Yesterday, the Volt received yet another honor, this time from north of the American border by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), which named the Voltec propulsion system as the winner of the “2012 Best New Technology” award.
The occasion was the Canadian International Auto Show, and following “rigorous” judging of 10 new technology entries by AJAC’s Technology Jury made up of 12 of Canada’s leading automotive journalists, the Voltec system came out on top.
“We are very proud to receive AJAC’s 2012 Best New Technology award for the Voltec propulsion system,” said Kevin Williams, president and managing director at GM of Canada. “The Voltec propulsion system is the heart of the Chevrolet Volt, which combines pure electric drive and an efficient range-extending engine to create the only electric vehicle on the market today that does not require a customer to make compromises on when and where they can travel.”
This is now the second major award won in Canada by the extended-range electric Volt this year. The car was also recognized not long ago as Motoring TV’s “2012 Best New Green Car of the Year.”
The budding Canadian list of acknowledgments also adds to a long list of awards and accolades won by the Volt in 2011, and yesterday’s honor won’t likely be the last.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Changes ahead at GM-Volt
Friends and readers of GM-Volt’s home page,
Today will mark the beginning of a transition for me, where I will be taking on some additional responsibilities here at VerticalScope.
As many of you know there is less in the way of Volt news coming directly from GM than there was in the earlier years. GM is now in process of ramping up acceptance for the E-REV while not saying when exactly the next Voltec model will be built. After the last year of writing daily for GM-Volt, I will be adding some new responsibilities to my plate in the form of also writing for the HybridCars.com site. I will continue to post on GM-Volt, but with fewer topics to write about, and the forum tending to “break news” far quicker than I can, I felt I would be better utilized to spread out my writing across both sites.
HybridCars.com is actually about all advanced vehicle technologies, and we will of course also cover the Volt. If you haven’t visited the site yet, I encourage you to do so.
This was my first time behind the wheel of a Volt when I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the annual EDTA conference last April.
As for GM-Volt’s home page, the offer has always been open, and now is repeated: If anyone is interested in writing, either from time to time, or if you’re able to commit to a certain number of posts per week, please contact me at jcobb@verticalscope.com.
Naturally, the central focus is Volt news, and related topics. These could include GM advanced-tech news, other advanced-tech vehicles, battery tech, infrastructural issues, Volt owner stories and anecdotes, etc. If you think you’d be interested, please first email me with the idea. Odds are story ideas will be fine, but we’d like to keep content within certain guidelines.
It has been my privilege to write for you thus far and look forward to your support as I add some additional responsibilities to my plate.
Thank you,
Jeff Cobb
Editor-In-Chief
GM-Volt.com and HybridCars.com
+18
Feb 17th, 2012 (6:27 am)Thank you Jeff for keeping the spirit alive as long as you have. I’ll still be tuning in daily.
For us in OZ, the ride has still yet to begin, so I’m sure there will be new readers when the Volt finally reaches market and people are wanting to know more about this vehicle.
+17
Feb 17th, 2012 (7:22 am)Getting up a little early each weekday for the past several years to read about what Jeff and Lyle had to say about the Volt has been wonderful. Thanks Jeff, for extending the great run a of stories further.
WVhybrid.
+17
Feb 17th, 2012 (7:23 am)Extra responsibilties at the parent operation? It sounds like congratulations are in order, Jeff. So, congratulations!
+6
Feb 17th, 2012 (8:21 am)Charlie H,
This a first for you Charlie , all +’s .
Amen on the congrats……hope Jeff can still give us sopme of his time regularly……
Thanx Jeff and we appreciate all your good work
HaroldC
+4
Feb 17th, 2012 (8:32 am)Thx Jeff!!
You have done a great job here.
Sorry to see you will be scaling back on the write ups.
I will check out Hybridcars.com
GSB
+7
Feb 17th, 2012 (8:51 am)You had big shoes to fill here Jeff, when Lyle gave you the keys to this site, and I think you have settled in here very well. This is still usually the first and last site I go to in a day, and look forward to continue coming here as long as it is available. Thanks for all you do!
