AND 
More Chevy Volt Interior Details
I was able to follow-up with Tim Grieg, the Volt’s chief interior designer via email to gather some more details. Thanks Tim.
I asked him three questions:
1. What are the data options the center display will provide?
Too many to list in a single e-mail, but the CENTER display (on top of the Integrated Center Stack) will display audio, climate control, navigation, and the Volt page where the customer can program when to charge the vehicle, for instance. The display in front of the driver will show vehicle speed, total range (electric range and fuel range), total miles driven (total EV only miles and total fuel only miles), a trip odometer (again, with EV trip and fuel trip), and an efficiency meter, which will help customer fine-tune their driving to maximize their range. Other features that show up in the display in front of the driver will include information like tire pressure, etc.
2. Will the car have Internet access?
No Internet access, but I can say that GM will take advantage of what OnStar can do for our customers to expand the “experience.”
3. Will leather be an option and what is the other material?
The Volt will have 2 trim levels — one fabric and one leather.
146 Responses to “More Chevy Volt Interior Details”
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:19 am
Sweet! Now, I wonder where I can put my iPod …
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:22 am
Scheduled charging? Of course! Now all I need is a garage to go with my future Volt!
Does ‘fine-tuning’ to my driving maybe include slightly modifying the customer depletion point?
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:23 am
I’ll take one Blue with leather and one Red with fabric….
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:26 am
#2 jdsv….A “Solar Garage” I hope….!!!!!
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:40 am
No Internet (wireless or wired)? I can live without it for now (read first release of the car)
It will be a bit frustrating to trudge through the snow and wind out to the garage to tell the car to start preconditioning the interior while still plugged-in 10 minutes before leaving. Maybe the charging schedule will have a preconditioning schedule for weekday work commutes? It would still be much nicer to walk over to the PC and click “precondition now” again 5-10 minutes before leaving especially if departure times are variable.
…after all, this is the 21st Century.
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:43 am
“The Volt will have 2 trim levels — one fabric and one leather.”
I have grown accustomed to rich “Corinthian Leather” since my first Cordoba. I require the finest money can buy.
I will await details of this “leather” you speak of.
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:47 am
Re: OnStar to “expand the experience”… In an earlier thread GM hinted that the car would know how far it is from home (as part of its plan to maximize the use of electricity vs. gas). I would assume that the Volt will use GPS and the OnStar system to accomplish this.
Lyle, if you get the chance, I’d like to know more about this feature and how they are going to pull off the whole battery management issue vis-a-vis distance from home. Given what’s been posted recently by some of those new to this blog, it’s bound to be one of the more misunderstood features of the car.
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Could you ask if GM is planning SEAT COOLING? I think that would help use the HVAC less. I also want to know if the back seats will fold down so I can really use the hatch. Will the steering wheel be telescoping? Is the sport button on the dash going to only affect the power used or will it affect the damping of the shocks?
I am going to start saving for this car, can not wait!!!
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:54 am
A second thought… preconditioning of the interior should also include preconditioning the mechanics of the car. Specifically pre-warming the battery while plugged in to the mains rather than immediately starting the gas engine because the battery is too cold. My garage is detached and unheated. So if it’s -10F outside the interior of the garage is about -5F
I rather have the battery (mechanics) and interior preconditioned (warmed/cooled) with grid electricity than gasoline energy 5-10 minutes before departure.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:03 am
#5 LyleL
The EV1 included this “pre-conditioning” feature. I would imagine that the Volt would as well.
In the following link, see “Standard Features”
http://avt.inl.gov/pdf/fsev/eva/ev1_eva.pdf
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:20 am
“2. Will the car have Internet access?
No Internet access, but I can say that GM will take advantage of what OnStar can do for our customers to expand the “experience.””
========================================
It is discouraging. No internet access — what a loss of an opportunity.
“what OnStar can do for our customers to expand the “experience.”
The truth is, not much. GM would like to sell some high-cost OnStar packages. However, OnStar (despite its name) is ordinary cell phone service, so it is very slow as a data mechanism, and it does not begin to have the richness available on the internet.
GM, please think again about the internet connection.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:22 am
#10 BillR said:
Yes, it did. Wonderful car that it was, may it rest in pieces…
I expect a preconditioning feature, just don’t want to have to put on boots, coat (or rain gear) to walk to garage and back to start the preconditioning when having variable departure times. Wireless or wired would make it as convenient as a click of the mouse.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:26 am
If anyone knows any further detail about how the charging cord connects to the car, please post it. It seems that a cover of some kind has to be moved out of the way, presumably sliding down some kind of track. Is it spring loaded? Then a special plug of some kind has to be fit into a special receptacle.
Can this be done with one hand (other hand is carryng a package)?
Can it be done in the dark?
I hope it can be done with one hand, quickly, and without special external lighting.
Or are we moving over to requiring person to come home, to make a trip inside to drop off stuff, and then to come back for a special series of plug-in steps, done in a perfectly lighted garage? If it is the latter, then most of the time the car will not get plugged in.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:31 am
One thing I could never understand was the fascination with OnStar. My ex had it on her new Saab and I just never understood how it was supposed to improved on anything vs even a base model navigation system. The sales guy tried to explain to me that I could download directions and it would give me turn by turn navigation. Well, great. So can my navigation system with maps and voice and everything. Big deal.
I guess the push-button call service is the big deal there or the calling of emergency services if you get in an accident?
For the price we paid though, to me, it always seemed absurdly overpriced for what you got. Big mistake/oversight IMO to not offer internet or wi-fi access. I think thats a real missed opportunity to stand out.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:34 am
“I…can say that GM will take advantage of what OnStar can do for our customers to expand the “experience.”
What are the data options the center display will provide?
—–”Too many to list in a single e-mail, but the CENTER display (on top of the Integrated Center Stack) will display audio…
—————————————————
What I can say is that by combining the two, we can provide the customer up to the minute news and special offers that we at GM can only offer from time to time. We think the customer will really benefit from this service, so much so that it will be impossible to opt out of the program. Get ready to hear about out spineless windshield wipers and $59.95 oil changes, using exclusive Mr. Goodwrench parts! (j/k)
——————
Speaking of BF Goodwrench, check out this little press release/helper for your average woman: (I’d don’t know why I like it…it just feels like it was written 50 years ago. Has that ‘your not just a driver…your a WOMAN driver’ quality about it, hehe)
“…GM Goodwrench is reminding women of the importance of vehicle inspections and regular maintenance to help keep them and their families safe on the road.
“At GM Goodwrench, we understand the intense time pressure today’s women are under,” said Eileen Healy, executive director, GM Parts. “Our Goodwrench dealerships nationwide are committed to providing women – and all of our customers –high-quality service that they can trust.”
“To help keep women “on the go,” GM Goodwrench encourages them to visit their local dealership during April Car Care Month to help ensure that their vehicle is up to date on its maintenance needs. The maintenance inspections can point out items needing service that can help a vehicle run better, last longer, retain its value and provide optimal safety and security.”
http://www.autoworld.com/apps/news/FullStory.asp?id=4654
Has some helpful Q&A at the bottom of the article I also enjoy.
What is a Multi-Point Inspection? (I wonder)
Headlamps? …”a must for optimizing your visibility” (shocker)
Windshield wipers? “…Old or worn windshield wipers can lead to poor visibility” (sacre bleu!)
Batteries? “A weak battery can leave you stranded”–(get down to BF Goodwrench now ladies! Better bring along some food and a gun in case you get ’stranded’)
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:34 am
RB @ 13, you could plug the Volt in before you pick up the package. Or, you could put the package down and then plug in the Volt.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:35 am
#14 DC
OnStar gives good cell phone service through the radio speakers, the ability to call in case of an accident (or have a call placed automatically), the ability to get your doors unlocked if you lock yourself out, and some access by the police in case of theft. These are good services, but it is not the internet.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:40 am
#13 RB
If anyone knows any further detail about how the charging cord connects to the car, please post it. It seems that a cover of some kind has to be moved out of the way, presumably sliding down some kind of track. Is it spring loaded? Then a special plug of some kind has to be fit into a special receptacle.
Can this be done with one hand (other hand is carryng a package)?
Can it be done in the dark?
I hope it can be done with one hand, quickly, and without special external lighting.
