GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

Many people cite China’s Volt-like BYD electric car, the F3DM, as a threat to the Volt and other US-made electric cars. Particularly because the company makes its own proprietary LiFePO4 battery and can currently sell the car for a US equivalent of $22,000. Warren Buffett has invested in the company and there exists the potential of eventually selling the car in the US.

The F3DM is a plug-in electric basic sedan with a reported 60 miles of range and a dual hybrid drivetrain capable of operating either in serial or parallel mode after the battery is discharged.

It is being reported that the car is not yet catching on in China where it is being built and sold. Reportedly since launch in December 2008 only 80 FD3Ms have been sold, and 20 of those to the Chinese government.

Why is this and what might it tell us if anything about Volt adoption here in the US?

First, the pricetag of $21,980 USD is a lot for most Chinese. The company has a stated goal of bringing this closer to $15,000 when they scale up production. Yet if no one is buying how will they scale up production?  Would this ring true with a $40,000 Volt?

Lack of charging stations, government incentives, and a poor auto market are other cited hurdles. It takes 9 hours to charge the car on household current possibly dissuading some would-be buyers.

Also it turns out the car only gets is announced 60 miles of range if it is driven under 50 km/h (31 mph).

Finally, there may be high rates of battery defects and no clear plan for battery reclaim at end of life.

So while it is true that China isn’t the United States, and the market here will likely be more embracing, the importance of high quality, honest promotion, and extensive testing GM is putting in to the Chevy Volt cannot be understated.

Source (Xinhua)

There appears to be two camps when it comes to deciding on the engineering of electric cars. Some automakers such as Tesla, Mitsubishi, Nissan, BMW, Toyota and Ford believe pure electrics or plug-in parallel hybrids are the way to go. Others such as Chrysler, Mercedes, and Fisker have followed GM’s footsteps embracing the idea of the extended-range electric car.

Now Jaguar Land Rover has joined the Volt camp.

After being granted a £307 million loan last week, the Tata-owned automaker has now announced its intentions to produce an extended-range electric next-generation XJ luxury sedan which will use a similar drivetrain to the Chevy Volt.

The company plans to bring the XJ Hybrid into production in 2011. It will have a slightly lower 30 mile all-electric range, and get a slightly higher 57 mpg in generator mode.

JLR also has a mini-Range Rover hybrid based on the LRX concept using a 2.0 L diesel engine, and a super-cap bearing mild hybrid Range Rover Sport in development.

Source (Autocar)

In our last post we discussed the fact that Wall Street Journal Editorial Board member Steve Moore gave the opinion that the Chevy Volt was already becoming the next Edsel. He did not define exactly what he meant by that which left us guessing.

I was able to point out our to discussion to Mr. Moore who I contacted by email, and asked him what he meant. He responded “The Volt is a huge money loser just like the Edsel. This is what happens when Washington tells GM what kind of cars it must build.”

The Ford Edsel was built in from 1958 through 1960 and was created as a new division within Ford and had several different models. It was launched with great public anticipation and fanfare and flopped miserably mostly because the public had a hard time understanding what it was.

In the end Ford killed off the car and the division for a loss in 1960 dollars of $350 million.

Lets hope Mr. Moore is wrong.

Automotive opinion pieces in the Wall Street Journal always seem to come out against the Volt, but this one takes the cake.

Editorial board member Stephen Moore penned a piece called A Top-Down Approach To Auto Rescue. He noted himself to be a vocal opponent of the tens of billions in bailout dollars being given to GM and Chrysler, but admitted ” his heart leapt” when he heard the new Camaro was coming out.

He waxed poetic about his love affairs with Camaros he’s owned, the euphoria of driving them and the pleasure of watching the envy and admiration of others.

He noted he’s averse to protectionist policy of “buy American” but admits to feeling a patriotic duty to do so nonetheless. Moore says he believes the return of the Camaro is the first “bullish” sign from the US auto industry.

He does not seem too impressed with the idea of green cars though. He expresses rightful concern about the government running the car companies and feels that the result will be “small, unremarkable ‘green’ cars that get good gas mileage but don’t go fast, don’t look cool and don’t make your pulse race.”

He writes “If GM makes a comeback, it will be thanks not to the green dream battery-operated Volt (which is already becoming the new Edsel) but to cars people want to drive.”

Do you agree?

Source (WSJ.com)

GMs 2-mode hybrid drivetrains are currently in use in large trucks.  They can be found in the Escalade, Yukon, Tahoe, and Silverado where they allow these massive vehicles to achieve 20 mpg combined fuel economy.

Currently a 2-Mode hybrid VUE is in pre-production, and launch has been delayed.  Many factors have gone into this delay first and foremost being GM’s financial position and possibly the dead end road Saturn is on.

The 2010 Cadillac SRX, initially previewed a s a fuel cell Voltec derivative Provoq concept, is set for launch this summer.  There will be two drivetrain options, a 3.0-liter Direct Injection and a 2.8-liter turbo.

GM has now acknowledged it is their desire to produce a hybrid version of that vehilce too at some point in the future.  “We would like to add a hybrid (SRX), yes,” Cadillac spokesperson David Caldwell told GM-Volt.com. “But there are no announcements to be made right now.”

The 2-mode VUE is set up to be powerful if not maximally fuel efficient.  The vehicle does a 0 to 60 in 7.4 seconds generating 262 hp and 250 ft-pounds of torque.  With all that strength it returns  27 mpg hwy | 30 mpg city with a 3.0 L V6 engine.

Perhaps a Voltec SRX may come eventually, as we’ve heard before from GM, “Voltec is on the table” for designing the next generation hybrid truck drivetrain.

Incidentally, Mercedes has just revealed its new small SUV ML450 HYBRID. This vehilce uses the same 2-mode hybrid drivetrain that GM is using. I has a 335 HP 8 cylinder engine, with a fuel efficiency of 24 mpg hwy | 21 mpg city.

Source (Edmunds)

Famous comedian and Tonight Show host Jay Leno arrived in Detroit Monday night ahead of free performances he’s giving Tuesday and Wednesday night to show support and solidarity for the beleaguered city. His so-called “Comedy Stimulus Package” is for “anyone out of work in Detroit,” said Leno. “The idea is: ‘Come on down. Forget your troubles … and meet other people in your situation.”  On Tuesday thousands lined up in cold and snow to attend the show, in which he launched a freewheeling 80 minute monologue.

While in town, Leno spent time on Tuesday visiting GM’s facilities. Leno is a vigorous auto enthusiast and has specific interest in electric vehicles. He is also an ardent and specific supporter of US automakers and the US auto industry.  He has most recently bought a new Corvette and Challenger and owns one of the original Baker electric cars built in 1909.  He also currently has in his possession GM’s fuel cell Equinox and a MINI E.

While at the GM facilities, Leno was given the chance to test drive one of the current Cruze-body Chevy Volt mule vehicles.  He was accompanied by Ed Welburn, GM’s VP of Design, shown above with Jay.

Leno had previously noted “I think you’ll find that the Volt will be a superior package to the Prius,” and that he “would love to be” one of the first to test drive the Volt in real-world conditions.

He was said to rave about the Volt experience. “I’m not an engineer but I know enough … and I saw some impressive technology out there,” he said.

I was able obtain a firsthand report of the event from Mr. Welburn. “Jay and I had a great morning. He and I toured the Volt studio where he saw the final details of the production Volt. He then drove the car and visited the battery lab,” said Welburn. “I can’t speak for Jay, but I sure enjoyed it.”

For those of you who wonder if and when I will have a chance to drive the mule, don’t sweat it, every dog has his day.

Source (Detroit News)