Long live GM-Volt.com!
+4
Feb 17th, 2012 (8:53 am)Jeff,
Just checked out your HybridCars.com site….It’s great..gonna bookmark it now !
Hope the guys on gmvolt.com check it out too…lotsa good stuff !
Thanx again for your dedication…
HaroldC
+5
Feb 17th, 2012 (9:02 am)Thanks Jeff,
I didn’t comment a lot those last months taken by other task for electromobility and smart grids in Belgium. But I have been and still is and shall be a daily reader of GM-Volt.com both your and Lyle’s posts, very valuable comments by the readers and interesting topics in the forum (thanks for the double pivot of the rear view mirror, this gave me an opportunity to confuse the Belgian technical advisor for the Ampera who didn’t know that such a feature existed on the Volt/Ampera).
I wish you full success with your new responsabilities and as Schmeltz wrote : log life to gm-volt.com
JC NPNS
+10
Feb 17th, 2012 (9:19 am)As a fan of electric vehicles; I have enjoyed and learned a lot from this site. I appreciate the lay-out of this site. Not all sites are as user friendly for software used by the blind; thank you. Coming here has helped me improve my limited computer skills and gives me inspiration to move forward with no end in sight; whoops, LOL.
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (9:27 am)I’m not sure what you mean by double-pivot, but speaking of the Ampera, did you guys catch this the other day?
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1072907_british-police-love-the-chevy-volt-name-it-top-crime-fighter
British Police Love The Chevy Volt, Name It Top Crime Fighter
+4
Feb 17th, 2012 (9:40 am)Jeff, thanks for all the great work for the past year.
That said, being the conservative that I am, I was hoping for less change.
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (9:50 am)Jeff, I congrats on the new responsibilities. I haven’t posted in a while, but my morning routine always included reading GM-Volt.com. I will keep checking every morning, hate to break my routine
.
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (9:51 am)Jeff, It’s been a pleasure and a privilege to read you daily. You’ve been up to the task and then some. Good luck in you future endeavor.
+4
Feb 17th, 2012 (9:59 am)Great job Jeff!
I guess it can get boring… having to post another “Award” for the Volt every week.
There may be a few forum posts coming from SoCal with the LE VOLTs on the way.
But let’s not forget… ‘Tis a sad day for the little trolls. Not having a bridge to slither under any more. What shall become of them?
I forsee a day when the sun breaks through the fog of ignorance… lighting their path across the bridge… to the Chevy VOLT… where they will enjoy the bliss of the Extended Range Electric Vehicle… where high performance, style, handling, and savings on gas will… just like the Grinch… cause their tiny, shriveled little green hearts to grow 3 sizes… maybe 4… it will change their lives forever!!!
Nah. Screw ‘em. They’ve been a bunch of jack-holes for 3 years. Bye-bye trolls.
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:38 am)Is there a video or graphics description for the Volts rear view mirror adjustment capabilities?
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?9062-Rear-view-mirror-almost-lost-the-sale&highlight=rear+view+mirror
I’d hate to break my mirror trying to “swing it down”.
NPNS!
Volt#671
+1
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:39 am)I guess I’ll have to bookmark another site.
Great job Jeff and I’ll be reading you elsewhere!
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:49 am)Jeff, keep up the good work. I would assume we are looking at a weekly post now instead of a daily one. I noticed the “dont post breaking news” message is gone. There will be new info regurgitated here by posters like myself, but nothing replaces true investigative reporting.
+4
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:50 am)CorvetteGuy,
You are mean….LOL
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:52 am)I wondered why I saw a “Jeff Cobb” byline for a Chevy Volt news article last night! Great work, Jeff, I appreciate all your work here past and future.
kdawg, He’s referring to the adjustabliity of the rear view mirror. Many do not realize it has a “double jointed” capability.
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:52 am)Hey Jeff,
I hit this site almost every day. Thanks for your support and herculean effort.
JB.
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:54 am)This site is fairly iPhone friendly as well. Even the edit thingy works pretty well on iPhone.
