I have seen the electric car promised land.
This month I became one of the first people outside of GM to visit the pre-production operations (PPO) facility at a time where the first genuine Chevy Volts, called integration vehicles (IVers) were being assembled.
The PPO plant was vast though moderate in size relative to full automotive production plants which can occupy several million square feet. Within it were two assembly lines each likely about 500 feet long along which the cars were being built by hand.
The day I was there was only 12 days after the first car was begun. At that point there were four Volt vehicles in various stages of construction. One was white, one was black, and two were gray. The paint on the surface was primer.
The sheet metal skeletons of the vehicles arrive there from the pre-production body shop, there 1000 or so pieces already welded together with hoods and hatchback in place.
The cars are built from the Volt math models developed by design and engineering. Little fit variations or flaws are detected such as for example the fit of the hood or rear window, and then are hand corrected for the next iteration.
The body shells were unmistakably Volts and seeing them in the flesh drove home more than anything the reality of these cars and this program in a deep and more meaningful way than ever before.
The most advanced or “lead” vehicle was fitted with many components including a high to low voltage converter and electrohydraulic brakes. None had their lithium-ion T-packs yet. In the lead vehicle the interior was nearly complete along with leather seats and the beautiful center console in jet black. White or black will be options. The heated leather seats were two-tone and looked great. I was told cloth seats would also be an potion.
I actually saw the electric motor-generator sitting on a wood table. Within it I was told are two motors. One was to turn the driveshaft and to recapture kinetic energy during deceleration (112 kw), and the other acts a a generator (53 kw) while the engine was running. Together the object was strikingly compact and a testament to the space advantages of electric cars. Volt Chief engineer Andrew Farah noted it was about the size of a conventional transmission, something this car wouldn’t need.
Another black Volt had just been put through a heavy water soaking to check for leaks in the design which could then be corrected.
These cars, unlike the mules before them, also had soundproofing installed onto the frame ensuring a very quiet ride.
There will be some changes from the show car which we have all seen, but these are 100% production intent.
One notable change was the location of the charge port. Now it will have its own door like a fuel tank and site below the front nameplate. The sliding cover design was abandoned due to risks of mechanical failure. The top surface of the center console was somewhat different too with some design tweaks and a storage area with trap door.
In the end, this facility will crank out 5 to 10 cars per week for a final goal of 80 to 100 vehicles. All of the learning here, the fixing of slight errors, and refinement of the assembly plan will lead early next year to the first assembled cars called validation builds on the Detroit-Hamtramck line where the production Volts will finally be built for sale. That plant has the capacity if needed to make up to 200,000 cars per year.
As of now the first fully built Chevy Volt IVers have rolled off this small assembly line and are being lab tested prior to their actual first drives. In the video below you can see Volt chief engineer Andrew Farah giving a tease and sitting in the true Volt about to go for “a shakedown drive.”
And so without any doubt the Volt has truly been born and its arrival into public production for launch in November 2010 appears at this point an absolute certainty.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:08 am)(click to show comment)
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:14 am)Camaro with a range extender. I like it I’ll take mine in black.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:15 am)I am so jealous right now.
I think I remember reading that GM expected to have the first integration vehicle operational by July 1st. Are they still on schedule? Lyle, when exactly did you visit the plant? Based on your description, it seems like they still had a good bit to do to make the first one operational.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:16 am)Lyle – Thanks for the update. Real progress!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:17 am)Lyle, thanks so much for this comprehensive report on the main thing that brings us here everyday. It’s great to hear about their ability to build 5 or more per weak right off the bat, as opposed to how long it took Tesla Motors.
We are about to be awash in Volts.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:25 am)Did I hear a plugin Camaro?? Now that’s exciting
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:31 am)Why is GM going to so much effort for vaporware? A new battery lab, 100 integration vehicles, all this testing. This is one of the most elaborate PR stunts I have ever seen.
Great report, Lyle. Looking forward to your updates.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:37 am)I think Lyle’s description was of the Volt’s currently in assembly, but not necessarily the FIRST Volts in assembly. I say that only because of the video with Andrew Farrah “sitting in the true Volt about to go for a shakedown drive”.
This leads me to believe that some Volts have already been assembled and are being tested as we speak.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:39 am)Great post, Lyle. Thank you.
Even so, first the post says
… the first genuine Chevy Volts, called integration vehicles (IVers) were being assembled.
Then later the post says
And so without any doubt the Volt has truly been born…
Here you are overcome with emotion to the point of having lost your judment
These vehicles still are prototypes not production cars. All sorts of little changes are going to be made in body dimensions (as you point out) and there likely will be some big changes as people get to see the dashboard and instrumention working within the car in the fashion that customer’s will see it.
Getting these integration vehicles assembled is a huge step forward, and they are the most Volt-like of anything built so far. But it is not the case that these are “genuine Volts” in the sense of being the final versions. They are not yet the car that will be sent to dealerships and sold, and there may be some big steps yet to come to get to that point, for now is the time when GM people first see that some good ideas actually do not come together in the final product (so they will change and fix them).
You are still looking at a doll baby; your child is not yet born
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:39 am)Nice garage door.
I love the cloth seat option.
My car could cost $500,000 and I would still want cloth seats.
The video was a complete teaser, lol.
Very well written article, Lyle.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:44 am)A real person getting into a real Volt.
Very nice to see.
Heated leather seats were not something I had associated with electric cars. Sounds luxurious.
Are they there because that is a better way to heat the occupants than using electricity to blow hot air?
Great report Lyle. Thanks
When do you ever have time for doctoring?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:45 am)Excellent catch for this thread Lyle! Is there a test drive of an IV’er in the near future???
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:47 am)Yeah… I re-read Lyle’s post and I missed this part:
“As of now the first fully built Chevy Volt IVers have rolled off this small assembly line and are being lab tested prior to their actual first drives”
So, I guess they are essentially “done,” they just haven’t been driven yet.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:47 am)Any of the Volts have sunroofs? or the ability to have it as an option??
