GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

In 2006, GM unveiled a plugin hybrid 2-mode Saturn VUE concept six months before unveiling the Volt concept. Since the 2-mode hybrid system was already near production, and the plugin version would require a smaller battery than the Volt, it appeared likely that car would make it to market first.

However, since the Volt met such strong public praise, and GM was desperate for positive press, product guru Bob Lutz pushed the Volt program ahead to leapfrog all else.

Over these years we have seen and heard about the 2-mode plugin hybrid in various forms; there was the VUE, then after Saturn folded a Buick version. Later the system was shown in a Cadillac XTS flagship concept.

The system has been operational though in small test fleets for years. In fact, more than two years ago I test drove a perfectly satisfactory 2-mode plugin SUV on GM’s proving grounds. At the time I heard off the record from GM insiders that a Cadillac SRX 2-mode plugin hybrid was being brought to production.

Now the latest iteration, and in my opinion the one that makes the most sense, is leaking into the media, though not yet of course officially announced.

Jim Frederico, who is GM’s electric vehicle chief, alluded to reporters in Australia that his company was readying a plug-in hybrid version of the Cruze.   When I met Frederico in the past he told me GM had extensive future electric vehicle plans, but was very tight lipped about them as the Volt was about to be launched.  Currently, he didn’t say the Volt would be abandoned but that the two would complement each other in the product portfolio.

“The Volt will always be a plug-in electric vehicle,” Federico told GoAuto. “Plug-in Cruze doesn’t make Volt redundant at all. Plug-in Cruze would have a different powertrain. Plug-in hybrids use both the engine and motor all the time.”

The plug-in Cruze would be able to compete directly with the plugin Prius for which Toyota is currently accepting orders.

The car would presumably have a small battery, perhaps 1/3 the size of the Volt, and be able to travel 10 or 15 miles on electric only at low load demand. High loads and speeds would cause the gas engine to go on and it would drive the car once the battery reaches the depletion point.

The car’s small size lends to more fuel efficiency by the 2-mode plugin system than larger vehicles like SUVs.  Also since the Cruze is in mass production and priced below $20,000, it is likely GM could make the plug-in Cruze affordable – think under $30,000 without rebate.

Furthermore customers going into showrooms to see the Volt and instead buying the Cruze for cost reason, would likely be more tempted to get the plugin version.

Before we get too excited, GM communications as usual gives us the official party (pooper) line, this time attributable to Kevin Kelly:

We have not announced a Cruze PHEV and currently have no plans to produce a Cruze PHEV. Federico was providing direction on the multiple technologies that GM continues to work on in the hybrid space. We have said on several occasions that PHEV technology is something GM continues to work on, but we have no production plans or timing announced yet.

And so just maybe our horizon of a world less dependent on oil slowly widens.

Source (Go Auto)

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In response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s opening a preliminary evaluation into the Volt’s battery pack, GM announced yesterday it would introduce a few initiatives to augment consumer confidence.

On top of the list of assurances, Mark Reuss, president, GM North America, reiterated that GM has engineered a safe vehicle.

“We stand 100% behind the quality and safety of the Chevrolet Volt – now and always,” Reuss said in a letter (see below), “I am also a Volt owner; my daughter drives it every day and she will continue to do so.”

The 2011-2012 Chevrolet Volt ranks near the top for sheer number of awards and accolades including top safety honors in the U.S. and in Europe.

But for those needing even more reassurance, the company said it will offer Volt owners a loaner car until the issue is resolved.

At the same time, GM has established a senior engineering team to work with NHTSA on possible changes, if needed, to increase safety.

As previously reported, NHTSA’s evaluation is part of a six-month-and-counting industry wide electrified vehicle evaluation. NHTSA began this after a Volt crash tested in May caught fire three weeks later.

GM’s procedures are to discharge the battery, but NHTSA is testing to see what happens when people don’t.

Its Volt-specific evaluation was announced Friday after two side-impacted stand-alone Volt batteries ignited.

GM has continued to say batteries of post-crash Volts need to be discharged. The company has said it is confident fires would not be happening if its procedures were being followed.

The automaker has installed OnStar, an onboard communications system, and sends technicians to drain the electricity from the battery.

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Following PR complications from allegedly stuck Toyota accelerators, NHTSA is taking no chances. Some are observing that disregarding GM’s protocol is part of NHTSA’s attempt to cover its bases.

