After a long three and a half year watch period we can finally make the following statement “work on the Chevrolet Volt is nearly completed.”
From concept to production design, from battery pack prototype to assembly plant, from Cruze-mule to validation build, the ramp up to production appears to be almost over.
The testing, tweaking, refining and engineering that has been done with the pre-production fleet since last summer is finally completed.
The third quarter begins on July 1st, and with it will come assembly of the last phase of pre-production Chevrolet Volts eventually merging seamlessly into saleable builds that will start in the forth quarter and end in the driveways of America.
Micky Bly who is GM’s director of hybrids and electric vehicles told reporters GM will be holding a large-scale internal event a the end of June to decide if work on the Volt is finally complete. According to GM sources this event is “not a PowerPoint presentation”, but an event in which top executives and decision-makers drive and sample the final refinement of Volt prototypes. If this group gives a thumbs up, then essentially all aspects of the vehicle are frozen into place for retail production.
“Are we done. No. Can we learn more. Yes. But it looks really good right now,” Bly told reporters.
Most of the remaining minimal work involves refining the software that monitors the the car’s electric power system.
This software has to monitor 1000 seperate functions in the extended range electric car propulsion system. Engineers have to decide whether detection of abnormal events are to be displayed on the screens to the driver or recorded for technicians to evaluate at a later point.
There were still some lingering issues on cabin climate control as recently as April which have since been resolved.
Engineers will continue to test not weather behavior throughout July, August, and September. At that point the company will decide exactly when to put the car into production. A day in mid-November remains the intended target.
Cars being built in the assembly plant from now until the first saleable car will be continuously driven in the real world by GM engineers who will attempt to find any flaws thy can.
Test cars are regularly achieving 40 miles or more of pure electric range.
“I see no issues with 40 (miles) at all,” said Bly.
Source (CanadianBusiness)
Also, for those who are interested, you can participate in a live webchat below with Tony Posawatz GM’s Volt director; Richard Lowenthal, CEO of Coulomb Technologies; and Don Korner, CEO of ECOtality who will be discussing the Volt’s free charing station program today at 11AM Eastern:
This entry was posted on Friday, June 18th, 2010 at 6:17 am and is filed under Engineering, Production. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+51
Jun 18th, 2010 (6:24 am)Great news. As stated before. It is amazing that GM has been able to complete the Volt on schedule with all that has happened during the past 2-3 years. 3 years ago it was considered a moon shot to get this thing done on time with all of the possible pit falls.
GM did it. As an American and an engineer, I am proud of GM.
Jun 18th, 2010 (6:41 am)I’m sightly concerned that the software monitoring the 1000+ functions isn’t finished yet. I’d much rather have some non-essential display software be unfinished.
I’m not to worried though, it sounds like this program has been executed near flawlessly, and I have a lot of confidence in the first generation Volt.
+6
Jun 18th, 2010 (6:48 am)At that point GM should be able to tell us:
1) All final specs (e.g. MPG in charge sustaining mode)
2) The final sticker price of the Volt
+8
Jun 18th, 2010 (6:52 am)The introduction of the Volt will be one of GM’s finest hours!
Great Work GM Volt Team!!!!
Have Outlet – Ready For E-REV
NPNS
+19
Jun 18th, 2010 (6:52 am)Go Volt !
On a daily basis for 3 1/2 years, all of us regular visitors to Lyle’s “GM-Volt Clubhouse” have been quietly cheering with his “insider news” on this groundbreaking vehicle. GM’s openness has been unprecedented.
Thanks again Lyle.
+8
Jun 18th, 2010 (6:54 am)Thanks Lyle for such a positive news, with the internal refinancing of Opel that doesn’t need European governments credit guarantees anymore, those are two good news in two days.
JC NPNS
Jun 18th, 2010 (6:56 am)This report is consistent with what we have heard before. Design frozen at the end of June, MSRP made public September 23, and at the same time Chevy starts producing Volts for market. Limited sales starts end of Oct or in November.
Just when the size of the gas tank will be revealed is still guesswork. And I do not know just when the EPA will release its mileage figures for the Volt.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:05 am)From the Article: GM will be holding a large-scale internal event a the end of June to decide if work on the Volt is finally complete. According to GM sources this event is “not a PowerPoint presentation”, but an event in which top executives and decision-makers drive and sample the final refinement of Volt prototypes. If this group gives a thumbs upJC NPNS (Quote)
Have thumb, will travel
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:17 am)I have hope that CS mode mpg will be a pleasant surprise for followers. But if it isn’t, it would not be a deal breaker for me.
My vote would be for something similar to a check engine light on error detect, maybe with more info available after selecting an icon.
Please make non critical intermittent errors user resettable.
+6
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:20 am)“This software has to monitor 1000 seperate functions in the extended range electric car propulsion system. Engineers have to decide whether detection of abnormal events are to be displayed on the screens to the driver or recorded for technicians to evaluate at a later point.”
My only advice to the GM engineers on this (from my own experience) is: don’t overthink this. If you get a big group of people in a room and start throwing out what if’s and how about’s, this could get really messy. Leave the decision making process up to as few of people as possible, and stick w/the KISS philosophy.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:26 am)Really looking forward to the release – As someone who has been on this site since 2007 and read every post on on here – I am extremely excited to finally see this vehicle ready for production!
Maybe they will release a bunch of specs on July 4th, what a patriotic way to give the finger to international oil and announce the beginning of the American rEVolution. A paradigm shift in the way we view transportation.
Lyle – is the licence plate photoshopped, or is that the actual plate?
Looking forward to buying my volt in Iowa! May 2013
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:53 am)The truth is that software is never done. Complex control systems can always use some more tweaking or even sections rewritten.
As for the user display for errors, it is really hard, sometimes, to translate an error condition into a message that makes sense to the user. What would use, as a driver of the Volt, do with a message like “Current flow sensor 3B range exception”. I’m pretty sure most of the error conditions that can be detected are in this category. These should just be logged and the driver should get a “check engine” type warning if the problem is serious.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:55 am)I’m very eager to find out which “Everyday Citizen” will be the first to get a production Volt. I hope Lyle can get an interview with them say after a week or two of ownership and find out their thoughts on the car and how long they had been looking forward to ownership. I hope to God it is someone worthy, like all of us.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:04 am)_____________________________________________________________________
# 10 kdawg said:
“My only advice to the GM engineers on this (from my own experience) is: don’t overthink this. If you get a big group of people in a room and start throwing out what if’s and how about’s, this could get really messy. Leave the decision making process up to as few of people as possible, and stick w/the KISS philosophy.”
