Many people have noticed the interesting “green leaf touch” sensor button on the Chevy Volt’s interior center stack. To date we have not heard a good explanation of what function it might perform, although there have been some amusing guesses by commentators here.
I had the chance to ask this question to Volt lead designer Bob Boniface when I spent some time with him and the car in a recent NYC event.
What is the green leaf?
The green leaf brings up a Volt-specific page. It will give you charge rates which get downloaded through OnStar. You’ll be able to choose your recharge time. It will also give you recommended tips for efficient functioning. How to extend your range for example. It is Volt-specific information. All the things you can do to maximize your range and minimize your expenditure of energy.
You’ll hit that and it will say OK if you don’t use your HVAC, if you use your Econ mode, this is what will happen. Do you want to delay your charge?
What does the Econ button do?
It controls your HVAC, ambient lighting, other things. All the unnecessary electric usage will be reduced so that you can extend range.
Since it seems things aren’t completely finalized yet, what ideas do you have for other Green Leaf functions?
And if you are a US citizen, be sure to get out and VOTE today!
This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 at 6:11 am and is filed under Design, Efficiency, Features, Interior. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
Nov 4th, 2008 (6:28 am)just an idea,
chances are there are 4 tire pressure sensors, so you could interpolate the mass added to the vehicle and an approximate idea of where it is. you know vehicle temp, and pv=nrt, so you could do it even after on / off cycles (regardless if the control module is online)
if you watch the difference from before and after people enter and add there stuff, you could inform the user how much energy their cargo consumed.
ive always had a lot of extra hardware in my trunk and having a heads up that it was costing me x miles would be an incentive to remove it before departing
less mass = more distance
-Dane the summer Intern
Nov 4th, 2008 (6:29 am)2nd yes!!!
Lyle can you get more info on the Volt HVAC system.
Is it going to be electric coils for heat and a standard A/C?
Heat pump system? or are they planning to use the hot water from the ICE and battery system?
Many questions and more on the way
EVERY ONE GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nov 4th, 2008 (6:33 am)Will any status be given on how long the gas has been in the tank?
Nov 4th, 2008 (6:39 am)“The green leaf brings up a Volt-specific page. It will give you charge rates which get downloaded through OnStar. You’ll be able to choose your recharge time. It will also give you recommended tips for efficient functioning. How to extend your range for example. It is Volt-specific information. All the things you can do to maximize your range and minimize your expenditure of energy.”
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Does “Volt-specific” mean specific to your particular car, or is this information the same for every Volt? or specific for something else, such as for your location? Or is it advertising of some kind, for products from GM or others?
The examples seemed non-specific, but perhaps that is a mis-impression.
Keeping mind that this car is now “for the masses” I am thinking that it will be general non-technical TV-type information, but I will be glad to be wrong.
Nov 4th, 2008 (6:46 am)#2 Tom Crowley Says: “Lyle can you get more info on the Volt HVAC system.
Is it going to be electric coils for heat and a standard A/C?
Heat pump system? or are they planning to use the hot water from the ICE and battery system?”
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I think GM has answered some of this already. If I remember correctly:
• A/C is standard type, but driven from electricity, not a belt.
• Heat is driven from both electricity and ICE hot water.
• Electric heat is not coils, but something more efficient (I forget exactly what).
This brings up another point that has not been answered by GM. We know that the power steering and A/C are electric. The generator is connected to the drive shaft. It also appears the water pump will be electric as well:
http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/20/contract-awarded-for-the-chevy-volts-water-pump-system/
So does the gas engine have any belts?
Nov 4th, 2008 (6:49 am)#5 Dave G asked “So does the gas engine have any belts?”
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Remember that when the first engine didn’t work, the shift to the larger present engine required that the engine be turned from its original position (and crammed) into a somewhat awkward sideways position. Likely that limits the possibilities for belts, even if they would do the job better. That is, most likely everything that can be electric will be.
Nov 4th, 2008 (7:11 am)It reconfigures the HVAC system.
The blower is re-routed to openings just behind the front wheels.
This makes the Volt a large leaf blower.
