Comments on: Lutz Provides More Volt Details: Photovoltaic Roof to be Unveiled in January, and Volt Development Ahead of Schedule http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/09/lutz-provides-more-volt-details-photovoltaic-roof-to-be-unveiled-in-january-and-development-ahead-of-schedule/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 07:34:15 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: wwskinn3 http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/09/lutz-provides-more-volt-details-photovoltaic-roof-to-be-unveiled-in-january-and-development-ahead-of-schedule/#comment-73715 wwskinn3 Sun, 12 Oct 2008 19:38:12 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1324#comment-73715 Does this photovoltic roof mean there is no chance for a convertible Volt? Does this photovoltic roof mean there is no chance for a convertible Volt?

]]> By: Dan Petit http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/09/lutz-provides-more-volt-details-photovoltaic-roof-to-be-unveiled-in-january-and-development-ahead-of-schedule/#comment-73529 Dan Petit Sat, 11 Oct 2008 01:32:40 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1324#comment-73529 One of the great advantages that GM has when designing from "a clean sheet of paper", is that the various types of energy can be redirected to do very helpful things instead of being thrown away. The ICE throws away 80 to 90 percent of the heat produced from combustion out the exhaust, cooling system, and block. However, perhaps with the Volt, after the exhaust (from the Generator-Range Extender) leaves a Catalyst, it can be sent into a heat exchanger to quickly heat the vehicle and batteries. The idea is to protect the batteries from low temperature discharge-damage, such as when parking outside in very frigid temps when parking anywhere no outlets would be available. I'm an independent trainer of Advanced (ICE) techs. One thing I can tell you is this: In designing the hundreds of different automotive software systems to faultlessness, one thing you can bet on, is that GM's decades of highly practicable designs by armies of engineers of the highest talent are doing incredible things. I know this because GM is the very best at helping the independent technician with the most complete array of diagnostic datastreams (Parameter ID's) with which technicians can far more easily diagnose systems needs. I'll bet that the Volt's PIDs will be the route by which we will all learn about electric propulsion, and the technological changeover coming very, very soon.. The Toyota Prius also has exceptional PIDs in its "Hybrid Vehicle Battery" PID subgroup, which tell us everything we need to know about each battery block.(1-14). I hope ALL plug-in manufacturers openly release all PID's and not "sequester" (not show) (as I call it) any datastream items for Plug-ins. Hopefully, GM's industry-standard in allowing far morel PIDs to be viewed and studied will also be the case for all other makes. I do not believe that doing so would be opening any "Pandora's box", especially since that each high voltage component would be more readily seen as still at a high voltage state, and thus, a highly appropriate and necessary set of warnings. The reason why I need to know this is that if you lend-out your plug-in, and someone abuses it to a very nasty extent, then there ought to be a date-time stamp for the freeze-frame (a set of fixed data items that tell us how badly something happened) in order to help tag the responsibility to where it belongs. That way, GM should not :have to "hear It", and, new designs can be given a far better chance to retain their reputations. Processors can and do very easily discern these things. Warning the abuser by flashing a "Systems Abuse Logged" MIL (and a reeeeeely loud buzzer) might deter extended abusiveness, and protect the owners vehicle from the "Lead-Foot" mindset prevalent today. Dan Petit Austin, TX One of the great advantages that GM has when designing from “a clean sheet of paper”, is that the various types of energy can be redirected to do very helpful things instead of being thrown away.
The ICE throws away 80 to 90 percent of the heat produced from combustion out the exhaust, cooling system, and block.
However, perhaps with the Volt, after the exhaust (from the Generator-Range Extender) leaves a Catalyst, it can be sent into a heat exchanger to quickly heat the vehicle and batteries. The idea is to protect the batteries from low temperature discharge-damage, such as when parking outside in very frigid temps when parking anywhere no outlets would be available.
I’m an independent trainer of Advanced (ICE) techs. One thing I can tell you is this:
In designing the hundreds of different automotive software systems to faultlessness, one thing you can bet on, is that GM’s decades of highly practicable designs by armies of engineers of the highest talent are doing incredible things.
I know this because GM is the very best at helping the independent technician with the most complete array of diagnostic datastreams (Parameter ID’s) with which technicians can far more easily diagnose systems needs.
I’ll bet that the Volt’s PIDs will be the route by which we will all learn about electric propulsion, and the technological changeover coming very, very soon..
The Toyota Prius also has exceptional PIDs in its “Hybrid Vehicle
Battery” PID subgroup, which tell us everything we need to know about each battery block.(1-14).
I hope ALL plug-in manufacturers openly release all PID’s
and not “sequester” (not show) (as I call it) any datastream items for Plug-ins.
Hopefully, GM’s industry-standard in allowing far morel PIDs to be viewed and studied will also be the case for all other makes.
I do not believe that doing so would be opening any “Pandora’s box”, especially since that each high voltage component would be more readily seen as still at a high voltage state, and thus, a highly appropriate and necessary set of warnings.
The reason why I need to know this is that if you lend-out your plug-in, and someone abuses it to a very nasty extent, then there ought to be a date-time stamp for the freeze-frame (a set of fixed data items that tell us how badly something happened) in order to help tag the responsibility to where it belongs. That way, GM should not :have to “hear It”, and, new designs can be given a far better chance to retain their reputations. Processors can and do very easily discern these things.
Warning the abuser by flashing a “Systems Abuse Logged” MIL (and a reeeeeely loud buzzer) might deter extended abusiveness, and protect the owners vehicle from the “Lead-Foot” mindset prevalent today.
Dan Petit Austin, TX

]]> By: Estero http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/09/lutz-provides-more-volt-details-photovoltaic-roof-to-be-unveiled-in-january-and-development-ahead-of-schedule/#comment-73510 Estero Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:54:47 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1324#comment-73510 I don't see the need for the 'sliding door' to prevent thieves from stealing power. And, that 'sliding door' is prone to malfunctions and many other problem situations. A far simpler idea would be to dispense electricity after the plug is inserted AND a credit card is swipped, in that order. It stops dispensing electricity when the battery is charged OR it is unplugged, whichever comes first. It will not dispense electricity again until the process is started all over again. Or, am I missing something here? I don’t see the need for the ’sliding door’ to prevent thieves from stealing power. And, that ’sliding door’ is prone to malfunctions and many other problem situations.

A far simpler idea would be to dispense electricity after the plug is inserted AND a credit card is swipped, in that order. It stops dispensing electricity when the battery is charged OR it is unplugged, whichever comes first. It will not dispense electricity again until the process is started all over again.

Or, am I missing something here?

]]> By: Kudzu http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/09/lutz-provides-more-volt-details-photovoltaic-roof-to-be-unveiled-in-january-and-development-ahead-of-schedule/#comment-73508 Kudzu Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:27:03 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1324#comment-73508 I********Will********be***********one**********of**********the**********first********buyers I********Will********be***********one**********of**********the**********first********buyers

]]> By: Joe Gakenheimer http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/09/lutz-provides-more-volt-details-photovoltaic-roof-to-be-unveiled-in-january-and-development-ahead-of-schedule/#comment-73507 Joe Gakenheimer Fri, 10 Oct 2008 21:19:51 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1324#comment-73507 That is cutting edge. The Volt is becoming even more interesting by the moment. That is cutting edge. The Volt is becoming even more interesting by the moment.

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