———————-
I second that.
Side Note: Is the Volt license plate (in the top graphic) photoshoped by Lyle or a GM tribute to this site?
________________________________________________________________________
-78
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:09 am)(click to show comment)
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:09 am)OK,
So right now we are building 4 per day for continued engineering evaluation thru the end of October. At that point we will probably get a thumbs up for production.
Does anyone remember how many per day they will start making at that point???
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:14 am)“Engineers have to decide whether detection of abnormal events are to be displayed on the screens to the driver or recorded for technicians to evaluate at a later point.”
Yes, all issues should be made known to the driver. Stay away from the “red wrench” icon. How about an OnStar “update” icon followed by a link to a message? Readable when the vehcle is parked.
=D-Volt
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:16 am)“Engineers have to decide whether detection of abnormal events are to be displayed on the screens to the driver or recorded for technicians to evaluate at a later point.”
————
I say display them to the driver. Gen I buyers are early adopters, and as such tend to be technically savvy. Maybe GM could even display a plain English translation of what the error message means. Nothing is more annoying than a generic “Check Engine Soon” message that forces you to the nearest garage or AutoZone just to get a computer reading for what the problem actually is.
+21
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:18 am)Who ever you are Wang Hung Lo you are a pain in my keister. And your info is so often wrong. I suspect you do it on purpose, sort of an anti-Volt propaganda campaign. At least since you show a lack of class so I doubt it works on anyone.
By the way to those who don’t know. There hasn’t been one delay, GM has been right on track since the beginning.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:21 am)1) They could.
2) Why what would they have to gain. It is better to keep us all guessing and talking about it. I think they will give us more info in Sept. The question is do they do it in one big event or drip drip drip.
+4
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:22 am)They will beat the LEAF to market. The LEAF release date is after the Volt release date. Always has been, so why the false drama? Oh, and isn’t it funny how GM “dragged its feet” and STILL beat Nissan to the punch? What does that say about Nissan? I guess the real question is “What took Nissan so long? And why are all the other Japanese manufacturers still stuck in the stone age?”
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:23 am)I’m not sure if they ever said specifically, but they’ve said numerous times around 8,000 year one. So if you do the math about 22 a day. Doesn’t sound like too many does it, but if they keep it in 3 markets I suppose that’s a decent saturation, enough for a few at each dealership at some point. 164 a day for the 2012 model if they make 60,000 that year. They’ve said 50,000 to 60,000 year 2.
+15
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:30 am)They took so long that every other manufacturer now has a fully tested E-REV ready for sale in the US. Oh wait, nobody has one. GM is leading the way.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:31 am)I can feel the pride of all of us Volt supporters rising up a notch today.
Only things left for us to know are EPA figures and MSRP.
My guess, $36k. EPA current testing 52 miles EV range, 50 mpg city, 36 mpg highway.
Chevy has got to be arguing tooth and nail for realistic BEV range. An EPA Volt range rating of 40 miles gives credibiliy to GM, Volt marketing, Volt engineering and the EPA itself. Will Nissan be happy with a rating that revises the advertised 100 miles down to 70? The mini-e rates at 150 but returns 100 miles of dependable range. What does Tesla say about range?
Fuel economy ratings for the 1,100 vehicles tested by the EPA return only 5 cars that have a combined mileage of 36 mpg or better.
Prius, 3042 lbs, 50 mpg. Civic hybrid, 2877 lbs, 42 mpg. Insight, 2727 lbs, 41 mpg. Fusion, 3720 lbs, 39 mpg. fortwo, 1808 lbs, 36 mpg.
If the Volt hits a 50 mpg mark, it will be the city range. At 3500 lbs the highway rating is totally dependant of the limits of the generator and the average speed used by the EPA.
If the Volt averages only 39 mpg for CS mode, the car will pass a helluva lot more fuel pumps than any gas powered car on the road today.
ps
Finally, I’ve noticed a photo with a body color rocker panel. (are we picking nits, or what?)
At least he drives a domestic!!! If I remember right, Mustang love is he. And that is the only reference to him that’s worth anyone’s effort.
Enjoy the day!!!
.
+4
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:34 am)That must be it, he probably has a sticker on his Stang of Calvin degrading the Chevy logo. Right above his drill baby drill bumper sticker.
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:36 am)“This software has to monitor 1000 seperate functions in the extended range electric car propulsion system. Engineers have to decide whether detection of abnormal events are to be displayed on the screens to the driver or recorded for technicians to evaluate at a later point.”
———
I’m thinking these events can be sent via on-star to “Volt Mission Control” — a room full of computer monitors where men with flat-top haircuts chew on cigars and gnaw on the data. If “VMC” deems an issue is serious enough they can then use the sat-linked communication to call the volt commander and then discuss whether he’ll be able to pilot the volt to mission completion or if he’ll have to abort.
/plus, it’ll be fun for the mission control team because they’ll get to talk to a lot of celebrities and politicians.
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:51 am)I doubt any new executable code is being written at this point, it’s more in the realm of polishing things, “Should this value be 31 or 35? Or maybe we should try 42 just to see what happens?”. You also now have time to explore weird situations which “should never happen”, event A has been dealt with, event B has been dealt with — has anybody ever tested what happens when A and B occur at the same time??? Hmm, let’s set up a test and find out…
I’ve written robotic control software, although certainly not as complex as the Volt’s. It is never truly completed.
+14
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:55 am)I’m an engineer and would love to have boatloads of information about my Volt’s operation. But let’s take a trip back into history for a lesson that GM knows all too well.
Back in 1981, when Cadillac produced the V8-6-4 engine with cylinder deactivation, the proud engineers put a digital display on the dash to tell the driver when 8, 6 or 4 cylinders were in use. Unfortunately, this instant information allowed the drivers to be hypersensitive to any small vibrations, surges, or whatever during the transitions between modes. Complaints followed. The engine was dropped after one year. When cylinder deactivation resurfaced 25 years later, no display on the dash was there to poke the driver into seething annoyance.
Putting every fault indication on the Volt’s display will reproduce the marketing disaster of Cadillac’s V8-6-4. Newspaper reports quoting Volt drivers, shrill about the 400 fault codes that showed up on the first day — all of which were temporary (“cell B45 two degrees above neighbors”), cleared up after a minute or two, and had *no* effect on drivability, reliability, or lifespan.
No, if Volt owners want that kind of information overload, they’ll have to rely on aftermarket software hacks and take their chances.