+5
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:58 am)Good one CG.
That one got me all choked up.
+1
Feb 17th, 2012 (10:59 am)Ditto. Old habits are hard to break.
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (11:02 am)Congratulations Jeff!
No but it’s very cool. Nice catch.
+12
Feb 17th, 2012 (11:08 am)Jeff, we appreciate your hard work and dedication to GM-Volt. There are many sites on the Internet, but this one enjoys a motivated group of enthusiastic technical writers that in many ways encouraged General Motors during its darkest days. When the Volt was only a concept, the thousands who signed up and posted daily helped GM management move forward with confidence to manufacture the Volt. The daily discussions that occur in the Recent Posts and Forums continues to educate the reader with facts the major media ignores. The idea of producing a vehicle that runs 100% on electric for 25 to 50 miles before using a drop of gas wouldn’t have occurred if GM wasn’t open to new ideas. In the same way, the idea of centering a web site around an electric car that eliminates range anxiety made the Volt what it is today. Lyle chose wisely when handing the task to you and your company. Thank you for your efforts to continue managing the news that is posted daily to encourage the Volt buyers, owners and enthusiasts who support this award winning car.
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (12:01 pm)I just saw the photos Scottf200 posted.
Does the Volt have auto-dim for headlights coming from the rear?
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (12:39 pm)Good to see the Volt being recoignized …. after all these years it’s still the best engineered car on the road…
Good Luck with the promotion… this is still the best site to keep up to date on the Voltec technology… I hope to be reading about the GM Voltec CUV soon.
+1
Feb 17th, 2012 (12:52 pm)I’ve deeply enjoyed coming here since the first time a few years back during that exciting gestation period for the Volt, long before we knew what it looked like, how many gallons of gas could the tank hold, the MPG figures in CS mode….
Thanks Jeff for overseeing this site’s transition from Lyle’s days to now, where the site goes from now on is unclear to me, just another change in life that I’ll have to accept and adapt my life around.
Nonetheless, in the event that things here fall apart, I want to say before that happens that I’ll miss many of the regulars and their insightful posts, to be an involved part of this historic happening is something I’ll always cherish.
+1
Feb 17th, 2012 (1:03 pm)Found this today. Thought it was interesting :
Myths And Facts About Electric Cars : http://mediamatters.org/research/201202080012
For example :
Some of the best work on this subject has been done by Ian Parry, a senior fellow at Resources for the Future. His calculations — plus some data from other sources and studies — suggest that adding all the quantifiable costs into the price of oil would increase the cost of each gallon by about $1.65. According to the Energy Information Administration, the average price of a gallon of gas was $2.72 last week. It should really be as high as $4.37.
That, however, is almost certainly an underestimation. [The Washington Post, 6/13/10]
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (1:32 pm)I’ve already got the Plug-IN America and Hybrid Cars websites on my favorites I’ll check you out Jeff when it comes to your writing when I got the chance some time okay.
Good luck I hope you do a great job on Hybridcars.com Jeff.
From Sean.
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (1:35 pm)You may have been wondering, as I have, what became of the 2009 news that GE planned to buy a total of 25,000 Chevy Volts to augment their fleet of corporate vehicles. Here’s yesterday’s update of that announcement made 16 months ago:
“Jeff Immelt (GE Chairman) announced a game changing global commitment to purchase 25,000 EVs as part of a plan to convert half of GE’s global vehicle fleet by 2015. This is the largest commitment ever to an EV fleet. See: http://www.gereports.com/in-largest-single-commitment-ge-to-buy-25000-electric-vehicles/”
“Electric vehicle technology is real and ready for deployment and we are embracing the transformation with partners like GM and our fleet customers. By electrifying our own fleet, we will accelerate the adoption curve, drive scale, and move electric vehicles from anticipation to action.”
…Jeff Immelt
/The complete article is at: http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1073034_ge-employees-get-chevy-volt-electric-cars-all-gas-use-oked-sometimes
+1
Feb 17th, 2012 (1:48 pm)PS to my above post:
I wonder why GE didn’t select the lower priced plug-in Prius (or even the Leaf) instead of the Volt?
