[ad#post_ad]Today marks the fifth year this blog has lived through, and begins the most important one of all, 2011.
In all the months we spent waiting, the end of 2010 was the goal. That time has finally come and gone. I and perhaps three hundred or more Americans have taken ownership of their very own extended range electric Chevrolet Volts, fulfilling a dream and a promise of long ago.
2011 is a most critical year. It is the one in which more than 20,000 Chevy Volts and Nissan LEAFs will be built for and delivered to consumers. Electric cars will begin their dramatic voyage to change the path of future generations and begin to fill our public roads. We will see this year how they truly perform and will also see if the larger population will begin to take interest in them.
2010 brought us many answers to questions we had been wondering about since the Volt first was announced January 2007. This included the actual price of the car, whether the engine would ever turn the wheels, and what true range and charge sustaining fuel economy were. We now know all these answers well.
I like to believe GM-Volt.com has a made a difference in all this. That it has helped to spread the message about the car and kindle interest I have no doubt. That GM has listened to our comments and incorporated some into the car I am certain. That we helped push them to develop the car from concept, I believe.
These are great things indeed.
Since I began collecting our website analytics in September 2007, there have been 8,252,345 visits from 3,802,700 visitors who spent an average of 3 minutes and 22 seconds on the site, reading a total of 20,825,609 pages. Considering the US population is 308 million, 1.23% of the US population has been on this website. Exactly 1,244,143 visitors came here in 2010 alone.
The five most popular posts of 2010 were as follows:
- GM: Chevy Volt Price Depends on Cost of Gas and Will be Set in May 2010 (25,011 visitors)
- Official Chevy Volt MSRP and Lease Price Unveiled (21,357)
- Video: Drive Electric Cars (16,687)
- Chevy Volt Exact Launch Date Will be Mid-November 2010, Tens of Thousands in 2011 (14466)
- Zenn/EEStor Update (13,831)
You can still see my homemade video (#3) that never went viral below. As for Zenn and EEStor (#5), another year ends without their world-changing battery.
Have a Happy New Year everyone!
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This entry was posted on Saturday, January 1st, 2011 at 8:00 am and is filed under Volt Nation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (8:04 am)WOW, to possibly be first, but I have anticipation for Volt progress in the new Year.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011 TO THE VOLT NATION!
Some day I hope to own one.
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (8:16 am)Happy New Year to the Volt nation!
+7
Jan 1st, 2011 (8:25 am)Happy New Year Everyone!
Thanks, Lyle, for keeping the info coming. I found the confidence to buy the Volt in your postings and the technology notes provided by the Volt Nation! I spent the day yesterday cruising in my Volt with my wife. We keep exploring its features and continue to be amazed and delighted. Driving in Sport Mode is probably going to get me in trouble, but it’s a LOT of fun!
VIN 63
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (8:43 am)Happy New Year! Thanks Lyle for this blog on the development of the Chevrolet Volt. I agree that this year will be the “proof of the pudding” for the Volt and electric cars. Keep the news and comments coming about the Volt.
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:10 am)Happy New Year Lyle. Thanks for all you do and have done to promote EVs.
I guess you couldn’t resist a little thread tickling with the EESNORE agitation?
Best regards.
+9
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:10 am)Happy new year all and thanks again Lyle for all of your hard work and dedication.
Did anyone else see the leaf commercial last night during Dick Clark’s rockin new years eve? The polar bear giving a leaf guy a hug. Please GM don’t reinforce the negative stereotype that only smug progressive tree hugging granola eaters will buy your car. How about a commercial with terrorists not having the money to buy explosives for a roadside bomb because oil sales to the US are down. Probably not a great commercial but you get the point. You already have the environmentally conscious. It’s time to show the rest of the country how a car can be patriotic. Sorry for the tangent, but almost spit out my champagne when I saw that commercial at midnight last night.
+5
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:12 am)Happy New Year all!
Take Care
Arch
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:18 am)Thanks for the Past 4 great years, looking forward to the 5th. Happy New Years Lyle and everyone!
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:19 am)Lyle,
“Since I began collecting our website analytics in September 2007, there have been 8,252,345 visits from 3,802,700 visitors who spent an average of 3 minutes and 22 seconds on the site, reading a total of 20,825,609 pages. Considering the US population is 308 million, 12.3% of the US population has been on this website. ”
I think you made a math error. Since your saying about 3.8 million unique visitors and pop. is 308 million, then it looks more like 1.23%.
12.3% seemed incredible, then I saw your slip of a digit…
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:21 am)Happy New Year. It has truly been a year to remember wrt to the automobile.
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:23 am)Thanks Lyle, because of your commitment to inform, as wells as the effort of thr posters here, I have the details about the Volt to not only evangelize for it, but to take on and defeat its doubters/critics.
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:29 am)Funny how the top 5 most popular posts were what I would consider less than interesting. I remember many other posts that were much more interesting and informational.
Most of the the top 5 are due to the traffic from non-regulars, when big news about the Volt hit the street. I would be interested in knowing which post had the most “regular” posters comments.