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:57 am)Lyle,
We know GM will be sure you get one of the first Volts delivered. You deserve it.
Now my be a good time to see if the GM-Volt “Want List” will provide those of us in release areas any priority on getting one.
You know the GM Volt management hierarchy. Who would you contact to inquire about this? Maybe you have already.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:58 am)Yeah, I’ve done a lot of software engineering too and certainly recognize that it is never truly finished. I just want to make sure the important parts are locked down in a way that prevents a failed launch on such a promising vehicle.
I’m sure the Volt team has it under control. I wouldn’t be purchasing a first-gen vehicle if I thought otherwise.
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:00 am)On the CS mode mpg, it’s probably a negotiation type thing. Why not wait ’til whoever puts those stickers on the window comes up with a number, it might be higher than what you’re finding in the field.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:03 am)RogerE333 said:
I’ve written robotic control software, although certainly not as complex as the Volt’s. It is never truly completed.
Maybe it’s time to let it bake in a Real World oven for a while.
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:06 am)I think this is normal for a first year car. When I bought my 2010 equinox in late Sept 09 there had been about 40-50K units produced already (as best I can tell). Even then, they were just updating the software that controls the 6 speed transmission shift points to improve the driving experience of the vehicle. This apparently was based on some feedback from a few of the initial purchasers of the vehicle.
Engineers will tweak things until the bitter end but it won’t slow down the production.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:13 am)Hardly good news on this side of the Atlantic. The net result is that US taxpayers will foot the bill for saving Euro jobs. Nice job of not stepping up.
Yeah. This has to deserve it’s own press conference, assuming it’s a decent number. GM can’t have missed the fact that Nissan staged a successful press event about the sound emitted by the Leaf at low speeds.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:15 am)Great news! Now when are they starting their official waiting list?
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:20 am)Lauckner has said the EV range on the City and Hwy cycles are the same. Keep in mind that the Hwy cycle is very gentle, sort of a rural road jaunt rather than what you’d see driving on an interstate.
As for the MPG in CS mode I thought Lyle gave us something from Bob Lutz that suggested it was 47.5 MPG back in October of 2009.
+4
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:22 am)If building a car is so damn easy, start YOUR own car company and make a billion dollars. Truth is, there have been NO new successful car company startups since the early 20′th century that didn’t have massive government sponsorship.
+7
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:23 am)On 5/21/2010 my roof changed it now features a 6.6KW Volt Gas Station
. Waiting on my Local Utility Company to approve the System. I am ready for my Volt. I hope the GM powers to be will judge the Volt ready for us. And my wish for the Volt is that demand is so big it will surprise GM.
Have Solar Plug will buy Volt.
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:30 am)What’s the deal with the ugly rear end? The extra tinted glass on the bottom portion seems to be missing. Is this a base model, and if you want the nicer-looking model, you have to pony up? The bland beige color doesn’t help, either.
-1
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:35 am)DonC said:
As for the MPG in CS mode I thought Lyle gave us something from Bob Lutz that suggested it was 47.5 MPG back in October of 2009.
I remember and hope that it holds. It’s also interesting to me that it beats the Cruze HWY mpg. Or am I mixed up again?
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:35 am)I hope Lyle IS the first one! Then he could interview himself.
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:37 am)In person the car is nice looking when viewed from behind — low with a wide stance. Still pictures sometimes are just limited in what they convey.
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:38 am)In November 2010 the World will change for the better.
145 Days and counting!
NPNS!
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:40 am)The car looks great to me.
All I can think about is that guy in the NG video crimping the edges of all those panels by hand.
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:41 am)ECO Turbo This is my 2 cents and meant as a half statement half question…
EV mode regularly getting 40 miles of range (per Micky Bly’s comment) suggests the cars overall efficiency is good. Assuming the battery pack is putting out energy to the drive system per it’s specification then I would think the VOLT’s aero drag, rolling friction, regen braking, etc. is all coming in where GM expected during real world driving. This implies as long as the ICE meets it’s specification (Which it should because it’s a very well understood engine) the CS mpg should be reasonable close to the original requirements.
If the VOLT is meeting the 40 mile EV range because the battery pack is stronger than originally thought then CS mode may not be as good as initially expected. We’ve not heard the battery pack is significantly stronger or exceeded it’s specifications so it leads me to think the integrated system is meeting GM’s expectation.
Your opinion….
I’m leaning towards CS mode coming in at a pretty good number, but I’m still mulling it over in my head..
Go Volt
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:42 am)Here is the cite: http://gm-volt.com/2009/10/27/bob-lutz-implies-chevy-volt-will-get-between-40-and-50-mpg-in-charge-sustaining-mode/
Lyle did a nice job digging in, doing the math, and coming up with an answer. To me, what makes the number likely is that Lutz never intended to give out the number. He just gave an example, which you know was in his head from talking to engineering, and Lyle just dug in and dug the number out. But we should find out in the next few months!
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:43 am)All this software tweaking reminds me that every single night, when I shut down my computer, Windows has at least one, usually more updates they ask me to wait for. Why they need to update so much I will never understand.
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:54 am)I’m hoping that little bits of regen from driving with cruise control or a steady foot, might add up and cause a noticable increase in hwy mpg, especially on hilly terrain.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:56 am)You’re obviously clueless what is takes to build something of this complexity regardeless of “off the shelf” stuff you think is all ready to just plug in and go.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:56 am)Some of us will want to see the “Current flow sensor 3B range exception” message, and some of us won’t. That’s why it makes the most sense to me to have some sort of general “Check Engine” indication with a “more details” option for those who want to explore it.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:56 am)Off topic:
The dealerships received a “training announcement” piece from GM. Not much to it. It outlined a few areas that will be covered in training over the next few months. More details as they come in.
Just one more sign that it IS COMING to a Chevrolet showroom near you… eventually.
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:05 am)I too have experience at developing complex equipment, and I can tell you that if you throw almost everyone out of the room, then you’ll get a quick decision, but not a good one. The benefit of that experience outside the room could have helped you to avoid repeating past mistakes, and to find ways to make the product safer, more reliable, and more cost effective.
+4
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:15 am)I concur. There’s such a thing as giving the driver too much information. Think of some of the obscure error reports that come up on your computer screen. If you’re a non-geek user, most aren’t very useful, just an annoyance and distraction. Let’s not give the user trivial things to worry about or make them available by user command when the car is not being driven.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:18 am)WaHooooooo!!!!