Or are we moving over to requiring person to come home, to make a trip inside to drop off stuff, and then to come back for a special series of plug-in steps, done in a perfectly lighted garage? If it is the latter, then most of the time the car will not get plugged in.
—————
Down with NPNS!
NEAPNS = No Easy Access Plug No Sale
(sorry RB, I couldn’t resist the urge to have another acronym floating around)
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
#16 MDDave says “RB @ 13, you could plug the Volt in before you pick up the package. Or, you could put the package down and then plug in the Volt.”
====================================
The question is, will I have to do that? And will I be able to get my special GM-supplied cord out of storage once my package is in it? Where do I keep that cord, anyway?
And, will I need to get out my blow-torch to melt the ice that’s preventing the slide-back cover from sliding back?
Perhaps GM has thought the process through pretty well, as it is something that is easily foreseen. I hope that is the case, anyway, and was just curious — as well as apprehensive — about what the needed steps will be.
As you know, anything that one has to do over and over becomes a frustration if it is awkward to get it done. I am hoping that connecting the special GM charging cord will be smooth and easy. The nightmare version is connecting into the special connector in the special angle and orientation requring three hands, one for the cover, one for the flashlight, and one for the charger cord.
I trust that will not be the case.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
#15 Statik pointed out the woman issue. The other issue is look how much GM dealerships and GM itself depend on maintenance.
Could be it was more than battery cost that caused the passing of the EV1. Not trying to start anything, it’s just an observation.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:47 am
I’m glad we can buy something other than leather. Ugh, I hate leather. There is nothing worse than having to drive in the summer and having your back STICK to the leather seats.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:49 am
#9 LyleL
Preconditioning of the mechanics is a great idea. If this could be programmed so that an owner can charge his car over night, at a specific time of his choosing, then maybe 30 min prior to his departure he could use the plug-in to warm the batteries. Now, we know that the first will be available to the user but the second would be a most convenient.
R/Jim
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:00 am
#13 RB said:
How about this GM for a semi touchless access to the cars charging port.
The charge cord in some GM pictures show a specially molded angular plug. How about putting a small magnet in the molding. When the car owner with one hand brings the plug close to the car ( several inches to a foot) a small hall-effect integrated circuit detects the magnetic field causing a pulse to a small solenoid that flips the charge port access door open and turns on a couple L.E.Ds to illuminate the port. Remove the charge cable, the magnet is not in proximity, the lights and access door close automatically. NO TOUCHING. No scratching the access port door or the car finish.
For those that will say, it’s too complicated, it’s no more complicated than an automatic car door locking arrangement.
…after all this is the 21st Century.
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:01 am
In my opinion, the best way to precondition the mechanics or interior (aside from internet functionality) would be with the key fob, similar to a remote starter.
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:29 am
#23 LyleL here’s an addition the the hall-effect automatic opening charge port.
Make the L.E.Ds bi-polar so when the charge port opens the color is amber to illuminate the port. Once the cord is plugged in the L.E.D.s should switch to green IF… IF the car detects A.C. power on the cord. It could be that little Johnny was playing in the garage and unplugged the cars power cord from the wall socket earlier in the day. If the L.E.D.s do not turn green upon insertion, well, it’s time to find out why there’s no juice. Better to know now, than the next day and have to drive on gas.
Also, if when the cord is plugged in, the L.E.D.s might switch to red if the car detects an internal charge fault.
…after all this is the 21st Century.
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:32 am
@17 RB
Phone service through the speakers – you mean like Bluetooth does in just about every car thats sold today
I guess the calling in case of accident thing is nice but its not worth $30/mo IMO.
I would have much rather seen them take a navigation system and add features like this too it – say with built in internet or wi-fi service.
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:43 am
All this talk about features and such begs the question: Do you even want an affordable EREV anymore?
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:44 am
#15 statik said,
“Batteries? “A weak battery can leave you stranded”
I’ve left my headlights on accidentally, drained the battery, and got stranded. How long would one have to leave the Volt’s headlights on to drain the battery? What about the dome light? Say I let my Volt sit for a year with the lights on, when the battery got down to 30% SOC, would the ICE kick on? If the battery got drained, could I jump start it using another Volt?
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:52 am
#28 ThombDbhomb
#15 statik said,
“Batteries? “A weak battery can leave you stranded”
I’ve left my headlights on accidentally, drained the battery, and got stranded. How long would one have to leave the Volt’s headlights on to drain the battery? What about the dome light? Say I let my Volt sit for a year with the lights on, when the battery got down to 30% SOC, would the ICE kick on? If the battery got drained, could I jump start it using another Volt?
—————–
More importantly, if you did leave the dome on and all the power drained, and you happened to be at the bottom of Pike’s Peak…would you still be able to go 60 mph up the hill all the way to the top?
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:59 am
#18 statik says
“NEAPNS = No Easy Access Plug No Sale”
===================================
Hey I like it.
NEAPNS !
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:03 am
#23 LyleL says
“How about this GM for a semi touchless access to the cars charging port.
The charge cord in some GM pictures show a specially molded angular plug. How about putting a small magnet in the molding. When the car owner with one hand brings the plug close to the car ( several inches to a foot) a small hall-effect integrated circuit detects the magnetic field causing a pulse to a small solenoid that flips the charge port access door open and turns on a couple L.E.Ds to illuminate the port. Remove the charge cable, the magnet is not in proximity, the lights and access door close automatically. NO TOUCHING. No scratching the access port door or the car finish.”
===================================
That would be great !
It also would be fun to watch and show your friends.
The salesman would love it too.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:05 am
#26 DC says “Phone service through the speakers – you mean like Bluetooth does in just about every car thats sold today ”
==========================================
Yes, just like that
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:08 am
SWEET!
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:08 am
Jump starting a Volt?
Good question, how does one jump start a car with a 16 KWhr battery?
The inrush current would toast the jumpers 12V car battery, so does the Volt still have a traditional 12V battery, or do they just tap off 8 cells @ 1.5V of the battery?
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:09 am
ThombDbhomb, #28
Good questions, on both my (OPEL) Corsa and Astra, they have timers on those things that should avoid to stay stranded. I imagine GM could transpose this to the Volt.
NEAPNS (for Statik and RB)
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:11 am
“the CENTER display (on top of the Integrated Center Stack) will display audio, climate control, navigation, and the Volt page”
===================================
Which one to display at each particular moment opens a whole new encyclopedia of opportunities for discussion between the driver, the spouse, and the children. Never before has there been a car where one got to choose between navigation and the next dvd selection.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:16 am
#27 Daveo asks ” Do you even want an affordable EREV anymore?”
=========================
We do, of course, and as a part of that want to be able to plug it in.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:17 am
Most cars these days already have failsafes for things like leaving the interior light or headlights on..
Ususally the “dome” light will shut off after 45 minutes and will come back on when you open your car door… even if the door is left open … again the light will go out after 45 minutes… same with the headlights.. The headlights will come back on when you start the car..
If you pay attention… stuff like that should not have to be worried about.
GM… Leather for me … All black inside and out.. I have deposit in hand… I will take one of the test mules in the mean time.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:20 am
#28 ThomDbhomb asks “If the battery got drained, could I jump start it using another Volt?”
===========================================
That’s a good question. Do we know if the ICE starter is running off the main battery (400-Volt) or an ancillary 12-Volt battery?
Certainly if 400V trying to jumper it would be too dangerous. Maybe if it all discharges you have to plug it in to a wall outlet for a while (seriously).
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:43 am
Here are 2 previous posts that GM needs to really think about now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there any chance GM will have an option to make this a five passenger car? I have 3 children, so I really need a five passenger car. I know the battery pack is sort of in the way of a center rear seat, but maybe they could reduce the battery capacity some for this option? The rear-center passenger could easily straddle the hump in the middle of the floor (like a rear wheel drive car hump), but maybe GM would have to trim down the battery height in the seat area? Alternately, they could just make the middle seat higher and skinnier (for children in car seats, etc.) If GM doesn’t offer this option, then they will be vulnerable to competitors who figure out a way to do it. This is already true with the new Chrysler EV annoucements!!!!!!!!!
Another post says similar things:
The rear looks like there’s enough for a 5th seat. THe 5th seat is not supposed to be comfortable.
Have the engineer’s play some more tetris and figure out a way to get a 5th seat in there.
The stereo-typical american family of 5 (Husband, wife, 2 1/2 kids) could not use this car.
