GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

Toyota Commits to Mass Production of Plug-in Hybrids

Lyle — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 12:46:04 +0000

The Volt is GM’s effort to leapfrog the Prius, and ever since this site began, Toyota has publicly remained very conservative about plans to produce plug-in cars.

Previously they have only openly committed to produce about 500 plug-in Priuses for global fleet testing by the end of this year.

According to the Japanese newspaper Nikkei, that’s all about to change.

Toyota has now committed to mass producing plug-in hybrid cars in 2012. These cars will apparently be plug-in hybrids, not pure electrics or EREVs. The company intends to produce from 20,000 to 30,000 in the first year. They are expected to be able to drive from 12.4 to 18.6 miles on battery power alone. Of course like most plug-in hybrid designs, the gas engine could operate even within that range when needed for power.

Toyota has already well-established a joint venture with Panasonic for the production of lithium-ion batteries to power these cars.

Toyota is also said to want to price the car similarly to the Mitubishi i MiEV 100 mile range pure electric car which has already gone on sale in Japan. That vehicle costs $47,800 before subsidies.

Thus Toyota has now joined the growing list of automakers hoping to mass produce electric cars. Though the EREV design of the Chevy Volt may be the most logical, there will clearly be some very significant competition of all types in a few short years.

And so it is clear on this Independence Day that this country’s freedom from oil may fast become a reality. Happy 4th of July to all.

Source (Reuters)

GM Orders Enough Hitachi Lithium-ion Cells for 100,000 Hybrid Cars

Lyle — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 11:44:25 +0000

Most people here know that GM has contracted with LG Chem to supply large format lithium-ion cells for the Chevy Volt in an agreement that goes out until 2015.

As we have learned from discussions with GM’s battery people, the company continues to work with multiple battery suppliers and is always looking for new cell technology to test.

In early 2008, GM announced that they had committed to purchasing lithium-ion cells from Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd., a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Hitachi Ltd. The Japanese company has recently developed very high power density cells that would be particularly good for hybrid applications, where large amounts of energy storage isn’t needed, just the ability to withdraw energy quickly in high power requiring conditions.

GM will be using these cells in their next-generation BAS+ mild hybrid systems that are expected to deliver 20% efficient improvement over the current system, and provide three times the power.

The systems works by providing engine off at stops, brief electric-only propulsion, and a more powerful electric motor to enhance engine efficiency.

By the end of June, GM had sold 8,349 hybrid vehicles in 2009. Besides the Volt, they obviously have big plans for them in the future.

According to Reuters, the company has placed an order with Hitachi for enough lithium-ion cells to build 100,000 hybrid cars beginning next year. Each vehicle uses from 30 to 50 cells.

GM sources indicate that this order is for multiple years of production and on a global scale, but nonetheless confirms GM’s belief that gas prices will rise and that consumers will continue to show growing interest in fuel efficient vehicles.

Source (Reuters)

Toyota Aggressively Patent Protects Prius, GM Doing Same With Volt

Lyle — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:04:33 +0000

We often discuss the Toyota Prius here though the car strictly shouldn’t be compared to the Volt which is truly in another category altogether. The Prius is worth mentioning primarily because comparisons are inevitable and more more so because GM product czar Bob Lutz has openly admitted the Volt program was begun in an effort to leap-frog the Prius after it garnered significant sales and good will for Toyota.

Toyota has been working hard to ensure the Prius is not only successful, but that it cannot be copied. The company has filed for over 2000 patents on the vehicle’s technology, over half of which are found in the current third generation car.

It appears to be Toyota’s intention to make the car’s technology so compelling, insulated, and so copy-protected that other automakers have no choice but to license the technology from them rather than “grow their own” through the legal minefield of Prius patents.

“Our system is the best technology for hybrids to get the best carbon dioxide emissions and best fuel economy. [Rivals] will not be able to compete,” said Gouichiro Kuriyama, a manager in Toyota’s product planning division.

Indeed the mild Honda Insight does not compete with the Prius’ engineering design, and Ford though designing its hybrids 100% in-house has agreed to cross license certain elements with Toyota for legal protection.