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Jun 24th, 2009 (6:51 am)At the bottom of this post is the actual garage door the first Volts will drive off into the world through.
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Makes one smile to ready this.
Sort of like the 2nd coming of Elvis.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:04 am)The post concludes
and its arrival into public production for launch in November 2010 appears at this point an absolute certainty.
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Wouldn’t it be the case that production for the public would require a production line? And if so, is anything happening to build that production line? It does not seem certain to me, as a person who is not an expert in such things, that there is “absolute certainty” that a real production line will be in place by November 2010. On the other side, is November 2010 a date for sale of a few cars from this facility? [I remember that a recent GM leadership statement said the Volt would be "introduced" by the "end of 2010."]
What’s shown seems to be a sophisticated assembly line for semi-automated semi-manual construction of cars for testing purposes. That’s a great step, but it is not a production line that can produce 10,000 Volts in the first year.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:11 am)Lyle says
I actually saw the 53 kw motor-generator sitting on a wood table. Within it I was told are two motors. One was to turn the driveshaft and to recapture kinetic energy during deceleration, and the other acts a a generator while the engine was running.
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Thanks for this fascinating item. Does the last “while the engine was running” refer to the ICE engine rather than the engine mentioned in the first part of the sentence? These are then two devices located along a common axis?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:14 am)But note the sentence
The most advanced or “lead” vehilce was fitted with many components
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:30 am)It appears that a single device couldn’t optimally provide both the motor and generator functions, so they colocated two separate devices which are each optimized for the motor and generator functions respectively.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:32 am)Have you thought that maybe its not a PR stunt so much as a glimpse of reality. People like you would complain if they didn’t get any information.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:34 am)GREAT Post Lyle…Thanks.
Rashiid, I’m with you on the cloth seats.
Also, all the worries regarding the charge port have now gone away!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:38 am)Heated seats are a neccessity. Normal ICE cars use circulated engine coolant, which for the 1st 40 miles will no be heated. Radiant heat is the most comfortable, and that is what heated seats are. My bet is that all 4 seats are electrically heated, with occupant sensors to save energy, and idividual stats
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:44 am)Great job Lyle!
For each of us who felt in love with this car since the first day, I think we should today say to you Lyle: Thank you and may God bless you in every way possible.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:54 am)What’s with this #1 stuff ?
If you’re first to comment, please say something intelligent, like:
Thanks Lyle, great post, you’re doing a fantastic job and I hope GM rewards you with the first Volt off the assembly line !
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:55 am)______________________________________________________
Wow….excellent Volt update post Lyle!
Thanks!!!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (7:57 am)Heated seats are much more effective with leather surface.
Early info. also noted that it has incondesent effect, allowing ventilation to be set on cooler side.
Nice report Lyle.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:01 am)This part was confusing. Is there 2 separate generator devices as part of the electric drive motor assembly–plus a ICE driven generator?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:02 am)Very nice. Glad you got access to see the facility, and where the integration vehicle were being made. A lot of good information there for us to look over.
I will say your conclusion of, “And so without any doubt the Volt has truly been born and its arrival into public production for launch in November 2010 appears at this point an absolute certainty,” is a little hopeful, but hey…your allowed to be optimistic.
The problem with your statement is where are a long way away from producing cars. It is interesting that you posted a shot when they were rolling Camaros, because this is likely from mid 2007. I am familiar with the process, specifically the Camaro itself…and I think it is a pretty good benchmark for producing the Volt, because the Camaro was also on a ‘new/modified’ line, specifically the Global RWD Zeta platform (similar to the Holden line). With the Volt we have a modified Delta II line.
I actually ‘may’ have seen the next major step in the process for the Camaro, which is building the pilot pre-production assembly line, (complete with machining)…and it is a big, time consuming step with zillions of working parts to not only fabiricate, but get into place, and that is a major step ahead of where we are with the Volt atm.
When I may (or may not) have seen it, it was late march of 2008, (fairly early still in the process)…and as you know, they just started releasing Camaros about a year later.
The Volt will certainly be a trickier project to get to production status than the Camaro, so by my estimate they have at most 3-4 months to have 90% of all the spec equipment made and bolted down to the floor in Hamtramck to hit their goals…that is a long way from hand building cars.
I guess my nutshell is, they have very little time (if any) to spare here and I hope they are planning ahead of the curve to try and recoup some time.
Anywhoo, nice job as always Lyle…I wonder if there is anyone you could ask when that picture above on the Camaro was taken and when they started the hand assembled pilot Camaros? We could use that information to compare timelines.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:05 am)snif… snif… I… I… love this website. snif…
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:11 am)Not to pick on Jason (he’s had a lot of company), but if you post just to say “number 1″ doesn’t it mean that you’re really “number 2″ ?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:18 am)“they have at most 3-4 months to have 90% of all the spec equipment made and bolted down to the floor in Hamtramck to hit their goals”
Statik. I work in manufacturing, and we have specific lines for product, and while not automotive, we follow a similar plan. What we term a Pilot run, where we do the same as IVers.
While this is happening, the product line is built simultaneously, most of the generic stuff can be installed and “boltted to the floor” it is the product specific components that they will have 3-4 months to get. They know how to build the mounts and platforms to hold the Delta II body, the rest is fairly standard too, the basic proces is known (motor b4 hood, seats b4 doors, tires at tie end, etc..) and much of that is standard equipment too. so the basic layout can be happening right now. it will be the Volt specific manufacturing pieces they will need to add.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:18 am)I’ll admit that I’ve had visions of the Volt program dying with the first Volts half-completed on an assembly line, but only at my lowest moments here (like the official announcement of bankruptcy).
However, I prefer to see this item for what it clearly is; a very very good report (thanks Lyle for all you’ve done).