+1
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:01 pm)I share your feelings completely. I often have said, “we are community.”
It is my understanding that the GM-Volt.com forum will remain as is, even if the home page is diminished. So, let’s have all “the regulars and their insightful posts” continue there. I became a “regular” on the forum during the transition between Lyle and Jeff, when so many home page “regulars” were bemoaning the “it’s not the same without Lyle.”
I suggest you frequent the forum during this transition and see where we go from here. Bookmark http://gm-volt.com/forum and click on “What’s New?” You’ll get recent posts on current threads with slightly different results depending on whether you are logged in or not. (You do have to log in to post.) Check both places (home and forum) for all the news.
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:06 pm)nasaman,
Wow.. (from the article you linked)
———–
Among the interesting points:
•”All sedans ordered in 2012 will be the Chevrolet Volt”
•Crossovers and minivans will be replaced by electric-vehicle sedans, i.e. the Volt
•Field engineers (who presumably have to carry equipment and spare parts) are the exception to the Volt-only rule
•Home assessments for installation of a 240-Volt Level 2 charging station will be provided to all Volt drivers
•If new GE drivers opt out of the fleet-vehicle program and choose to use a personal car, GE will not reimburse those expenses
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:12 pm)kdawg,
Big Thanks & +1.
Auto dim — YES
Interior
The vehicle has an automatic
dimming inside rearview mirror.
Automatic dimming reduces the
glare from the headlamps of the
vehicle behind you. The dimming
feature and the indicator light come
on each time the vehicle is started.
Hold the mirror in the center to
adjust it. See Automatic Dimming
Rearview Mirror on page 2‑16.
NPNS!
Volt#671
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:13 pm)Does anyone know how many Volts that GE has already taken delivery?
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:20 pm)From yesterday’s article: “GE Businesses across the USA have piloted and deployed over 300 EV’s
in 2011.”
I don’t know how many Volts have been delivered in Jan & Feb this year, if any, but the rate of delivery will obviously have to increase to meet GE’s goal of 25,000 by 2015 (<3 yrs from now).
+1
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:48 pm)I agree with you that “to be an involved part of this historic happening is something I’ll always cherish”, but I don’t think the blog itself will “fall apart”. I’ve spoken with Jeff about this, and I think we’ll all adapt to 1 or 2 lead articles a week (just as we adapted to none at all on Sat/Sun).
There’s no reason the blog shouldn’t reach a total of HUNDREDS of posts following a single lead topic —it’s done so more than once in the past. We all just need to get accustomed to updates perhaps every few days during the week, rather than daily. I for one promise to take the initiative to post timely topics even after I’ve exhausted my thoughts on the lead topic. By the way, notice how Jeff signed off today:
“Jeff Cobb
“Editor-In-Chief
“GM-Volt.com and HybridCars.com”
/Capt. Cobb ain’t abandonin’ ship. Like Blackbeard, he’s just addin’ a another vessel to his fleet!
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:54 pm)Was smelling old cheese for some time but the the spice (the commentators ) in this web site was awesome. Used to go through almost all comments than posts
even if i didn’t comment.
Good luck Jeff on new venture.
+13
Feb 17th, 2012 (2:58 pm)Thanks everyone for your well wishes and other comments. It’s been my honor to write for you. You have been very knowledgeable and overall a great group. You’ve kept me on my toes too, and I’ve learned a good bit from you.
Jeff
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (3:04 pm)nasaman,
If more Volts are sold this year than the Leaf, the media somehow will put a spin on it and say the GE purchase does not count. Wait and see.
-2
Feb 17th, 2012 (3:26 pm)Does GE stand for “Government Entity”?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/28/AR2009062802955.html
Monday, June 29, 2009
General Electric, the world’s largest industrial company, has quietly become the biggest beneficiary of one of the government’s key rescue programs for banks. At the same time, GE has avoided many of the restrictions facing other financial giants getting help from the government.
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (3:46 pm)Just wanted to add my thanks for a job VERY well done! God speed in your new endeavor.