Enter the Volt.

The Chevy Volt is based on an entirely different engineering architecture, operating purely on electric drive and at least 80% on electricity from the grid. There is little doubt to this writer that the many benefits of electricity as fuel and electric drive as propulsion will quickly antiquate the Prius’ hybrid system.

You can bet GM is working to protect its future in this regard as well.

“GM has been aggressive in protecting what we believe to be competitive technology of the Voltec platform as it relates to battery, engineering, and powertrain.” says GM spokesperson Rob Peterson. “The Volt’s a game changer. We’re taking all the steps necessary to protect our intellectual property rights.” He notes that not all Voltec patents GM has filed for are finalized yet, and there may be more, but like the car remain a work in progress.

So if Voltec takes off and HSD fades away GM just might find itself with the competitive advantage after all, and Lutz would have rectified a seemingly insurmountable disadvantage. We shall see.

Source (WSJ)

GM Advanced Battery Lab Tour w/ Video Part II

Lyle — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 11:00:43 +0000

I recently had the chance to tour GM’s newly opened 33,000 square foot advanced battery lab in Warren Michigan. The first video is here. This is where the Volt’s batteries are being lab tested. Other hybrid systems are being tested here as are cells from outside suppliers.

In this video we see a presentation by Dr. Ramona Ying, a GM battery lab staff researcher who has worked there since the EV-1 days.

She is showing off the cell testing side of GM’s new battery lab in Warren Michigan. Among other things displayed are two Volt LG prismatic cells in a thermal chamber.

She noted GM gets solicitations to test new cells all the time often in the wrong shape for automotive use.

GM uses a 4-phase process to evaluate cells. To date GM has evaluated 155 chemistries from 105 suppliers on paper and more than 60 actual cells from 20 suppliers. Ying acknowledges GM also tests supercapacitors.

She says that by testing 24 hours 7 days a week GM can simulate 10 years of testing in 2 years, and that the overall goal of the lab is to reduce costs for battery cars and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

Video:

GM Asks Bankruptcy Court to Approve Formation of New GM

Lyle — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:29:54 +0000

On Tuesday in a New York City court, GM took the final step towards emerging from bankruptcy. Including testimony from CEO Fritz Henderson, GM filed for the court to approve the 363 sale of the old GMs best performing assets to the new GM. This request has taken place a mere 30 days after GM first filed for bankruptcy protection, a remarkably fast pace.

Henderson told the court formation and sale of the new GM to the US Government had to take place by July 10th otherwise the company would have to liquidate. In keeping with analysts’ estimates that the automotive market is beginning to recover, Henderson said “business is doing better” and that June retail sales were ”slightly better than expected.”

If approved, the new GM will be funded by $30 billion in taxpayer dollars and be 60% owned by the government. The UAW healthcare fund would get 17.5%, the Canadian government 12.5%, and bondholders 10%.

Is is considered a longshot that all of the taxpayer dollars will ever be recovered, as the new GM would have to reach a market capitalization of $68 billion do so. ”Can a company with $100 [billion] to $140 billion of revenue have $70 billion of market cap?” asked Henderson rhetorically in a recent interview. “”Yeah. It’s a function of how we execute, and do we get the margins out of the business that we need?”

A few fringe dissident bondholders and other groups are trying to block the sale, and the judge allowed them to be heard.

It is unlikely however these objections will be able to stop the government-backed process, and most predict the new clean, lean, mean, and green GM could emerge before the end of July.

You can see a blow by blow real time report of the court process here on the Washington Post’s twitter feed. More testimony is likely tomorrow.

Source (Reuters)

NUMMI No More: Has GM Said No-Thanks to GM-Branded Prius?

Lyle — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:50:04 +0000

Since 1984 GM has had a relationship with Toyota at the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) joint-venture plant in California, where the Pontiac Vibe, twin of the Toyota Matrix, has been built. GM’s bankruptcy process and the shedding of the Pontiac brand had made GM’s future role in that plant uncertain.