Nonetheless, NHTSA said it remains “concerned” that a real-world fire could result, presumably before a team from GM reaches the vehicle to discharge its battery.

While saying it is too soon to tell, NHTSA has raised the specter of a recall if it deems a public safety risk exists.

Addressing NHTSA’s concerns, Reuss said GM is confident and going above the call of duty just to allay concerns.

“The Volt is a five-star safety car,” Reuss said. “Even though no customer has experienced in the real world what was identified in this latest testing of post-crash situations, we’re taking critical steps to ensure customer satisfaction and safety.”

Reuss said any Volt owner who has concerns for his or her safety can contact a Volt adviser to arrange for a free GM loaner until resolution is made.

“A vehicle loan program of this nature is well beyond the norm for a preliminary investigation, and it underlines our commitment to the vehicle and its owners,” he said. “These steps are the right ones to take regardless of any immediate impact on our operations.”

For his part, GM-Volt.com founder, Dr. Lyle Dennis said he is not alarmed by what many are saying are excessively amplified fears.

“I am not overly concerned about this issue,” Lyle said. “If you crash any car you could be in serious trouble. We all know gas catches fire too.”

To be sure, last year 215,500 gas and diesel vehicles were involved in fires in the U.S., and the main issue with electric vehicles appears to be fear of the unknown.

But Lyle is better informed about the Volt than most, and as owner of Volt No. 8, he says he “won’t be taking a loaner.”

As GM-Volt readers know, Lyle started this Web site to see the Volt built, and compiled a list of tens of thousands of readers who said they would buy the car.

He has followed the Volt’s development since the 2007 Volt Concept through to today, and has remained a steadfast believer in the Volt as a safe and viable “bridge” technology away from oil dependence.

So the latest news does not faze him personally, he said, but he is mindful of what can happen at the public relations level.

“I am concerned all the negative press and attention could reduce the momentum and sales of the Volt and perhaps the EV market in general,” Lyle said.

And to those who are pro-EV, and in the Volt’s camp, Lyle also noted that perceived conflicts of interest could lead to wild speculation about NHTSA’s latest singling out of the one American made car that he believes is best positioned to offer a solution today to America’s energy future.

“Conspiracy theorists could have a field day with the idea big oil is behind this,” Lyle said.

As for the actual cause of the Volt battery fires, some of the talk has included speculation about its coolant crystallizing and causing a short, but Greg Martin, Director, Policy and Washington Communications said no one is officially calling it yet.

In a phone interview yesterday, Martin said no stakeholders in the Volt battery evaluation are inclined to speculate with any certainty what they feel was the root cause until the government’s determination is officially made.

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A letter to Volt owners from Mark Reuss.

In the meantime, GM is trying to head further PR implications off at the pass.

Mary Barra, senior vice president, Global Product Development, said GM has established a senior engineering team to develop changes intended to eliminate concern of potential post-crash electrical fires.

The team is also in place to work with industry to ensure appropriate electric vehicle protocols were in place.

Barra reiterated electrical fires have not occurred on public roads and added that NHTSA was not investigating any such potential imminent failure on the roads.

“GM and the agency’s focus and research continue to be on the performance, handling, storage and disposal of batteries after a crash or other significant event,” she said. “We’re working with NHTSA so we all have an understanding about these risks and how they can be avoided in the future. This isn’t just a Volt issue. We’re already leading a joint electric vehicle activity with Society of Automotive Engineers and other automotive companies to address new issues, such as this protocol of depowering batteries after a severe crash.”

Barra said the team would continue to work closely with NHTSA, suppliers, dealers and manufacturing teams to initiate any necessary changes as soon as possible.

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Dear GM-Volt Readers: We value everyone’s feedback on our daily stories, but – please – don’t post breaking news or other stories that we could be working on as a post here. Doing this will help ensure fresh daily discussions, and will be better for everyone. If you would instead, please e-mail story ideas to jcobb@verticalscope.com Thank you!

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The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is doubling down on GM as part of a broader electric vehicle investigation after the federal agency crash tested and induced fires in the Volt’s battery this month.

In a statement Friday, the agency determined its fire in May – that was never reported by GM or the government until months later – was, as GM has since conceded, caused by the Volt’s damaged battery. Full proof came during the middle of this month when two crashed Volt batteries out of three ignited.