Unless the battery is sticking through the cabin, I don’t see a reason why you can’t add a 5th seat.
Somebody from GM, please respond to this request!!!!!
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:44 am
RB @ 19: And, will I need to get out my blow-torch to melt the ice that’s preventing the slide-back cover from sliding back?
That’s a good question. I suppose GM can heat the plug door with a mechanism like the typical rear window defroster.
The plug door had better be well insulated; if water or ice to gets in there it could lead to quite a shock when plugging in. I supose this situation could be helpd if the plug door swings up, blocking a little of the rain and snow from the actual outlet.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:45 am
#5 LyleL
Most likely there will be a remote control for preconditioning the car
Just like we can unlock doors or remote start the car with actual remote control.
NPNS!
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:47 am
First I can’t believe leather is not standard for the price range GM seems to be planning to charge!
Second… I’m more curious about the back seats, and how it also looks with the seat back(s) folded down, as well as the headroom and knee room of course.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:53 am
That center display is in an obvious “pocket”. Why do that when it is not removable? Will it not be hard to clean around? What if you drive on a dusty road with the window open? I want to keep the volt clean! Inside and out!
Red HHR
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:55 am
#23 LyleL
Interesting idea and one that would work pretty well, I think. GM could also direct some warm air at the backside of the plug cover when the outside temperature is below freezing to keep ice build-up from interfering with the cover being able to open. The heat could come from the electric motor or from the heating system.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:59 am
#41 MDDave sayid “The plug door had better be well insulated; if water or ice to gets in there it could lead to quite a shock when plugging in. I supose this situation could be helpd if the plug door swings up, blocking a little of the rain and snow from the actual outlet.”
==============================
That’s a good suggestion to consider. Maybe they also can make use of experience with the swing-back covers to the place where one puts in the gas. I just hope they think it through, for bad weather.
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:00 am
will this car be able to plow threw a foot of snow? serously make an electric suv thats what people want to drive i think gm lost my business to chrytler. i want that awd 7 seatter mini van with the table in it. not a stupid mini sadan
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Off the thread but Warren Buffet has just invested in plug in hybrids in China. Could be very important even it the cars don’t come to the US. China’s growth is one of the big problems with the future availability of oil.
Would be a good thing to get all those Chinese on E-REVs instead of ICE-only cars.
http://www.cnbc.com/id/26916857
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:06 am
It seem there are a few people have not seen the production’s plugin look like. This is the video that show more detail about the plug and the plugin port. If you don’t want to watch the whole video. The plug and the plugin port start @ 3:25. Here the link from GM site that show the plugin.
http://gmtv.feedroom.com/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=c5f7254e2f1f850723dd04ee0935184784e80029
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:22 am
I’m really curious about the trunk space in this vehicle. Will I actually be able to fit much stuff in there, maybe by folding the rear seat(s) down? I might have to wait for a future E-Flex hatch/wagon before I see the cargo space that I want, but I’m curious nonetheless.
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:42 am
I was hoping to hear more about the Sport/economy switch on the center console. I don’t think we’ve heard anything from GM on this, have we? Maybe next set of questions?
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:43 am
I think GM should throw Ricardo Montalbán a little love and have him voice over a Taco Bell commercial where-in the driver of a new Volt pulls up to the take-out window….
Volt driver: I’ll take 2 combo burritos with hot sauce and an order of nacho cheese chips.
Taco bell window: You want HOT sauce with that?
Volt driver: Yes, that’s what I said, I want HOT sauce.
Volt passenger: Gee, you sure you want hot sauce with all that cheese? May give you gas.
Volt driver: You’re right, let’s go to Mickie Dee’s. Volt drivers don’t need gas.
Ricardo Montalbán voice over: Ahhh yes, feel the luxury of the rich Corinthian Leather. Grasp the wheel, feel the control and the power which you possess. You are the one who is in command.
NRCLNS
No rich Corinthian Leather, no sale.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:00 am
NRCLNS
ROFLOL
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:06 am
Does seem odd that you can’t access some controls by internet. This would be important on fleet vehicle management. Can you imagine having to individuallly program the optimal charging issues on a parking lot of Post Office Volts?
“I like what they’ve done to my car”
Richardo, you old smoothy.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:09 am
Where’s the rear middle seat?
How can there be an “American Revloution” when you don’t build cars for the american family (husban, wife with 2 1/2 kids).
The battery is pretty much set in stone, so changing the geometry of the battery is done. What should have happend is the battery should have been longer instead of thicker.
I may not always have 5 people in the car, but it’s nice to know I have that as an option.
You may not need the gas tank generator, but it’s nice to know you have it there just in case.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Great questions, but one problem …. I don’t want to wait anymore
NPNS
=D-
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:10 am
The power inverter module in these vehicles also has a DC-to-DC converter to replace the power source of the 12V lead-acid battery. So the traditional battery goes away and there is a way to use the electricity from the battery pack for all of the 12VDC devices in the vehicle. This allows them to get the EV features to market without replacing all of the traditional 12V devices. If they used higher voltage devices they could reduce the current required, but the supply chain is not mature for these higher voltage accessories.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:32 am
I hope the cloth option doesn’t include a leather covered steering wheel; otherwise, I won’t buy one. It was a pain for me to buy my gas guzzling Evo without any leather in it. I couldn’t convince Lotus to sell me an Elise without leather. I hope that Chevy is smart like Toyota was with the Prius and offer a totally leather-free version.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
If the rear seat legroom is similar to other American cars, then it is inadequate. But we have on good authority the head room is adequate for a six footer, assuming Lyle is around 6 ft tall. Hopefully the specifications will confirm rear seat heat room over 36″, time will tell.
What is the hold up on having an independent test driver evaluate the mule’s performance??
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:36 am
#27 Daveo – “All this talk about features and such begs the question: Do you even want an affordable EREV anymore?”
——————————————-
I think this same thing nearly everytime a new topic is posted. For crap sake, I guess I’m in the minority here but I would actually like the sophistication to go down a bit and take the price down with it.
I would like a standard set of analog gauges, no LCD’s; don’t integrate the whole car into that center console, I don’t want the charge port to cost $1000 because I’m too damn lazy to set a bag of groceries down, etc, etc.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am
#49
Very intersting idea on the Plug that goes into the car. I always pictured your standard 110 plug.
Hope those things can take a drop/car being driven over them and still work.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:45 am
I was luck enough to see the Volt (production design) at the Santa Monica Alt-Car Expo on 9/27. The car looks very nice. Will seat four, very cockpit style seating. The hatch back is very nice, with a decent amount of room in the back. This car is NOT big. They would not open the “hood” to show the motor or electric components, but they had the charging port (by drivers mirror) open with a 110 plug hooked up.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:55 am
#29 statik:
LOL
#48 mikeinati:
OMG!!! “Don’t look back, something might be gaining on you.”
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Very cool!
-where the customer can program when to charge the vehicle
(wireless ethernet connection to program on my home PC that would show the charging status and preconditioning would be a very nice feature).
-total miles driven (total EV only miles and total fuel only miles),
-an efficiency meter, which will help customer fine-tune their driving to maximize their range
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
#26 DC says
Phone service through the speakers – you mean like Bluetooth does in just about every car thats sold today.
———-
I’m glad you said, just about every car, because my 2008 Hyundai Elantra does not do that. It has its own built-in speaker.
I prefer the radio speakers instead, but the Bluetooth in my car seems to be an afterthought.
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:27 pm
If you want internet access – take along your smartphone. It’s cellular technology that will provide mobile internet anyway – not really a automaker concern at the moment. Optionally in future models you can select either CDMA or GSM hardware via branded cellular providers and open a new or secondary account for the vehicle.
A suggestion for GM is that Onstar be upgraded to include graphics – so the Onstar Operator can send you a specific map or guide per request.
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
#60 Stew says “I don’t want the charge port to cost $1000 because I’m too damn lazy to set a bag of groceries down, etc, etc.”
==============================================
The challenge of design is to provide a working and even elegant solution while keeping costs low. Making something hard to use does not by that fact make it low cost.
A fundamental aspect of the Volt is the need (opportunity) to recharge it every day. That means there needs to be a smooth and reliable way to get the charger plugged in every day, and removed every day, without scratches, scraped fingers, or irritation. It can be done, with focus. Failing to do so means that charging will not happen as often. Ultimately the consequence is a family who says their car is a good idea but too much trouble. That’s not a good outcome, nor is it a necessary one.
