E-Flex/Chevy Volt Battery Lab Tour and Update

I had the chance to tour the Chevy Volt battery lab and hear presentations by Lance Turner and Roland Matthe, battery engineers.  This was actually my second trip there (see prior post).
Lance showed us a sample of the LG/CPI pack running a series of driving cycles including the aggressive US06. The first pack has been [...]

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Fully Operational 40 Mile Range Chevy Volt Prototype to Hit Road This Month

During our Chevy Volt media day, myself and other journalists were given a whirlwind tour of the E-Flex battery lab. Hybrid Director Mickey Bly briefed us on the current mule (test car) status.
First, there have been four mules operational for the past 6 months. We actually got to see one on a lift, [...]

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Lutz Details Volt’s New Design and Production Plans

Bob Lutz gave a rather extensive Chevy Volt interview to the Australian publication Go Auto, and let out remarkable details we didn’t get to hear at Volt Nation.
For one thing he told them the Volt will be sold in Australia in 2011 or 2012.
In terms of production volumes, he said:
“Initially the production is going [...]

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GM Chevy Volt Engineer Hears Our Requests

We had a very vigorous response yesterday when one of GM’s engineers reached out to this site for some feedback on ideas for a data interface for the production car.  The response of over 500 comments seemed to crack the blog’s ability to handle it!  No worries, I still have the comments in the database and will get [...]

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Give Your Direct Input to GM’s Volt Engineering Team on Vehicle Data Options!

A post by “Belloc” on our Forum was noticed by one of the actual GM engineers that is building the Chevy Volt. That engineer writes to me “I’m an enthusiastic reader of the gm-volt.com site” and “I’m trying to ensure that it’s (the Volt) got the best features that the customers’ want.
Belloc’s post:
“I would like [...]

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Interview: Darryn Nowicki Electric Vehicle Director, Continental Automotive, Part I

Continental Automotive is the Chevy Volt battery pack integrator working with A123 Systems. I had the chance to interview Darren Nowicki who heads Continental’s North American Hybrid Electrical Vehicle Unit, and has integral knowledge of the Chevy Volt battery packs development.
Are you involved with the Continental team that has designed the initial prototype and future [...]

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Lithium-ion Battery Separators

In discussing the Volt, we are often concerned with the working of the lithium-ion battery. Still not-yet-ready for prime-time, these types of batteries a great for cars because they can hold a lot of power and energy in a small size and weight.
The batteries work as electrons (electricity) flow between the anode (usually graphite [...]

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Profile: The Man in Charge of the Chevy Volt - Frank Weber

As you may now by now from my numerous interviews with him on the site, Frank Weber is the Chevy Volt’s vehicle line director. He is profiled by the Detroit Free Press.
He is described as a health-conscious musician with a penchant for tinkering and independent thinking. The German native is described analogously as [...]

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Volt Hurdles Other than the Battery

Most GM executives involved in the Volt program say the battery is the major stumbling block to development. Other new low-power components have to be made for the car in order to allow the 40 mile range, but these are mostly minor engineering tasks.
Normal cars have tremendous supplies of energy for the accessories to [...]

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The Latest with Frank Weber, E-Flex/Chevy Volt Vehicle Line Executive

I sat down for a brief Q and A with Frank Weber. He is the vehicle line executive for the Chevy Volt and all of E-Flex systems for GM. He knows a lot about what’s going on and is very forthright and forthcoming.
What was GMs motivation to build the Volt?

Societal challenge. Look [...]

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One-on-One with Jon Lauckner, GM VP of Global Program Management, Part 5

This is the final segment of my interview with Jon Lauckner, GMs VP of global program management, considered Bob Lutz’ first deputy and who has been very involved with the Volt project from day one.
What are the terms of GMs battery contracts with the battery suppliers?
‘A’ we shouldn’t talk about what we’ve agreed with the [...]

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Chevy Volt will Need Special Low Power Windshield Wipers and Audio System

Bob Lutz is clearly a guy who tells it like it is. When GMs father of the Volt gives an interview about the car its always worth listening closely, as what you get will be highly factual.
The Lansing State Journal published a very brief Q and A with Mr. Lutz, and thats where this [...]

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