Nov 4th, 2008 (7:27 am)RB: The examples seemed non-specific…
I have to agree. At least as written it sounded like Jon Lovitz doing the liar guy. “its the volt page. yeah. the volt specific page. and you can see how many miles you’ve traveled. With your Volt. Specifically. And onStar and such. That’s the ticket.”
In terms of UI it would make sense to use the volt emblem to access the volt-specific page, and the leaf for, say, the econ mode. Of course GM use the least intuitive hieroglyphics for the HVAC options today. In the SSR I have a hot and cold setting, but even if it is on cold I have to press another button to actual activate the AC.
Nov 4th, 2008 (7:48 am)#7 EE Tech says
“This makes the Volt a large leaf blower.
=============================
Indeed, and one of the most luxurious leaf blowers anywhere. However, please keep in mind you must keep moving at least 5 mph while blowing leaves so as not to diminish the AER.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:20 am)GM stated
It will give you charge rates which get downloaded through OnStar. You’ll be able to choose your recharge time. It will also give you recommended tips for efficient functioning. How to extend your range for example. It is Volt-specific information. All the things you can do to maximize your range and minimize your expenditure of energy.
You’ll hit that and it will say OK if you don’t use your HVAC, if you use your Econ mode, this is what will happen. Do you want to delay your charge?
I don’t get what you guys see as so bad about these comments. Choosing the best charge time for your needs is Volt specific. Not specific to your particular car, but specific to how the Volt design performs the charging function.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:22 am)Dave G says The generator is connected to the drive shaft.
There is no drive shaft. The motor is connected directly to the generator (MG2) which will produce HVAC. The motor connected to the front wheels MG1 will use HVAC, some of MG2′s power might be converted to HVDC and sent to the battery.
I would be amazed if the motor had any belts, they are simply not needed with this design.
It’s a shame we don’t get onstar here in NZ.
So, for anyone suffering from post election blues, I could bore you with updates on the NZ election due in four days hehehe.
From the TV ads it seems to be about a guy called John who seems to say things then change his mind, and the current PM called Helen who seems to have some trust issues. The Earth might burn up and it will be my fault(Greens), and too many ppl want to come here to live (NZ First), sorry, forget the rest. lol.
LJGTVWOTR
NO plug, NO sale.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:23 am)What is the green leaf button?
“All the things you can do to maximize your range and minimize your expenditure of energy.”
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So, it turns your climate controls off, radio off, takes the car to low speeds…. and makes it the perfect ‘children and old people’ killing machine.
/sweet
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:25 am)I was hoping that is would scatter tree seeds behind the car as you drove… Kind of a James Bond meets Johnny Appleseed feature.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:28 am)As long as some stupid voice doesn’t tell me to slow down to save energy every time I want to race a prius off the line I’m fine with the leaf blower function.
NZDavid – Immigration problems is the price of a 12 hour advertisement for how beautiful your country is (combined time of the lord of the rings trilogy). Hey maybe since you don’t have onstar, the leaf blower function could talk volt specific info to you in treebeards voice.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:30 am)#14 Gsned57
As long as some stupid voice doesn’t tell me to slow down to save energy every time I want to race a prius off the line I’m fine with the leaf blower function.
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Just remember to take the bagger off before you race…hurts the aero.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:32 am)Since aero drag is important, I would like to know if it is more efficient to drive with the windows up and AC on, or windows down with no AC. This may be speed dependent.
Also, since my electric rates are about $0.16 per kWh, at 200 Wh per mile, this equates to $0.032 per mile. With gasoline nearing $2.00 per gallon, if the Volt can get 62.5 mpg, I am looking at the same energy price per mile (I know, I know, we are still using petroleum). In colder weather, with cabin heat requirements, it may be advantageous to run the ICE for the waste heat it produces.
My point is, an ICE runs more efficiently once it has been warmed and is at a steady state condition. There may be times (longer trips) where it makes more sense to run the ICE for an extended period at its best efficiency to completely charge the battery pack, in lieu of starting and stopping the ICE to maintain minimum charge.