When we talk about government bailouts (and more), it helps to see domestic auto manufacturing as an instrument of policy (especially when we see a game-changing electric car come down the line). The Obama administration will very likely not allow the Volt project to end now that it’s reached this advanced point (and this from someone who finds praise for The Chosen One hard to offer).
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:18 am)Right, I’d say that’s the lead vehicle in the line of vehicles currently in assembly.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:20 am)Agree completely about the cloth seats Rashiid. I’ve also seen some vehicles that have heated cloth seats, though that seems less common.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:23 am)I’m hoping my thrilled screaming didn’t wake everyone up. Lyle, thank you, it’s still only about 6 AM here though!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:25 am)Apparently everything that’s needed to move the car (less battery, gas tank, and electronics) is integrated into one neat package. There’s not a generator over here, a motor over there and an internal combustion engine somewhere else, requiring complex final assembly to pull off.
Consider how easy this will make new EREV models, moving forward!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:27 am)GM can, and has, convert an assembly line from making Suburbans to Malibus in six weeks. I don’t think that it is a major stretch for them to bring up an assembly line for the Volt by the fall of 2010. In order to do that, however, they have to go through this step of figuring out what the assembly line should be. I think that Lyle was quite clear that this is a test line.
I agree with Lyle that it is very likely that the Volt will be produced on the final assembly plant at the end of 2010. Can something go wrong that delays that? Sure it can but this particular process is something that GM has done hundreds of times before.
I grew up in the Detroit area and almost every family I knew worked for one of the car companies. Changeover time was during the summer was very intense but, somehow, they always managed to get the line running on time. It’s like putting on a play. The curtain goes up at 8:00 and you had better be ready.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:40 am)You are humor impaired
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:41 am)Yesterday I was thinking about your remaining time clock before first integration vehicles and surprise, today this article. I become to be really teased (addicted?) by now.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:42 am)LOL – I think (hope) that BillR was being sarcastic, poking all those naysayers in the audience who have tried to shoot this project down.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:46 am)Perhaps because once vaporware gets pushed out the door, in initially low numbers, then the legions of naysayers will have to find a word to replace vaporware.
How about we offer a suggestion, if Volts are some day sold, words like cars or product or inventory or vehicles sold would be descriptive.
Or if folks are still in the highly critical camp they might use, defective product, too little inventory to make a difference or the always popular, modern Edsels to replace vaporware. GM has done a great service by keeping the Volt program in public view. Imagine the strategic lead they would hold if all this had been secret until June of next year.
Guys if you are giving thumbs down votes to BillR, did you notice he signed off with “Great report, Lyle. Looking forward to your updates.” Come on grow a humor node in those big brains of yours
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:50 am)Apparently the description is a little off, There are two devices in one housing with no mechanical connection between both of the them.. the first one is the main motor, 112kw, it also recovers brake energy.. the second device is the generator (53kw), the one attached to the crankshaft of the engine, it also acts like a starter motor.
It makes sense that they combine it in one housing, shorter power cables running around. Easier to circulate the coolant also.
Lyle you gotta convince them to let you take pictures next time!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:50 am)He’s being sarcastic Lee.
Basically poking fun at all the trolls that used to visit.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:52 am)When I first started on this blog, I was giddy for the Volt. The financial collapse darkened my mood quite a bit. This post makes me giddy again.
Go Volt!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:53 am)Lyle, Very interesting post. Any chance of getting a picture of the new “charge port,” door open and closed?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:54 am)It is obvious the Volt is a first generation product. Almost no component in this vehicle has been optimized. I would wait for the much improved second generation model, Others can be used to shake out all the durability bugs that come with 1st gen cars. At least Chevy is making progress, albeit rather slowly.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:54 am)Great report Lyle, well done!!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:55 am)One notable change was the location of the charge port. Now it will have its own door like a fuel tank and site below the front nameplate.
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A big improvement, methinks.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:55 am)Outstanding – I’ll take mine in Black with Black interior.
I look forward to seeing the options for interiors etc…
Any idea of distribution plans? I live in Seattle and am not very optimistic about availability until 2012. Too late as I will need a new car before that
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:56 am)______________________________________________________
Lyle Said:
“…The top surface of the center console was somewhat different too with some design tweaks and a storage area with trap door…”
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Good. It needed it.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:58 am)The way i understand this above statement about these two motors:
Am I right on about the configuration?
The main AC propulsion electric motor also acts as regen (four quadrant function) when required but the genset itself (ICE-generator mechanically coupled together) has a single function, recharge the batteries even when the main motor acts like a… motor
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Jun 24th, 2009 (8:59 am)Now I’m totally confused. The 53Kw motor is connected to the ICE, not the driveshaft, which has the 110kW motor. Damn it Lyle, can’t you answer questions about the 53kW motor, instead of bring up more!
Maybe they meant it has a separate motor to start the ICE, seems weird though.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:02 am)I have heated cloth seats in my 07 MAXX… great for those chilly Canadian winters !
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:10 am)All smiles over here!
Thank You Lyle Dennis ACE reporter!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:13 am)AC motor and petrol engine in the same housing is a good idea, the AC motor will keep the engine block warm, so if it starts up on high revs it won’t suffer as much wear.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:13 am)Lyle says: As of now the first fully built Chevy Volt IVers have rolled off this small assembly line and are being lab tested prior to their actual first drives.
That will make Tag happy, Volts by independance day. lol.
And also :All of the learning here, the fixing of slight errors, and refinement of the assembly plan will lead early next year to the first assembled cars called validation builds on the Detroit-Hamtramck line where the production Volts will finally be built for sale. That plant has the capacity if needed to make up to 200,000 cars per year.
For a break even version one, not a chance. It will just be the single line at up to 60,000 per year.
Version two onwards will be full power (pun intended) ahead.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:17 am)“Volt Chief engineer Andrew Farah noted it was about the size of a conventional transmission, something this car wouldn’t need.”
Lyle (or anyone else) has there been a determination regarding whether or not there will BE a transmission? See link below for forum discussion of this topic.