Bloomberg reports that Toyota’s new President Aiko and GM’s CEO Fritz Henderson are to have a meeting in August to discuss the next step. Citing persons familiar with the plan, the report said Toyota planned to offer GM the opportunity to build a GM-branded version of the Prius at NUMMI, speculating that such a move would motivate GM, who is half owner, to keep the plant open.

On Monday, however, GM issued a statement indicating it is leaving NUMMI behind as part of the 363 sale to stay with the old GM.

GM spokesperson Tom Pyden told GM-Volt.com that GM was not “able to reach an agreement with Toyota on potential future product at NUMMI.” He noted this decision was made by GM North American President Troy Clarke. “We are not in current discussions with Toyota on licensing their synergy drive,” Clarke told GM-Volt.com last week. “I would point out that we are working like crazy on our own hybrid technology.”

“We were also at a point in the 363 sale process whereby we needed to designate NUMMI - like all other assets and contracts of GM - as either ‘New GM’ or ‘Old GM’,” said Pyden. “Without an agreement on a potential future product, we went with the ‘Old GM’ designation regarding our ownership interest.”

Toyota spokesperson Bill Kwong denied the possibility Toyota was offering to build the Prius at NUMMI with GM. He told GM-Volt.com “Toyota currently has no interest in building the Prius at NUMMI.” He denied knowledge of any such offer noting “they are just rumors.”

Despite NUMMI being cast aside from the new GM, the company still hasn’t ruled out future collaborations. “We have enjoyed a very positive and beneficial partnership with Toyota for the past 25 years, and we remain open to future opportunities of mutual interest,” says an official GM statement.

Thus it remains unclear if Toyota secretly offered a GM-branded Prius to GM in exchange for continuing the joint venture at NUMMI, or will still offer such an option in the future.

So is the rumor of a GM-branded Prius finally dead?

“Yes,” says GM spokesperson Pat Morrisey. “That puts the rumor to rest.”

I hope so, but if not enjoy the 2011 Buick Irony pictured above.

Source (Bloomberg) and (GM)

Toyota’s New President to Continue Focus on Hybrid Rather than Electric Cars

Lyle — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 11:08:15 +0000

Toyota has been the first company to achieve significant commercial success in selling a hybrid vehicle. The Toyota Prius is in its third generation and since inception has sold well over 1 million units. In fact Toyota’s success with the Prius caught GM by surprise. As the story goes, GM long ago had decided not to enter that area when profitable gas guzzling SUVs were all the rage.

The Volt was GM’s ‘Hail Mary Pass’ to leapfrog Toyota and become the new technology leader. Though the Volt does operate as a series hybrid in charge sustaining mode, from a drivetrain perspective its an electric car. Electric cars have very significant driving advantages over hybrids and the potential to use far less if any gasoline at all.

Toyota’s new President Akio Toyoda was recently interviewed by CNN. Toyota had just taken the wheel of what is now the worlds largest automaker a mere two months after the company reported its largest annual operating loss in history.

Among other thing Toyoda, who is the grandson of the company’s founder, was asked whether Toyota should be doing more in the way of electric cars, considering the efforts of its competitors.

“Electric cars’ battery life is limited, and that has not been solved,” said Toyoda. “We would like to utilize our hybrid technology because we have accumulated quite a bit of knowledge about battery usage for hybrid cars.”

“Depending on how electric cars are used or how they are found to be valuable,” he says “for the time being Toyota would like to focus on hybrid technology.”

Its no surprise that Toyota would want to stay focused on its successful product and the hope its technology will remain dominant. Of course it is likely the company has ready plans if electric cars wind up leaving hybrids in the dust.

We shall see.

Source (CNN)

Voltec Could go Mainstream in 5 to 6 Years

Lyle — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:13:45 +0000

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 known that Magna intends to become a leader in the electrification of the automobile. Ownership in Opel could potentially give them access to Voltec intellectual property. Sources indicate that “Magna is asking for access to future technology such as fuel cells, hybrids and future GM models that go beyond what the company is offering in the deal.” As such GM is now in new negotiations with buyout firm RHJ International SA and Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co.