I have looked at some numbers for greenhouse gas emissions, and if your electricity comes mostly from older coal plants (most natural gas fired power plants shutdown at night), your CO2 footprint is higher with the Volt than with a high mileage auto. Therefore, with the Volt’s high mileage under ICE power, the use of E85 (especially the cellulosic ethanol), and maximum efficiency of the ICE, your CO2 footprint should be minimized.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellulosic_ethanol
So, if you can operate for the same or less $/mile, yet have a lower CO2 footprint, why not use the ICE as efficiently as possible? Remember, John Q. Public will operate the Volt on electricity or gas, whichever is more convenient.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:33 am)Drop the “Green Leaf” icon. If it takes you to a Volt specific data page, it should be a lightning bolt icon. The car is called the Volt for crying out loud!
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:46 am)#10 Tom H “I don’t get what you guys see as so bad about these comments. Choosing the best charge time for your needs is Volt specific. Not specific to your particular car, but specific to how the Volt design performs the charging function.”
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Perhaps you have me among those you mention. If so, please know that I think the green leaf button is very nice. It will let all my passengers know how environmentally sensitive I am as they can plainly see by my green leaf button.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:50 am)Why would charge rates be downloaded from on-star? Does this mean actual electric utility rates (e.g. $0.10/kwh) as a function of time-of-day?
OT: I like the look of the dash, but I must admit that the lack of knobs, dials and physical push buttons (with presumably, loss of “feel”) causes me a concern. I try to not take my eyes off the rode to change settings, and this design suggests that I will have to because I will not be able to tell where the controls are without looking directly. Does anyone have any insight into that problem? Lyle, can you ask the designers about this and what their ergonomic studies are telling them? Surely GM has not sacrificed safety to make something that just looks cool.
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:51 am)Sounds like a costly monthly subscription service is needed for this vehicle…namely OnStar. True?
Do not get me wrong…OnStar is a great service for some people, but it is not for everyone.
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:09 am)#20 Jeff
“Sounds like a costly monthly subscription service is needed for this vehicle…namely OnStar. True?”
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Without OnStar supervision you might damage the battery by racing Priuses or exceed 30mph on the open road. Horrors! I am sure you can see that the required OnStar subscription is for the good of GM and for your good too
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:17 am)A Chevy dealer in Raleigh NC (Bobby Murray Chevrolet) has begun to advertise that one can “pre-order” a Volt through their dealership, whatever that means. They have a website which you can find with Google that gives contact information. Their ad appears on the bottom of my gm-volt page from time to time, possibly because I live in NC too (but not very close to Bobby).
I guess that shows that people are interested. I wonder what information they have received from GM as to availability.
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:24 am)Is there going to be a “default” button to reset everything back to factory settings ? How often will we be required to download new security & operating settings and program updates ?
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:28 am)Volt Freak said:
“Drop the “Green Leaf” icon. If it takes you to a Volt specific data page, it should be a lightning bolt icon. The car is called the Volt for crying out loud!”
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Well said ^^^
Hard core environmentalists will be riding their bicycles, not buying Volts.
GM, please make the volt appeal to everyone, even people that don’t particularly like environmentalists and would be put off by the “green leaf.”
Also, I think the lighting bolt icon would be just fine with the environmental types.
GSP
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:41 am)What if I don’t want to subscribe to Onstar? Is this even possible?
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:43 am)At this point I just want a VOLT… Metal flake black and a dark color interior…. with every option available (leaf blower excluded)…
The sooner the better… Hopefully GM is going to get its act together (no chapter 11 or ??).
GM… Hurry….Hurry… Hurry… Time is getting shorter and soon (by 2010 / 2011 ) there are going to be a lot of high milage cars out there.. both gas/desiel, electric and hybrids…
Even the aftermarket conversion guys are growing…
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:46 am)I guess I am kind of confused as to how this panel works.
Are each of those items a touch sensitive selection, or do you turn the silver ring until your selection lights up and then press SELECT in the center to go to that screen’s data?
And if the green leaf is to set configuration options for the vehicle, then what is the CONFIG selection next to it?
I can’t wait to the the operator’s manual!!!!
NPNS!
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:51 am)#19 Shaft says:
…. I like the look of the dash, but I must admit that the lack of knobs, dials and physical push buttons (with presumably, loss of “feel”) causes me a concern. ……
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This was discussed in a previous thread
http://gm-volt.com/2008/09/29/more-chevy-volt-interior-details/
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:12 am)Pshhh I don’t need GM to tell me how to use the green leaf feature, what I need is specific instructions about how to use the three sea shells.