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2911
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:18 am)Kudos, Lyle, on this look into the Volt IV Assembly plant!
We all know the Volt will most likely be the world’s first mass-produced E-REV vehicle. Slightly off topic, but I noticed an interesting Reuters article* on the status of the 3-year “EcoCAR” competition among 17 North American Universities, in which 8 of the 17 schools are taking the E-REV design approach. I see this as an important endorsement of E-REV/Voltec by several leading engineering schools, one that can help the average person appreciate its many inherent advantages over EV, HEV, PHEV, etc, etc! For anyone interested the link below is worthwhile reading….
*http://www.reuters.com/article/gwmEnergy/idUS44568323220090619
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:18 am)Thank you sir for a great piece of news. Go Volt!
“Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success.”
Dale Carnegie
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:22 am)Had to give your Elvis reference a bump — made me smile.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:23 am)With only a partial view of the center console, [ hope may be blurring my vision ] Is that awful looking, like an after thought , where can we put this display now actually built in so it looks like it was ment to be there?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:23 am)I’ve got to agree with you RB. I can’t see these as the real deal because I know they’re getting crushed when testing is over (What a crime!). You’d figure they could unload test vehicles off to either a third world country or possibly sell them on EBAY with the knowledge that they aren’t production vehicles and no warranty/spare parts are guaranteed. I just can’t see scrapping a car because it was hand built. GM, I would totally take one of these off your hands fo $10,000. I’d even fly out to Detroit to pick it up. As a taxpayer/owner of GM I think I’ll propose that at the next board meeting.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:27 am)The lack of work on the actual assembly line has been Statik’s concern for some time but maharguitar’s comment about the time needed to convert an assembly line is one point, though the times needed for converting a line and starting one may be different.
Personally I’ve never thought getting the assembly line ready was that big of a deal. GM does that all the time so I figured GM had that task dialed in, and that this particular part of production would not create any problems. Then again I know jack about assembling cars.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:28 am)@30 Flaninacupboard;
I’m betting that the genset is a combination of a fairly standard engine block bolted transmission style to the motor/generator and the end result will look an awful lot like an existing front drive engine – transmission package.
This makes a LOT of sence since the tools used in manufacturing already exist to handle that sort of packaging so they don’t have to invent something new.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:33 am)They aren’t using energy efficient warehouse lights. There are new fluorescent high-bay lights specifically for warehouses that use far less energy than the metal-halides they are using…and they last longer and have greater output too. ROI is within 1-2 years.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:34 am)@7 BillR;
I should never click the votey thingy before I drink my coffee! Irony was too much for me first thing today!
Now that I’m awake… that’s really funny Bill!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:35 am)I too have cloth seats that are heated in my ‘08 Malibu although I rarely used them during the last Chicago winter.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:46 am)I think you nailed it there Herm.
From the outside and even from underneath the driveline will look like almost any other front drive car.
The difference is in the ‘guts’ of it!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:48 am)Some people say this is a PR Stunt! Well GM must be a master in PR Stunts!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (9:54 am)Oh COME ON, Statik! Even now you, er, well, you do what you do. Throw cold water on anything that might HINT at a warm feeling. And yes, I know you don’t believe in feelings nearly as much as cold data, but they DO count.
I thought that it was extremely poignant that the the door from which this Volt will first “Get it’s wheels on the road” has it’s own picture, because if I was Lyle THAT would be the point at which I could think “I did it”. And what a great moment that will be.
JMO,
Be ok,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!!***************NPNS
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:01 am)I had heated cloth seats in my 2000 Subaru Outback.
They might be more popular than we think.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:01 am)I don’t know. My butt certainly got hot with the heated cloth seats.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:03 am)I didn’t expect this. It’s a very good way to cut down on weight. This component will also be liquid cooled so it also requires less cooling lines and parts than would be needed to do two separate components.
Lyle, Pure gold report. Really stokes the hype! Can you give more information on the generator. Even if it’s just a guess. How long, shape, weight, fittings (electrical, cooling), etc. Did it have a nameplate? Oh, I want one of these to play with.
The center console looks great!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:11 am)For some reason I can’t get the “reply” function working, so this is @ RB # 15 et al.
Herm is exactly correct, as is an_outsider.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:14 am)Good to hear the charge port has been upgraded. Other items been tweaked as well? hummm .. ?
=D~
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:15 am)LOL, yes, that made me smile so big that it hurt.
Be well,
Tagamet
Independence Day 2010!!********LJGTVWOTR!!*******NPNS
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:15 am)My understanding is that the whole top of the car is a tinted glass panel (kind of like the Scion TC).
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:17 am)@ MarkinWI # 32
There will be no transmission, in the sense of shifting gears. There will likely be a single reduction gearbox, and/or differential.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:17 am)OMG! Me too except I’ll have mine in orange with black stripes!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:18 am)The 53kW motor is a motor generator. It’s purpose is to convert the ICE’s mechanical energy to electricity to charge the battery. It must be separate from the 110kW motor because there are times when the ICE will be charging the battery and you are still driving the car.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:18 am)No doubt the GM people see things in each group of IVers that are not right or not quite right and make improvements, small and big, in subsequent IVers. After all, it is the first time they have had the opportunity to have the whole car together, so the first looks are going to show some things done well and also some imperfections. They also may show assembly steps that are easily done and others where the 3D dimensions make it hard to complete the assembly in a fast but reliable way.
Making these prototypes is one of the steps in sequential improvement that is much to be desired. At the same time, these prototypes are not yet complete and polished cars, ready to be sold, so I think it is natural that GM keeps rather than sells them.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:19 am)+1 on cloth!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:19 am)Wow, a -3 score? I thought that it was a LOT funnier than that! lol.
Be well,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:23 am)Maybe the state of your hot butt is too much information? Only kidding. But a cloth interior? Hmmmm……….. Bet you don’t have a dog!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:23 am)“And so without any doubt the Volt has truly been born and its arrival into public production for launch in November 2010 appears at this point an absolute certainty.”