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Maybe not internet but they should be able to provide local network access via the power connection. Ethernet over 115 VAC has been around for quite awhile and home users should be able to connect their PC’s to their car in their garages even if the car does not have wireless internet. This might allow telling the car to pre warm the battery on the fly or pre cooling the interior etc or downloading or uploading data to the car from your home network which is a go between to the internet for various firmware, map and other data all through the charging port.
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I want to know about iPod/USB connections…
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
#66 Arty says “A suggestion for GM is that Onstar be upgraded to include graphics – so the Onstar Operator can send you a specific map or guide per request.”
===============================
I had OnStar in my vehicle (2001 model) until GM terminated OnStar service for that model year. During the time that I had OnStar, I tried most OnStar services. OnStar worked as advertised, but at a high cost compared to alternatives.
It is not a service that I would elect to have, again, if I had the choice. OnStar is too limited compared to other alternatives, such as bring along a laptop computer with a data card in it, or for basic services, a cellphone.
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
#13 Come On… Think, Can you think….
Here I’ll help you.
This is what you do, (Prep Setup)
1. Have your cord already plugged in wall,
2. Have this cord hanging at the location you wish that makes it easy to grab.
Then pull car in garage and go out, grab cord, slide access panel open with one hand, then grab cord from hanging location, and plug in car using same hand. It’s that simple.
Actual Usage:
1. Pull in you
2. Got out car hold package/case/etc, in one hand,
3. Using the other hand, slide access panel open.
4. Now, grab, plug hanging on wall, and
5. Plug it in…
Simple.
Man, another kid, that lived there whole life with mom doing every thing form them
Gee. Please complain about something real…. And Stop being a mama’s boy…
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September 29th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
#60 Stew
That makes two of us. I guess I’m being pretty old-fashioned for a 22 year old, but I don’t want or need my car to have internet. I spend too much time on the internet as is. Maybe some technophile can explain to me why my car needs to be basically an iPhone on wheels. It must be one of those things where once you have it, you can’t imagine living without it. Sometimes I just like the driving to be about the driving.
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Anyone else put down a deposit yet. I recently put down a $500.00 deposit at the local dealership and currently 2nd on the list for available vehicles. Not sure yet when and I can place an order for specific options. To answer your question, I live in Florida.
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
#73,
Since there staring in CA, 1st, I believe there will be nothing here until 2011/12 time frame, before they get to IL, if they come. So, I’m just going to wait. Next year I’ll buy a used 2008 Malibu 4cyl w/6sp auto trans (33MPG HW) and wait 2.5 – 3 years.
Don’t get me wrong, I want it now, but IL DEALERS, will hike up the prices w/so kind of adjustment for market, markup pricing, which I’m not paying.
If the VOLT fails, if will be, because of the AUTO DEALERS and their RIPE OFF MARKUP pricing.
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:21 pm
Does “after all, this is the 21st century” mean that we have to go to ridiculous lengths to find a complex solution when a simpler one will do?
I have some extension cords which were made with a transparent material on the far end (to plug into), which also allows a small neon glow-lamp to indicate when the cord is “hot.” This lamp only draws 1/4 – 1/10 of a watt, can stand rough handling, and probably cost the manufacturer less than 8 cents.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I plan to have two charging cords; one to keep installed at home (probably hanging from the ceiling, as several have suggested), and one to keep with the car.
If the Volt charging cord had a glow lamp, I’d know immediately if little Johnny had unplugged the thing (lamp out), I’d be able to find the end in the dark (in the strange case that a garage with electricity for Volt-charging is unlit), and the end of the cord would be bright enough to find the port with. The Volt ought to have some indicator that it is charging (as I’ve said in the forums). I can easily set my packages on the roof for a second if I need an extra hand …
But maybe “after all, this is the 21st century” means that you’re not permitted to make “too much” sense.
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Sounds like #13 doesn’t even deserve a Volt being that ignorant and helpless.
Any information about a sunroof option??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:37 pm
I am not worried about having packages in my hands when I need to plug in the Volt for recharging. What do you do now with packages in your hands when you need to take your house key out of your pocket to unlock the door to your house? Just get out of the car, plug it in, take you house key and unlock the house, then go get the packages out of the car and go inside. Problem solved. Not much wasted time. Lets get real.
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Did I not see something mentioned by GM previously about the plug would glow different colors to indicate charging status? Maybe I am just reading into the comments others have made today and previously. But at any rate, it sounds like a good idea. You would have visual feedback from the plug that all was working as planned prior to walking away (with or without packages in your hands).
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Lyle:
Please ask Mr. Grieg if there is an input for a rear view camera that can be switched on automatically when the shifter is in reverse.
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Does anyone have any information about Honda’s Insight other than it will be shown this week in Paris? I would like to get as much information about the Insight to compare it with the Prius. I want to purchase one or the other as a gap car until I can purchase the Volt. I have pretty well made up my mind that the next vehicle I purchase will be a hybrid. Since it is probably 4 years before I can purchase a Volt, the next best thing seems to be the Prius or the Insight. The 2009 Prius is essentially the same as the 2008 Prius. It is my understanding that the next version of the Prius that will be an inch wider, 3 inches longer with better fuel mileage will not be released until late summer or early fall of 2009 as a 2010 model. Anyone hear any different? I want to make as informed a decision as I can.
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September 29th, 2008 at 1:49 pm
Joe OBrien (#76):
“Any information about a sunroof option?”
Do you mean:
1) A transparent, openable roof window
2) A solar array
Oddly enough, option 2 has been mentioned (I bet it won’t be cheap), but I don’t recall ever hearing about option 1 (does a Prius have a sunroof? Not that we have to always ‘follow’ the Prius, but if there isn’t one, I bet it’s due to aerodynamic concerns, which the Volt is also subject to).
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September 29th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
OnStar can send information (upload data). So there is nothing saying they can’t use it for various statuses of the car. Actually, in this sense OnStar is probably one of the most advance systems out there. Technically, certain problems with your vehicle could be diagnosed while you’re driving. They currently do the same type of thing with oil life monitoring, and various senors in the car. I imagine they could also do software/firmware upgrades as well.
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September 29th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Can I pre-order a drink from the restaurant I’m going to through On-Star?
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September 29th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Consider this: true internet access means that your car is potentially hackable, and I don’t mean by some college student you hire to increase the AER / usable charge window. OnStar may be a smaller but easier to defend keyhole (and I don’t much like the idea of OnStar).
What if you had an interface you could load on your computer (Mac or PC) which would allow limited, specific things to be done, put on a USB drive, and then plugged into the car? That should take care of most things one could forsee, such as charging schedules, pre-conditioning, etc.
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September 29th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
#81 Jackson
The Prius does offer a sun-roof as an $800.00 option. I would expect the Volt to offer one, also.
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September 29th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
I’m still not a fan of the iPod-white center display. What are the other colors that will be available?
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September 29th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
#71 Ken, says of me
“Man, another kid, that lived there whole life with mom doing every thing form them
Gee. Please complain about something real…. And Stop being a mama’s boy…”
===========================================
You do the Volt no favor by telling potential customers how incapable they are, or by trying to insult them. It is the problem with much past GM design — talk but never listen, as customers migrate to Toyota and Honda. It does not have to be so. I hope GM gets a good plug-in system worked out.
Please remember that the discussion began with a request for information on how things would work, not an allegation or a criticism. If you have any information, it would be welcome.
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September 29th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
LOTS of questions about the backseat!
Come on, Lyle, how about some photos of the backseat, hatch/truck area???????????????
By the way, will the Volt have the little “doughnut” spare tire or will it have no spare and just run-flats like a Corvette?
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September 29th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Today underlined that the 40K might be a touch pricey for the market.
I know I’ve all but stopped these impromptu ‘world/GM at a glance,’ liquidate your assets and hide in a cardboard box type updates, but I’m going do it one more time anywhoo as it certainly speaks to the world the Volt will be born into.
They can’t sell Suburbans, trucks, etc. because the cost of gas is too high, but perhaps it is going to be alot worse than that…perhaps they won’t be able to sell cars over $15,000.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080929/wall_street.html
Stocks plunge, with Dow suffering biggest point loss ever, after bailout plan fails in House
NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street has ended a stunning session with a huge loss, with the Dow Jones industrials plunging more than 735 points — their largest point drop ever — after the failure of the financial bailout plan in the House.
