For some of us interested in electrification of the automobile, it can’t happen soon enough.
The Volt is a great first step, though as GM says it is a car for most people, not a car for everyone. Even considering the wide swath of those for whom it will be ideal, production volumes are expected [...]
First of all, let me express my thanks to Lyle for creating and supporting the best EV community on the web, and for letting me guest post on the homepage.
I recently had the opportunity to exchange emails with Rob Peterson, Volt / Advanced Technology PR Manager at General Motors regarding GM’s future product plans. [...]
GM has invested over $1 billion and significant human capital developing the Voltec propulsion system that will power the Chevy Volt.
When the company first announced it had changed the name from E-Flex to Voltec, and that it would be doing its own pack assembly in house, it came to me that selling Voltec to other [...]
As you may be aware, it is not possible to find a high efficiency hybrid people mover. There is a glaring complete absence of hybrid minivans, large or small in the marketplace. Needless to say, this is a popular and useful vehicle type in American society yet the creation of a fuel efficient version has [...]
We just heard from Volt lead designer Bob Boniface on a webchat and he was able to shed some light on issues related to the design of the Volt among other things. Some key information is as follows:
Ports
He confirmed the Volt will have two ports, one for gas and for for charging each on [...]
Tom Stephens is GM’s new VP of product development. He told the Associated Press that the type of cars people will choose to buy is based primarily on the price of gas, and that GM has not only to plan for high future gas prices but low ones too.
He also states that not only [...]
I had the chance to ask Andrew Farah who is the Chevy Volt’s chief engineer, and former engineer on the EV-1 program about whether GM may spread the Voltec range-extended electric powetrain into other vehicles like trucks.
Are you configuring new battery pack designs for use in other vehicles such as people movers?
We call this portfolio [...]
The Opel Ampera is the twin sister car to the Chevy Volt. The primary difference is rebadging with Opel styling cues, the platform and powertrain will be identical. Canadian parts supplier Magna International is in negotiations with GM to become a partial owner of Opel.
There are apparently some snags in the negotiations. It is well [...]
The GM bankruptcy is independent of its foreign subsidiaries. This includes GM Europe which makes Opel products.
GM Europe has itself been rescued through a German government brokered deal selling portions of the company to Canadian auto parts maker Magna and Russian lender Sberbank. Magna will own 20%, Sberbank 35%, GM 35%, and Opel auto [...]
GM’s bankruptcy filing doesn’t spell an end to the company but actually a new beginning. The Chevy Volt remains a critical element of GM’s future and therefore the program will not be affected in any way by the filing.
Jon Lauckner is GM’s VP of product development and along with Bob Lutz, co-inventor of the [...]
GM unveiled the strikingly beautiful Cadillac Converj at the Detroit Auto Show in January. The incredibly sleek car uses the same 40 mile AER Voltec propulsion system as the Volt though it is tweaked for higher performance that models indicate it could achieve.
Bob Lutz told GM-Volt.com at the time that he wanted the car [...]
GMs 2-mode hybrid drivetrains are currently in use in large trucks. They can be found in the Escalade, Yukon, Tahoe, and Silverado where they allow these massive vehicles to achieve 20 mpg combined fuel economy.
Currently a 2-Mode hybrid VUE is in pre-production, and launch has been delayed. Many factors have gone into this delay first [...]