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:13 am)#12 statik
“So, it turns your climate controls off, radio off, takes the car to low speeds…. and makes it the perfect ‘children and old people’ killing machine.”
Set the car on fire and you got a “silent” Christine. Sounds like a fun night on the town…
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:22 am)DUMB JOKE BREAK! Am I the only one suffering from campaign fatigue? I doubt it!!
@2 Tom Crowley:
What you said:
>>EVERY ONE GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What a cranky octogenarian poll-worker says when you irritate them:
>> EVERY ONE VOTE AND GET OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy Presidential Erecti… er, sorry, that was more than two terms ago… Happy ELECTION day everybody!! Be sure to exercise your voting power, while we still have some input into the process!!
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:23 am)I really like the Priius display of the economy in 5 minute intervals for the last 30 minutes , stated in green leaf awards. It is a good indicator of what gives good mileage and what penalizes mileage. Plus, just good fun in trying to maximize the economy.
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:39 am)#7 Exp_EngTech
“It reconfigures the HVAC system.
The blower is re-routed to openings just behind the front wheels.
This makes the Volt a large leaf blower.”
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That will be handy when I need to blow off my drive way. I have an electric blower now and the cord is a pain in the backside. Sure will be good to have the blower option on the Volt. Haha.
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:49 am)BillR Says:
November 4th, 2008 at 8:32 am
So, if you can operate for the same or less $/mile, yet have a lower CO2 footprint, why not use the ICE as efficiently as possible? Remember, John Q. Public will operate the Volt on electricity or gas, whichever is more convenient.
When People like you hit the leaf button it will say “You should have bought a Cruse.”
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:50 am)We have OnStar in our Caddy and love it. It has a “hands-free” cell phone function that is now required in California. My wife uses the OnStar cell phone to the tune of around 600 minutes per year. We have, also, signed up for a free service that sends an e-mail to us once a month (or more often if needed) with a check list of all the vital functions of the car and letting us know if something needs attention. It lists the current millage and two pages of info.
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:58 am)Buttons? I want “hands-free” operation. By that, I don’t mean voice activated. I mean butt activated. You know how monkeys can move cursors using their minds when they have electrodes on their heads? …or when amputees control prosthetics using their minds? I want my Volt to have sensors so that when I sit in the driver’s seat, the sensors pick up my signals. If my butt says, “jump!” the Volt asks how high.
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:59 am)I would expect GM to not require an OnStar subscription for the basic system information required by the Volt. But, to get navigation, phone service and all the other goodies, yes, you will have to fork out some dough. For all you youngsters, dough is cash, money, etc. Not what you bake with. Oh, that’s right no one bakes anymore. Oh, well maybe you will catch on.
Nov 4th, 2008 (11:34 am)#36 ThombDbhomb Said:
“I want my Volt to have sensors so that when I sit in the driver’s seat, the sensors pick up my signals. If my butt says, “jump!” the Volt asks how high.”
This would make for an interesting ride after consuming beans…wouldn’t it?
Nov 4th, 2008 (11:37 am)Nuts, I was hoping it made a bang of old leaves blast out of the back of the Volt to blind Hummers that are trying to tailgate me.
Nov 4th, 2008 (11:37 am)I meant bag, not bang…ah, well, maybe it will make a bang when all those leaves blow out the back.
Nov 4th, 2008 (11:47 am)Additional leaf functions
1 – tire pressures
2 – econ mode tailorability I’d like to create my own econ mode, or modes to choose from. For example, in the winter time, I may want to keep air temperature below a certain amount, or allow the heat to turn on and the defrost to kick on while it’s still plugged in. In the summer time, I may want the HVAC fan to kick on 10 minutes before I get out of work and save an AC run time, or to run the AC while plugged in during a specific time frame. I’d also like to be able to control the motor torque levels (assuming lower torque = greater efficiency) to my own level.
I want to be able to create several different econ modes that fit me and save these so I can load them quickly. Maybe my wife wants a different econ mode then me (higher acceleration, more regenerative breaking, etc).
Nov 4th, 2008 (11:54 am)What about an ammeter so I can directly see the amount of current i’m using? Preferably an analog one shown on the touchscreen.