+5
Feb 17th, 2012 (4:26 pm)Jeff,
Suggestion: Pick the most commented recent post from the forums and throw it up on the front page as the lead article with comments already populated to date. Have the scheduler do this automatically at midnight EST.
JB.
Feb 17th, 2012 (4:39 pm)The 1970 Olds Toronado had a mirror like this. It had a little manual flipper switch that activated some sort of polarity dimming feature.
It also got loose a lot and sagged. This caused an accident when I backed up into a tiny little car I couldn’t see in the outside mirrors. Good thing Volt comes with a backup camera as an option!
Feb 17th, 2012 (4:50 pm)For those who don’t get the Chevy Volt FB updates:
What Would Our Founding Fathers Drive?
Thomas Paine | 2012 Chevrolet Volt
http://editorial.autos.msn.com/what-would-our-founding-fathers-drive#10
Feb 17th, 2012 (7:28 pm)Yes Michael that is a great Idea.
I will be attending because the Forum is a great way to keep in touch with what is really going on!!
+3
Feb 17th, 2012 (7:41 pm)Nasaman,
You should write some articles about the Apollo Program for Jeff.
Anyone that has lived a while remembers how great that was and what an Engineering triumph it was.
My favorite is “Apollo 13″.
In my opinion that was probably the greatest engineering feat in all of the Apollo Program (and perhaps still today).
When the team brought those guys back.
+2
Feb 17th, 2012 (8:36 pm)nasaman:
I for one promise to take the initiative to post timely topics even after I’ve exhausted my thoughts on the lead topic.
I, for one, hope you’ll include a few Apollo thoughts and facts.
+3
Feb 18th, 2012 (10:35 am)Thank You Jeff Cobb. After 1 year (in another week and 24,000 miles I feel the Volt is the best automobile ever made. My miles 65% on electric have saved me many dollars already. Take Care, TED
+1
Feb 18th, 2012 (12:13 pm)Good to hear that, Ted! Congrats for logging 24k miles in 12 months! You’re the only Volt owner
I know of that’s driven coast-to-coast (almost) in both directions: Mich to Fla and Arizona to Fla.
I have to wonder what Caddy will do to improve Voltec on the ELR (other than “glam it up” some).
/Don’t be a stranger, man! Drop in on us here whenever you can!
+1
Feb 18th, 2012 (2:16 pm)I wish you good luck in the new venture. I am sure you will do well.
+1
Feb 19th, 2012 (12:47 am)Great job over the past year+ Jeff!
Looking forward to your write-ups over in hybridcars.com
I WILL VISIT!
WOT
+1
Feb 19th, 2012 (9:53 am)It’s getting mighty oily.
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-set-biggest-2012-weekly-143343869.html
No Plug, No Sale!
+1
Feb 20th, 2012 (12:05 am)NEWS FLASH: Hyundai advertised on TV this evening that their hybrid Sonata’s battery has a LIFETIME warranty!
This could cause as much lost sleep in Detroit as Hyundai’s original 100,000mi/10yr warranty!
“Hyundai’s first hybrid offers an industry-leading lifetime warranty on its lithium polymer battery.”*
*http://www.hybridcars.com/vehicle/hyundai-sonata-hybrid.html
/Has anyone else seen this ad?
+1
Feb 20th, 2012 (6:29 am)kdawg,
Thanks a lot all of you to have documented the topic, I was abroad during the week-end and was unable to reply.
NPNS (40 days to go before receiving my Ampera (if everything is going well)
JC
+2
Feb 20th, 2012 (10:18 am)Whose lifetime? The buyer or the dealer?
Raymond
+1
Feb 20th, 2012 (10:30 am)Well, after over 3 years of getting my gm-volt fix almost every morning, today I am going through withdrawal. Pass the methadone please …
Thanks to Lyle and Jeff and all the regulars for being a part of my life.
Feb 20th, 2012 (4:55 pm)#57
Yeah, or Hyundai, come to that, LOL. +1
Thanks for everything Jeff. Don’t be a stranger.