“The agency is concerned that damage to the Volt’s batteries as part of three tests that are explicitly designed to replicate real-world crash scenarios have resulted in fire,” NHTSA said. “NHTSA is therefore opening a safety defect investigation of Chevy Volts, which could experience a battery-related fire following a crash. Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been in a serious crash do not have reason for concern.”

Since the Volt’s launch, GM has said its post-crash procedure is to discharge its battery. But this has not stopped the federal government from testing it without doing this, and now that it has managed to start more fires, it is mentioning possibility of a recall.

“NHTSA is continually working to ensure automakers are in compliance with federal motor vehicle safety standards, culling information to identify safety defects, and ensuring manufacturers conduct any necessary safety recalls,” NHTSA said, and added further, “While it is too soon to tell whether the investigation will lead to a recall of any vehicles or parts, if NHTSA identifies an unreasonable risk to safety, the agency will take immediate action to notify consumers and ensure that GM communicates with current vehicle owners.”

Starting fires

The latest fires in question resulted from side-impact tests conducted Nov. 16, 17 and 18 on stand-alone Volt batteries. As mentioned, NHTSA did not discharge them, but left them charged – and even rotated one post-crash – to see what would happen.

The Nov 16 post-crash battery did not ignite, but the other two were not so benign.

“During the test conducted on November 18 using similar protocols, the battery pack was rotated within hours after it was impacted and began to smoke and emit sparks shortly after rotation to 180 degrees,” NHTSA said last week. “NHTSA’s forensic analysis of the November 18 fire incident is continuing this week. Yesterday, the battery pack that was tested on November 17 and that had been continually monitored since the test caught fire at the testing facility.”

Among other issues, NHTSA is presumably concerned for vehicle occupants in the event that no time lag as has thus far been experienced would allow them to exit safely. It is therefore continuing to work with the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and GM to assess the implications.

To balance out the alarm raised, NHTSA also noted it is unaware of any roadway crashes that have resulted in a Volt fire.

The agency also offered a broad-brush endorsement in line with the Obama administration’s sentiment for electrified vehicles.

“NHTSA continues to believe that electric vehicles have incredible potential to save consumers money at the pump, help protect the environment, create jobs, and strengthen national security by reducing our dependence on oil,” NHTSA said. “In fact, NHTSA testing on electric vehicles to date has not raised safety concerns about vehicles other than the Chevy Volt.”

Although the Volt is being singled out, NHTSA meanwhile advised drivers and others who might be involved with any crashed electric vehicle as follows:

• Consumers are advised to take the same actions they would in a crash involving a gasoline-powered vehicle-exit the vehicle safely or await the assistance of an emergency responder if they are unable to get out on their own, move a safe distance away from the vehicle, and notify the authorities of the crash.
• Emergency responders should check a vehicle for markings or other indications that it is electric-powered. If it is, they should exercise caution, per published guidelines, to avoid any possible electrical shock and should disconnect the battery from the vehicle circuits if possible.
• Emergency responders should also use copious amounts of water if fire is present or suspected and keeping in mind that fire can occur for a considerable period after a crash should proceed accordingly.
• Operators of tow trucks and vehicle storage facilities should ensure the damaged vehicle is kept in an open area instead of inside a garage or other enclosed building.
• Rather than attempt to discharge a propulsion battery, an emergency responder, tow truck operator, or storage facility manager should contact experts at the vehicle’s manufacturer on that subject.
• Vehicle owners should not store a severely damaged vehicle in a garage or near other vehicles.
• Consumers with questions about their electric vehicles should contact their local dealers.

For future updates, NHTSA says to visit www.SaferCar.gov – or, you can check back here at GM-Volt.com.

Much ado about very little?

There is no doubt the culture we live in is increasingly catering for safety, and what would have formerly been considered extremely cautious sensibilities can hold sway.

Meanwhile, others have observed that society accepts grandfathered-in dangers from conventional vehicles, having learned to deal with them as well as possible.

For example, there were 215,500 fires in the U.S. involving vehicles that use gasoline or diesel according to the National Fire Protection Association.

As GM attempts to introduce technology leading toward a replacement, it continues to make reassuring statements that the OnStar equipped and highly engineered Volt is very safe.

Time will tell what this latest public scrutiny ultimately means.

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Dear GM-Volt Readers: We value everyone’s feedback on our daily stories, but – please – don’t post breaking news or other stories that we could be working on as a post here. Doing this will help ensure fresh daily discussions, and will be better for everyone. If you would instead, please e-mail story ideas to jcobb@verticalscope.com Thank you!

