Breaking: Bob Lutz Says Driveable Chevy Volt Mules in June, not Easter

Here on the sidelines of the Detroit auto show myself and several bloggers are having the opportunity to chat with GM Vice Chairman Robert Lutz. I am actually writing this post as we go; so-called “live-blogging”.
He is asked what his personal involvement in the Volt project is.
He mentioned he is very interested because it’s [...]

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Latest Battery Pack Q & A with Denise Gray, GM’s Battery Director

Sam Abuelsamid of Autobloggreen went to Las Vegas for CES and had a chance to chat with Denise Gray about the latest developments of the Chevy Volt battery packs.
Key points:
-they’re still confirming the behavior of the first two CPI packs, but they appear to be conforming to predictions.-packs are still evolving and haven’t reached [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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EV-1 and the Volt: as per GM

Well, our first Q & A session is over. 42 question asked with detailed answers.  I hope everyone enjoyed it.  There was one last question, though…
I asked Scott Fosgard, who is director of GM communications, whether GM is specifically reaching out to former EV-1 drivers. I actually asked this question at the behest of Doug [...]

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Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part 6

Q: One of the most common request we get are whether GM will out solar panels on the roof, are you considering that?
A: “As Denise mentioned there are certain technologies we do scans on continually. Before we started in the Volt program and E-Flex project her team had made assessments that battery suppliers were building [...]

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Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part 5

It’s not over yet. We still have some more answers to your questions to GM executives about the Volt.
Q: Is GM giving you every resource necessary to complete the Volt project?
A:(DG) “I have never seen so much of ‘Denise, what do you want’”..”open checkbook”..”and do more and do it faster.”..”This is a growth area, [...]

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Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part 4

Q: Will anyone have the chance to beta-test cars?
A: “We have not finalized any official plans around that. We are looking at and investigating various types of demonstration opportunities whether they involve formal agencies or get direct to customers that has not been determined yet.”..”From a selfish perspective this vehicle will behave a little differently [...]

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Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part 3

Q: Are you on schedule with the mules?
A: “Yes we’re on schedule.”…”The definition of what kind of mule is ready when I’m not going to define.”..(SF) “We will definitely let you know when its ready.”
Q: Are you planning to lease the battery? Is it still on the table?
A: (TP) “No decisions have been made one [...]

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Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part 2

Q: Are you going to use specialized lightweight materials?
A: (TP) “Some. The car will be more conventional than it will be groundbreaking in mass”..“We will use selective items where we feel we can manage the risk.”..“it would be shame if the battery came in in time, but the…’aluminum hood’ was late”
Q: So the car [...]

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Your Questions Answered by Top Chevy Volt Executives, Part I

I met with Tony Posawatz, GM’s E-Flex vehicle line director and Denise Gray, advanced battery director armed with >250 of your questions from our GM-Volt.com community. In more than 2 hours of discussion we covered a lot of ground, dozens were answered. Here is the first installment.
Q: How will people in apartments [...]

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