Nasdaq off 199.61 or 9.14%…in a day
GM off $1.25 @ 8.51…all-time low
Double edge sword for products like the Volt too. Days/economies like today totally kill the price of oil…off $10.
Other news: Bill Heard officially filed for bankruptcy protection today. Said he was losing 2-5 million a month due to the economy and a ‘lack of available’ credit…sound familar? (GMAC Financial Services last month discontinued credit for new inventory for some of the company’s dealerships.) Heard was the ‘worst’ dealer in the country according the BBB, but he was GM’s largest pony…2.5 billion in sales.
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080929/bill_heard_bankruptcy.html?.v=2
How does GM deal with all the regular junk it has going on, then on top that, a recession/depression while its largest dealer bases are going under because of the credit they cannot give themselves because they sold 51% of their own credit facility away?
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September 29th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Here’s a very basic question, and if someone has already asked it early on, does anyone recall the answer? Sorry, this is not actually on topic, but I only thought of it over the weekend:
How do you get regenerative braking in an electric motor based on induction (as opposed to permanent magnets?) In a PM motor, the magnets would induce a current in the windings to generate electricity (slowing the car). In an induction motor, it seems like nothing would happen at all unless an electric current was applied to the field windings; a current that would have to come from the battery.
This may be a case of “it takes money to make money,” and I assume it must be true in this specific application, that you get more power in regeneration than you use in field current, since the Volt is using an induction motor, and has regeneration. Could someone weigh in, authoritatively?
Yes, I do understand that there’s such a thing as a series-wound induction motor in which the stator coils would help power the field coils, but it seems like you’d still need current from the battery to “start” it in generator-mode.
I’ve not been close to the subject in many years, so I apologize in advance if this is needlessly technical, or if I’ve overlooked something which would be “obvious” to a professional.
…nasaman?
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September 29th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
For those comparing On-star to cell phone use, you do not have a clue. On-Star is satellite based and way more reliable than a cell phone. I used ON-Star twice in my life when I needed to get connected and my phone could not get a cell signal. Once on the interstate while driving through a stretch of dead air for cell phones and again while evacuating for hurrican Katrina. Cells would not work, but I was able to connect with family thanks to On-Star. I did not use it a lot, but it was there when I needed to use it and that means a lot to me.
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September 29th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I do hope GM will come up with better interior colors than what we have seen so far. Maybe there will be more than two colors available. Seems like everyone is offering beige or gray. The colors offered in the Malibu are pretty good combinations. GM needs to really look at the interior color scheme since that is where the owner spends most of his time with the car.
I hope GM can find a way to weather the financial storm that is rising. I hope we all can.
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September 29th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Am I the only one who noticed a button marked “Phone” ? Is that for Bluetooth, OnStar, or does it come with a phone of its own?
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September 29th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
I wish they’d just scrap the cd player altogether. If you have a 40,000 car you have a computer and a usb stick or an mp3 player. Thus, if you even still buy your music on physical disc, you probably rip it to digital files anyway. Save me the $200 and the console space – leave it out. Put in SD slot(s) and USB ports (already mentioned as available).
I don’t want any POS satellite radio either. Digital radio tuner would be good, though. (alongside traditional AM/FM for those stations that don’t broadcast digital)
Also: roof option: change that black steel (or whatever it is?) and give a full glass roof sunroof, like the concept. Tinted to reduce heating, of course, or electrically altered tint (forget the name of it right now)
If GM wants to sell these for 40k, they’re going to need some appealing options. And don’t say “the design is rigid, let’s just get it out as-is”. Fair enough, but in all honesty, how hard is it to put in a sunroof?
Cut a hole in the roof, reinforce the sides, and put glass there. Not hard at all, and it wouldnt affect aero (unless open)
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September 29th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
#90 Jackson Says: “How do you get regenerative braking in an electric motor based on induction (as opposed to permanent magnets?)”
————————————————————————————-
Good question!
I’m no motor expert, but just thinking about it a little, here’s my impression of how it might work. The motor controller (a.k.a. inverter) normally takes DC voltage from the battery and applies pulses of this voltage to the 3 stator windings of the motor. The timing and width of these pulses are precisely controlled by low level software algorithms in the controller.
So, how does the motor make these pulses? I’m assuming it uses some kind of high power fast switching transistors. I’m also assuming that these silicon switches allow current to flow in both directions, otherwise regenerative braking wouldn’t work.
So with this in mind, let’s think about what would happen. Normally, the controller would open the switches in such a way so that the battery powers the motor forward at optimal efficiency. But when the driver presses the brake, I imagine that the controller changes the pulsing of these switches in a different phase so that the battery is opposing the motor to some degree. The harder the driver presses the brake, the higher the degree of phase shift, and so the more opposition.
With the battery voltage pulsing on the stator windings, magnetic flux will be induced on the rotor windings, but since the timing of the pulses is in opposition, the rotor and stator magnetism will fight each other. Since the car has inertia, the rotor will overpower the stator. The induced voltage on the stator coils will quickly rise above the voltage of the battery, and current will start flowing into the battery.
If I have this right, I would guess the only issue is if the battery is completely dead. A brushless motor might be able to recharge a dead battery a little by braking down a hill, but an induction motor wouldn’t. The battery must have voltage for induction to work.
In any case, it’s easy to see why the low level software algorithms (a.k.a. firmware) for induction motors are so much more complex than brushless motors. By the way, I Googled “induction motor regenerative braking” and found numerous patents and an IEEE white paper on this subject, so this further reinforces the complexity of the controller firmware.
Does this help?
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September 29th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
87 RB:
“Or are we moving over to requiring person to come home, to make a trip inside to drop off stuff, and then to come back for a special series of plug-in steps, done in a perfectly lighted garage? If it is the latter, then most of the time the car will not get plugged in.”
“The nightmare version is connecting into the special connector in the special angle and orientation requring three hands, one for the cover, one for the flashlight, and one for the charger cord.”
“How about putting a small magnet in the molding. When the car owner with one hand brings the plug close to the car ( several inches to a foot) a small hall-effect integrated circuit detects the magnetic field causing a pulse to a small solenoid that flips the charge port access door open and turns on a couple L.E.Ds to illuminate the port. Remove the charge cable, the magnet is not in proximity, the lights and access door close automatically. NO TOUCHING. No scratching the access port door or the car finish.”
“You do the Volt no favor by telling potential customers how incapable they are, or by trying to insult them. It is the problem with much past GM design — talk but never listen, as customers migrate to Toyota and Honda. It does not have to be so. I hope GM gets a good plug-in system worked out.”
Look at what you typed above. That’s why you were attacked with so much sarcasm by others. Putting down your bag before plugging in your car isn’t the end of the world. I’ve plugged in devices in poorly-lit rooms successfully in the past. As cool as the the automatic door thing would be, it would be more suited to Volt 5.0.
P.S. This message board isn’t run by GM.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:09 pm
Never got any response to this before, so maybe someone will have an answer.
How would you jump start a Volt?
Does the Volt use a traditional 12V auto battery to start the ICE?
Will you be able to connect jumper cables to the Volt and where?
Seems like you would just tap the 350V battery to get your 12 volts (ie: series of 8, 1.5V cells = 12V).
Anyone know how you would jump start your Volt if for some reason the battery failed/died?
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
#96 Gary said “As cool as the the automatic door thing would be, it would be more suited to Volt 5.0.”
====================================
With greatest respect, the automatic door was not my suggestion, so I am unable to take any credit for it. Realistically, I am not expecting to see the automatic door for the charger on the first or any Volt generation. The door as proposed did seem to me to be a innovative and fascinating use of new technology, showing what might be done today at low cost, and so I liked it..
I know that many people have a nice garage to park in, and others have some other advantageous location. I assume that is the case for you too, and I am glad for you. However, not all of us are so fortunate. By necessity I park outside and most days come and go in the dark. It is not a problem, but there are limitations as relates to some possible plug in procedures. For example, I have to carry a flashlight, so I have only one free hand. I can put the flashlight down, of course, but then it is hard to see. Therefore, I asked for information, and I am glad to say that some was forthcoming. I appreciate those posts.