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A couple days ago Chevrolet announced that both the Volt and Malibu received five stars out of five following crash testing by the European New Car Assessment Program (Euro NCAP).

When we contacted Chevrolet of Europe, we learned the range-extended car crash tested was actually an Opel Ampera, but you may see reports stating the results for the Volt, as GM has issued a press release stating the same.

Because the sibling cars are engineered identically, Chevrolet of Europe spokesperson Cornelia Harodt said that an Ampera crash can be reported as a Volt result.

“The vehicle crashed by Euro NCAP was an Ampera,” she said. “As both cars are technically identical it does not make a difference for the rating.”

The bottom line is two of Chevrolet’s more important vehicles have been favorably recognized, or at least one would gather this from a statement by Wayne Brannon, president and managing director of Chevrolet Europe.

“The results confirm that both vehicles meet today’s highest safety standards,” Brannon said of the Volt and Malibu. “The Volt’s safety performance and propulsion concept highlight the reliability and practicality that is inherent to this outstanding design.”

Euro NCAP is a third-party organization, and its findings now add to those by two American safety rating organizations.

Specifically, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) named the Volt its “Top Safety Pick,” and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also gave the Volt a five-star rating.

Further distinction goes to the Volt for being the first American-manufactured electric vehicle to ace all categories for Euro NCAP.

Actually, this is a Chevrolet family celebration, as several of its vehicles have garnered Euro NCAP honors.

The new Malibu, which the company says is “Chevrolet’s new flagship in Europe” also aced all categories. Additionally, the Aveo hatchback, which Chevrolet says is the “safest car in its segment,” took five stars earlier this year, as did the Cruze, Orlando, and Captiva SUV.

This latest distinction earned by the Volt/Ampera has been added to our list of top Volt awards and accolades, and we expect a few more entries before the year is through.

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Dear GM-Volt Readers: We value everyone’s feedback on our daily stories, but – please – don’t post breaking news or other stories that we could be working on as a post here. Doing this will help ensure fresh daily discussions, and will be better for everyone. If you would instead, please e-mail story ideas to jcobb@verticalscope.com Thank you!

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On Tuesday, GM-Volt reader, contributor and Volt owner, Dr. William Destler was featured on the Faces of GM Web site along with his unique style of advocating for the Volt’s technology.

GM portrayed Bill Destler as “an unapologetic believer in environmental sustainability,” and his driving the car as integral with his mission as president of Rochester Institute of Technology.

“RIT is probably the world leader in what I would call industrial sustainability,” Destler told GM. “That is, helping companies improve their bottom line by using less materials, using less energy, reusing materials and remanufacturing products.”

Destler was presented by GM as a man who has thought through what he believes and as one in position to foster other talented minds to work in a similar direction.

GM asked him whether, as some might say, environmentally focused initiatives might wind up costing jobs, and thus backfire for all their good intent. Destler said absolutely not.

“That’s nonsense,” he said. “In reality, the average company that we work with actually increases its profit margin as a result of these activities, and that helps to grow the business, and that usually results in the hiring of more people as well.”

Environmental sustainability, high-technology, weaning America off of oil, improving productivity, helping the economy – and being thankful for the Volt – all go together, he said.

And speaking of “reusing materials,” GM observed Destler also happens to own more than 150 collectible banjos and other stringed instruments including guitars and mandolins.

He said he inadvertently found his way into this hobby while learning to play the banjo in graduate school and after a friend suggested older banjos sound better. Following this advice, he said he bought a banjo made in 1890, and that was the beginning of a collection when initially all he had wanted was one good instrument to play.

GM noted with wry good humor that Destler’s approach of “banjos, blogs, the environment and the Chevrolet Volt” are an appropriate twist on Chevrolet’s former ad campaign of “baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Chevrolet,” – and it obviously works for GM which has updated its approach by touting environmental sustainability and all of the above as well.

And it is working for Destler, who GM described as “an evangelist for the Volt.” If you’ll recall, his blogging includes three excellent home page articles written this year for this Web site here, here, and here – one of which you can see briefly in the video – thanks GM!

Bill sent those articles in without asking for anything – no requested linkbacks, no compensation, nothing, except for the opportunity to give back to the Volt community.

On this Thanksgiving Day, we’re thanking Dr. Destler – and all GM-Volt readers – for dedication to the Volt which, as he told GM, is “practical transportation meeting everyone’s needs while reducing our dependence on foreign oil.”