Nov 4th, 2008 (12:11 pm)If the green button activates “new car smell” then it will be worth an occasional push. If not, I’ll leaf it alone.
=D~
Nov 4th, 2008 (12:19 pm)I’ll ask about the green leaf function tommorrow when I see the prototype in Greensburg,Ks. I understand Discovery Channel is going to be there as well. A Chevy dealership in Greensburg is hosting the deal and some rumors say there may be a chance to drive it. Starts 8 A.M. 11/05/08. Ought to be interesting.
Nov 4th, 2008 (12:21 pm)Does the green leaf turn colors with the seasons? If so, in the winter does it fall off? If it does, can the leaf blower function still be used on the inside of the car to blow out my fallen leaf?
Nov 4th, 2008 (12:53 pm)The Volt already has enough creature features let’s K.I.S.S. and …
LJGTVWOTR!
Nov 4th, 2008 (12:55 pm)Lyle:
Thanks again for all of your work in somehow coming up with at least one intersting thread every day to keep us engaged. I know it’s been said many times, but we can’t say it too often. You are doing more to keep the public aware and informed about the Volt than all of GM’s people combined, IMHO. Many thanks.
Nov 4th, 2008 (12:56 pm)#46 Gizzly:
Amen. Preach on Brother!
LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS!
Nov 4th, 2008 (1:07 pm)The Volt ought to come with a leaf to wear after you’re done paying for the thing.
Nov 4th, 2008 (1:17 pm)Ummm… There isn’t any “leaf” button in a Prius. No managing the engine or battery capacity or EV range maximization or any of that. It just drives like a regular car.
People will find additional vehicle system management duties confusing and it’s likely some will go to “leaf” mode when they didn’t intend, resulting a trip to the dealership and a complaint of, say, “the air conditioning isn’t working very well.”
How many people do YOU know who even ever open their car’s owners manual?
Nov 4th, 2008 (1:25 pm)Ok, it is election night…might as well cheapen it and make a contest out of it. Closest on electorals wins..with tie breakers on the popular vote, lol.
Electoral Votes:
Obama wins with 353
Popular Vote:
Obama 55.1%
McCain 41%
/get your votes in now, lol
(I can’t resist doing ‘guesstimates,’ so this will be my first US political post…and last)
Nov 4th, 2008 (1:28 pm)yaaayyyyy!!!!!!! User adjustability!! Even modestly, it is better than nothing…
Nov 4th, 2008 (1:30 pm)I am glad to see no one wants the Volt to be complex. While we are at the wishing game, I want my Volt to have a mower attachment. I think it would be faster cutting the grass with the Volt with a 84 inch cutting deck. Mulching blade, of course. I could also have fertilizer bins in the trunk so I could broadcast my fertilizer as I cut grass. And don’t forget the aerator option for the grass. Now, I see why GM wants to charge over $40,000 for the Volt. These features have got to be expensive.
Nov 4th, 2008 (1:36 pm)I wonder if GM has an answer for the problem of the lettering on the control surfaces wearing out and fading away? Especially that green leaf. After a couple of years it will look like winter time all year around. It will be worn completely through in places, just like a dead, deteriorating leaf.
Maybe the color is impregnated deep into the surface and will not wear out over the life of the Volt. One may only hope.
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:01 pm)#25 “What if I don’t want to subscribe to Onstar? Is this even possible?”
That’s what I want to know. It’s starting to sound to me like Onstar is changing from an option to being mandatory.
Lyle, I think you asked GM a while ago about the role Onstar will play in the Volt but as things with the Volt are starting to firm up maybe that question could be re-asked for possible updated info? Thanks.
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:14 pm)#51 statik:
What’s the prize?
George F. Will was on with George Stephanopoulos Sunday. His prediction was almost the same as yours, 343 or 345, if memory serves. Pretty amazing, coming from him. I don’t presume to guess, although I would be very happy with your number.
What’s up with the Statik/statik issue? Every time I think I did it right, I find out I did it wrong. Are you just trying to keep from being embarrassed by leading the number of comments by about 1000?
As to the Viper on the last thread, didn’t Chrysler and/or The Dog announce that they are going to disco it? So aren’t people just grabbing up the “collector’s items”? Sell ‘em on Barrett Jackson for $1 million, LMAO.
