GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

Toyota has officially announced pricing of the 2010 3rd generation Prius set to go on sale next month in the US.  The car is EPA rated 50 MPG combined, and offers no plug-in capability.

They have divided the car into 5 price categories:

Prius I To be released at a later date $21,000

Prius II $22,000
– 1.8-liter Atkinson cycle engine
– P195/65 R15 all-season tires with alloy
wheels & covers
– Smart Key (driver’s door) and Push Button
start
– EV, Eco, and Power modes
– Multi-Informational Display with energy
monitor and fuel consumption history
– AM/FM/MP3 CD player with six speakers and
satellite radio capability and auxiliary
audio jack
– Cruise control
– STAR Safety System and active front headrest
– Seven airbags including driver knee airbag
– Four-wheel disc brakes
– Tilt/telescopic steering wheel with audio and
HVAC
Controls with Touch Tracer Display
– Six-way adjustable driver seat
– Auto up/down on all windows
– Color-keyed foldable power heated side
mirrors

Prius III In addition to Prius II features: $23,000
– JBL AM/FM/MP3 six-disc CD changer with eight
speakers
– Integrated satellite radio capability
– Hands-free phone capability via
Bluetooth((R)) wireless technology

Prius IV In addition to Prius III features: $25,800
– Three-door Smart Key system
– Leather-trimmed interior
– Heated front seats with driver lumbar support
– Driver and front passenger water repellant
windows
– Plasmacluster(TM) ionizer
– Auto dimming mirror with HomeLink(R)

Prius V In addition to Prius IV features: $27,270
– 17-inch alloy wheels and P215/45 R17 tires
– LED headlamps with auto leveling and washers
– Integrated foglamps

Optional Equipment:

Navigation Package $1,800
Voice-actived
touch-screen
DVD navigation system
With JBL AM/FM/MP3
four-disc CD changer,
eight speakers,
integrated satellite
radio capability, XM
NavTraffic capability,
hands-free phone
capability and music
streaming via Bluetooth
wireless technology
and integrated backup
camera

Solar Roof Package $3,600
Includes Navigation
Package equipment
plus power tilt/slide
moonroof with Solar
Powered Ventilation
System and Remote Air
Conditioning System

Advanced Technology Package $4,500
Includes Navigation
Package equipment plus
Dynamic Radar Cruise
Control (DRCC),
Pre-Collision System
(PCS), Lane Keep Assist
(LKA), Intelligent
Parking Assist(IPA)

So buying a Prius V along with the Advanced Technology package plus $750 destination charge will cost $32,500, and the solar roof is not an option. Also buying a Prius that is not a plug-in car does not allow any tax credits.

A Chevy Volt in the mid to upper 30 thousand range take off $7500 for government tax credit could very well cost the buyer less and likely be similarly equipped with creature comforts.

I am told GM is “still investigating” what if any option packages the Volt might have or if it would be one well-equipped model.

The cost of driving without gas, of course, is priceless.

By the looks and underpinnings of this car, Buick’s future seems to be shining.

GM revealed this quite striking new multipurpose vehicle at the Shanghai Auto Show in China and is calling the it the Business Concept. The vehicle was developed at the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), a joint effort with General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).

It uses strong Buick visual cues to create an elegantly sculpted exterior intended to make a statement. The concept includes LED headlamps and a strong purple color.

Deep burgundy suede carpet, wood tones, and blue ambient lighting create a board room atmosphere inside.

Perhaps more importantly, the car is the first example using GM’s next generation BAS+ lithium ion hybrid system. This system achieves a 20% efficiency improvement over current BAS hybrids providing auto off, electric boost, regenerative braking, and brief electric only propulsion.

It is unknown if this car will be produced at all let alone in the US, but its tall stature and use of the global compact delta platform would enable it to be fitted with the Voltec extended-range electric drivetrain. And although GM has not commented, conceivably this could represent GMs third electric car.

However, GM spokesperson Mike Albano tell us “The MPV does not have a Voltec. At this point it is only intended to be a product in China, where demand for a Buick MPV remains strong, but we continue to monitor other markets that could use an MPV of this size.”