Whether you’re a Volt owner or just an admirer at this point, thanks for playing an important role in what GM is doing with its Voltec platform.

Many of you have contributed and are “evangelists” in your own right, and we could just as well have featured you.

So, thanks to everyone for reading, commenting, visiting the forum, and being a part. I hope whatever you do today, it is good.

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Dear GM-Volt Readers: We value everyone’s feedback on our daily stories, but – please – don’t post breaking news or other stories that we could be working on as a post here. Doing this will help ensure fresh daily discussions, and will be better for everyone. If you would instead, please e-mail story ideas to jcobb@verticalscope.com Thank you!

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General Motors may not be offering as many specifics as some would like, but it is keeping the announcements coming regarding its commitment to developing “a range of advanced propulsion technologies.”

Not least of these is a fleet of nine converted all-electric Chevrolet Equinox crossovers in Canada publicized last Thursday. These are part of a joint project between GM and Magna E-Car Systems, which is a partnership between Magna International and the Stronach Group.

The converted Equinoxes are to be evaluated in depth by a number of interested stakeholders as a step toward possibly producing vehicles of this type.

Magna E-Car Systems’ converted electric Chevy Equinox.

“Collaboration between automakers, suppliers, utility companies and the government is essential in order to develop solutions for future mobility,” said Ted Robertson, Vice Chairman, Magna E-Car Systems. “Such collaboration can enhance innovation and reduce costs, particularly in fleet projects such as this where the resulting data and lessons learned are useful to all participants.”

The drivetrain was developed by Magna E-Car Systems in Aurora, Ontario and help with integrating the system was provided by GM’s Canadian Engineering Centre in Oshawa, Ontario.

It utilizes an electric motor that generates maximum power of 105 kilowatts and energy is supplied from a 33-kwh battery pack.

A key question to be answered by monitoring this demonstration fleet will be what is the real-world range achievable by an electric vehicle of this size?

Although the drivetrain is Magna’s, GM is presenting its part in this collaboration as a facet of its global effort to push the frontier forward.

“This demonstration project is the latest example of GM’s commitment to broaden our vehicle electrification technology expertise working with a leading Canadian supplier, like Magna E-Car Systems,” said Matthew Crossley, Director, Canadian Engineering for General Motors of Canada Limited. “This pilot project will help both GM and Magna E-Car Systems gather key learnings about the integration of vehicle electrification technologies.”

Via a Magna press release, GM said its customer-centric goals are at a stage now where demonstration fleets around the world are proving what will work, and what will not.

Thus far, the only all-electric vehicle GM has divulged definite plans to produce is the 2013 Spark EV. Also pending is the extended-range Cadillac ELR – and a production time frame for this high-end Voltec car is yet to be announced.

Lest anyone actually be concerned, GM reiterated that its investment capital arm – GM Ventures – is also placing key bets in promising technologies and the company is working behind the scenes to be ready to compete with anyone.

Included in GM’s efforts therefore, is this latest fleet test with Magna E-Car Systems. As part of the far-reaching Magna International, the E-Car Systems arm has high hopes for its design, engineering, manufacturing, vehicle integration and testing on a global scale as well.

“With a focus on innovation, Magna E-Car offers a wide array of products including lithium-ion cells and battery packs, electric drive motors and generators, inverters, converters, onboard chargers, and powertrain control modules,” Magna says.

The work with electrified Equinoxes follows a GM-sponsored EcoCAR Challenge in which promising engineering students from a variety of colleges were first turned loose to find ways to improve Chevy-badged Saturn Vues that looked similar to an Equinox.

Begun in 2008 and intended to explore a number of technological approaches, the student competition got solid support from GM’s engineers, and it was said the knowledge and learning transferred in both directions.

Of course the work with Magna E-Car Systems is a fully professional effort with the goal of approaching the market with battery electric solutions.

However, as one might expect, no indication was offered as to whether these specific vehicles or another GM crossover would be put into production.

In so many words, GM continues to say it is still working on exactly how it can feasibly do that, and will let us know when it can.

Magna

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Dear GM-Volt Readers: We value everyone’s feedback on our daily stories, but – please – don’t post breaking news or other stories that we could be working on as a post here. Doing this will help ensure fresh daily discussions, and will be better for everyone. If you would instead, please e-mail story ideas to jcobb@verticalscope.com Thank you!

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