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:27 pm)It would be really entertaining to see and hear the explanations of why things did not turn out the way “everyone” had thought it would. Major egg on the face entertaining.
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:32 pm)#56 noel park
#51 statik:
What’s the prize?
George F. Will was on with George Stephanopoulos Sunday. His prediction was almost the same as yours, 343 or 345, if memory serves. Pretty amazing, coming from him. I don’t presume to guess, although I would be very happy with your number.
What’s up with the Statik/statik issue? Every time I think I did it right, I find out I did it wrong. Are you just trying to keep from being embarrassed by leading the number of comments by about 1000?
As to the Viper on the last thread, didn’t Chrysler and/or The Dog announce that they are going to disco it? So aren’t people just grabbing up the “collector’s items”? Sell ‘em on Barrett Jackson for $1 million, LMAO.
————————-
Whats the prize? Glorius self indulgence I guess.
As for the ‘two Statiks’ on the ‘leaderboard’….I have no clue why or how that happens, it is some kind of glitch. Sometime I capitalize, and sometimes I don’t, but it is totally random which ‘statik’ gets the post count bump (I tried to figure it out once…around the time N Riley pointed out there was a post count board at all)…it is just a lovely side perk that I don’t get the humilation of being the guy at the top of the list of ‘no-lifers’ (j/k)…or the shame of 2,000 posts.
Onto the Viper discussion on the last thread. If memory serves me correctly, Dodge did not disconotinue it, they merely said that there will be no replacement, that no future R&D would be put into it…and that they are looking for buyers to ‘continue the tradition going forward’ So technically alive and a ongoing convern, but in the same way that the CXX platform is for GM.
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:39 pm)269 to 269 shocker, recounts for 2 years.
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:40 pm)Guess I should have referenced the GM/ ‘CXX’ platform analogy to the Dodge Viper in post #58.
—
While still in production for the forseeable future for GM, the CXX platform got all its future R&D cut…basically there is no replacement/next gen coming.
FYI, the CXX platform is the Yukon, Suburban and Escalade. Which up until a year and a half ago, was GM’s cash cow.
Unbelievably long article about the cut from Oct 26, 2008:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/26/business/26jane.html?pagewanted=print
===========================
#59 Starcash says, 269 to 269 shocker, recounts for 2 years
—-
Two more years of W while that is in litigation. A clean 19.8% of the population is ecstatic!
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:44 pm)How about preheating and pre-cooling option when cable plugged in and possibility setting time in advance. I have not heard any confirmation about that. Lyle, could you please ask some one in GM concerning that option. I will be very grateful.
Nov 4th, 2008 (2:56 pm)272 McCain.
Nov 4th, 2008 (3:03 pm)Zap! is one of the first true EV distributors here in the United States that actually has a vehicle to sell. Over the years, however, they have gotten a bad rap. But are these accusations really true? Join us as we explore Zap! — the company and the products. We will even discuss what Zap! is doing RIGHT!
http://www.evcast.com/members/evcast/cal/VIEW+2008+Nov+4+1:00PM#1:00PM
Nov 4th, 2008 (3:17 pm)#54 N. Riley says ” Especially that green leaf. After a couple of years it will look like winter time all year around.”
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Funniest comment in a long time. Thanks.
Nov 4th, 2008 (3:17 pm)#51 Static
You’re On
O = 364
M = 174
Nov 4th, 2008 (3:30 pm)OFFICIAL BALLOT
______________
Instructions:* Vote for one:
[__] d@mned if you do
[__] d@mned if you don’t
______________
*Well, go on; it’s either one or the other.
Nov 4th, 2008 (4:18 pm)The button brings up “Sweetleaf” from Black Sabbath.
Nov 4th, 2008 (4:23 pm)Ideas:
1. Push the green leaf button and the Volt ejects little acorns out its otherwise useless tailpipe.
2. Push the green leaf button and it calls the home phone of Al Gore.
3. Its actually a fig leaf. Push it and the GPS will direct you to the nearest nudist colony.
Nov 4th, 2008 (4:31 pm)#36, #38:
“‘I want my Volt to have sensors so that when I sit in the driver’s seat, the sensors pick up my signals. If my butt says, “jump!” the Volt asks how high.’