+9
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:34 am)Thank you Lyle for the video. I had not seen it before and it is excellent.
Two days with the Volt. What a luxury car feel and drive! No wonder it’s the Motor Trend Car Of The Year! As we get relatives and friends into our Volts, they will be impressed. It’s an honor to own and drive one. Without GM-Volt and Lyle’s daily efforts, I would not have been as inspired to place the order and request allocation to obtain one. With the support of the GM-Volt community, our knowledge of the Volt surpasses the sales and service departments of many dealerships! This can only help with the standard of quality that we receive, and that will help all Volt owners and GM’s continued success.
What a great way to start the year. Happy New Year everyone. Enjoy Your Volts!
+5
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:38 am)The progression?
In 2011 friends, family, and coworkers of Volt owners demo drive the Volt. Try the various features, Bose sound, OnStar, DVR, Bluetooth, XM, garage door opener, instant acceleration, smart phone app ….ect. They like it and join 100,000+ others from middle America and Canada looking for a dealership to buy one.
By June of 2011 180,000 perspective buyers wait for availability. 5500 Volts being built per month resulting in a 32 month back order.
GM raises the annual sales target to 80,000 in August 2011.
Three other major manufactures begin sales of their 100 mile range EV vehicles. A cheap Chinese hand soldered electric vehicle is scheduled to arrive within 6 months.
The Leaf and electric Focus see moderate yet steady interest through to November 2011. Sales being supported by the growing waiting list for 2012 Volts. Further driven by word of mouth that the new electric cars are “The Bomb”.
Winter 2011 arrives. OPEC raises prices as Americans and Canadians refill their home heating oil tanks. Oil is now $104 per barrel and unfortunately will never again see double digit pricing.
GM announces 2 NEW Voltec models for 2013. One being a crossover w/ towing capability. The other a Jeep-like vehicle designed for meeting basic needs of cold weather conditions and budget minded entry buyers. The Veep features heated leatherette seats, GPS, quad LCD headlamps, tow package, and electric winch as standard. MSRP $27,250 (after credit).
Have a great 2011 everyone.
NPNS
+5
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:38 am)Your video is an excellent overview of why we need the Volt (and other electric cars), Lyle! And it’s a very impressive statistic that exactly 1,244,143 visitors visited GM-Volt.com in 2010 alone, quite a few of those from all over the world, I’m sure. So this site is read by people who speak many different native tongues (there are almost 7,000 in the world), and I want to wish everyone a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR in English and perhaps in their native language as well…*
Afrikaans Voorspoedige nuwe jaar
Arabic Kul ‘am wa antum bikhair
Basque Urte Berri on
Bengali Shuvo noboborsho
Chinese (Cantonese) Sun nien fai lok
Chinese (Mandarin) Xin nian yu kuai
Czech Stastny Novy Rok
Danish Godt NytÅr
Dutch Gelukkig nieuwjaar
Esperanto Bonan Novjaron
Finnish Onnellista uutta vuotta
French Bonne année
German Ein glückliches neues Jahr
Greek Eutychismenos o kainourgios chronos
Hawaiian Hauoli Makahiki hou
Hebrew Shana Tova
Hungarian Boldog uj evet
Indonesian (Bahasa) Selamat Tahun Baru
Italian Felice Anno Nuovo or Buon anno
Japanese Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu
Korean Sehe Bokmanee Bateuseyo
Laotian (Hmong) Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab
Latin Felix sit annus novus
Nigerian (Hausa) Barka da sabuwar shekara
Norwegian Godt Nytt År
Philippines (Tagalog) Manigong Bagong Taon
Polish Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Romanian La Multi Ani si Un An Nou Fericit
Samoan Ia manuia le Tausaga Fou
Spanish Feliz año nuevo
Swahili Heri za Mwaka Mpya
Swedish Gott Nytt År
Thai Sawatdee Pi Mai
Vietnamese Chuc mung nam moi
Welsh Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
And paraphrasing Plug In America, “Happy 2011! —May your New Year be Electrifying!”
* Read more at: Saying Happy New Year! Around the World — Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0923039.html#ixzz19nEtq27H
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:43 am)It was definitely a fun year on the forum. The discussion I liked the most was about the the transmission. Does the transmission ever drive the wheels?? Lots of schematics on the planetary gear set. Lots of great engineering stuff for sure. As an ME I loved it. Then Cabdriver posted the thread “Does this patent application describe the Volt transmission”. Of course it appeared in the forum first. We went round and round on that one. Then, guess what?? Cabdriver nailed it. Of course some of the older forum members like Texas speculated and discussed it all years before. I think Texas coined the phrase HHSD. Hybrid hybrid serial drive.
Now it’s about guys that have cars. That’s cool and as it should be. When the Prius gets a few years older I’ll be an owner of this car which is an engineering masterpiece.
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:07 am)HAPPY NEW YEAR Everyone!
2011, the year I have my own Volt
(hopefully by June).
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:13 am)Is that the one with the wood pellet heater? I would pass on the winch and hitch to get below $25,000. Also I want the LED headlamps.
Happy New Year everyone!
Lyle, feel free to use the picture without the traffic light.