GREAT NEWS
Is this the time when management has decided it is time to lock up the designers and engineers so some profit can be realized by selling the VOLT :+}
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:24 am)LJGTVWOTR!! NPNS! NMST!
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:24 am)I think the opposite. There can never be enough information. Make it a user function to decide. Since display is driven by software it would be easy to have basic info and detailed if desired. Kind of like customizing the desktop screen on your computer. Somedays I want a lot of detail and other times the basics. Make the default the simple display mode. This way different drivers can make the choice.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:27 am)Hey, why was my comment voted down? I’m a fan of the car (not some troll) pointing out a disappointment in the car. Upon closer inspection of the photo at the top of the page, the roof isn’t black either, and the lower cladding is body-colored, too. The car looks better in a non-monotone color scheme.
The pictures of the Volt that we’re used to seeing have more high-techn styling hints of the concept car. The photo at the top of the page makes it looks more like a bland appliancemobile. The photo below is what all Volts should be like, but alas, I guess all manufacturers have to offer the lame base model. Just google image search for “1999 pontiac grand prix gt” versus “1999 pontiac grand prix se”
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:28 am)Sorry I sounded so gloomy yesterday. One too many pictures of oiled birds on AC 360, I guess. The Volt is clearly a huge step forward in reversing the tide, or at least slowing it down. I cling to the hope that, if and when the day of reckoning comes, a bit of slack will be cut for those who have tried as best they can to do the right thing. That would include all of us “Voltards” IMHO, LOL.
Best regards to all.
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:33 am)#57
I think it looks better in this version. I have never liked the blacked out rocker panels or the blacked out area below the doors. Way too fussy IMHO. But I didn’t vote, LOL.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:34 am)I too am an engineer, and I can say that an extreme solution is rarely the best one. One extreme is to to have irrelevant messages constantly popping up. The other extreme is to provide no information. I have confidence that GM engineers can find a happy medium, because I don’t think modern consumers will tolerate being bombarded with nuisance indications nor being kept in the dark when it comes to the status of their high-tech car.
Perhaps all information should be available to the owner if s/he digs through enough menus (and the vehicle is parked) or downloads it to their PC, but only the important information (that requires imminent operator or maintenance action) should trigger a notification (e.g., “Check Engine”) to the driver.
This philosophy works well in aircraft flight deck displays.
-37
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:45 am)(click to show comment)
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:47 am)Agree. Just ask Microsoft–their cryptic codes don’t mean anything to the vast majority of users (actually, they sometimes don’t mean anything to Microsoft, either–some of their error codes don’t correspond to any explanation). Can GM have an opt-in feature that lets owners’ cars send such error data (and other data) to GM and/or their dealer’s service dept? Then they can call the owner if the problem’s important, like a doctor does after tests. Or just change the “check engine” light’s wording to “needs immediate service” or such to indicate to the owner more precisely what to do. Almost nobody ‘checks engine’ themselves anymore–they take it to the service dept.
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:52 am)OK, cool, I missed that detail. I, too, was happy to see the painted lower cladding, but I would prefer the blackout effect down to the bumper. I’m guessing that Chevrolet might offer a couple of trim packages or levels. Like the black painted (or tinted glass) roof.
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:59 am)“Your door is a jar, your door is a jar…”, oh really? I thought it was a bucket?! (YES, I know it was actually “ajar”) I seem to remember a lot of jokes about some Chrysler car saying this warning in the 80s until it drove the owners nuts.
Also reminds me of how I religously changed the oil every 3000 miles in my 1992 car, perhaps because it was the first new vehicle I’d every owned. I also remembered that previous oil change mileage without even writing it down. Now with the 2002 version, I always just wait until the “change the oil, you idiot” light comes on, and have no idea how many miles have went past. So the point is how quickly we grow dependent on these things doing the thinking for us.
-20
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:59 am)(click to show comment)
+6
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:24 am)——————————————————————————-
Lyle, it’s just that Wang Too Short guy, posting under different names again.
It’s not funny. It’s not cute. It’s just effin annoying.
This is the main reason why, if you have any children, you should always password protect your computer. That would prevent little Billy going online with (what he believes is a cute) online name, and posting crap like this.
It gets a little old, posting negatives for crap, when I just want to read about the Volt’s eventual price tag and availability date. Can’t you block this kid’s domain or something ? Thanks !
+7
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:37 am)OT, but here’s a superb new 10 min video by Robert Llewellyn:* http://bit.ly/a1W6Ls
* Send this link to any friends, family or colleagues that are still EV/EREV skeptics or critics
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:39 am)Don’t worry, Wang in Hand will eventually find some other website to pester. His moronic declarations also give us a chance to point of some of the strengths of the Volt.
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:39 am)I forgot the most important part of my theory, little bits of battery assist here and there that might make mpg be higher by using less ICE power.
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:46 am)Strengths. Yes, please list them. It would be nice to finally have information clearly identified. After all, we still don’t actually know what “complete” means, since the goals themselves were never stated.
It’s really easy being ambiguous to keep dialog active and attitudes positive prior to rollout, but that can be counter-productive for the purchase decision afterward.
+9
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:53 am)Can this person be banned from this web site? I find their comments pure trolling and their avatar is offensive.
+5
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:59 am)After almost 20 years in technical positions, I can comfortably state the following. On a large project, no matter HOW sharp your team, it’s not uncommon to spend at LEAST 50% of your time on being held up by corporate politics, legalities, delays by business partners, mind-changing by your leadership (often of a 100% seemingly-arbitrary nature), and even “analysis paralysis” from time to time.
Oh, and clients/customers ordering changes late in the game! That one can really be a killer.
At least, that’s how it is in the software development world. I suspect it’s not all that different in the formal engineering disciplines.
The simple truth is, GM didn’t have time for screwing around this time. I suspect a lot of that “business as usual” overhead was avoided strictly because bore heavily upon their success or failure.
PS: I am proud of GM too! +1 to your comment.
PPS: I edited the hell out of this post.
-14
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:02 pm)(click to show comment)
-17
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:08 pm)(click to show comment)
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:10 pm)I’ve long thought that changing the oil at 3k miles was a mkting ploy, not rooted in economic reality. Maybe 30 yrs ago when engines ‘decomposed’ by 100k miles and oil changes were $8 but not now with bullet-proof engines and oil changes at $25 & up. The engine’s lubrication is no longer the weak link–it’s the multitude of other items/systems in the car. Death by a 1000 cuts.
