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Archive for October, 2008

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Will the Chevy Volt Have a “Limp Home” Mode?

October 31st, 2008 | Posted in: Battery, Engineering, Fuel, Generator with 196 Comments

Obviously the Volt can be driven without gas, in fact that the whole purpose. The range extender exists only for if you have to go further than 40 miles between charges.
One thing to consider is what would happen if the car ran out of gas after the battery has reached its depletion point, or [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 196 Comments

The Chevy Volt’s All Electric Range (AER) Will be 40 Miles Both at Beginning and End of Life

October 30th, 2008 | Posted in: Battery with 104 Comments

I discussed how and of the Chevy Volt battery pack all electric rage (AER) might change over the vehicle’s lifetime with Bob Kruse, who is GMs director of Hybrids and EVs.
If the AER is 40 miles at the end of life, what will the beginning of life AER be?
40 miles. What we’ve said [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 104 Comments

Poll: Should the US Government Fund the GM-Chrysler Merger?

October 29th, 2008 | Posted in: Financial with 187 Comments

Clearly we are at more than one crossroad in automotive history. This site was started to encourage GM to build the Volt and help propel a future of petroleum-free driving. Since then great strides have been made.
Unfortunately along the way, GM, the Volt, and in fact the whole world has been sideswiped by [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 187 Comments

The Sound of the Chevy Volt

October 28th, 2008 | Posted in: Engineering, Features, Original GM-Volt Interviews with 295 Comments

An issue often debated when it comes to electric cars is what sound should they make. There are indeed legislative efforts underway to ensure EVs make some noise, to protect the visually impaired. Some manufacturers such as Fisker have gone so far as to engineer artificial engine sounds played through external speakers.
We often [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 295 Comments

Update From EEStor CEO Richard Weir: No EESU Delivery in 2008

October 27th, 2008 | Posted in: Battery, Research with 129 Comments

Many here are familiar with a secretive Texas company called EEStor.
The company was founded and is led by Dr. Richard Weir who has patented a specialized ultracapacitor called the EESU. The technology uses a barium titanate powder and is theoretically able to store 52 kwh in a 336 pound package. Also, the [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 129 Comments

2009 Saturn VUE 2-Mode Hybrid First Drives

October 26th, 2008 | Posted in: Hybrid with 91 Comments

GM will soon be introducing a Saturn VUE with a 2-mode hybrid drivetrain.  This complex strong hybrid drivetrain is presently only available on the Chevy Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade, and Chevy Silverado pickup truck.  More robust and complex than Toyota’s synergy drive system, the two mode system uses 2 electric motors, one for low speed driving [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 91 Comments

British Variant of the Volt May be Called the Vauxhall Electra

October 25th, 2008 | Posted in: Brand with 52 Comments

We have heard for some time that GM plans to sell a variant of the Chevy Volt in Europe beginning a year after the car is released in the USA.
The vehicle will likely be nearly identical down to the sheet metal except it will first be sold under the Opel and Vauxhall brands. Eventually [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 52 Comments

Could GM’s Economic Hardship Delay the Volt? Poll Finds 50% of Michigan Residents Think So

October 24th, 2008 | Posted in: Financial with 110 Comments

The financial crisis is fast upon us, and the US automakers appear to be caught right in the crosshairs.
GM’s turnaround effort is fast being scuttled by economic conditions that Chrysler’s CEO Bob Nardelli called “truly unimaginable.”  As GM is rapidly burning through its cash reserves, auto sales are plummeting globally, possibly to levels GM couldn’t [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 110 Comments

Current Chevy Volt Battery and Mule Update

October 23rd, 2008 | Posted in: Battery, Production, Prototypes with 132 Comments

We have just heard from Reuters that anonymous sources confirmed that LG Chem is supplying the Gen 1 Volt pack.
I have been speculating for a  while that LG Chem would be the winner, I had also recently interviewed CPI’s CEO Prahbakar Patil (see post).  Patil had indicated that the GM deal would be for more [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 132 Comments

BREAKING: LG Chem and Compact Power Inc. to Supply Volt Battery Packs

October 22nd, 2008 | Posted in: Battery with 260 Comments

Reuters has just reported inside sources have confirmed that GM has chosen LG Chem along with Troy, Michigan-based Compact Power Inc. to supply the lithium-ion battery packs for the first generation Chevy Volt.
The contract will be announced in November and the terms are still being worked out.
GM and Compact Power are apparently working out the [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 260 Comments

Chevy Volt Rollout and Captured Test Fleet Plans

October 22nd, 2008 | Posted in: Launch, Prototypes with 81 Comments

I had the chance to speak to GM VP of global program management, Jon Lauckner about how the Volt will be rolled out, and what GM’s plans might be for pre-production test fleet rollout.
Will you launch the Volt globally all at the same time when production begins or will you start US first and then [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 81 Comments

Mini to Lease 500 Electric Cars in US in 2009

October 21st, 2008 | Posted in: Competitors with 82 Comments

BMW’s Mini division has announced that they would be launching a test fleet of 500 electric Mini (Mini E) cars in 2009. The cars will be produced in 2008, and vehicles will be available for lease to “select” private and corporate customers in NY, NJ, and CA. Apparently the one-year lease [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 82 Comments

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