Full Press Release (photo gallery at bottom):
Buick Business Concept Vehicle Unveiled in Shanghai

• Embodies Buick’s New Global Design Language in an MPV
• Leading MPV Trend in China, Designed for China’s Business Elite

SHANGHAI, April 20, 2009 – The Buick Business Concept, a new concept vehicle designed to showcase Buick’s future vision of “business class on the road,” made its global debut today at Auto Shanghai 2009.

The multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) was developed in China by the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC), a design and engineering joint venture between General Motors and Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC), with global design input. It was unveiled today by GM President and CEO Fritz Henderson and SAIC Chairman Hu Maoyuan.

The Business Concept Vehicle captures the essence of the Buick form language in a thoroughly elegant and expressive design, with its taut surfaces, double sweep spear belt line, strong front and rear identities and dynamic presence.

“The Business Concept Vehicle has a grand presence and makes a strong statement when it pulls up to the front of any establishment,” said Ed Welburn, GM Vice President of Global Design. “The Chinese market and business person have some unique requirements. Our team has responded with an elegant solution to their business and personal needs.”

Classic Influences in Modern Design

According to Cao Min, PATAC Concept Car Chief Designer, the design team set out to create a modern global design for Buick, yet include a subtle Chinese essence and influence. To achieve this balance, they sought to draw from their heritage outside the automotive industry – from classic shapes to arts and ancient relics.

The Business Concept Vehicle’s dynamic exterior surfaces and “yin and yang” interior tones are drawn from diverse inspirations including the 2008 Buick Riviera concept car, Chinese artifacts and modern electronic icons. The vehicle, inside and out, communicates an orderly elegance that transcends cultural boundaries and conveys the tranquility and power of Buick.

Exterior Design – A Sense of Presence and Buick Essence

To establish their design direction, PATAC designers took the global Buick design vocabulary of sculpturally beautiful and dynamic forms established by the Riviera concept car and successfully extended it to a tall, one-box architecture.

The Business Concept Vehicle develops the Buick form language further and incorporates elements of Chinese culture and artistic influences into the details. It takes the Buick design treatment to a new level of sophisticated boldness.

The famous Buick waterfall grille takes on a bolder treatment. Intricate detailing gives it an even more prominent look. The backlit Buick tri-shield logo leads into the distinctive mid-hood crease prevalent in classic Buicks and consistent across the new Buick line today.

The prominent LED headlamps show influences of popular Chinese liuli glass through three-dimensional transparent and multifaceted surfaces. Liuli is a Chinese crystal sculpture art form that incorporates cultural and modern references. It has become a popular symbol of modern Chinese prosperity.

The elongated, jewel-like headlamps are connected to the body shoulder line through a strong chrome accent that flows the length of the vehicle from the hood to the body sides, accentuating a strong double sweep spear design until it finally comes to rest wrapped around the taillights. This is the most distinctive design element of the Business Concept Vehicle, as it offers a modern approach to the classic Buick double sweep spear. Familiar Buick portholes are gracefully integrated into the chrome strip extending from the headlamps.

This distinctive double sweep spear shape not only provides expressive dynamism to the vehicle profile, it is also functionally important. It defines the window line from the body sides and incorporates the rail guides for the power sliding doors. Additionally, it lowers the rear passenger sightline and adds significant shoulder room to the rear compartment.

“This vehicle was inspired by the grace and gesture of great Buicks. PATAC designers have cleverly incorporated other design cues from traditional Chinese art, such as applying a huiwen motif on the turn signals and fog lamps,” Cao Min said.

The Zitan Purple exterior color was chosen to elicit the right level of attention and respect. The color is found in rare zitan wood used for sculptures and fine Chinese furniture. This deep burnt-purple color perfectly highlights the concept’s grandeur.

Power sliding doors with no B-pillar were selected for their ability to showcase an expansive view of the interior and ease of entrance and egress.

The Business Concept Vehicle sits on 20-inch, 9-spoke forged aluminum wheels, with a polished mirror finish, and low-profile tires. The outside mirrors incorporate turn signals with the huiwen motif.