I hates traffic
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:13 am)Happy New Year folks. My New Year resolution, buy 0 dollars of gas driving my Volt every day of the year.
p.s. I had a dream last night Bill Gates donated 5 million to buy 100 lucky drivers Volts. The dream got better when Warren Buffett got wind of Gates philanthropy and topped him by donating 10 million to buy 200 drivers of old clunkers new Volts.
NPNS!
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:13 am)Indeed your website has moved forward a lot of great and wonderful things, Lyle, and for that you can be proud. Thanks as always for your dedication!
Happy new year to all!
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:18 am)Impressive site stats Lyle.
Being a motor-head, I was a little late getting here (about 1-1/2 years ago), however, as they say here in Texas:
I wasn’t born here, but, I got here as fast as possible.
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:19 am)Happy New Year to everyone!!
Stay safe and enjoy life while you have one.
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:33 am)nUppi HAppy yeAR IM NOt half as tHINk as You druNk I am.
Tom
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:47 am)I think one sure way to raise Volt’s stock among the public throng is to very slowly circle by that busy Costco gas station ( you know the one with the long line around the block on Friday evening, or just before a holiday weekend? ) just smiling and then whizzing away silently, maybe waving at the folks sitting there breathing other’s fumes or smelling that lovely toxic gasoline as it’s vapor wafts into their lungs.
I know I’m pushing back Volt envy as I long for that first trip silently gliding down the road gasoline-free!
I was SO TEMPTED to order my Volt in California and drive it to Washington, but not being able to have a dealer that can service it for a year-and-a-half or more kind of put the brakes on that thinking. Can you imagine something going wrong and there your car sits…for a long time?! I personally have never been a real “early adopter” of any new technology as my first PC came in ’98, well after the first IBMs and clones found their way into houses, I just got my first iPod this Christmas and my “smart phone” is one of the dumber ones, it does have an 8 mp camera, but the touchscreen is 2 year ancient. If a Volt could be had here, I’d pull the trigger faster than the Roadrunner can outwit the Coyote’s latest ACME trap. Early adoption is important in this, the first round of obtainable EVs.
This New Year I will bear down, try to be diligent in making money and spreading the EV gospel whenever and however I can. It seems like yesterday that we all were discussing how people will be driving their personal Volts in just a year or so…So maybe it won’t be as grueling as it is seeming now – to watch others drive into the future…and wait….and wait….
A fortuitous, happy 2011 to all!
oh yeah, and –
( sigh ) PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:51 am)Let’s hope this is a Happy NEW Year….
Good to see people being called back to work… let’s hope this continues because there are so many without work.
The VOLT is a step in the right direction… it is a tiny step towards what has to be a much larger effort if we are to see our economy improve.
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:55 am)Happy New Year to Gm and everyone.
Looking forward to a new Volt – 2012- Oklahoma.
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:11 am)Hey, — I keep reminding myself, anything can happen… Maybe GM will just open the floodgates and accelerate Volt production and distribution – stranger things have happened – only days ago our beloved University of Washington Huskies beat those Nebraska Corn Huskers in the Holiday Bowl. Nebraska played Washington in the first game of the season in Seattle and handed the Dawgs a real thrubbing, so the fact we won USC two years running ( both games in the last second! ) and the underdogs beat such a football powerhouse in their bowl game shows miracles do happen.
Perhaps I can will a red Volt with tan leather into my garage – hey, it can happen!
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS!
James
+9
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:18 am)1.1.11 sounds very much like a time for new beginnings.
Now that Volt is a reality we can do that in a big way with transportation in America.
Thanks to Lyle, GM and the legion of visitors to this site.
YOU ALL MADE HISTORY HAPPEN!
Volt wheels ARE on the road across America.
Go Volt!
+8
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:21 am)Yesterday I picked up my #135 and have had it for 16h now. Here it enjoys its first view of the Pacific. I’ll post more photos over in the forum. Although, I was at the SD test drive in October, I never drove it in battery mode. Driving with grid energy only is truly an amazing and satisfying experience. The wife, reluctant because of the cost, even flashed the Volt smile after getting behind the wheel. Thanks GM and thanks Lyle for pushing us into the future of decreased oil imports, cleaner air and quieter streets. Here’s the link if the photo doesn’t show: http://www.flickr.com/photos/57726923@N04/5312680602/
Happy New Year!
-Book
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:25 am)________________________________________________________________________
Lyle said: “…2011 is a most critical year. It is the one in which more than 20,000 Chevy Volts and Nissan LEAFs will be built for and delivered to consumers…”
————
20,000 Electric Car Early Adopters is a significant Front Line for the Electric Car Revolution!
_________________________________________________________________________
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:27 am)+7
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:36 am)I just purchased my volt yesterday, white, black leather, back up camera and polished wheels. I picked it up in
Visaila CA. I live on the cost about 150 miles.
The electric portion of the trip was about 30 miles. Temp about 55 degrees the road was mostly level and speed 55 – 60.
I could not feel the ice starting at the end of the battery life.
One interesting is the car is built from 40% USA parts.