Don’t jinx it!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:24 am)The 53kw generator/starter motor will be bolted to the crankshaft of the ICE much like any transmission but without a clutch or torque converter.
Within that same housing but not mechanically connected to the generator will be the 110kw drive motor which will be connected to the wheels through CV half (drive) shafts. The drive motor will capture the regen energy as well.
That’s how I see it.
I’m willing to bet that once alternative genset options become available in the future (Mr Fusion, fuel cell, who knows…) that the motor/generator housing will be split into separate units.
For now this is definately a good packaging solution.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:26 am)I hadn’t thought of that, good point. My only concern would be excess heat for the motor/generators with the ICE running (but then again, the coolant system for the engine would also be available for the motors if they’re mounted in the same housing).
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:27 am)I too am not a fan of the center console. What’s with all of the blue buttons? It looks like a Sony clock-radio. The screen seems painfully small for such a high-tech car. I wish it had a display like the Tesla Model S.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:28 am)Nice work Lyle!
And today is also a big day for another reason: The movie debut of the Chevy Volt in the new Transformers sequel! Soon, nobody will be able to say they’ve never seen the Volt before…
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:30 am)Once GM gets back to profitability (and gets the government metaphorically out of it’s hair), I’m sure such eco-friendly plant improvements will be high on the list for consideration. Under current circumstances, this seems like a relatively meaningless detail.
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-9
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:40 am)@jason M. Hendler 1
You da man!!!!
You’re #1!!!!!
Man, you guys are a bunch of tight a$$es today……
You Go “jason M. Hendler”!!!!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:41 am)I think this is what Herm is saying. The 53 kW motor is the generator which is mechanically connected to the crankshaft of the engine and electrically connected to the 112 kW motor. The 112 kW motor turns the driveshaft. When the engine is running the 53 kW generator can provide power to the 112 kW motor and it can also act as the starter motor for the engine.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:43 am)Hemoroids?
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:43 am)To me this is bad news. I understand why they did it. Having the main drive motor attached the the Genset makes this look like a regular engine with transmission. Based on Lyle’s description, They have the Genset (Engine & generator) and then tied to the same package the Drive motor with a single speed gearbox with the drive shafts ready to install. This makes the assemble just like a normal car.
However, This does not take advantage of the EREV configuration for Maintainability(Is it even part of modern car design). I was hoping if I have engine trouble. I could bring my Volt to the shop and they could pull the Genset and replace it in an hour. To remove the engine would only require removal of three engine mounts, cooling lines, and cables. It would even be possible to drive away without the engine while it is being repaired.
Updating the car to a different technology range extender with also be harder.
Keeping this components seperate would have allowed better maintainability and flexibility.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:46 am)R those sunroofs I see?!?!?!?!?!?
NNOOOOOOOooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!
Man those a designe/enginered leaks on a car. Maybe it’s just me but avery car that I have ever owned leaked at the sunroof. My Ford leaked, My Honda Leaked and my Saturn leaks like a MOFO!
I had friends an family with cars with leaky sunroof but they were lucky enough to leak while the warranty was still valid. Maybe I shouldn’t keep my cars for 12yrs and just buy new ones……..nah.
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:48 am)This is a great article Lyle. Interesting information and something of an exclusive. Nice job. We all appreciate it!
Taking a cue from Paul Krugman, who won a Nobel Prize in economics for his work on where companies geographically locate, maybe you can set up a practice in Michigan. LOL
Again, nice work that lifts the spirits for those of us wishing GM and the Volt the best. Thanks.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:51 am)If it ceases to be “vaporware”, it becomes “product”. That’s how we do it in the computer industry! And, boy, does the computer industry know how to hype…!
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:53 am)Thank you. It was confusing to me, and the comments help.
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+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:55 am)Tag, when the wine bottle is neither half empty nor half full, but completely full and recently uncorked, Statik will argue that it’s completely empty — or at least half empty — because the vintage is poor. LOL
While he may have a point, we know it’s NPNS!
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+3
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:56 am)-1 on the cloth. I havve kids and Craola Crayons suck when they melt into them. Leather you just either wipe off or crust off when it’s cold.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (10:58 am)Huh?
How is the drive motor that’s in the back rear axles going to be in the same housing as the ICE Genset?
Or is the “Car” the “Housing”?
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+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:00 am)With four or five cars never had a leak in a sunroof. So I’m just asking: What exactly are you DOING in that car, Captain?
(On second thought maybe that’s too much information ….).
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:01 am)the genset itself (ICE-generator mechanically coupled together) has a single function
____________________
Also replaces the starter motor used in an ICE only drivetrain.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:04 am)From what I’ve been reading, I think July 4th is going to be a big day for us Volt fans. I’m hoping that GM lets us see some good video of the “production intent Volt” in action on a track or something. Who knows, maybe they’ll have a cameraman with video and audio in the back seat so we can see and hear the whole Volt driving experience … in electric only mode AND in IC engine generator mode.
Just 10 days to go. I’m definitely looking forward to it.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:04 am)What did you expect?.. to put a window on the roof is to ask for trouble.
I never found sunroofs or moonroofs to be enjoyable.. nothing at all like a convertible. BTW, those cars on the picture are camaros, and not electric camaros either.
Now a large one piece sunroof that just pops off may be fun, basically the whole roof of the car, and made of sheet metal, not glass. The T panels they used to put on Camaros were also a leaking POA.
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+7
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:07 am)Congratulations to all who have helped bring this visionary project to fruition! Whoever the new Administration’s execs are – they have lucked out to be in a position to reap the praise from this world transforming project. Of course the real credit goes to the original designers and to Bob Lutz and Rick Waggoner for having the guts to make it happen.
Kudos and praise to the entire Volt Team, and to the good people of GM Worldwide who have all contributed to this important step in automotive history. You all are a part of bringing the first mass marketed electric vehicle to the world. You have kick-started the electrification of transportation on Earth. And that has made the world a better place.