Interior Design – Functionality and Soothing Serenity

Serenity and advanced functionality come to mind when entering the vehicle. The use of deep burgundy suede and subtle creams, representing earth and wood themes, are conveyed through high-quality leather bucket seats, plush vehicle carpet and a luxurious padded steering wheel. Completing the tranquil feel is a roof comprised of two full-length sunroofs that offer a celestial connection for occupants.

“Through deep burgundy suede carpet, high-quality leather interior decoration with liuli and soft, ice blue ambient lighting, we wanted to create a mobile VIP lounge for passengers,” Cao Min said.

Interior trim and features befitting Buick prestige abound such as a power central console with a deployable tablet for writing or to hold a laptop computer. The console can be moved up and down the two rows of rear seats. The second row of power captain’s chairs slide on hidden rails and swivel 225 degrees, enabling them to be adjusted to an infinite combination of orientations. Traditional huiwen patterns are embroidered onto the seats and seat backs, bringing harmony to the entire design theme.

The three-dimensional instrument cluster reaches across the entire width of the front panel and features a multi-layer information display. The instrument cluster design reflects the liuli art influence but is utterly modern in design. It is complemented by a central console with touch pad controls on either side of a cylinder-shaped roller mouse. A large LED display crowns the central console. Once again, the huiwen motif shows up as details on the wings of the instrument panel.

The OnStar security telematics feature is easily accessible on the rearview mirror, with three prominently yet tastefully displayed call buttons.

“The design of the vehicle inherits Buick’s vision for business class on the road, creating a sense that space means possibility,” Cao Min said.

Next-Generation GM Hybrid System

PATAC designed the Buick Business Concept Vehicle to accommodate the next-generation GM Hybrid System, which will be introduced in China in the near future.

The next-generation GM Hybrid System will build upon the successful belt-alternator-starter hybrid technology currently available in the Buick LaCrosse Eco-Hybrid. An advanced lithium-ion battery will help make the next-generation GM Hybrid System more powerful than the current system, improving fuel economy of vehicles with this system by up to 20 percent, depending on engine and vehicle application.

The next-generation GM Hybrid System helps optimize fuel efficiency and reduce emissions by:
• Turning the engine off at idle
• Offering brief electric-only propulsion
• Using a more powerful electric motor to enhance engine efficiency
• Extending fuel cutoff during deceleration
• Extending regenerative braking to recapture more energy
• Performing intelligent hybrid battery charging

As we draw closer and closer to the Chevy Volt launch day, we might wonder if GM has an exact target date within November 2010 for the launch.

Greg Ceisel is the Volt Program Manger. I asked him whether GM will begin to ship Volts to dealers closer to November 1st or November 3Oth. “The exact date in November is about the middle of the month,” he said. “There is a target date. In this program, every hour is scheduled.”

Another question is exactly how many Volts GM intends to release in the 2010 calendar year.

“How many will be sold will depend on the shipping time to the dealerships and the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays,” said Ceisel. “Those things will limit the number from a logistics standpoint, but I expect there will be a lot of interest for every vehicle that we can get to a dealer in 2010.”

For 2011, he says “Well be ramping up production as rapidly as we can to meet demand.” He notes that “the market demand will be one factor, and we intend to ramp up production to meet it. The Detroit-Hamtramck plant is a high volume plant so we are not talking thousands, we’re talking tens of thousands.”

When asked if GM could deliver 100,000 Volts in 2011 he said “I don’t know if we’d make that in 2011, but we’d certainly do our best to make (customers) happy.”

There are two major reason why people want electric cars. To achieve energy independence, to help the environment, or both.

While the first benefit can’t be disputed, a newly publicized study suggests that electric car use may actually be worse for the environment.

The study was performed by the group Transport Watch and found that diesel cars produce half as much CO2 as electric cars when the fossil fuel required to make the electricity is taken into account.

The study concludes “We conclude that the notion that electric cars will reduce emissions is a fiction.”

The study also took into account electrical energy leaked lost between the powerplant and the point where the vehicle would be charged. This leakage was estimated to be an astounding 76%. Diesels on the other hand achieve a 45% efficiency.

The research was done in the UK where only 20% of electricity is generated by renewable energy. It was estimated that in China, for example, where most electricity comes from coal, a change from diesel to electric vehicles would double CO2 emissions.