So far I’m happy.
+7
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:45 am)Happy New Year to everyone. This site is 100% responsible for my wife and I buying a Volt (#324). We visit the Volt at the dealership everyday while the prep work is being completed. We take delivery on Monday. I hope that this is the start of a paradigm shift in America’s thinking and behavior.
Best wishes for 2011.
+6
Jan 1st, 2011 (12:05 pm)Wow! Almost 4,000,000 people on Lyle’s site since it started. When you really consider it, the reality of going from “why don’t we try this” to the fantastic finished product that is the Chevy Volt, four years is a remarkably short time and IMO only possible because it is an idea whose time has come. A very happy new year to all the people who helped achieve this dream and to the Lord for allowing it to happen!
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (12:09 pm)A Happy 2011 to all.
An eternity from inception in 2007. Yet, no way is VOLT 2007. Its the electronics making possible this marvelous engineering feat. VOLT’s electronics simply did not exist in 2007. No way did anyone in 2007 foresee VOLT software encompassing 10 million lines of code. VOLT is thus truly the latest and greatest. You can bet every major and likely a whole bunch of wannabe startups pondering how to compete.
As for EEStor…
USPTO (US Patent Office) published a patent application December 30, 2010 (just this past Thursday) which was filed Jun 25, 2010 thereby converting a provisional filed Jun 25 2009. Its entitled “Fused Quartz Horizontal Furnace and Assembly”. US 2010/0331169
+3
Jan 1st, 2011 (12:51 pm)Your beautiful car really seems at home on the California coast at sunset, bookdabook…
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (12:52 pm)2011 will be a good year for plug in vehicles, but 2012 figures to be a great year. After that, 2013 figures to be the tipping point year where wholesale adoption of plug-in vehicles will dominate the market. Time will tell…
And when we look back we will see the game changer, with bow tie emblem and a Voltec power train. Have a happy new year and a great decade.
+4
Jan 1st, 2011 (1:03 pm)…OK y’all, we’ve had time for a pot or two of black coffee, maybe it’s time for a little comic relief…?
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (1:13 pm)Happy New Year everyone.
The photos of the new Volts look great. Springtime delivery of my Volt seems a long time away.
I liked the video too. It shows many of the reasons to buy a Volt today!
WVhybrid
ps. I spotted one error in the video, Lyle. The units of CO2 measurement can either be a mass unit, like tons, or an equivalent volume unit, like standard cubic feet, but there is no such thing as a cubic ton.
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (1:29 pm)Thanks for the hand Nasadude! I’ve yet to figure out how to post images here.
OK so it’s the first day of a new year and time now to reflect back on some of the coolest new words or phrases we learned of in 2010. My top 5 are:
Veridian Joule (OK maybe it existed prior to 2010 but 2010 was its year)
Hamtramck (Tough to spell but the womb from which our Volts were/are born)
Volt Advisor (20 of them exist to answer any and all Volt questions and they are getting smarter by the day. 1-866-790-5700X20595)
93 MPGequivalent (Though not satisfactory to the technical people, it gets the point across)
Motor Trend Car of the Year! (that and many other awards, enough said)
Add your 2010 favorites below. Here’s looking forward to many new Volt-terms in 2011!
-Book
+4
Jan 1st, 2011 (1:34 pm)Happy New Year to Lyle and all the Volt-heads out there. I’ve enjoyed following the progress of the Volt and I’m glad that it’s starting to get into driveways of America. While I am fascinated and intrigued by the technology of electric cars and would love to own one some day, I wouldn’t consider buying a Volt until the car can go 100 miles on battery power. That combined with the extended range gas engine would make the car an almost perfect alternative to the ICE. The Nissan Leaf is also very temping, but it’s got to go 200 miles on a charge before I would consider buying one. Maybe these numbers are pie in the sky. Maybe not. A new era has to start somewhere and it’s good to see that the day of the 21st century electric car has begun. It’s going to be an exciting future. In the meantime, I’ll have to be content riding the electric bicycle I’ll be purchasing in the spring. Cheers to the Volt first adopters; you are the pioneers who are leading the way for the rest of us.
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (1:49 pm)Happy New Year!
I hope that GM will go full speed ahead on extending Voltec technology thought all brands and models. Personally, I like small cars, but I see the biggest advantage in trucks/SUVs. I’m talking about a much larger electric motor. Electric motors are superb for low speed torque. All trains use electric motors for power, most with diesel generators, talk about towing power! The other benefit of larger motors is re-gen. If a motor can produce more power, it can also recover more power. This leads also to the best configuration being 4 wheel drive as front wheels do most braking effort and rear wheels most acceleration. Smooth precision torque of electric motors also makes them best for snow and ice. All this leads to the ideal configuration for a truck/SUV having two electric motors (one front, one rear) and a ICE/generator. This would provide performance without equal. If done with high enough volumes, price could be competitive.
Jan 1st, 2011 (2:36 pm)Pie in the sky or not, I would like to see these numbers also.
But I think they are way off. Maybe 10 years?
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (3:25 pm)CONGRATS! What a great way to start off the new year (especially the wife’s smile).