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:18 pm)RogerE333: reminds me of how I religously changed the oil every 3000 miles in my 1992 car
I’ve long thought that changing the oil at 3k miles was a mkting ploy, not rooted in economic reality. Maybe 30 yrs ago when engines ‘decomposed’ by 100k miles and oil changes were $8 but not now with bullet-proof engines and oil changes at $25 & up. The engine’s lubrication is no longer the weak link–it’s the multitude of other items/systems in the car. Death by a 1000 cuts.
Some cars recommend in the owners manual to change oil every 10,000 miles. I saw a Ford manual once that recommended 7500 mile changes.
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:29 pm)My new Ford Mustang has a deep-sump oil system and needs oil changed at 10,000 miles recommended but you can really go much farther using synthetic oil.
-14
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:29 pm)(click to show comment)
-21
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:35 pm)(click to show comment)
-18
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:37 pm)(click to show comment)
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:43 pm)Yeah that whole 3K oil change is a massive scam. I bought a 1965 new Mustang and only change the oil every 25,000 miles and no real problems until she passed the 300,000 mile mark. That bitch blew a connecting rod which actually poked a hole thru the engine block.
Anyway dropped a crate motor as replacement and she still runs 30 years later and I still only change oil at 25K. BTW that was the straight six (250 and 3 speed) not the 289 v8.
With new synthetic oils and advanced piston ring technology you can probably run 50K between changes in these newer cars.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:55 pm)On Facebook, they has a “Like” button for comments.
We need a “Troll” button. This is getting ridiculous and will only get worse.
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (12:58 pm)Do these clowns on here really think their drivel makes any difference at all? This last one at #78 is a classic. Actually made me laugh.
I usually just ignore this stuff, but sometimes I really wonder what they are thinking when posting things that make them look like TOTAL idiots. Is the education gap in this country really that big? The immaturity is rather remarkable.
Reminds me of a story about a cow:
A cow looks over and sees a big rock. She thinks to herself “Wow! That’s a nice rock!” She turns away to eat some grass. Turns back again and sees the same rock. She thinks to herself, “Hey! That’s a nice rock!!” Turns away and eats more grass……………
/not that I have anything against cows……
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (1:06 pm)The problem with a general “Check Engine” indication is that it opens the door for a corrupt dealer/mechanic to tell you he needed to replace this and that, when in reality it was only a simple loose wire harness.
NPNS!
Jun 18th, 2010 (1:17 pm)The oil thing has really advanced. New cars have a sensor that monitors the state of the oil. You can usually see how many more approximate miles there are until a change is required, and you get warnings messages as it gets close. I’m thinking it’s about every 12K miles.
Tangentially this is one reason why BEVs will not have such a huge service advantage — new ICE vehicles just don’t have the same care and feeding as they used to so there aren’t that many savings to be had.
+3
Jun 18th, 2010 (1:24 pm)You need to crawl back in your hole. You should not ever use either Palin or Obamas name. That’s just the way it is.
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:07 pm)Very nicely done, thanks!
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:20 pm)I’m thinking about my mom’s mid-90s Intrepid. The Base version looked plain and boring. The ES version with its extra cladding looked much better with the different color… the fog lights and better wheels helped too.
vs.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:23 pm)#86
Well -20 and “off the island” is the next best thing, LOL. +1 Nice work guys. Thanks.
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:25 pm)#88
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”
-3
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:27 pm)A button is far from enough. You can’t just ignore what you don’t like.
REAL-WORLD data is by far the best defense against attempts to discredit.
Who’s going to be collecting & sharing it?
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:30 pm)I was hoping that GM would offer a special formula long life oil for the Volt, it would be nice to do an oil change only every two years. Perhaps a synthetic with extra additives and a filter that would slowly release more additives.. it wont be a miles issue with the Volt but aging oil with its acids.
Looking forward to seeing the new oil filter system in the Volt and Cruze 1.4L ICE, a cartridge you replace from the top.
Jun 18th, 2010 (2:57 pm)I just did my second oil change on the ’10 Equinox which has the top mounted cartridge filter. This is much easier to do than many of the under car cans. Of course, anything that reduces my need to get down and reach under the car is a +. I think some of the Malibus have this also.
Jun 18th, 2010 (3:01 pm)You have to do oil analysis to say something like that, and they are not that expensive. Some people are recommending 20k miles for synthetic oils but change the filter every 10k miles.. modern cars with DI (direct injection) do better because the gas spray never hits the sidewall of the bore to dilute/contaminate the oil.
Also very important to do a proper break-in to fully seat the rings, warm the engine up and then run it hard for the first 20 miles, then do an oil change.. it will be difficult to do a Volt since you have no control over the engine.
If I had a new Volt I would start by draining the battery.. get on the hwy and start driving, once it goes into CS mode open up all the windows, turn the AC on, headlights on, sports mode on and let her rip.. it would be nice if you could load the ICE fully but you might get a ticket. Perhaps add some drag with a roof top carrier.. if you can fully load it then occasionally slow down to vary the load on the ICE. Run it for 20 miles or so and then do an oil/filter change.
http://www.mototuneusa.com/break_in_secrets.htm
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (3:10 pm)Cool, I looked it up.. this is what it looks like:
http://www.coolcarpartsonline.com/oil-filters/k-n-oil-filters/chevrolet-equinox-2010-2010-k-n-k-n-oil-filter
Jun 18th, 2010 (3:13 pm)A modern gas engine car will start having significant maintenance costs at around 60,000 miles.
With the Volt, a typical driver will only use the gas engine around 2000 miles per year. So maintenance costs for the Volt will be a lot lower than a regular car.
For pure BEVs, maintenance costs are somewhat unknown. If the battery craps out after 5 years, and the warranty doesn’t cover it, then you just got totally screwed on maintenance. A 10-year / 150,000 mile battery warranty is a big deal.
Some people only keep their cars for 2-3 years. In that case, predicted maintenance costs affect your resale value, so you still pay one way or another.
Jun 18th, 2010 (3:32 pm)I expect that’s essentially the balance they’re trying to come to. How much is enough to keep the user comfortable and how much is too much. I can see some things requiring effort to read if the user really wants to know. Don’t call attention to everything constantly. The 8-6-4 engine thing someone mentioned sounds like a good example of too much information making the user notice or imagine something that would otherwise be invisible. You also don’t want drivers so fascinated with the display that they’re not paying attention to the road.
Jun 18th, 2010 (3:49 pm)Most oil filters were cartridges before the spin-on ones came about (late 50s I think). They were a mess to change. Spin-on ones are much easier and cleaner.