I am aware that putting down a bag is not the end of the world. In fact, I have never heard putting down a bag mentioned in anyone’s escatology. Even so, it would be nice to be able to plug in without having to do that, if it was possible, for it is a task to be repeated many times. But, just as you said, if plugging in the charger requires using two hands, people will do it as convenient, taking into account the other things they need to do.
Finally, in relation to this board. Havingl read it with enthusiasm for a long time, I am well aware that this message board is not run by GM. The board is a great service to those of us interested in the Volt, and I cherish the fact that it is independent.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:19 pm
Statik –
perhaps a little off subject, perhaps not as it reflects on the health of the economy and GM.
Believing in the wisdom of the free market, I think these Wall Street guys dug their hole, now they need to live with the consiquences. On the other hand, there are a lot of companies that rely on credit (like GM) to keep business moving along.
Without the “bailout”, I think the market would take a hit, but recover and in a couple of years things would be about back to normal. If they drag this out with a bandaid here and another there it may take us years to work through this mess. I freely admit to being an arm chair analyst with very little at risk having moved out of the market months ago, but I don’t think the cause of the problem is being addressed with the infusion of money and the tight capital is a symptom of the bad mortage deals these folks made and the bad paper created thereafter. In my opinion, until the houses are off the market, there will continue to be problems with money lending institutions (and the economy).
Do you think the “bailout” is needed or can the market work its way through this?
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:26 pm
#97 JEC asking how to jump start a Volt
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Maybe one will need to get an extension cord and plug it in for a while, or some equivalent procedure, rather than do a jump start between batteries as done now.
I am not joking in saying this. Plugging in may be the most direct and advantageous procedure.
It does not seem to me that a battery to battery procedure can safely be done.
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Ok, I’ve made a list of things people want GM to put in the Volt from this thread.
From #7, internet access
From #8, seat cooling
From #8, telescoping wheel
From #8, servo controlled shock absorbers
From #23, special proprietary charging plug
From #23, magnet in molding
From #23, hall effect IC
From #23, solenoid to open charge port
From #23, charge port lighting
From #26, bluetooth
From #26, nav system with internet, possibly WiFi
From #41, charge port door heater
From #42, key fob to precondition car
From #45, coolant lines to warm charge port
From #66, upgrade onstar to include maps and guides
From #68, ethernet over ac
From #69, ipod and usb ports
From #79, input for rear-view camera
From #94, SD memory slot
From #94, electrically controlled tint level on glass roof
I’ll repeat post #27 Daveo “All this talk about features and such begs the question: Do you even want an affordable EREV anymore?
At this rate the Volt will cost $60,000
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
100 RB
When you say “battery to battery”, are you saying Volt 350Vdc battery to another 350Vdc battery? I assume not, since the first person to reverse the battery leads would likely be showered in a huge explosion of sparks and molten metal.
Plugging in would be an option.
Problems with plugging in would be:
1) I need to have access to 110V ac. Ok in garage, but if car dies in middle of desert, where do I buy that 500 mile extension cord (maybe this could be an option)
2) The time to charge up enough to start the battery would be excessive. 5 minutes would be excessive to me (5 minutes can seem like an eternity, while waiting for certain things..)
I hate to think that the Volt would actually need to have a basic 12v lead acid used to just start the ICE. But, I am sure Delco would be appreciative. Would seem very ironic, that you would need a small, old tech lead acid battery when you have a $10,000 battery sitting below your butt.
Sometimes the most simple problems can become the most complex to solve…
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
The Santa Monica Expo 09/26/08 — Volt interior.
After seeing the Volt up close I will tell you that considering driving a Prius is simply out of the question. The Volt out classes the typical Japanese econo boxes. Including the Camry.
The nose (grill) looks fine in person and the Volt’s tail looks even better. The seating is Mustang-like.
And yes, the seats have leather panels in wear areas and the back seat buckets look comfortable and rate high on the “cool” scale.
The hatch area trunk is also Mustang-like. Which is fine for most uses. Reminds me of my 86′ LX V6.
Will an under floor space be offered for coiled extension cord storage?
And as previously mentioned by another enthusiast, the wheels (18’s) are plenty big for the body style. Not even hinting of being too small.
I have one recommendation for the GM interior design people. The white control panel could be raised to an entirely new level with body matching marbling. This will add a bit of European (Italian) feel to the Volt. And help hide smudging and fingerprints.
All-in-all a fine looking car. I hope to own one by 2012.
http://garfwod.250free.com/Photos/Volt_back-hatch.jpg
no plug =D~ no sale
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:42 pm
101 Stew.
How about adding some fuzzy dice that light up?
Maybe some ground effect lighting, or even some type of electro-static bolt of electricity that would flash across the hood.
I also would like the car to have auto pilot, for bringing me home after a few to many brews at the local pub. Or, I guess I could just press OnStar:
OnStar: “This is OnStar, how can I help you”
me: “Uhmm…how far is it to the closest liquor store?”
OnStar: “Sorry we cannot supply you that information”
me: “Darn…I guess I will just drive around until I find one”
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
104 JEC
Lol, that would be a funny OnStar conversation!
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September 29th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
#102 JEC On emergency charge possibilities
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I agree that battery to battery is unsafe if it involves 350V connections.
I agree with you on the limitations of plugging in. It is not that I like it but that it may be the only practical way.
My ray of optimism for plugging in is that maybe just a few minutes is all that will be required to charge a “little bit” and start the car. After all, a lot of energy is being transferred during each minute of charge.
On the problem of the long extension cord, I entirely agree. If Volts become popular, maybe people will get 120 V inverters that can be used with traditional cars. And, possibly, it may be more often necessary to tow the Volt back home or some other place where it can be charged.
If there is a 12V system, then perhaps that be used. I’m just not sure that it will be there.
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:06 pm
106 RB
Interesting, I wonder what GM’s answer will be?
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A couple quotes that I find myself using often, relating to engineering:
“Never let anothers ideas evade your eyes, Plagarize”
“Never do something simply, when a way can be found to make it complex and wonderful”
These two quotes can be applied to almost any engineering project. I find they reveal many truths about how any newly engineered product is conceptualized and designed.
Any good engineer will “steal” good ideas and maybe improve or combine with other ideas which has “stolen”.
Also, you will almost undoubtedly find that someone tries to solve the most simple problem with a complex solution, that may sound good on paper but once produced it shows its uselessness.
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
#99 Len
Believing in the wisdom of the free market, I think these Wall Street guys dug their hole, now they need to live with the consiquences. On the other hand, there are a lot of companies that rely on credit (like GM) to keep business moving along
Do you think the “bailout” is needed or can the market work its way through this?
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Oh, I’m with you. I don’t want anything to be prolonged any farther than it has to, the bailout is/was more than likely a enabler of that.
Let it crash…better to hit rock bottom and then get to get a sense of accomplishment rebuilding in a couple years. Endless bailouts create a much worse position in the long run and end up putting us in a virtual neverending recession.
For me personally, I got my stuff in order long ago. I sold my assets, dropped all my equity positions, moved out of a big house into one the third the size to get my hands on the equity before it fell apart. My position (and similarly companies that are solvent and robust) gets stronger everyday the market weakens, but that doesn’t help anyone but myself.
The market needs me back, they need my money (metaphorically speaking) swishing around the system, its not only good for me, eveyone else too….but I am NOT coming back until I see the bottom. And thats the root of the problem right now, every bailout to companies just like GM tell me to stay the heck away. Thats just the way it works.
In the case of the auto sector (and similarly the economy as a whole), we need to spill the blood of one of the big three. Cut up the fallen amongst the other two and create a leaner, stronger, more successful auto industry on the whole. Or reorg the fallen into smaller, tighter, more efficient entities. By trying to save everyone, we make everyone dependant and weak.
/just my opinion though
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:09 pm
OK,
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:41 pm
108 Statik
You are really depressing me. I have most of my money still in the market. I have no real investing savvy, and it shows.
My money is swishing around, unfortunately the swishing is around the toilet.
Boo Hoo for me (:
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
#87.
Your are correct. I will take my mama’s boy comment back and
re-phase my comments as follows:
Now, lets think about this, can you get out the car with a package in one hand and plug up the car with the other hand.
How can GM make this work for you. After a deep thought, I believe, there three ways to do this..
1st, you still have to prep your parking area, My having your plug hanging on the wall were you’ll be parking, and plugged into the wall outlet, most of the work is done…
So, now it’s GM’s turn, GM could do one of these. (1 and 2 can be options, cause I don’t want to pay for it.)
