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Archive for June, 2009

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Nissan Plans to Build EVs and Batteries in USA

June 20th, 2009 | Posted in: BEV, Competitors, Original GM-Volt Interviews with 97 Comments

In an effort to gain access to US government green loans, Nissan has intentions to build both an EV assembly plant and a lithium-ion battery production facility in the United States, according to Japanese newspaper Nikkei.
The company will invest between $500 million and $1 billion in the operation.
Nissan presently has a plant in Smyrna Tennessee.  [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 97 Comments

GM May Beat Expectations and Exit Bankruptcy by Mid-July, Though Facing Mild Opposition

June 20th, 2009 | Posted in: Financial with 58 Comments

When GM entered into bankruptcy protection on June 1st there was uncertainty about how long the process would take. On paper its simple; move all the best performing assets into a new GM in a so-called 363 sale. Bad performing assets would then be gradually liquidated in court. Immediately prior to entering court, the [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 58 Comments

Cash For Clunkers Bill Passes Congress but Volt Could Arrive Too Late

June 19th, 2009 | Posted in: Financial, General with 120 Comments

The value proposition of the Chevy Volt could change further. People tend to be fixated on its sticker price, but the complex nature of the vehicle and its interaction with the national economy, government, and natural resources really have created a moving target for the Volt’s price.
GM will not confirm pricing until May 2010 [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 120 Comments

GM VP: Optimistic, On-Time, and Under-Budget on the Chevy Volt

June 18th, 2009 | Posted in: Production with 133 Comments

Jon Lauckner is GM’s VP of global program management. I recently had the chance to ask him some questions about the Volt’s development.
The initial Volts will use LG cells, but could GM use cells from any company in future cars?
Sure in theory that’s what we could do. Right now we’re really focused on [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 133 Comments

GM CEO Expects Company to Emerge From Bankruptcy According to Plan

June 17th, 2009 | Posted in: Financial with 79 Comments

When GM went into bankruptcy on June 1st, it carried with it a risk that it might not rapidly emerge. It was hoped from the start that the quick-rinse or 363 sale bankruptcy could be completed within 60 to 90 days. Continuing in court for months or years would be an agonizing and [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 79 Comments

Koenigsegg to Buy Saab and Build Electric Supercar

June 16th, 2009 | Posted in: Brand, Competitors with 114 Comments

Months prior to GM going into bankruptcy proceedings, the company had stated its intentions to sell Saturn, Saab, and Hummer while ending the Pontiac brand.
Since June 1st the sell off has been happening fast and furious.  First we heard that Tengzhong of China will buy Hummer, then it was reported that Penske Automotive plans to [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 114 Comments

Taking Delivery of the MINI E Electric Car

June 16th, 2009 | Posted in: BEV, Competitors with 183 Comments

On Friday June 12th I took delivery of an electric MINI Cooper, car #412.
After registering on a waiting list, I was chosen as one of the 100 people in New York State who would get to participate in a one-year close-ended lease of the pure electric car.  BMW, the parent of MINI, is calling this [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 183 Comments

Rumor: New Buick CUV to Get 2-Mode Plug-in Hybrid Drivetrain

June 15th, 2009 | Posted in: Buick, PHEV with 111 Comments

Since 2006, GM has been developing a front-wheel drive 2-mode plugin hybrid (PHEV) vehicle. The 2-mode plugin Saturn VUE was to be that car but bankruptcy and divestment of the Saturn brand has ended that plan.
GM’s contract negotiations with Penske could in theory enable that car to still be built and sourced, however that [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 111 Comments

Argonne Study Suggests Chevy Volt Would Get 157 MPG

June 14th, 2009 | Posted in: Efficiency, PHEV, Research with 119 Comments

Researchers at the Argonne National Lab studied four plug-in hybrid car configurations and determined the fuel economy they would get using real-world driving cycles.
The four configurations studied were a 4 kwh and 8 kwh PHEV and a 12 kwh and 16 kwh EREV.
The researchers modelled the cars’ fuel economy if they were driven over cycles [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 119 Comments

GM Terminates Malibu and Vue Hybrids: Promises Newer Better Hybrids in 2010 and 2011

June 13th, 2009 | Posted in: Hybrid, PHEV with 96 Comments

GM has announced that the Chevy Malibu mild hybrid will be discontinued. They have also terminated 2-mode strong hybrid Saturn Vue.
2010 Malibu hybrids are no longer being produced because of low sales volumes and a glut of 2009 models on dealer lots.  Estimates suggest only 2142 Malibu hybrids were sold from its release in [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 96 Comments

EPA Playing a Role in Volt Generator Mode Behavior?

June 12th, 2009 | Posted in: Engineering, Generator, Prototypes with 184 Comments

It is known that no one outside GM at this point has been allowed to witness the Chevy Volt prototypes running in generator mode.
Previously it was reported that the reason for this is that the car isn’t soundproofed and GM doesn’t want people to hear the engine. Jon Lauckner has also told me the [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 184 Comments

GM-Volt.com Exclusive: Video Interview with GM CEO Fritz Henderson

June 11th, 2009 | Posted in: Feedback to GM, Original GM-Volt Interviews with 165 Comments

While in Detroit for the Battery Lab opening, I had the chance for a brief interview with GM’s CEO Fritz Henderson. I could only ask a few questions and took them from reader suggestions on this site. The video is below the post.
First I asked whether he thought the primary reason [...]

Posted by: Lyle with 165 Comments

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