The research implies that burning fuel within the vehicle produces less emissions than creating electricity and sending it down the grid.

A conclusion drawn from this research by Philip Gomm, of the RAC Foundation is; “Electric vehicles are not a panacea. They are good for generating headlines but not necessarily at saving the planet, at least not in the short term. For today and tomorrow, a lot more attention needs to be paid to refining existing petrol and diesel technology, and making cars smaller and lighter as a way of saving fuel – something recognized by the Committee on Climate Change. These are proven solutions to an immediate problem.”

You can check out the details of the study here and draw your own conclusions.

Source (Telegraph)

The media continues to imply that Obama’s Auto Task Force could still be considering slashing the Volt program out of GM’s future, despite multiple assurances we have gotten here, including one from GM vice-Charmain Bob Lutz who told us before “the Volt will survive and prosper.”

Besides us here at GM-Volt.com, other outspoken electric car advocacy groups including Plug-in America and California Cars are concerned.

Felix Kramer of CalCars worries that the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) who is advising the Task Force are actually plug-in skeptics.

“BCG acknowledges a theoretical possibility that the U.S. could make a rapid transition to plug-in vehicles, with GM leading the charge,” wrote Kramer in his newsletter. “But it concludes it probably won’t happen — based, we think, on narrow and short-sighted ways of thinking.”

Jay Friedland of Plug-in America understands “any new technology like the Chevy Volt takes time to become profitable.”

I believe the economic phenomenon of price reduction over time and the importance of Volt technology is well understood by the Task Force.

It may such take the wealthy first adopters to pave the way. “Automakers are now busy making EV and range-extended EV prototypes; the industry is racing to democratize EVs,” writes Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla. “We will get there, but only with help from affluent early adopters.”

Sources familiar with GM’s government negotiations have told GM-Volt.com that the Volt “is untouchable.” This source also notes “the Task Force’s concerns were with the price and cost to GM. As with many first gen technologies, they’re expensive and you can’t pass that on dollar for dollar to the consumer.”

Finally these source said GM is “proceeding at full speed with the Volt and the Task Force knows and supports this.”

Source (New York Times)

The discussion and buzz about electric cars continues to accelerate. It is astounding how much more media there is about them today compared to early 2007 when the Volt concept was first unveiled. And although gas prices spiked quite high last summer, today they are about the same as in January 2007.

For many of us early electric car adopters, gas prices aren’t the issue, it is more an interest in not using gas for what it represents. For some that’s the environment, for others its energy independence, and for many its both.

Recently, attention first started by the Volt and Tesla has been amplified by President Obama’s "moon-shot" pledge of getting 1 million plugin cars on the road by 2015.

The question is will that happen, can that happen, and how many Volts will GM actually sell?

"We anticipate a strong demand for the Chevy Volt. The promise to drive gas-free without range anxiety appeals to many," said Volt spokesperson Dave Darovitz. "For example, without advertising and promotion, we have about 20,000 people who have requested more information through Chevy.com. This is since Sept. 2008."

On this independent site we have collected nearly 48,000 people since May 07 expressing similar interest.

Reports out of Japan indicate that 40,000 people have pre-ordered the 3rd generation Prius due out in May. Of course hybrid sales have declined along with gas prices, and without financial motive how many will embrace electric cars?

The Detroit News reports without naming sources "Over the next two years, GM plans to build 40,000 Chevrolet Volts, Toyota Motor Corp. intends to produce more than 15,000 plug-in Prius cars, Nissan intends to produce 10,000 yet-to-be named electric cars and Chrysler intends to produce 5,000."

These are very modest numbers.

Even our friend Tony Posawatz, the Volt vehicle line director told MSNBC about the 1 million plugin car pledge "It certainly is a difficult challenge to achieve that goal. It’s not readily obvious, based on the product plans that have been communicated, that the 2015 objective aligns with what is currently on the books."

So will we even make it to 1 million cars running on electricity by 2015? If we want to, you and I are going to have to work real hard spreading the word and building demand. It may be that all the news, advertising, and government incentives alone won’t do it.

And if we think about it, there are 250 million cars in the US, and 600 million in the world, expected to double by 2030, so 1 million itself is just a baby step, but a very important one.