The Volt, because of less usage of the ICE, could actually be a sealed system with no oil changes needed at all over the life of the car. I think it should use synthetic oil to further reduce our dependence on fossil sources.
-1
Jun 18th, 2010 (3:58 pm)The vehicle is due to be released in 5 months, I certainly hope that work on it would be nearly complete.
In fact, work on it should have been completed on it months ago.
-12
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:01 pm)(click to show comment)
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:09 pm)I can’t help but think that one of the most important reason why the Volt is on-time is that the risks for the battery pack were retired early. Think about it: the battery could have been a show-stopper, or at least a significant show-delayer. In fact, I think Toyota and Honda were pretty much saying explicitly that the Li-Ion was not ready. The GM/CPI battery team – the chemists, engineers, builders, testers, integrators – did an unbelievably good job. Congratulations to them and the whole Volt team for a remarkable success!
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:10 pm)OT
Mitsubishi is saying they’re going to get their BEV’s down to $22,000 (after subsidies) by 2012.
Nice
Report: Mitsubishi Planning ¥2M (US$22K) EV by FY 2012
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/06/report-mitsubishi-planning-2m-us22k-ev-by-fy-2012.html#more
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:12 pm)Fantastic video on why EVs will eventually replace the ICE as soon as they’re available for sale!
Go EV!!!
nasaman: OT, but here’s a superb new 10 min video by Robert Llewellyn:* http://bit.ly/a1W6Ls * Send this link to any friends, family or colleagues that are still EV/EREV skeptics or critics (Quote)
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:21 pm)My car has 108k miles now with normal maintenance costs…. (knock on wood)… So the Volt’s ICE may indeed never need any maintenance unless one counts motor rust. :+}
If the battery were to die just after warranty in 4 to 5 years the cost to replace (WE HOPE) should be a lot less especially if there are new ways to recycle. Technology does march on????
-6
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:45 pm)Gm is almost done ..& now they will get the blessing of big honchos who know nothing about engineering but want to put their 2c in ..If the engineers say car is ready start building & bring it out in Oct …a month ahead and show the world that GM can build a quality car & be on the market first out of the gate …but Nooo GM will dither do their BS with the managers & delay …
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:50 pm)I have three vehicles; their mileage is currently 172K, 184K and 247K. I will replace any of them if they have significant repairs. The 247K one just won’t die so it will be replaced soon anyway.
The most significant was a transmission bearing replacement on the car with 247K. I did the clutch while I was in there, although it really didn’t need it. And no, none are Toyota’s… I have one from each of the big three.
60K was a non-event, as was 100K.
Jun 18th, 2010 (4:55 pm)They really did say that, and the Audi guy too I think, either it was ignorance or just spreading FUD.. google it if you dont know what that means.
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:15 pm)I am not sure about that. Oil that sits in the pan will tend to sludge and absorb contaminants over time. I would think that you need to change your oil based on both mileage and time, so the Volt oil changes would more likely be hours driven, not mile driven.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:19 pm)Quick. Run down to Walmart…I here they are sellin’ brains, and your in desperate need of a large purchase.
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:24 pm)There is maintenance on a gas engine car and maintenance on the car. My experience is that if something breaks it’s not the drive train. It’s stuff like electrical or bearings, which will probably be more problematic with an EV. (More electrical to go south and the higher torque will put higher stress on the bearings). No question that at some point there are maintenance tasks for an ICE which you don’t have with an EV, but those seem to come up with a lot more miles. We also don’t know what will come up with EVs. There will doubtless be some unhappy surprises.
I’m just guessing that this isn’t going to be a huge advantage for an EV.
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:28 pm)Just a friendly reminder, you folks that like to change your own oil. Unless you are certified to do maintenance on vehicles, you will void your warranty if you change your own oil during the warranty period. That includes any other maintenance you want to do yourself to save money. Itt doesn’t matter if you have receipts, you must be certified to do the job. The Volt is a big step towards getting off oil! For those who can use a total bev, more power too you. For now, we can all make a difference if we do what we can. Happy Fathers Day, I especially love patching soldiers to their loved ones on Holiday weekends at my jjob.
+2
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:34 pm)That was funny! Did you have to put all your brain cells in a row to come up with that?
Come on, I know you can do better (**)
Here, I’ll even help you out a little.
“Your Mom’s so ugly, she gets less action than a white guy in the NBA”
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:41 pm)BTW: I apologize to the real Voltinites. I will stop wasting pixels on this guy, but I just could not help my self.
I guess sometimes you just need to feed the trolls…they get hungry to.
I promise, cross my heart, hope to die. PDNFTT will be adhered to from this point forward.
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:43 pm)I hope you are right and they do it by the hours the engine is used.. it would be interesting if the Volt could heat up the oil pan to operating temperatures electrically.. this would drive of water and gasoline dissolved in. Do it every so often when the car is plugged in.
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:54 pm)Often beauty is in the eye of the beholder, as the saying goes.
To me it looks good from the back, especially the view shown, rather muscular.
Jun 18th, 2010 (5:59 pm)A recent report about motor oil said that it was very rare that a modern engine oil would break down, and that oil changes were needed mainly to get rid of dirt. For that reason, some argued that what was more significant was the frequency of replacement of oil filters, and their quality.
-13
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:01 pm)(click to show comment)
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:03 pm)From my limited understanding of oil, the issue is not with the breakdown of the oil itself, but the breakdown of the polymers used to maintain the viscosity of the oil over the extreme temp ranges. The larger the temperature range you need to operate over, the more polymers need to added. So, using the oil with the narrowest viscosity will perform better and be less prone to breakdown.
You really should change your oil to use a lower viscosity range for winter driving (assuming you have a “winter) and a higher viscosity for summer driving. I admit to not following my own recommendations, based simply on laziness.
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:16 pm)In recent years there has seemed to be less and less mention of change with the seasons, and I’ve never done it, even though I have always followed dealer recommendations. So the lifetime of that idea seems to have expired, at least in practice. On the other hand, I use synthetic oil and change it frequently, so I don’t follow my own understanding that oil can last a long time if one maintains good filters.
My sense is that I rely a lot on old wives tales and not so much on any modern scientific data
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:29 pm)Great news to finally hear. As an avid reader, almost daily since 2007 I’m excited to see this car coming into production within 4 months.
Living in Ohio might make it tough to get one in the first year or so, but I’m hoping.
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:30 pm)I admit to doing the same thing. I put lots of miles on my car, and use synthetic oil, so I do not have to change it as frequently.