Thank you.
2VOO – Two Volts On Order
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:08 am)BillR,
I’m voting thumbs up as many times as I can to overwhelm the sourpusses out there. My first good laugh of the morning!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:12 am)You dont think putting the motor and the generator in the same housing is optimizing? ..I think it is.. the next step is to also build-in the inverters/controllers into that housing. I believe the new Ford Escape did that.
Lyle also mentioned electro-hydraulic brakes, would like more detail on that also, also on the electric air conditioning system.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:13 am)Looks like a great solution to me, per herm and texas assessments. Also only one housing to cast that will hold and align both units.
Regarding maintenance, Most people will have most miles w/o using the ICE and with plugging in the vast majority of cold starts can be engineered out of the ICE’s routine.
Should result in much less ICE use, wear and maintenance. Maybe the batteries become the critical highly used element instead of the hundreds of ICE related moving parts.
Texas said “Lyle, Pure gold report.” – I agree, invaluable info!
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:14 am)I agree on all counts. I believe E-REV is going to be the electric car of choice for a long time. Most likely BEV will one day take the lead but not till 200 mile , [at a min.]while doing normal driving on freeway or in town with heat or Air conditioning on ,fast charging, low cost batterys are common.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:17 am)I look forward to Andrew Farah’s comments about the “shakedown drive” over the next few days. Maybe they can run one into a Prius and see what happens? Demolition derby testing.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:22 am)The motor/generator should never need replacement, for at least 1 million miles I would think.. the ICE will only run occasionally, so it should also be good for a long time.
I was also hoping for separate parts, so GM could build up a standard parts bin usable in many different cars.. but this being GM they optimize everything to build many thousands of cars in a production line.
As an example I was hoping they would use two of the Volt motors on the rear of a Camaro, each driving one of the wheels, use two of the standard Volt motor inverter/controllers and use the Volt genset in place of the Camaro ICE.. The battery pack they can just cram in where there is room. So far all they can use the Volt parts kit is for FWD cars.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:27 am)Pffft. Vaporware…..
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:28 am)So remind me again… who killed the electric car? The name is slipping my mind right now…
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:31 am)Lyle,
The new format seems to be allowing a faster and broader proliferation of comments, kudos!
Also, is it possible to do the separate color for brand new comments suggestion, and or put a longer version of the newest comments that is now @ the home page here, I’m starting to get range of discussion/missed comment anxiety.
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+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:32 am)Glad to see the IV’s are going well. I toured the Hamtramack plant a few years ago when they were building Buick LeSabres. As far as I know, the plant is currently building large cars from the H-body platform. I’d consider the Volt more of a mid-size car than a large car. However, maybe there are some advantages to being on the larger car lines (e.g. heavier duty welders for battery pack installation).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detroit/Hamtramck_Assembly
Looks like Tesla has shipped ~500 vehicles as of the end of May. If there will be ~80 to 100 IV’s, they’ll already have made ~20% of Tesla’s vehicles just in testing. Considering Tesla is literally tightening bolts to keep them from falling apart and killing people on the roads, while GM crushes the IV’s to keep their customers safe and moves on to ramp up for real mass production (not craft production, which was the whole point of the modern industrial revolution), I think the contrast is amazing. But what do I know…I didn’t found and sell a critically important business to the auto industry like Paypal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tesla_Roadster
====START RANT====
I’ll take a product that is…
built in Michigan with a reasonable cost of living that is plagued by unemployment and is centrally located in the U.S. for supply & distribution…
at a brownfield site…
by competent engineers and technicians…
who respect design for manufacturing…
who also respect & take responsibility for design for supply chain (through internal battery pack design & assembly)
…and have patience to maintain a rational schedule and not over-promise………
over one that is…
made in sunny California with the highest U.S. cost of living…
being pushed to be built at a greenfield site (San Jose) while thousands of buildings are available in a recession…
by a company that does NOT respect design for manufacturing…
that also has not taken responsibility for design of their supply chain (OEM shell from Lotus = recalls out of their control + OEM battery packs)…
that is driven by a CEO that over-promises and under-delivers…
that caters to the wealthiest among us for status and glamor instead of attempting to enable the common good and middle class…
that innovates from above because it is easier than innovating disruptively using the E-REV disruptive technology architecture.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Innovator%27s_dilemma
In other words, I’ll take SUBSTANCE over STYLE.
====END RANT====
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:33 am)My feelings exactly DonC.
Apparently the guts of the Volt will look similar to an ICE FWD car, so the production line will be very familiar to GM. The one different thing will be the final conection to the battery, watch out for the sparks!.
When you get your Volt and proudly open to the hood to show off.. you wont see anything different!
The Mitsubishi iMiev will be even simpler to assemble.. a lot less parts.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:35 am)Jason you’ve got mad skills! You have one of the highest rated and one of the lowest rated posts. Historic absolutely historic!
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+3
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:36 am)Herm you are correct, I mis-wrote it (happens sometimes)
It is corrected.
Thanks
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:39 am)Hay!…
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:40 am)Ummm…..
Mitsubishi was first in the “:World” with the Jellybean car. They are in mass production and the Volt is……
What’s it called when you build 80-100 only?
Mitsu doubles output…
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/03/mitsubishi-reportedly-doubling-imiev-output-to-20-000-a-year/
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:40 am)Statik;
I agree with your reasonable and valid points on the production timeline concerns. I guess I am a bit less skeptical though that GM will miss the November 2010 deadline due to the priority status of the whole project. Not to negate the importance of the Camaro example you used in any way, but in reality, if any other car misses a deadline, most people just shrug their shoulders. The Volt is different. On a scale from 1 to 10 in priority, GM has this project at about 35. The gov’t. has a bonfire lit underneath the behinds of these guys to get this car done and out asap because this is symbolic of a philosophy more than anything. I would imagine that anything Volt related gets pushed to the top of the pile in the walls of the Company. With the gov’t. financially bankrolling GM, and Obama personally saying, “make this car!”, there is likely a level of hurriedness for this project that no other car design has probably ever seen, at least not in GM. This is all speculation on my behalf with zero facts to back it up, although through everything I have observed so far, the Volt seems like the hottest thing going at GM.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:45 am)wait until they crush these prototypes, then the screams will start… maybe someone can slip the crusher operator $100 bucks and slip away with a piece of modern automotive history
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:46 am)AHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!
