GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

We’ve mentioned before that Mitsubishi was planning an EV.

It is on display at the Tokyo Motor Show, and more details have emerged. Among them, the car is to be on sale by 2009 and using lithium ion batteries, with a 100 mile driving range. The car uses three electric motors, 2 in each of the front wheels one in the back, giving it all-wheel drive.

More interestingly, in a proposition commenters here have previously contemplated, the car will come equipped with a wireless microwave charger that will fill the batteries over 17 hours.

Make sure you keep grandma and her pacemaker out of the garage!

Source: carconnection

In a sign of times to come, and an indication that the UK is ahead of the PHEV pack, energy giant EDF and recharging station producer Elektromotive are together installing a series of automobile charging stations across the country. The plan is to have 250 such stations in place by April 2008.

In some commonwealths, local government will pay for the power, and consumers will be able to charge for free while at work. Other localities places may require pay-for-use.

Conceivably, when PHEVs like the Volt arrive in the U.S., a similar network here may also arise.

Source (Personal Computer World, UK)

Tony Posawatz, VLD E-Flex

I just had the opportunity along with a few other bloggers to discuss the E-Flex program including the Chevy Volt and Opel Flextreme vehicles with Mr. Tony Posawatz. Tony is the Vehicle Line Director for E-Flex vehicles for GM. In this position, he is a man “in the know” when it comes to the current status of the Chevy Volt. An audio podcast of our exchange follows the post. Below are some edited highlights of our discussion, I added in what you see in parenthesis in that Tony was referring to those words but did not himself say them:

GMV: What type of electric engine will appear in the Chevy Volt, A/C Induction or D/C?

TP: D/C

—>[UPDATE: He actually said A/C] <---

GMV: If people have 220V capability in their homes, will it be possible that the Volt would be able to charge at that voltage too?

TP: We are looking at alternatives…Some people may still have concerns about the charge time… It could be an option or perhaps come in an aftermarket kit… It will be chiefly applicable to 110V, but we have not ruled-out other options… We have a good handle of the control strategy for monitoring the battery during charging… I welcome any thoughts and insights you guys have.

GMV: Any possibility for AWD in the Volt?

TP: Early versions will be simple and cost-effective, those options (AWD) could occur later.

GMV: Will the battery pack cost $7000 and will a lease be required?

TP: Since we do not have a production contract, we don’t know how much the battery will be… The theoretical price (of $7000) if amortized over the life of the car will be less than the cost of fuel…We have not made any determination on a required lease..We will take note of all our EV-1 experience and be certain that we do not retrace certain steps again.

GMV: What is the current state of the mules, and when will you get the first battery packs in hand?

TP: We will have battery packs later this year. We have mules without packs that we are beginning to work with at very early stages.

After that, the next interview is with Chuck Murray who also asks some good battery questions, you can hear it on the audio below.
My favorite part of the discussion was how genuine Tony was in describing his and GM’s interest in what enthusiasts like us are thinking about, and how open they really are to our ideas. So keep them coming!

In probably little more than a PR move, Hyatt Hotels through an agreement with Tesla Motorcars has announced that it will install Tesla recharging stations at three hotels, stretching in an arc from San Francisco to Lake Tahoe.

This comes on the heels of our last post about the speed of recharge using a 220 V oulet.

Tesla apparently offers two methods of recharging its cars, either from a standard wall outlet which would take on the order of 24 hours! Or, if one uses these specially designed high amperage, high voltage lines, that Hyatt is installing, the cars can recharge in 3.5 hours.

Of note, the Tesla uses a 53 kWh battery pack which is why it takes so long to charge, an issue which will not be true for the Volt that uses 8 kWh out of a 16 kWh pack
Still, this news indicates the first hints about how a new national (and perhaps global) charging infrastructure may emerge as electric cars become commonplace.

I see some good business opportunities here.