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Has the ultra capacitor technology been given any consideration?
Will this technology be given any consideration in the future?
September 14th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
1) How will battery only range be affected by running the heater, defrosters, wipers, and headlights all at the same time (typical winter driving in N.Y.)?
2) Some people produce their own electricity and may want to recharge the battery that way (from their battery bank via an inverter). Will the charger work fed from a modified sine wave power source, or does it have to be a pure sine wave?
September 14th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
Are you looking to identify newer battery chemistries/technologies for the purpose of reducing the cost impact of the batteries on the EREV?
Are you partnering or considering partnering other other firms (Ford, GE, etc) so as to increase the maturity of electric vehicle technology?
September 14th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Why according to the NY Times article published on Sunday September 14th does it seem like the car gets 30MPG on Gasoline?
In the article “G.M. at 100: Is Its Future Electric?”:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/14/automobiles/14AUTO.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&ref=automobiles
on the second page of the article, it states:
“G.M. still stands behind its pledge that the Volt will be able to travel at least 40 miles with no exhaust emissions on a fully charged battery.”
and:
“Plugging into a standard household socket for six or so hours to charge the batteries, and topping off the 12-gallon gas tank, will provide 400 miles of driving range, G.M. says.”
If these statements are true- the car can only drive 360 miles on 12 gallons of gas. This means that the car gets a very unimpressive 30 mpg when used as a gas vehicle (if the electricity is free-and you include it-34 mpg). Based on every statement that I have read and heard said about the car in the past-this (I hope) is in error.
There is no way that a 1.4L 4 cylinder tuned to operate an efficient generator should get this kind of poor mileage.
September 14th, 2008 at 7:59 pm
I did not read the comments, but the question of when Lyle or some independently published evaluator will be able to drive the Volt and report on the actual AER and acceleration (zero to 60 MPH) and charge sustaining mode mileage. If the product even comes close to the design goals, what is the hold up?
September 14th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
What will the warranty be?
A new concept with unproven technology a good warranty would go a long way to easing any concerns.
Thanks
September 14th, 2008 at 8:05 pm
What new ‘Applications of fuel efficient and alternative fuel technologies are in the works for the ICE?’.
Good work Lyle! See you at Volt Nation #2 in NYC?
Monty
September 14th, 2008 at 8:12 pm
Some time ago Bob Lutz responded that the Volt was mainly a commuter car. My question is, being a retiree we travel to FL. in the late fall (1300 miles) and return in the spring with normal dally driving under 40 mi. on each end. Would this be a practical car for us. #437 Thanks
September 14th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Why is it that GM’s Saturn Sky electric development car can run 150 miles on a charge and the Volt only 40?
“100% Electric Converted Saturn Sky cars by Advanced Mechanical Products (AMP). … this sexy beast is the ultimate environmental supercar with one charge lasting for 150 Miles. The delivery will be in early 2009. ” (Quote by Trendhunter Magazine and many others)
Can’t we use the same technology as AMP to get the Volt on the road? (and sooner!)??
September 14th, 2008 at 9:02 pm
Instrumentation:
1) Since the \Volt has screens instead of gauges, will GM support reprogramming the displays for different gauges and looks?
2) Will an “analog gauge” skin be available? (I dislike digital number readouts for things like mph and rpms).
Drivetrain:
1)Will a limited slip differential be available on the drive wheels?
2)If not, will the ABS system be used to emulate a limited slip differential?
Electronics:
1)Will the \Volt use 12V systems for most of its ancillary systems or some other voltage?
2)Will the \Volt include a 110V AC outlet inside the car to power accessories, etc?
3) Will the \Volt have V2G (Vehicle to Grid) support?
4) how powerful is the stereo?
Miscellaneous:
1) Is there a spare tire? If not, what is the mechanism used to eliminate it? (ie: run flat tires, can of sealant and pump, etc.?)
2) How is emissions testing supported?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
like #98 Steveland Harris
Hope you don’t mind if I piggy back on your question:
“When I’m driving the Volt and have depleted the 40 miles of range in the battery and the gasoline generator kicks on to give me power to continue driving. Let’s say I stop at a train crossing”
or a light.
Will the ice ever turn off when I stop? or when I take my foot off the gas?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
How will GM respond to the EEStor Ultra capacitor also due to be released in 2010? IF the claims about EEStor technology prove to be true the Volt could be obsolete before it is released.
September 14th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Can we come up with another term for “Customer Depletion Point?” w/o using the word “customer”?
September 14th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
#116 DonC
Hard to say until you have a good idea how many you can sell, and that will depend on gas prices. If oil is $200/bbl that’s one thing, if it’s $75 that’s another. (Keep in mind last year Toyota needed incentives to move the Prius, this year it’s got a six month waiting list).
I’m kinda hoping oil drops so I can get mine!
—————
How ironic would it be if gas went back under $50/bbl this year and then stayed there through 2010?
Won’t happen, but it is amusing thought.
I honestly I didn’t think oil could be sustained over $80-85/bbl and it has been over it for how long? Guess I got that one pretty wrong, lol. (Although I’m feeling alot less dumb back down around $100, hehe).
September 14th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
#131 DaveP Says: “Electronics:
1)Will the Volt use 12V systems for most of its ancillary systems or some other voltage?
2)Will the Volt include a 110V AC outlet inside the car to power accessories, etc?
3) Will the Volt have V2G (Vehicle to Grid) support?
4) how powerful is the stereo? ”
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I believe two of these questions have already been answered by GM previously.