Thanks again, Lyle, for all the hard work and dedication that you’ve invested on behalf of the Volt (and the nation). At the risk of repeating myself – “One man CAN make a difference!”
Be well all and God bless,
Tagamet
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (3:59 pm)Rashiid Amul,
I think until electric cars, Volt or otherwise, reach those 100+ mile range they won’t be widely accepted. The Leaf is an amazing car, but when I imagine driving it I get serious range anxiety fears.
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (4:44 pm)+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (5:42 pm)Time for a pop quiz. Note the approx 3″ x 3″ trapezoidal-shaped outline in the Volt’s front facia (above left) about 18″ directly below its right-hand projector headlamp lens. Its shape is similar to the “*s” in the sketch below (ignor the spacing dots). Every Volt has one of these —but only on its right facia under the headlamp.
*********
.*…………..*
…*……………*
…..*********
Quiz question: What is this?
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (6:16 pm)The charge port for the flux capacitor?
Happy New Year, Nasaman….
WVhybrid
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (6:29 pm)Happy New Year Lyle! And to all the Voltheads!
AND I saw my first Volt in my city!!!!!! It just drove past me (silently!). It’s beautiful! I want one! Come on 2011, bring me a job!
Jan 1st, 2011 (6:44 pm)Good answer, but no —the Volt’s advanced flux capacitor is self-charged by ambient cosmic rays.
Don’t give up though, the Grand Prize is highly-regarded by cyber world dwellers like ourselves!
.
Jan 1st, 2011 (6:58 pm)I just assumed that any shape like this is a cover “button” hiding a mounting bolt. There are several round ones on the rear panel. They appear to be about 1″ in diameter. If I’m wrong about the rhombus, you can make the circles on the rear your next question. There is also a circle below and to the left of the rhombus in your picture.
MichaelH
Jan 1st, 2011 (7:09 pm)The only problem with your take on EVs and EREV-hybrids is that if we all took your stance – no plug-in hybrid or EV would ever exist or take wing.
If we all sat idly by watching engineers and designers come up with “what if” concepts for the next high profile auto show – if we all wished for something that doesn’t exist and did nothing, it would be like wishing those huge brick cell phones of the eighties would somehow improve – then I’d buy one. Quite a few people bought into the vision and pulled the trigger on those beasts of wireless or semi-wireless devices – enough to prompt the companies behind them to compete toward ones that actually had capabilities that made them practical for all.
The world is filled with people who look to others to make changes – make sacrifices – in order to change the world, a world they themselves will profit by. “Hey, let the others carry the load – me? I’ll just sit back and watch it all happen — then I’ll take advantage of their hard work. You have guys like that at work – you have people like that in your neighborhood… This is not the model that made America great. We’re people who see the vision and leap to be part of a brave new world. If a financial sacrifice is what it takes to evolve modern transport into clean – domestically-sourced energy, bless those that realize somebody has to do it, it aint just gonna happen ’cause we wish for it.
Thus, they call us who buy in “early adopters”. But for us, we’d still be in buggies drawn by real ponies ( the ones that chomp hay ). So if we just complain that our money is too valuable to spend on developing tech-and we’ll still rely on our ancient, highly massaged 19th century petroleum burners – then America will still be duly addicted to the very non-sustainable, dwindling resource that blackens our lungs, sends our boys to hell holes worldwide to “protect” our interests in the greasy stuff – and keeps us complaining that the world oughtta just be/have something better.
I think a true Happy New Year and New Century will be when fence sitters like you become adopters of the promising technology we’ve achieved now through lithium batterys and help push the momentum forward to these high goals you’ve stated. Yes, we all want what you want, but none of us will see that promise come to life if we all were like you and waited until it happened. It won’t unless we pitch in and make it happen with our wallets, will and ability to show automakers that if the car or truck we need doesn’t have a plug there’ll be no sale. You need a new steed, so you go out and buy existing crap ( see Motor Trend’s current cover story ie Chrysler ). And you’re definately part of the problem, not part of the solution.
OIL IS HELL!
James
Jan 1st, 2011 (7:09 pm)Or maybe where the front parking assist sender/receivers hide?
+4
Jan 1st, 2011 (7:37 pm)Total BS.
Prompter Bob has a logical approach not all that different from many on this blog. Even those who bought the Volt have “waited” for the Volt to become available at the relatively affordable price.
Many volt early adopters are not pioneering the way. GM did that for them and put it on a silver platter. The car is priced within the upper end of normal. And quite frankly, waiting for the Volt is silly if you claim to be a true pioneer. Electric cars have been available for decades for true early adopters who were willing to do something about getting one. There are plenty of custom car garages that can put an electric car together. Your post is typical of those who decide on what is best for them and then make that the ideal that everyone else should follow.
Comes across as total BS (mixed in with some Pomp-ass)
PS, sorry for the rant but I read the original post and understood his point. Your claim that he is part of the problem and not part of the solution (even though he is interested in the car) is quite offensive.
Jan 1st, 2011 (7:39 pm)Looks like a cover for installing an eyelet and hold down strap, to be used when shipping overseas. Most imports have one of these.