This would make for an interesting ride after consuming beans…wouldn’t it?”
In the event of such gaseous emissions, selectively permeable membranes in the seats will collect the methane to power the range extender.
This is the answer for all of you who said “What about Natural Gas?”
To prevent endless switching between methane and gasoline/E85, the system will wait until after the seat cushions have collected a sufficient volume to efficiently run the ICE for several minutes. This level is known as “The Consumer Inflation Point.”
Nov 4th, 2008 (4:54 pm)What about people who can’t see small f$%king things like that!
Nov 4th, 2008 (5:13 pm)Oil to $70, plus $6 on the day.
=D~
Nov 4th, 2008 (5:54 pm)I hope I’m wrong but I figure Obama with 312. All I can say is that if I am right let’s just never have the house, senate, and executive branch running without checks and balances (unless they’ll do all the things I want them to do).
I can’t wait for the RNC to stop robocalling me 3 times a day INSANE
Nov 4th, 2008 (6:00 pm)On the topic of Voting.
I got tired of hearing about 2008 Presidential polls I was not able to participate in. So I search the www and found a nice one that lets you vote once from your PC. It only lets you Vote Rep. or Dem. but its better than nothing.
Cast your Internet vote.
http://www.student.com/
Nov 4th, 2008 (7:13 pm)#60 Jackson on The Customer Inflation Point
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Absolutely hilarious all the way through. Thanks.
Nov 4th, 2008 (7:21 pm)I just read this again
“What does the Econ button do?
It controls your HVAC, ambient lighting, other things.”
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Now from Wikipedia
“Ambient light (also available light or existing light) is a term used by photographers, cinematographers and other practitioners of the visual arts to refer to the illumination surrounding a subject or scene, specifically any and all light not provided by the photographer[1].
Levels of ambient light are most frequently considered relative to additional lighting used as fill light, in which case the ambient light is normally treated as the key light.”
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So understanding ambient lighting as coming from other sources not provided by the photographer (car?), what is the “ambient lighting” the designer is talking about?
Turning off the sunshine? The moonlight?
Really, what do you think he means?
Nov 4th, 2008 (7:42 pm)#69 Jackson:
Kind of puts me in the mind of the old bumper stickers:
“Eat More Beans – America Needs The Gas!”
I think you’re on to something. It’s probably a lot more efficient than using all sorts of natural gas to cook corn into ethanol. Or how about capturing all of the methane produced by cattle? Maybe you could attach the Volt’s leaf blower bag to the cow and run it in reverse? I dunno, desperate times call for desperate measures.
Nov 4th, 2008 (7:43 pm)_____________________________________________________
KISS…
Electric fueling the VOLT needs to be a task/process that is not any more complicated than petrol fueling.
Deep six all user interface battery related complications (buttons, menus, sub-menus, green leaf, instructions, sub-instructions, etc…) and replace with a very simple always visible battery state of charge indicator adjacent to the fuel gage indicator. In the real world, the consumer will want to start charging the car as soon as it is plugged in therefore you can also throw out the “when to charge” timer. The iconic consumer electronics that have historically won the widest market share are those electronics that take an interface/usability KISS approach. Good well intended software engineers will build very robust interfaces that are limitless in features and settings…great engineers will take all that complication and distill it down to a very simple flat interface that is void of all non esential noise.
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Nov 4th, 2008 (8:23 pm)I was hoping the green leaf button released a burst of minty freshness into the a/c system to make the inside smell as green as the outside!
Nov 4th, 2008 (8:27 pm)#77 CDAVIS:
Amen to that too.
You are absolutely 100% dead right, IMHO. Designers add all sorts of gee-whiz features, either for bragging rights, or just to show that they can. It makes the average consumer crazy, as far as I can see.
Nov 4th, 2008 (9:24 pm)Twisting sideways to view the control panel will be unsafe. And as a prior post points out, “how about people who don’t see very well?”. Will the flat control panel, which replaces the normal button and knob panel, be supported with a heads up display? I can’t see another way around the “grope in the dark” factor.