1) The Volt use 12 volt power for most instrumentation and controls.
3) The first version of the Volt will not support V2G.
But question #2 is a big one for me. Note that normal car inverters won’t work for the Volt since the main battery voltage is 300-400 volts, and the Volt’s 12 volt circuit won’t have enough juice to power an inverter.
If GM builds 15 amps of 110 volt AC power into the Volt, then you could use this in remote locations, or during grid power outages.
So I’ll add to question #2. If there are 110 volt AC outlets, will the Volt run the gas engine as necessary to power them, even if it’s parked? In other words, will the normal engine behavior at 30% SOC apply for the 110 volt AC outlets?
If the Volt did this, then it would also be an excellent 110v power generator. That’s another reason to call it the VOLT. Think of the marketing possibilities…
September 14th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Tag # 76
“My understanding was that “limp home mode” was for when you were out of gasoline and that long trips were covered by the generator allowing good car performance. Could be wrong.”
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And the difference is?? Again, this needs to be ironed out by GM since I believe that for this car to be viable it MUST be capable of running indefinitely in RE mode. The only reason I’ve asked this question is that GM’s own statements have suggested that the Volt is only a COMMUTER car with “limp home” capability. Lyle… this needs to be clarified! PLEASE!
Thanks
Grizz
September 14th, 2008 at 9:45 pm
1) Price.
2) What does the future look like for batteries.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
will the battery pack replacement be covered under the powertrain warrantee????what options for replacement after 100 k mileage???
September 14th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
will chevy provide docking station to plug in the volt? at the $40000 price they should. Plugging in sounds convenient but who wants to have wires running into their house. I’m a medical student. I don’t have a garage yet!
September 14th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
>> Keep in mind last year Toyota needed incentives to move the Prius
No, the tax credit (which you only got if AMT didn’t apply) was already being phased out at that point. Of course, it was only $1,575 through March 2007 anyway. Then, from April through September it was just $788. Starting in October, you got nothing. Also, keep in mind that most were sold at MSRP or higher.
So the 181,221 sold in the US last year were not actually influenced much by incentives.
September 14th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Grizzly #137:
I don’t understand your confusion.
“Limp Home Mode” is if the ICE has run out of gasoline or otherwise failed, and is not available to keep the batteries at SOC of 35%. It will let you run the battery pack below 35%, just to get home, at reduced performance. However, once the pack has reached a certain discharge level, the car would shut down, to keep the pack from being permanently damaged by running it below a certain pre-set charge level.
In regular operation, the battery pack would discharge from 85% (fully charged) to 35% (screwball term “Customer Depletion Point”) and then the ICE would kick in to run the car normally.
So if you take a long trip, you would get your first 40 miles of AER, and then the rest of your trip would be at 50 MPG. If you stop at night, and charge the pack, the next day you would repeat this procedure. If you could not charge up at night, your car would just run as a regular ICE based vehicle at 50 MPG.
Unless I have missed something very important, this was always the idea of this vehicle. E-REV = Extended Range Electric Vehicle. My interpretation of Lutz’s comment was that to use no gasoline, the car would basically be a commuter, driven less than 40 miles per day.
Isn’t this how the rest of you think the Volt is supoosed to operate?
Static:
Look out for what is left of Hurricane Ike! It just blew through our area earlier tonight, and I have a gigantic tree laying in my back yard!! My wife and I looked at each other and said how crazy that was - It completely missed our home in Florida, which was supposed to be in danger, and took out a tree here in Ohio!!! The weather station on my roof only showed winds around 35 mph, but that was enough………… Fortunately, except for some landscaping, there is no real damage.
September 14th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
Grizzly@137
As long as the Volt has gasoline, it will perform normally. If you run the tank dry, it has nothing with which to charge the battery, Without gas the genset can’t charge the battery to provide electricity (because it’s out of gas). At that point it would allow you to temporarily draw battery power to a SOC lower than the 35% minimum, JUST TO GET TO SOME Gas. As soon as gas is provided it should work perfectly - not limping. JUST Keep some gas in the Volt and there will be zero need for limp mode. Seems a non issue unless you frequently run your gas tank past empty.
HTH,
Tag
September 14th, 2008 at 11:43 pm
Lyle,
Can you ask one of the engineers if that 50 mpg after the battery has reached “customer depletion” isn’t just pure B.S.?
Thanks
September 15th, 2008 at 12:11 am
Q1 - Will we ever see a following-year Volt model be CHEAPER than the previous year’s model ? (Assumes battery and/or other resource costs are reduced)
Q2 - Will GM created GM-branded Quick Charge Stations located at strategic points along our interstate highway system ?
Q3 - Will there be ANY new OnStar features exclusive to the Volt ?
Q4 - Will GM issue Customer Guarantee that they will NEVER EVER confiscate their Volt and CRUSH THEM in the future ? (can you say: “EV-1″)
Q5 - When will GM launch the Volt Racing League ?
Q6 - What SOLAR and/or ALTERNATE FUEL options will be available for the Volt ?
Q7 - Who will get the FIRST Volt to roll off the assembly line ? (Maximum Bob ???)
Q8 - What will GM do with that $50 BILLION DOLLARS ? (just kidding)
September 15th, 2008 at 12:21 am
Tonight, the History channel replayed the historical September 11th on the ground, highly personal portrayal of the devastation America suffered. To watch as a retired Air Force veteran, I can’t help but to know the awful truth of where that terrorist money came from. I’ll be buying a Volt as soon as possible, the first available minute. This is hardly a green issue for me; therefore, my question to the team