Now you get out the car caring your package, case, in one hand.
As you get out you would Either;;
1. Hit the manual Ejector Button, inside the car to open the access panel, then all you have to do is grab the connector end and plug it into your car. (Now see how easy that was)
-or-
2. Create a power access panel opener, that can be open with your remote control, and then all you have to do is the same. (Even Easier)
-or-
3. To save cost, they could just had a electric heater, and when you get close to home (GPS) heat the access panel, when it is below 35 degrees, so now when you get out at home, you would just open the access panel with one hand, then grab the plug with that same hand and plug in the connector. (WOW, just as easy)
Now Boys and Girls wasn’t that informative, I bet no one though of that. Now in my examples, I have shown all you need is one hand.
Now, What more can GM do, to make this easier.
So, as I look back at my previous answer, I can only say,
Yeap… It was a dumb question. Most just don’t think past who going to do something for me.
Sorry, but I get paid to think, and that was just a dumb question.
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September 29th, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Thanks for taking an informed stab at that Dave G (#95), that sounds extremely plausible, and is yet another important reason why the battery must not be allowed to drain completely.
You guys with the jump start questions: If the Volt battery dies, I doubt it will be safe to drive assuming you could get the engine to start (if the battery ever does go flatline, GM and all the rest of us EREV supporters are in a lot of trouble).
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
112 Jackson
Do we even know for sure that the Volts 16KWhr battery is used to start the ICE?
I know it seems like a simple question, but think of all the ramifications this has…..
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
110 JEC
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Boo Hoo for me (:
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I really messed up my stupid frowny face…
Boo Hoo for me
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:14 pm
Just plug a portable energy storage unit into the AC adapter and fire up the ICE. I am sure GM will have one worked out for the Volt.
The computer will set the 1.4L at ‘max rate’ and you’ll be off. Your on board li-ion battery will be full (80%) in about 3/4 hours time.
And don’t forget the photovoltaic roof cells which will be available for small energy gain. And are rumored to provide climate control when parked.
http://garfwod.250free.com/AC-AdapterBooster.jpg
no plug =D~ no sale
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
#110 JEC
108 Statik: You are really depressing me. I have most of my money still in the market. I have no real investing savvy, and it shows.
My money is swishing around, unfortunately the swishing is around the toilet.
Boo Hoo for me (:
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I’m sorry to here that my friend. Never too late to ‘circle the wagons’ as they say. Hopefully, it isn’t all bad for you.
It is a tough situation and the truth is that alot of people are getting hurt, alot of good people too…some will get obliterated. I have had some friends/neighbours get hurt pretty decently already.
It’s hard to be ‘detached and cold’ about things when you see it playing out in the real world.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
Any pics of the back seats?
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:47 pm
#108 Statik
You are in better shape doing what you did than most of us. In the latter part of August I moved all my 401(k) to a stable cash fund. I got out of the stock market. Just had a “gut feeling”. I had been thinking about selling the bigger house and buying a smaller one, but never did. Now I wish I had, in many respects. Of course, since I plan on staying here and not selling, it will be ok. If the housing market recovers. I don’t plan on selling this house until it does recover, if I ever decide to sell.
I am not in favor of the bail-out because it only causes more of the same later. Remember the 1980’s bail-out and the 1990’s bail-out? All were financial market related bail-outs. The same people who were involved in the 80’s and 90’s are probably at the heart of this current scam. Congress is mostly to blame, like a bad parent who only gives and gives and never requires responsibiltiy.
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September 29th, 2008 at 9:57 pm
I have to admit to envy of those of you who have been lucky enough to see the Volt in person. I wish all of us could do so. I still like the idea I suggested last week where we have anothe Volt Nation meeting when GM is ready to roll out a group of the test Volts next year. How about that, Lyle. Anything you can do to jump start this suggestion?
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
Jackson # 112
“You guys with the jump start questions: If the Volt battery dies, I doubt it will be safe to drive assuming you could get the engine to start (if the battery ever does go flatline, GM and all the rest of us EREV supporters are in a lot of trouble)”
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Let’s just hope the BMS warns of this long before it happens. That way you’ll be able to get the vehicle to a qualified technician long before there is any trouble. Even a troubled 16kw/h battery would be able to start the ICE and because of the redundant fail-safe systems in the Volt you will still be able to drive with the ICE directly powering the traction motor. One more plus for E-Flex and the Volt!
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
121…like anyone will read this comment.
Too bad this car will only be for the rich (over 30k is for the rich imao)
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
N. Riley # 118
“Congress is mostly to blame, like a bad parent who only gives and gives and never requires responsibiltiy.”
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Right you are. This is the same congress who is lobbied by the same firms that have failed and now they want US (you and me) to bail them out. No way, we’ll secure the market however we have to, insurance etc, but hopefully not by bails of cash.
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Will the steering wheel telescope in and out? not just tilt.
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September 29th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
#121
Are you allowed to refer to your own comment like that? I think that’s like a goto loop. Everyones going to get stuck on your post.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
I cancelled my On-Star and replaced it with a 10 Cents per call cell phone. We never drive both our vehicles at the same time but you pay full price for the second vehicle. On-Star is satellite but just feeds out into a Cell service in the area. They would not accept my account because they did not have a contract with the local cell provider in our county. We had to signup under our son’s address and phone area code. The phone worked fine at our home but it is amazing how many state and national parks are out of range. Seems like every time we wanted to use it we were out of range. Slow? the statement we heard most from the robot operator was “Slower Please”. The one time I tried to get them to unlock my truck in my driveway because I locked myself out with my keys in the house and the garage door opener in the locked truck, I called from ny shop and they said “wait ten minutes and try the truck door”. Four times and it did not work. So I broke into the house to get the keys. AAA probably could have helped but by then I was running late. I agree on-star needs a screen and a 10 key pad. And a discount on the second vehicle.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
120 Grizzly……..As you say, “Even a troubled 16kw/h battery would be able to start the ICE and because of the redundant fail-safe systems in the Volt you will still be able to drive with the ICE directly powering the traction motor. One more plus for E-Flex and the Volt!”
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You’re right. I spent considerable time one-on-one with Andrew Farah (Volt Chief Engr) at VoltNation this March on this subject —the Volt’s drive train, unlike that of nearly any other car ever built, is uniquely suited to allow fail-safe, fully-redundant operation, if care is taken to isolate all credible single-point failures.* This is because there are two independent sources of propulsion power …..1) the ICE and 2) the battery.
In other words, a Volt should NEVER need a “jump start” or even to be towed/hauled! Even tire problems can be avoided if GM offers a run-flat tire option. This is a major Volt marketing advantage!
* The controller, drive motor, axles, wheels, etc, although shared by both propulsion power sources, can be designed to have extremely low failure rates —i.e., so low they can realistically be considered non-credible failures.
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September 29th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
One small nit to pick:
It wasn’t “rich corinthian leather” or “fine corinthian leather”.
It was “Soft Corinthian Leather”!
A link – for Statik:
http://en.sevenload.com/videos/3QWfA7m-Chrysler-Cordoba-commercial-with-Ricardo-Montalban
So it should be NSCLNS…………
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September 30th, 2008 at 12:37 am
#118 N Riley #122 Grizzly
You guys aren’t understanding the scope of the problem. No one cares about the Wall Street firms getting killed. However, a lot of people care about all the other businesses that depend on Wall Street for financing. We can sit around and debate “moral hazard” until the cows come home, but at the end of the day if the capital markets freeze then a host of businesses will not be able to get credit and will go out of business, sending the economy into the crapper, probably for a long time. Japan had a real estate crash in the mid 1990s and they still haven’t fully come out of it. This is serious stuff for almost all people living in North America. It’s not “just” a Wall Street problem.
Frankly I sincerely hope that NONE of the House Republicans who voted against the bill get reelected. While there is plenty of blame to spread around, they are the single group most responsible for the debacle — more than Bush, more than the Republicans in the Senate, and certainly more than the Democrats — and now they are claiming they are going to stand up for the taxpayers? Cut me a break.
The numbers are not so large either. To begin with, taxpayers just lost $1.2T today. They may lose more tomorrow. Plus we’ll probably spend TEN TIMES more in one year on defense that we’ll spend on this stabilization plan. (Does anyone really believe that every loan is going to default? And all the assets backing those loans are valueless?). In fact historically the government tends to make money on its bailouts. We need to stop complaining, get off our duffs, fix the problems, and move forward making sure we don’t repeat the mistakes.