I do run about 10,000 miles between changes, but my car is getting near end-of-life, and I believe that something else is much more likely to give up the ghost long before the engine. If I had a new car, I would want to change the oil more frequently, even though the spec’s say you do not need to. It just seems like such an easy and fairly inexpensive thing to do (I have changed my own oil on all my cars since about 1989) and the oil is really the lifeblood of your engine. I just hate seeing dirty oil coming out of my 15 year old car. It does make me want to change it more frequently, but again mother laziness usually wins and I change it less frequently than what my engineering side of me says.
I do wonder how well the new engine oil sensors work. I would like to believe they are conservative, and would tell you to change it well before you really need to.
Ok, enough about oil. It makes me think to much about the effects that stuff is having on the gulf. While the quantity of oil compared to the quantity of water in the gulf is but a mere pitance, if you ever put a few drops of water in a bucket of water, you will see how large of an impact such a minute amount of oil can have on a relatively large amount of water. Water and oil are not suppose to coexist.
Ok, now I am getting depressed again. I just wish they could at least put a cap on that damn well.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:53 pm)Didn’t get a chance to read all posts today, hopefully tonight I’ll get all my reading done.
Just have to say it’s great to hear Volt is moving on towards production. Hope it or some version of it makes it into mainstream 50 state distribution in numbers. Corvetteguy’s post about a dealer training memo, was a good sign. Thanks for keeping us posted. Hopefully many more memos and training will follow. It’s nice to have a connection with all that inside dealer info!
The test car in the driveway on today’s photo looks very familiar – it looks like the cobbled-together test car seen with others on the group testing photos at gas stations back at the beginning of the year. Notice the silver left quarter panel that doesn’t match, the dull paint and body color hatch and rocker panels. Nobody should take any of that stuff seriously – I wondered when I saw that car in photos before, if it had been in a wreck – it would be very interesting to hear when/if a Volt has met a fender bender yet. But I’m guessing it’s just whatever part was available at assembly since most had the requisite gloss black tester front and rear fascias like this one’s spoiler.
Anybody have a clue what that is to the left of the steering wheel inside? Is it one of those Garfield’s with the suction cups that sticks to the window? LOL . No, it looks like it may be some kind of cup holder or instrumentation for testing? It would be interesting to hear how many miles it has on it, or what the high mileage mark has been for Volt testers.
I’ve been nibbling on little tidbits here and there in motor press about the Volt MPV5. Mostly people write about it being available in the burgeoning Chinese auto market. There’s been much written about GM’s China Science Lab and it’s China Automotive Energy Research Center in Beijing. There is also a joint venture with Chinese automaker SAIC and Tsinghua University that is developing a comprehensive automotive enery strategy for China.
GM isn’t alone in being excited about the growing Chinese auto market. Nearly every automaker is either getting established there with manufacturing or teaming up with a Chinese corporation to get a foothold in what has become the largest auto market on earth.
My hope is that in their race to Chinatize, they don’t leave our market hanging with regular flash and bang family cars and only a 4 seat Volt sold in 3 markets.
“Rapidly growing demand for personal transportation across China is creating new environmental and security challenges”, says GM’s president and managing director of GM China Group. “The world premier of the Volt MPV5 concept in Beijing demonstrates GM’s desire to make China a global focus of it’s advanced technology strategy”.
The Volt MPV5 sends a politically correct message to the Chinese government which is looking to impose some of the strictest emissions and fuel economy standards in the world within the next decade. China wants to be the world leader in fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles because it realizes it will not be able to rely on cheap oil as an energy supply as it’s domestic auto market continues it’s explosive growth.
I’m trying to be optimistic. Yesterdays reveal of GM’s awful JD Power & Associates’ showing on initial quality ( problems per 100 cars sold ) makes me hope the extensive development of Volt has resulted in a car that exceeds other GM offerings to date.
RECHARGE!
James
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:57 pm)Can’t wait for one in my garage. I’m hoping the tax incentives stay alive while this rollout goes forward. With Afghanistan announcing the largest Lithium find on the planet, the news only gets better for electric vehicles.
Good for America.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (7:57 pm)I will bet you a 6-pack that a “commercial” Leaf is not available until after January 1, 2011. They might lease some pre-production cars to the U.S. market for testing, but no way is there a production model in the U.S. by end of the year. In fact, I will bet a 24-pack that a production model is not released by year end and then I will bet a 12-pack that it does not get released until after March 1, 2011.
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:25 pm)The true facts of the VOLT is that it is designed to RUN on electricity – supplied by a battery — if/when the battery runs too low the ICE generator takes over.
Right now when a battery only electric car runs out of juice away from a charger you STOP. That is the true fact of that system.
The VOLT is the well planned BETTER option. One can get to a place to get the battery charged under its own designed power system.
There is a choice.. many have researched it and many are very happy GM has come up with this workable plan.
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:26 pm)Hey, 42 beers, this is turning into high finance.
Jun 18th, 2010 (8:49 pm)Did you notice, I hedged my bets. I am 100% confident they won’t deliver by year end. So I am up 24 cans. If they deliver on Jan 2, I lose 18 cans but am still up a 6-pack. But after Mar 1 get the entire booty!
Jun 18th, 2010 (9:48 pm)Do I recall correctly that pure BEV cars are not required to have a 10 year/ 150k mile warranty by federal regs, but things like the Volt and Prius do? That could be a big deal.
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:06 pm)You own a Hyundai, don’t you. There’s a lot you can’t do with those cars otherwise that warranty goes away.
Jun 18th, 2010 (10:14 pm)How about this for a Volt pre-launch campaign. GM can select 5 or 6 EV-mode sounds. Then it can put it to a public vote as to which becomes Volt’s “signature” sound. They can do it through TV advertising, have people vote online, go down to their dealership, something. Then in a later ad they can show which one was selected. That should generate a little interest.
If the public fails to choose the one that GM has already pre-determined, they can just lie.
+1
Jun 18th, 2010 (11:33 pm)The ratings didn’t seem to be awful. The more new models you introduce the more issues you have, and GM introduced a lot of new models. So they dropped a bit in the rankings. Likewise Toyota took a big fall in the rankings but that was due to just a few models which were subject to recalls. Yes Ford and Honda are a cut above GM as far as reliability is concerned, but the cut is pretty small and it’s been that way for a couple of years. I’d also say that GM makes better cars than Ford, Honda, and Toyota.
Jun 19th, 2010 (12:27 am)Now GM, Please, build me a red Volt.