GSP
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (7:44 pm)Service is available in at least 48 states. Go ahead and buy one in CA. Plenty of people are buying out of state, instead of waiting.
GSP
Jan 1st, 2011 (8:05 pm)nasaman,
That covers a threaded hole to put an eye bolt, to which they can attach a strap to hold the car during ferry trips. A testament to Volt’s international character. Ferries are very popular in Europe and other places around the World.
Jan 1st, 2011 (8:11 pm)Oooh oooh oooh!! It’s some sort access point to gain entry/access to the car if/when all batteries have been depleted, right? What did I win?!
join thE REVolution
Jan 1st, 2011 (8:36 pm)All thoughtful answers, guys! And since I’m clueless myself as to the ACTUAL function of this mystery trapezoid, rhombus, parallelogram or whatever (sorry!) I’m going to concede and award the Grand Prize to ALL of you cyber maniacs: a High-Definition (1920×1280 pixels) wallpaper photo of the Motor Trend COTY Award scene with a red Volt at the Wind Tunnel’s entrance (exit?) and the giant MT Calipers Award beside it on a pedestal. This photo would make a very eye-catching wallpaper for your PC’s table top, or if you don’t mind using a lot of ink, it would make a gorgeous 11 x 17″ poster — either one would definitely be noticed by anyone passing through your home or work office and get some conversation going on the Volt. I think GSP & Eco-Turbo are closest; good try ClarksonCote. Here’s the link:
http://www.conceptcarz.com/view/photo/627750,15702/2011-Chevrolet-Volt.aspx —and there’s a miniature version below…
+1
Jan 1st, 2011 (9:39 pm)The 2004 XLR has a similar cover on the rear bumper for the owner to manually open the trunk with a key. I called someone familiar with these covers and they can have multiple uses. He did say a special tool is used to prevent damage when removing. He will do more research next week. I looked at the one on the Volt and examined the area inside with the hood open, but no clues and no way am I prying that cover off and scratching the bumper!
With the coast to coast beach photos appearing recently, here is my New Year’s Day photo with Mt. Baldy in the background. Thanks to all who are posting pictures!
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:04 pm)Thanks for looking into this little mystery, Mark. The photo of your Volt with Mt Baldy in the back-
ground is breathtaking! My wild guess is it’s somewhere between Pasadena & Rancho Cucamonga (I LOVE saying that!) or somewhere along the 210 Fwy. Do you mind saying exactly where you live?
.
Jan 1st, 2011 (10:26 pm)The HHR has a similar cover, in the car is an eyebolt that can be screwed in to a hole that is behind the cover. I have actually removed the cover with no damage to the panel. It is not hard to do. It can be used to pull the car out of mud or snow. Never tried it in a ferry though. I just use a parking brake for those.
Thanks for the prize! It is totally Awesome!>/b>
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:11 pm)Prompter Bob,
I disagree that 100 is the magic number. I think 60 on all but the worst days would be more than sufficient for almost all.
+2
Jan 1st, 2011 (11:57 pm)Wow! Just as we thought: new Volts in driveways, at beachsides, and mountain overlooks. The Volt is a point of pride and grace for many new owners and yet-to-be owners. We are simply grateful to be witness to this remarkable renaissance. The world is changing, and EVs and the Volt are hastening that change.
Lyle, just reviewed your video again. Your mistake was to push the global warming bit. It paints the Volt as a green-weirdo car meant to avert a fiery apocalypse. That’s too far left for the average guy who wants a fuel efficient PHEV that will help kick foreign oil addiction. This car is neither left or right – it has appeal for everyone. You might replace those slides with a couple about how much foreign oil WE WILL NOT BUY due to electrification of transport.
But your overall greeting is warm and welcome and we wish you and all here on the GM-Volt site – a VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! (it already IS;)
Jan 2nd, 2011 (2:02 am)I used to be skeptical of climate change. There is some evidence that changed my mind. I hope you will look at it with an open mind. http://www.grist.org/article/series/skeptics/
Jan 2nd, 2011 (2:49 am)I placed a pin on the Google map a couple weeks ago. It “pinpoints” the exact location of the photo shoot. I live near that area. (Another contest. Here is a hint, it’s not along the 210 and my approximate location is in my forum posts.)
Jan 2nd, 2011 (2:57 am)Probably too late but I asked about that rhombus on the front fender when I picked up mine yesterday. It is an access port for some tech instrument to monitor something or other. Then again that was the dealers tech rep and he may have been BSing me. Sorry no further details. I’m sure a Volt Advisor could track down the answer for you.
-Book
Jan 2nd, 2011 (5:55 am)+1
Jan 2nd, 2011 (7:12 am)My next guess would be the La Habra – Yorba Linda area. If so, the visibility had to be good when you shot that photo ’cause that’s close to 30 miles from Mt Baldy. In any case that picture is a real keeper!
/I’m in Orlando about 2,700 mi from LA, and as gorgeous as your new Volt is I have NO plan to ‘jack’ it right now (though I might decide differently if I have to be in SoCal for any reason)!
