GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

In our last post we heard about an interview with GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz in which he suggested a possible tempering of production date for the Volt. He didn’t exactly say that, for we have never really heard him quote confidence at hitting the 2010 delivery date, only his confidence on actually producing the car.

These statements nonetheless make us wonder whether something is going askew at team E-Flex. If felt it was necessary to reach out for their response.

Kindly, GM E-Flex spokesman Rob Peterson responded as follows:

Program timing has not changed, nor has the confidence level of the team. The team is driving toward late 2010 (assuming batteries are available) which is nearly three years from now. Our confidence grows each day, but there are still risks and unknowns that could alter the timing.

In his latest interview, with Forbes reporter Jerry Flint, the Volt’s main proponent GM vice-chairman Bob Lutz was asked about his confidence in being able to produce the Volt.

Lutz told the reporter on a scale of 1 to 10 he rated his confidence that the Volt will get produced as a 9.5.

This number dropped to 5.5 when he was asked about his confidence in achieving a 2010/2011 release.

Lutz said:

We’re holding people’s feet to the fire for the very end of 2010 into 2011. But that can slip, depending on how the development goes.

He also cautioned, regarding the Volt’s rollout:

It probably won’t be a flawless launch

On a more positive note, Lutz did mentioned he was pleased with the initial tests of the CPI/LG battery packs.

It’s Lutz expressing a slight shift in enthusiasm? Are significant hurdles arising? Only time will tell.

Source (Forbes)

U.S. News and World Report got to ask a few more questions than I did of Bob Lutz at the L.A. Auto Show press day.

Among other things, when asked if he thinks the Volt will work out, he said “There would have to be some horrible surprise for it not to work.”

He talked about how the initial Volt plan intended a lot of batteries and 100 mile range, but was later changed to 40 miles and less batteries by VP Jon Lauckner.
He is quoted as saying the Volt team said “2010 is an impossible target”.
With respect to production numbers of 60,000 he says “Within a few years we hope to be producing hundreds of thousands. This is potentially the reinvention of the automobile.”

He also addresses the risk of this program to GM.

Our very extensive GM-Volt.com Q&A is coming shortly so stay tuned.

Source (US News and World Report)

Before we get on to the massive Q and As, I felt a need to clarify a certain point.  People might be getting the misconception the the Chevy Volt will be based on the Malibu.  See this article so titled: (LINK).

This isn’t true.  Lutz said the concept’s aerodynamics were not good enough for the efficiencies required for the Volt to get a 40 mile range, and thus had to be re-designed.  This “production Volt” will still look like the concept in some ways.  GM is not releasing the design yet or saying much about it.  Per designer Bob Boniface he wants to keep it a surprise (see my interview).

Lutz said old version Malibus will serve as Volt test mules, but will not have anything to do visually with the final design.

Also, the plan is for the car to be available in November 2010, not 2011, it will just be known as a 2011 Chevy Volt.

I caught up to Bob Lutz again today at the L.A. Auto Show press day. After unveiling the new green series of Chevrolets including a new 2-mode hybrid Silverado pick-up truck and plans to produce one of the new mini cars called the Beat, with an expected 50 mpg highway mpg, Mr. Lutz was scrummed by reporters after his talk. This term scrum apparently means surrounded.

I poked into the crowd and picked him up saying a few things.

In particular he gave the first specific production date for the Volt, now more detailed than ever. It will be November 2010; and, per spokespersons, will be released as a 2011 model year.

Further, Mr. Lutz went on to disclose some global production plans; indicating that Chevy Volts will be sold in multiple countries beyond the U.S., and as such, will be built in left and right side driver versions.

He was also expressive about Toyota’s previous comments that the Volt would only get 10 miles of electric range (like their plug-in prototypes). Lutz said “we’ll see who’s credibility takes a hit” when the mules get test driven in the spring of 08.

USA today recently published a piece including an interview with Larry Burns, GM’s VP of R&D.  Burns described GM’s push to develop fuel cell cars as a competitive race with other auto manufacturers, who he’s paranoid are up to the same thing.

He is further quoted as saying that GM could deliver production fuel cell cars as early as 2011, and most likely to be in the form of the fuel cell Chevy Volt, the concept of which was first unveiled in Shanghai (see prior post)
It is expected that fuel cell Volts could hit dealerships a year after the ICE-version arrives in 2010.  The cars would number only in the hundreds and obviously be limited to locations where hydrogen fueling centers are available (there are 16 in LA and 1 in NYC metro right now).

Also it is reported that these hydrogen Volts would have to be leased as their cost will be quite high.

This information seems consistent with recent discussions I’ve had with Nick Zielinksi and other GM fuel cell experts, and the fact that Nick was made the chief engineer of the hydrogen Volt, with a new separate executive in charge of the ICE Volt; Andrew Farah. This shift indicated production-intent for both vehicles (see prior post).

Source (USA Today)