Jun 19th, 2010 (1:37 am)That is absolutely not true. A dealer may tell you that trying to get you to come in and have them do service. You can get a dealer to tell you it’s not a problem if you simply ask them “I do my own service, is that a problem with the warranty?” BEFORE you agree to buy the car. They’ll tell you it is no problem.
I recommend copying the receipts because many of the thermal receipts will fade over time. Glue them in a book and record the mileage.
Jun 19th, 2010 (1:42 am)There may be a little bit of a problem recovering the lithium in Afghanistan right now.
I hope that resolves itself before too long.
Jun 19th, 2010 (5:37 am)As an occasional visitor here, i am pleased and proud of GM for the vehicle and what it represents for not only GM”s future but the our countries future as well. My question is, what present day vehicle would be suggested as an example of the Volts exterior and interior dimensions. I have read it will be similar in size to the Cruze. Not having seen or sat in a Cruze, i wonder would a Chevy Cobalt be a similar size vehicle to the Volt? Thanks
Jun 19th, 2010 (6:07 am)Volt is almost exactly the same size as the current Honda Civic.
Jun 19th, 2010 (6:11 am)Yes, it is depressing to see the pictures and to think about.
If there is a good side, it is that there will be a recovery over time, as has happened from the Texas spill about a decade ago.
Jun 19th, 2010 (6:54 am)Its not supposed to be that way, but they and Kia make it hard to collect on that warranty.
Jun 19th, 2010 (6:57 am)I went to local Ford dealer recently, and was looking at the Focus. I asked where the oil filter was located, since I consider this important since I change my own oil. He told me that you had to bring the car in for service to change the oil, otherwise it would void the warranty.
I said nothing, and walked out of the showroom and left. I think he got the message.
Jun 19th, 2010 (7:00 am)I assume if he is truly a “blind guy”, he does not. But, maybe he/she is making a statement regarding some other meaning…?
Jun 19th, 2010 (7:06 am)edit (timed out): I have no time for dealing with people/companies like this. Either the sales guy is telling the truth, and no way I am buying a car I cannot maintain myself, or he is lying, and I will not tolerate it. I have little patience with sales people that are not straight shooters. When I buy a car, I know what I want, and I just need facts not sales speak.
Jun 19th, 2010 (7:17 am)NBC’s Saturday Today Show just showed a graphic that 1 of the 2 relief wells being drilled is ahead of schedule and within 200 feet laterally of the leaking well. That all sounds good but they have to continue drilling at the same steep angle and go still deeper before they hit it and put in the concrete plug. No revised prediction of when it might be capped.
-2
Jun 19th, 2010 (10:24 am)To say GM’s poor rankings in JD Power’s initial quality quotient for 2010 were just a dip due to introduction of new models really isn’t realistic. GM historically ranks well below it’s major competitors each and every year. And it’s also saying the top 10 companies in the rankings didn’t introduce many new models, which, in fact, is not true at all – in fact – Acura’s line is almost entirely all new, Mercedes introduced many new models…etc, etc, and so on. Also, to say Toyota ranked historically low because of recalls of a couple models is not realistic. JD Power & Associates’ list is based upon a very large polling of thousands of new car owners, it’s not based primarily upon dealer service department numbers of cars returned to the dealer. Toyota’s problems were with public perception – the massive daily media onslaught they endured regarding the floormats, the gas pedals, Prius software and resulting public paranoia which results in kind of a mass mindset that takes years for a manufacturer to overcome. In some ways Toyota deserved this public lashing, nonetheless, this is why they fell from their traditional top ranking in the survey. Lexus, on the other hand, seems unscathed.
I will say GM’s performance: Cadillac #13, Chevrolet #14, Buick #18, GMC #25 is dismal at best. A person who says GM makes the best cars is coming from a traditional or nationalistic bias as the people who buy them apparently disagree.
Not to bash GM, just that we have to hold their toes to the fire it seems, to assure new ventures such as Volt end up a point of pride, and not another embarrassment for American cars. Ford’s #5 ranking puts it in league near the best and gives it muscle when potential customers are out looking to make the second largest investment many ever make in the purchase of goods. I will concede that many feel Ford only cracked the top 5 due to their controlling interest in Volvo.
RECHARGE!
James
Jun 19th, 2010 (10:52 am)TOO LITTLE, TOO SLOWLY was the problem in the past and exactly what the task-force said needed to be changed.
For Volt, measure of that progress is simple. The initial few thousand in only 3 select markets falls directly into the pit of doom if it continues for too long. Increased production & reach is absolutely required. It’s exactly one year from now we must see advancement.
What will *you* be doing to help?
Jun 19th, 2010 (12:50 pm)#93
Our 2008 Cobalt has it. Nothing new under the sun. It is very cool and handy.
Jun 19th, 2010 (1:01 pm)#114
Most or all of the more recent GM vehicles have a change oil warning light. It is based on hours, miles, average oil temperature, and possibly something to do with average trip length. From all reports I have heard, it is actually pretty accurate. I never thought that I would see the day that I would get over my dad’s “every 3K miles” indoctrination, but I actually go by it now. Plus, it is based on conventional oil, except for maybe the Corvette, and we use synthetic, so that’s a safety margin IMHO.
Jun 19th, 2010 (3:11 pm)Much better than the Prius mileage biased “service engine soon” idiot light. Even better scroll through the “Driver information display” and find what percentage of oil life is left. The old HHR is way better than the new Prius when it comes to the interface. Score one for GM. IMHO
Jun 19th, 2010 (3:16 pm)I am one of those who became very disappointed with the new Volt body style and have decided not to purchase one. I still follow this website as it has interesting information. My input is this: look at the above picture of the volt. It is outdoors and plugged in. Think, come home at night, park in driveway, and plug in car. Now add, it snows overnight in conjunction with the above picture and where is the snow going to accumulate? They need to look at how the opening is done. It is not a gas tank. The original hermetic opening would have been better.
Jun 19th, 2010 (9:45 pm)I would say as soon as they tell what the price is the production numbers will increase all of the country. The volt will be sold around the world.
+3
Jun 20th, 2010 (8:21 am)In exactly one year from now (6 months after initial market roll out) I hope to have my Volt in New Mexico.
Jun 21st, 2010 (2:03 am)Engineers will continue to test not weather behavior throughout July, August, and September. At that point the company will decide exactly when to put the car into production. A day in mid-November remains the intended target.
If they’re looking for a place with the least amount of weather (not weather) then I recommend here. Silicon valley has Spring, Summer, Super-Summer (no rain) and another Summer. Those correspond to everyone else’s Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall in that order.