I gave you a +1 for that one……lol
My cars are always outside in the CA sun. Most likely the rubber or whatever they are made of seals breakdown in time. Nevertheless, they leaked. Trailer aint go no garage u know.
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+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:49 am)From the article:
One notable change was the location of the charge port. Now it will have its own door like a fuel tank and site below the front nameplate.
–
I am having trouble picturing this in my head.
Is the charge port in the nose of the car now, or up front on the side of the car. In the nose is such a terrible idea as bugs, dirt, salt, ice, all collect there. Not to mention that even a small front end collision could render the charge port useless. Do I have this wrong?
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:50 am)The problem with Michigan is that there are lots of UAW people in busing distance.. and they feel entitled and owed by the man. Bring the new plants down south.
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+4
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:53 am)Just to erase any doubt, I was trying to be sarcastic!
IMO, no company would to to this degree of manufacture or expense for a concept car.
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:54 am)I’ve alwyas considered the Volt a Transformer.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:55 am)I’m sure this comment will get lost in the shuffle, but what is the plan for GM to put these integration vehicles in the hands of people to test them? Has this been published somewhere? How would one go about “applying” for the program.
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-2
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:55 am)The heated seat in my ‘98 buick Park Ave quick working back in ‘01 and the lumbar support in my ‘02 Chevy Silverado crumbled in ‘03.
I hope GM’s quality has improved… dramatically.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:57 am)The Volt is front wheel drive.
The cool part is that they could add a second drive motor in the back and make an electric AWD Audi/Subaru competitor! (Sounds good to me, we get winter!)
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Jun 24th, 2009 (11:58 am)me too
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:06 pm)The early pictures showed a belt driven generator off the ICE, almost like a conventional set-up, with big lead wires connected to electric drive motor. Raise the hood-ICE to left and elec. motor to right.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:11 pm)It seems to me that GM could make a few bucks selling these as “off road never to be registered” prototypes!
The hemi ‘cuda rolls off the auction block and now here comes a prototype Chevy Volt… the bidding starts at $50k…
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+5
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:15 pm)Sorry if this has already been mentioned, as I am at work and do not have a lot of time to read all the posts, but:
It appears to me that Lyle has the attention of GM in a big way! And by reference, that means that all of us here at GM-Volt.com also have some of that attention as well. This is a good thing!
Letting non-GM people into an area that produces IV’s is not something that normally happens. And the fact that Lyle was there shows me that GM is serious about getting this car out the door as soon as they can.
Now, if we can just convince those in the GM board room that Lyle’s list should be included in the sales of some of those first 10,000 vehicles……………
Hint hint!!!!
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:15 pm)My ‘98 Malibu has a torn seat and a cracked windshield.
Otherwise it’s fine.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:18 pm)I would have said Pontiac Grand Am with Range Extender in Blue but well Grand Am got sidelined in 05 and now Pontiac is on its way out.
So I will go with the next best thing. Chevy Malibu in Blue with Range Extender Please. Thanks 
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:20 pm)I want to see him ‘drift’ it!
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:25 pm)Agreed. Lots easier to clean my Golden Retrievers hair off leather seats than cloth ones, too !
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:26 pm)Kudo’s to them for being first out of the gate.
But honestly it looks like a pregnant smart car…
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:28 pm)I don’t want to start a battle, but maybe you missed the point of the
“common good and middle class” part.
We need to rebuild the middle class that is being ravaged to the point of extinction in the U.S. Elites that only cater exclusively to elites will not rebuild it. Nor will driving wedges between the same people who are under assault. I don’t care if it’s in Michigan or the south, we’re all under the same larger pressures whether you like it or not.
If you take your comment to their logical extent, the Volts’ shouldn’t be made in the U.S. at all. They should all be made in the lowest labor cost country, which was China. It may be somewhere else with even lower wages now.
Quote below from the following article:
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/04_50/b3912051_mz011.htm
=================
“Banister concluded China has about 38 million city manufacturing workers. The 30 million on whom she found data earn an average $1.06 an hour. Another roughly 71 million suburban and rural manufacturing workers earn an average 45 cents an hour, for a blended 64 cents. In the current BLS survey, Mexico’s $2.48 hourly compensation is the lowest.
Because China’s living costs are low, that 64 cents buys as much as $2.96 in the U.S. Banister estimates inflation-adjusted pay in cities doubled from 1990 to 2002. (She thinks it rose outside cities, too, but won’t guess how much.) She figures that between 1995 and 2002, factory jobs fell by at least 11 million in cities as state-owned enterprises shed workers, and rose some 5 million outside cities.”
===============
So the real question is, are you going to take a pay cut to enhance your personal “competitiveness” by cutting your wages to compete globally at $1/hour, moving to China, or support businesses manufacturing in the U.S. that support living wages and a corresponding middle class?
In the short run you can try something different than the above (e.g. lean manufacturing using immigrant labor with U.S. management overhead), but in the long run those are the only options you’ve got and the market will force your hand. Therefore, please make sure to respond using one of the three answers above. No fudging please.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I partially regret the statement about cost of living in California. I shouldn’t have conflated this with the larger forces at work and resulting reasoning in my rant. I guess that’s why it’s called a rant and not a well-thought out opinion
.
Thanks!
Best regards,
Eric
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:29 pm)LIkely a solid state electronic cooling like here, but in a larger app.
http://www.eicsolutionsinc.com/peltier_cooling_devices.htm
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:29 pm)Amen, DonC. I need to work on my tolerance quotient (but sometimes that’s tough – this being one of them).