A car should be a pleasure to drive. Please, keep the Volt simple and affordable. Buyers do not want a difficult control space to work in. Even if it looks “cool”. Are popular cars engineered with layers of small, confusing, and unused control buttons? Or are the popular cars basic, clean, fun machines? Maybe I’m just behind the times. The basic EREV Cruze is the TRUE mother load for GM.
http://garfwod.250free.com/Photos/Dash_kiss.jpg
=D~
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:42 pm)EREV Cruze for 2010
http://garfwod.250free.com/Photos/2010%20Cruze%20dash.jpg
http://garfwod.250free.com/Photos/2010%20Cruze.jpg
Yes we can?
=D~
Nov 4th, 2008 (10:47 pm)If the cruise control doesn’t have an ideal speed setting, then it should be displayed here. This is assuming they will optimize the genset with an output that would maintain @70mph with typical electric loads. A/C, head lights, head wind, etc may reduce this optimal highway speed. A cruise control setting should vary the speed with varying available generator power and the green leaf should visually indicate the optimal traction power along with actual traction power use.
Nov 4th, 2008 (11:46 pm)Obama wins!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eat it McCain cronies………
Nov 5th, 2008 (12:26 am)and life as you know it is coming to an end
Nov 5th, 2008 (12:33 am)Joe OBrien #83
c’mon Joe enjoy the moment without getting nasty
Nov 5th, 2008 (12:36 am)Gordon #78
I think your onto to something. I was hoping it would activate the leaf blower option to blow the neighbors leaves off my yard back onto theirs.
Nov 5th, 2008 (1:32 am)Would be my preference for the car to be in full-on economy mode by default. There should be a little oil rig button to press for “wasteful mode.”
Nov 5th, 2008 (5:37 am)My workplace pays $75 a month to employees who commute using alternative transportation “at least 80% of the time”. Bicycles and motorcycles are most common right now. The Prius does not qualify although I am sure the Volt will.
=D~
Nov 5th, 2008 (6:19 am)#83 Joe — Enjoy your celebration. Remember that we are still 48% of the country, and we are not going anywhere.
Nov 5th, 2008 (6:51 am)Joe OBrien #83.
There is no need to be such an A$$.
Nov 5th, 2008 (8:15 am)Did anyone notice the leaf is on the right of the select button in the picture above but on the left of it in the picture of the Volts cabin at the bottom of the Home Page?
I also find it funny that the CD slot looks like it hasn’t been cut open.
NPNS!
Nov 5th, 2008 (10:44 am)#64 Cautious fan
O = 364
#51 Statik
Obama wins with 353
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You win…flawless victory! Right now Obama has 349, but he looks good to take North Carolina when it is all said and done…15 more.
364 it is.
/nice job
Nov 5th, 2008 (1:28 pm)#64 Cautious Fan & #92 statik (small s):
Nice work boys. Who woulda thunk it???
“Onward, forward, never backward”
Nov 5th, 2008 (3:27 pm)#76 noel park:
““Eat More Beans – America Needs The Gas!”
I think you’re on to something. It’s probably a lot more efficient than using all sorts of natural gas to cook corn into ethanol. Or how about capturing all of the methane produced by cattle? Maybe you could attach the Volt’s leaf blower bag to the cow and run it in reverse? I dunno, desperate times call for desperate measures.”
Perhaps this feature will be incorporated into the version sold by . . .
Cattle-ac.
[rimshot]
Nov 5th, 2008 (7:51 pm)I asked some Texas based GM reps and the transportation guy that brought the Volt prototype to the Greensburg,Ks. Chevrolet Dealership today( 11/05/08) and nobody had a clue about the green leaf function on the touch screen. Afterall, this was a prototype car. Had the Plastered white sheet of Paper on the side windows and front windshield ” Please Do Not Touch, ThankYou “. Being able to see it up close was quite interesting. Took several shots of the interior. Anyway, it still looked pretty good.
Nov 7th, 2008 (9:00 pm)I’d like the option of depleting the battery beyond it’s normal 30% (or whatever that figure was) for when I know I’m close to home and will be in for a long recharge. I think I even heard Lutz say something to that effect, don’t quote me I may just be spreading rumors. Maybe the green leaf will get you there too.
Nov 11th, 2008 (12:42 pm)1. Use the spinning of the wheels to recharge the battary
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