GM Marching to a New Beat: Expect Mutiple Volt Versions

With SUVs fast becoming obsolete and Americans making the Europe-like shift to small cars in the face of unyieldingly high gas prices, GM has to act fast to adapt to this new marketplace.
Obviously the Chevy Volt is the key in this regard but its still 28 months away.
Per a new report GM now plans to [...]

Popularity: 13%

GM CEO Admits to Dedicated Production E-Flex Opel Program

In September GM introduced the Opel Flextreme crossover concept vehicle which was based on an E-Flex drivetrain platform with a diesel range extender, and a 34 mile lithium-ion battery electric range.
By December Frank Weber had told us that the Flextreme was not production intent.
Also we have been told that the Chevy Volt is intended [...]

Popularity: 37%

An Analysis of the Toyota PHEV versus the Chevy Volt

For a while, GM and Toyota have publicly argued that each PHEV architecture is superior over the other, comparing the Volt (an E-REV) to the prototype Toyota PHEV,  basically a Prius with a 10 mile range battery in the trunk.
Ron Grebman of CalCars wrote a terrific analysis whether GM or Toyota is correct in asserting [...]

Popularity: 25%

Interview with Frank Weber, E-Flex/Chevy Volt Vehicle Line Executive, Part II

A few final questions from my interview with Frank Weber, Chevy Volt/E-Flex vehicle line executive:
Do you have or are you working on E-Flex simulation models for other sizes of vehicles besides the Volt?
Before we get the team up off the track in thinking too much about the expansion of E-Flex, the focus is clearly to [...]

Popularity: 12%

Opel Flextreme is not for Production: Chevy Volt will be a Global Vehicle

At the Frankfurt Auto show in September, GM unveiled the Opel Flextreme; an E-Flex concept car illustrating the possibility of using a diesel generator as a range-extender. Lost in the initial enthusiasm were comments we had here from Tony Posawatz in which he acknowledged the Flextreme was not production intent.
Here is vehicle line director [...]

Popularity: 26%

Interview with Frank Weber, E-Flex/Chevy Volt Vehicle Line Executive, Part I

Frank Weber
I just had the chance to speak with Frank Weber who is GM’s vehicle line executive for the Chevy Volt and E-Flex systems. This is the first of two parts.
Do you have some new information for us today?

We are explaining that vehicle efficiency is something that is very important to make the volt [...]

Popularity: 12%

Is Tesla Planning to Build an E-REV Too?

As you may be aware, Tesla Motors is a Silicon Valley start-up company that has produced an electric car called the Tesla Roadster. It is not available for sale yet, but that is imminent, and the sporty two-seater will set you back about 100K. In time, they hope to build a sub-50K sedan [...]

Popularity: 8%

GM Takes Delivery of Second LG Chem/Compact Power Chevy Volt Battery Pack, and it’s Better Than the First

Jon Lauckner

Yesterday, in remarks made at the EVS23 conference, GM Vice President of Global Program Management, Jon Lauckner, announced that the automaker received the second prototype lithium-ion battery pack from LG Chem/Compact Power. He said:
“A second battery pack, incorporating improvements from the first one, is being delivered to our battery lab today for similar [...]

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A123 Unveils New E-REV Battery Cell for Chevy Volt

On December 2 at EVS23, A123Systems publicly unveiled the lithium ion battery cell that they have co-developed with GM specifically for the Volt. It is a flat “prismatic” cell that is significantly larger than the cylindrical cells that we are used to seeing from A123. The cell is rectangular, and is designed to be stacked [...]

Popularity: 8%

What Does GM Think About the New CAFE Standards?

Rick Wagoner
As we mentioned in our last post, the House has agreed on an average CAFE fuel economy standard of 35 mpg by 2020, with separate requirements for trucks and autos; a 40% increase from present requirements.
The bill has not been fully presented publicly yet, and Bush will still have to vote on it.
GM Chairman [...]

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