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS!!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:30 pm)My nervousness has always been with reliability of electric drive motor and electronic driver and related components. I have some experience in Industry with Variable Speed-Variable demand induction motors of this size. Failure, especially beyond 3-4 years, is not uncommon.
Does anyone know, is GM actually manufacturing their own compnents or are they outsourcing to a Siemens, ABB, GE, etc.?
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-10
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:30 pm)(click to show comment)
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:31 pm)I’ve never had a sunroof leak. Had them freeze shut a few times though…
I know, I know, damn Canadians..
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:33 pm)Very well put!
Be well,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!!**********NPNS
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:34 pm)The IVers are used within GM, by GM people, not by outsiders, at least as I understand the situation. They are prototypes used for testing the body and powertrain together, not necessarily finished vehicles. It is wonderful to get to the IV step, but it is still a part of development.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:35 pm)Another “Well put”.
Be well
Tagamet
NPNS
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:36 pm)my 82 camero, 87 balzer, 96 lumina APV are all running on original parts other than normal wear and tear. over 225,000 on all 3 (the blazer pushing 350,000) never changed the plugs etc…still pass emissions testing here in Ontario.
Personally I have never EVAR had trouble with any Chev I have owned.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:37 pm)It’s doubtful that Lyle’s list can be used for vehicle sales and GM still conform to state franchise laws. That said, I have a low number, so if Lyle’s list can be used, I’ll be happy.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:37 pm)My 97 Saturn has torn upholstry, cracked windshield, leaking sunroof, power door switch intermittntly rattles (switch flap), power sunroof stopped working (probably from water), AC stopped working (leak in the fill valve), other than that, it passed smog and it gets me to&fro work. Now If it did not have powe door locks, power sunroo or no sunroof at all at the begining then I wouldn’t have some of these problems.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:38 pm)Ummm…
.Media folks are non GM aren’t they?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:39 pm)DITTO
Tagamet
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:41 pm)The EV1 sucked. Get over it.
GM didn’t want to be required to build/maintain spare parts for 10 years for a bunch of hand built cars that few people would have bought for $80k, or leased for $600+ / mo. (their actual value, not the $45k they based the lease rate on).
This is a completely different scenario, but I suppose you’re too limited to see the difference.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:42 pm)I think you have it right. MAYBE they’ll have an insignia on the trunk too though, so that would make more sense to me too.
Statik, are there more front end collisions or front end collisions?(g)
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:44 pm)“Talk” was that they’d be tested by GM employees. There’d be a huge line up from folks here (g).
Be well,
Tagamet
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-1
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:44 pm)LOL! Jason you are polar man today!
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:46 pm)Peltier cooling is horribly power in-efficient (but rugged), compressors do a much better job and can be designed for long life. The volt uses a motor driven compressor, similar to what is in your refrigerator.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:46 pm)HINT to INFINITY…….! I’m with you!
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:53 pm)I guess that makes Jason bi-polar….. (just kidding!)
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS
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+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (12:53 pm)You’re not the only one who’s confused by that statement. I agree that the front of the car (under the license plate or chevy logo?) would be a stupid place to put the charge port.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:54 pm)_____________________________________________________
#58 Jim Said:
“Now, if we can just convince those in the GM board room that Lyle’s list should be included in the sales of some of those first 10,000 vehicles……………”
——————
I second that.
Also, Lyle should get dibs on 1st production Volt off the line.
____________________________________________________
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Jun 24th, 2009 (12:55 pm)Hi All:
I am roughly number 16,500 for my Chevy Volt. Hope they produce enough soon so I can get one too.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (1:00 pm)Grinning…
Sure looks like it, doesn’t it?
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Jun 24th, 2009 (1:01 pm)I thought that they bailed on the concept’s glass roof, but I could be 100% wrong on that.
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS
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+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (1:03 pm)Just now getting to read the article. Good job, Lyle. We are all waiting for more information as it comes available. Keep up the good work. You are doing a very, very good job. Thanks, again.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (1:05 pm)I hope I didn’t hurt his feelings, he hasn’t posted since then. Probably out enjoying the great weather (I hope).
Be well,
Tagamet
NPNS
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Jun 24th, 2009 (1:08 pm)I am SO glad that they are offering a choice of white or black for the center console. I wasn’t all that enamoured with the white center stack, but the black looks awesome! I just hope they don’t make it piano black; that stuff catches finger prints like no tomorrow.
And that video may have been an evil tease, but it did have one little bit of useful information, if only for a moment. I always wondered what that handle-looking thing in the center stack was; it would appear to be the “shifter”.
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-15
Jun 24th, 2009 (1:11 pm)(click to show comment)
Jun 24th, 2009 (1:12 pm)I hear what you are saying, but as someone who has swapped out an entire front drive ‘unit’ engine and trans more than once, it is actually in a lot of ways easier to take them out as a unit and dissasemble the bits on the floor.
My guess is that if your Volt did need a replacement engine the whole subframe would be dropped out of the car for the swap.
It’s less scary than it sounds! Less wires and the struts there are 6 big Jeezus bolts holding the front cradle of my Malibu on. A furnature dolly (the flat kind) and a lift make this sort of thing a fast job.
Having said all this I had envisioned them as separate units as well. This could change in GEN 2 or later. But certainly for GEN 1 the single casting is so much simpler for manufacturing and for field maintenance as well since it LOOKS like a regular car.
In just a couple years it will BE a regular car!
Much like the current generation hybrids are just regular cars now, the next generation is the Volt and it’s successors.
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Jun 24th, 2009 (1:12 pm)I had to read your post a few times, and then I had to go back up to the top a few times, to understand what you were talking about. It is that in this post the title and text are about a visit to the Volt IV assembly facility, but the picture is not the Volt, it is a Camaro IV assembly facility
Sharp eyes you have, or maybe I should have seen it all along. Thanks.
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