Jan 2nd, 2011 (8:01 am)Happy New Year everyone!
OT:
More bad news about gas prices:
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Oils-surge-in-2010-paves-the-apf-1258480888.html?x=0
It really would be nice if GM released the schedule of when Volts will be available for sale in other areas……
Jan 2nd, 2011 (6:07 pm)Re:40% US parts.
Let’s hope this improves as GM builds it’s own parts as planned.
Also… the profits from this plant stay in the US… unlike the transplants from Hyundai Toyota Honda etc which suck billions OUT of our economy.
Also… GM is paying taxes at this plant which transplants are not paying.
I know of a family that live near a Toyota plant… they pay no taxes but taxes built infrastructure for the plant and Toyota is NOT paying local taxes .. so they have raised the taxes so high this family can’t afford to live near the plant.
There is a reason Japan puts a huge tariff on any car the US tries to sell there…. and Japan is not the only major market that keeps American products out… Germany Korea etc do the same.
+1
Jan 3rd, 2011 (1:18 am)Jim, it’s not the science, it’s the global warming campaign is divisive and wallowing at this time. Volt has a very unique opportunity to unite greens and fiscal conservatives by cutting our foreign oil imports. And using a domestic energy source that is far cleaner than oil. Thanks for the link. The author describes himself as a “Former musician, turned tree planter, turned software engineer.”
Lyle’s video could very well go viral if he were to remove the divisive politics.
-2
Jan 3rd, 2011 (5:12 am)Don’t hold back, Jackass.
Hey you can call me a pompous ass or crazy or what-have-you…. Truth is, you really can speak for all who sit back and observe, and then somehow feel you are part of a revolution.
Sure, I’m being frank here, and a bit blunt, but you’ve got to be kidding when you say people who adopt a new way of life by purchasing an EV or EREV in their current iteration are not pioneers. Sure they are – and my hat is off to them, every one. There is inherent sacrifice to convenience and budget in adopting any car with a plug in 2011. To say EVs have always been available in a practical manner – with a warranty, and a legit company behind them at an attainable cost – is mindless. The fact that three people opted to give you a plus rating probably speaks more to folks who don’t want to speak plainly in that a strong opinion like mine ruffles feathers, more than their true belief in the absolute drivel you printed.
Gimme a break. Do you even read the stuff you type?
Go ahead and sit back and watch others make it possible for you to be able to drive a clean, quiet long range car or truck powered by American made electricity someday.
A guy who is wealthy enough to have a custom-one-off EV made for them, or a true grit
enthusiast with the smarts and persistence to make their own EV conversion – they are great guys…But nobody with a brain thinks those few will “change the world” as an early adopter. GM broke ground and took on the risk to produce the Volt – but if Prompter Bob’s outlook is the prevailing one – it will join the EV-1 as a blip on the radar of automobile history. Chevy has to sell Voltecs – lots of them. Mass production leads to mass adoption. Isn’t this obvious to you?
I’m glad Lyle has provided this forum for Prompter Bob, you and I to express our disparate opinions. I’d never use the word “offended” to describe my feelings re: opinions like yours, “baffled” is more like it. You sound like those folks that still consider Prius drivers snobs and greenies who feel they are superior. Mostly, those folks are a bit uncomfortable with hybrids and their owners since they have become commonplace, they force them to confront themselves and reason why they personally still cling to the habits of the past.
Me, I’d rather be part of the solution – not the problem. What’s worse, is claiming to be a big fan of EVs and hybrids – yet showing the hypocricy of wait-and-see.
PUMP OUT THE VOLTS! ,
James
+2
Jan 3rd, 2011 (7:35 am)You missed the point I guess
I am simply stating that you are being offensive for calling someone “part of the problem” when they decide to hold off on EVs for another generation.
Here is a guy who is going to ride an electric bike while he waits and you call him part of the problem. He clearly wants an electric car but just not fast enough for you.
I wanted to point out to you that buying a net 36,000 electric car is not the stuff of heroes. There have been true pioneers driving electrics (for less cost than the Volt) for many years. They may not have had the range, warranty, or shiny electronic gadgets on board but they were driving electric.
You be-little these people (“nobody with a brain thinks they are changing the world”) and you belittle a guy who is buying an electric bike.
Basically, you are saying, If you don’t buy an EV when James declares it time to do so then you are “part of the problem”
Well James, that’s quite a pompous attitude to take and quite offensive too.
It is because of people like you that look down their noses at other people that Prius drivers can get the reputation of being Snobs. You are proof that some people can be eco snobs. Look and learn class….
The prius drivers I know are all smart people who would not take such an offensive position but I guess there are always some in the crowd as your posts demonstrate.
Jan 4th, 2011 (12:12 am)It’s not possible to pass on a winch in a Voltec vehicle, as it’s part of the drivetrain under the hood, provides maximum torque from 0 rpm and easily pulls the vehicle that it’s inside at highway cruising speeds. It seems you’re looking for something between the Volt and a Liebherr T282B diesel electric truck?