It’s actually not so different than getting off foreign oil.
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September 30th, 2008 at 12:49 am
The Volt plant is a GO! Detroit has approved the tax break GM requested.
NPNS =D~
http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080929/METRO/809290407
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September 30th, 2008 at 4:34 am
DonC – We need to stop complaining, get off our duffs, fix the problems, and move forward making sure we don’t repeat the mistakes.
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I’m betting something like that was said before the 80’s bailout and the 90’s bailout. Somehow we seem to be missing the part about “making sure we don’t repeat the mistakes”
The bailout doesn’t address the root of the problem, so they will only be back for more.
I don’t see insurance as an answer, didn’t AIG sell insurance that the paper was good?
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September 30th, 2008 at 4:37 am
Corinthian Leather is a marketing term that does not actually indicate any particular type of leather. Furthermore, Montalbán confirmed this during an interview with David Letterman, admitting that Corinthian leather means “nothing.” According to one reference, Chrysler’s “Corinthian” leather was mass produced in a plant in Newark, New Jersey (not Corinth).
NRCLNS
No rich Corinthian Leather, no sale!
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September 30th, 2008 at 5:55 am
Some of you guys were rough on RB #13.
What if he had worded the question this way:
A combat veteran from Iraq, with an amputated arm, wants to plug in his Volt. Will he be able to do it with one arm?
The question is the same, but worded differently.
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September 30th, 2008 at 5:58 am
#111 KJW — on plug access
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I agree –> it will be interesting to see what GM does. My expectation is that they will keep things pretty much the same as what has been shown so far, that is, a manual cover that slides back, and a proprietary GM cord and plug. But one never knows.
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September 30th, 2008 at 6:02 am
Some of you guys are worried about whether the car will have leather I hate leather. If the car was $100K, I would want cloth.
Leather or cloth isn’t the important thing.
The important thing is getting off of oil and keeping our men and women out of harms way.
NPNS.
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September 30th, 2008 at 8:25 am
#132 Rashiid – funny, I like it
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#128 DonC
You guys aren’t understanding the scope of the problem. No one cares about the Wall Street firms getting killed. However, a lot of people care about all the other businesses that depend on Wall Street for financing. We can sit around and debate “moral hazard” until the cows come home, but at the end of the day if the capital markets freeze then a host of businesses will not be able to get credit and will go out of business, sending the economy into the crapper, probably for a long time.
Frankly I sincerely hope that NONE of the House Republicans who voted against the bill get reelected…The numbers are not so large either. To begin with, taxpayers just lost $1.2T today. They may lose more tomorrow. Plus we’ll probably spend TEN TIMES more in one year on defense that we’ll spend on this stabilization plan….It’s actually not so different than getting off foreign oil.
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I can’t speak for everyone, but I think I understand the scope.
I pounded the table on non-conventional mortgages in the 90s. I pounded the table on sub prime in the last decade. I pounded the table in 2003 that wars are not affordable if you have the moral high ground. Then in 2004, yupe-more pounding, on credit default swaps as the ‘go to’ vehicle exploding from 3 trillion to 8 trillion, peaking out at 62 trillion in 2007 (at around 54 trillion now). I don’t think there is anyway to stop this ‘run,’ bailout or not. 54 trillion? Thats more than world GDP. (How many people even know what CDS stands for, lol…don’t worry, you will). Then there was the pounding on the overinflated housing around the same time, that was fun.
What did all that pounding of ‘the flood is coming-build a boat’ get me? Sore fists.
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It’s wipeout time now. It has been coming along time, it could not have been anymore clear if there was a flashing light over everyone’s head, at least thats what everyone will say when they look back.
Time to go down to the cornor and watch the sign change out the front of your local bank. What we need/are getting is a good old fashion recession/borderline depression, we need to wipe out half the market, we need to wipe out 1 in every 2 people…not because they deserve it, but to reteach some valuable lessons that have been forgotten.
People think they can just hop into the market and make double the inflation rate at no risk? Good luck.
Financial institutions think they can loan money at 3% to people with minimum wage jobs and hook up CDS to the bundle and make everything ok? Good luck.
Companies like GM think 200 billion in debt on their backs is managable -AND- should be able get even more low interest loans? Good luck.
America thinks it can go to war and set up a complete restructure of another country because it has the high moral ground and ignore its own backyard? Good luck.
You think it’s reasonable to even expect a non-conventional mortgage? Let alone to get it at 3%? Good luck.
You think it is reasonable to want the price of the Volt low enough, just so that you can afford to make the minimum monthly payment on it? You don’t ‘get it’ then.
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So my question is, will these lessons be learned if the gov’t bails the economy? Or will it just band-aid a system until the gov’t itself cannot help its own people.
But don’t worry, it’ll all work out in the end, because there is one truth that America can rely on. Money comes and goes, economies go up and down, but land and resources are always worth something at the end of the day…and you got alot of it.
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Now that was a good early morning rant, lol.
How did I do Don? I am willing to conceed my conclusions/opinions are not necessarily right (after all, I am a extreme conservatist), but I think I got the situation down?
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September 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am
#79 Ken JW
“Man, another kid, that lived there whole life with mom doing every thing form them
Gee. Please complain about something real…. And Stop being a mama’s boy…”
LMAO
My thoughts exactly, wonder how he opens his front door with the keys with all those packages. Much less get the kids out of the car….
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September 30th, 2008 at 10:53 am
#49 Cybereye
“It seem there are a few people have not seen the production’s plugin look like. This is the video that show more detail about the plug and the plugin port. If you don’t want to watch the whole video. The plug and the plugin port start @ 3:25. Here the link from GM site that show the plugin. ”
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On that same site there is a great video that shows the charging/discharging during driving.
http://gmtv.feedroom.com/index.jsp?auto_band=x&rf=sv&fr_story=c5f7254e2f1f850723dd04ee0935184784e80029
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September 30th, 2008 at 11:05 am
#107 JEC:
LOL, vintage Tom Lehrer, circa 1959:
“Plagarize. Let no one’s work evade your eyes. Remember why the Good Lord made your eyes. And plagarize, plagarize, plagarize.”
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September 30th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Late edit:
“Plagarize. Let no one’s work evade your eyes. Remember why the Good Lord made your eyes. So don’t shade your eyes. But plagarize, plagarize, plagarize.”
“But remember, always to call it please RESEARCH!”
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September 30th, 2008 at 7:15 pm
Do the rear seats fold forward to create more storage room in the hatchback/trunk area, like most hatchbacks? That would increase the utility of the Volt’s hatchback-like trunk.
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October 1st, 2008 at 8:22 am
I have been waiting for a look at the back seat. Is there a middle hump in the back seat that would prevent a third person from sitting there or can three people be squeezed in.
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October 1st, 2008 at 9:06 am
Russell – Go back in the archives to the Posting on “The Chevy Volt’s Interior.”
http://gm-volt.com/2008/09/18/the-chevy-volts-interior/#comments
Watch the first of the two videos. You get about 5 seconds of the rear seat configuration at about 1:40.
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October 1st, 2008 at 1:12 pm
#132
My answer would be yes, if done did exactly as stated in either #17 and #111. It would required a little setup on the owner’s part, to have the cord already plugged in the wall and hanging in the location they will have easy access to, and they would simply grab and plug in the connector side – still takes one hand.
Side Note: However, since your question is in reference to an amputated arm, then I have to say, NO, they can’t carry a package and plug in the connection with one hand, which is what RB wanted to know, so it would not work in this case, and I don’t think there is any other way to handle that, short of a wireless type charging station, like the ones being created for cellphones, calculators.
But these are low voltage items. I don’t see that happening with a 15kw car battery at this time. But you never know.
However, This is not what RB ask, nor what he was trying to say.
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October 1st, 2008 at 2:46 pm
these daily floggings will continue until morale improves
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October 6th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
I’d love to see a faux leather option with this car. Some of the luxury manufacturers now offer that, and it’s a big plus with the green community. Including me!
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October 7th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Saying that On Star is just cell phone and not internet is naive. Ever heard of Broadband Internet? The 3G cellphone networks can move data as fast as DSL.
It would be nice to have integrated broadband internet. A first for any production car I believe.
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