In other news to posters, flux capacitors are soooo last century (1985, to be precise). This year so far, it’s axial flux and dual Agni DC versus AC motors at your nearest TTXGP race:
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/project7-electric-superbike-to-bring-axial-flux-to-ttxgp-28993.html
Chip Yates is racing directly with the gasser SuperSports with his electric this year on their turf and rules, which are designed to showcase the strengths and hide the weaknesses of ICEs:
http://www.examiner.com/motorcycle-in-national/electric-superbike-to-compete-2011-season-against-gas-models
Electric race bikes have been improving about 11% a year, a torrid pace that gassers haven’t seen since the middle of last century. Electric motorcycles have already beaten gassers in sanctioned races in 16″ and National motocross championships and have completed hundrdeds of miles in 24 hour off road endurance races. So I suppose electric two wheelers have a role to play in performance internationally as well as in pure numbers in Asia (new electrics outsell new gassers this year),
It seems the tipping point towards electric drive configurations is now in the rear view mirror, at least for those of us who value superior performance and luxury.
-1
Jan 4th, 2011 (12:51 pm)Glad to continue the dialogue. I’m not sure who’se post you’re commenting on – mine in no way “belittles” anyone, let alone electric bike riders! I myself ride an electric scooter ( Go-Ped ESR ) to try to make short trips gas free. I’m waiting too. But the only reason I’m not waiting for delivery of my Volt is because GM won’t sell me one in my state.
My commentary is purely and squarely based on folks like Bob, and yourself who claim they are EV advocates, can afford to adopt the new technology, but sit by and even print online that you’re waiting for something better to come along – pie-in-the-sky – at some point in the future. That may fly with cellphones or computers, which aren’t factors in clean air we can breathe and taking money from the hands of countrys that hate our way of life and would like to see us dead. You completely missed my point.
I think you’d rather be offended.
Scores of folks dream of owning a LEAF, iMiev, Focus EV or Volt someday when they can afford one. That’s another subject. I’m borderline, finance-wise, when it comes to affording a $40k car, esp. when my family requires 2 vehicles. There’s no doubt buying a Volt is a sacrifice in more ways than one for most. Buying one is more a statement, than just buying a form of transportation. Anyone who buys a high mileage conventional car because that’s what their current budget can bear – my hat is off to them. During the 2008 gas crunch, so many took public transportation, rode bikes and walked to save money. It showed we all can do better when it comes to consuming foreign and domestic crude.
Every Volt GM manufacturers must sell. Every intender needs to contact their local dealer, GM and even public utilities to let them know they’re ripe for an EV. Intent indicates to the industry that the interest is there, but only when lots of folks put their money where their mouths are will any change occur. To date, the momentum of EVs is encouraging – but for them to catch on will require “pioneers” to buy lots of ‘em.
A person who is all talk and no action is a JackAss, let’s face it. It’s apparent many are sitting by watching the industry with interest. I’m glad for all the interest – but these folks should not call themselves enthusiasts or “game changers”. I think they should be called out. Perhaps they do not feel Big Oil, Peak Oil or insane spending of their tax money securing oil interests globally truly threatens our way of life. I disagree. If we do feel the tons of pollutants we’re pouring into the air getting from point A to B are damaging nature – causing disease and making the world a less peaceful place, I believe it’s our obligation to do what we can to ensure a better future.
OIL IS HELL! ,
James
+1
Jan 4th, 2011 (1:18 pm)James,
James,
And my point is that everything you stated is true but not as black and white as you presume. It is all on a sliding grey scale from 0 to 100%. Choosing a Volt is not 100% pioneer. Owning a car at all is not 100%.
Who is more the pioneer, the guy who buys a Volt or the guy who 10 years ago packed some batteries into an old used car and drove electrically.
http://cbelectriccar.com/blog/homemade-electric-car/homemade-electric-car-how-to-get-started-with-a-diy-electric-vehicle/
Anyone can do this and it is less than a Volt by far. Who needs a warranty. Just replace the batteries yourself or pay someone to do it. Still cheaper than a Volt.
My point was that you have chosen to set the time and place where one must jump into the EV game or else they are a a fence sitter. I am telling you that if you don’t drive electric already you are a fence sitter by my arbitrary standards. I mention this just to point out that your standards are arbitrary too.
Read your original post to the guy. That is all I was responding too. You are very passionate about this. I am just saying that you should not put others down just because they don’t join the party at the exact year that you choose to do so. Especially since you are many years late to the party.
If you really believe what you say…
“A person who is all talk and no action is a JackAss, let’s face it. It’s apparent many are sitting by watching the industry with interest. I’m glad for all the interest – but these folks should not call themselves enthusiasts or “game changers”. I think they should be called out. Perhaps they do not feel Big Oil, Peak Oil or insane spending of their tax money securing oil interests globally truly threatens our way of life. I disagree. If we do feel the tons of pollutants we’re pouring into the air getting from point A to B are damaging nature – causing disease and making the world a less peaceful place, I believe it’s our obligation to do what we can to ensure a better future. OIL IS HELL!”
Then why did you wait so long to get an electric car. It sounds like you are all talk an no action.