Reports out of Europe cite GM sources as saying this uncertainty has led to a plan to introduce the right-handed Chevy Volt at the same time as the Opel Ampera in Europe in 2012, effectively putting them in competition with one another.

However, the reports suggests this competition may only be brief, as GM’s future Voltec plans are made clearer. GM sources told Autocar that in the future “there won’t be a Volt or Ampera mark two, the powertrain will effectively become mainstream.” As an example this source said the sixth generation Opel Astra could get the Voltec powertrain “in 5 or 6 years.”

If this were true one could envision a similar paradigm developing in North America, where new future GM compact cars could come as standard gas combustion as well as Voltec versions.

Source (Autocar) and (Bloomberg)

GM Will Build New Yet-to-be Revealed Subcompact Car in Michigan, Hopes to Sell More Than 100,000 Annually

Lyle — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 14:25:41 +0000

On Friday, GM announced that it had chosen an Orion Township Michigan assembly plant as the location it would build a new upcoming subcompact car. Stamping for the car would be done in Pontiac Michigan. The move takes this future vehilce away from China where it was originally planned to be built. The move stateside was a concession to the UAW for its agreement to exchange its debt for equity. 67% of GM’s vehicles are built in the states, and shipping one from China adds $850 to its cost.

“Small cars represent one of the fastest-growing segments in both the U.S. and around the world,” said Troy Clarke, president of General Motors North America. “ GM will be the only automaker, foreign or domestic, to build small cars in the U.S . , and we believe Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping are well suited to deliver a high-quality, fuel-efficient car that competes with anything in the marketplace.”

Clark said the new subcompact also known as a B-class vehicle would not be the Chevrolet Spark that most had speculated, calling it instead, “a yet-to-be announced product.” The current Aveo which is slated to be discontinued is GM’s current B-class car. Some speculate the Chevy Viva will be the new car.

“We’re thinking the B-car will sell north of 100,000 vehicles,” said Clarke, though he acknowledged only about 40,000 Aveos are sold yearly now. “We’re thinking this segment will grow because of higher fuel prices as well as the attractiveness and utility of the vehicle.”

There are no indications the car will be a hybrid though GM says the car “will add to the automaker’s growing portfolio of U.S.-built, highly fuel-efficient cars, including the Chevrolet Cruze and Volt.”

Production will begin in 2011 and 1400 jobs will be restored by this plan.

Source (GM)

Chevy Volt Integration Vehicle Update

Lyle — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:32:38 +0000

I must admit I am still amazed that we are actually beginning to talk about a near finished product, the Chevy Volt integration vehicles (IV). Over 2 and a half years ago when I first started this site, (SEE FIRST POST HERE) this point was a time that was unimaginable and yet now has come to pass.

We now have running Volts true-to-form with pictures, videos, and new information. We just had a live chat here with the Volt’s Chief Engineer, Andrew Farah, the only known person to drive one of the new cars. Many of us asked questions, including myself, which went unanswered. Farah chose the ones he wanted to answer from a list, and only had an hour. So what if anything new did we learn? Lets see:

Appearance

He allayed concerns people had about the appearance of the IVer, noting items such as the “head lamps, tail lamps, and paint on the spoiler” were not true to production form at this point because they didn’t need to be for testing. These features will look differnt in the production product.

Handling

He specifically said the Volts’ chassis is “much more sporty” than either the Prius or Insight. Great, but that really isn’t saying much.

Battery Leasing

It is my understanding GM has not yet decide whether to lease or sell the battery. Farah said his team is “working form the perspective that it will be sold with the car,”‘ and will have a 10-year life.

Software/GUI

Farah says the graphic user interface (GUI) on the 2 LCD dash is complete from a software architecture control standpoint, but its appearance will still be refined and calibrated over the next few months.

Gas Tank Size

Farah still says the car will deliver “more than 300 miles” on a full tank of gas and full charge, but claims “we’re still balancing the size of the tank with other factors.” On a side note, I have recently been told by GMs Director of Hybrids and EVs Bob Kruse that the gas tank size is now considered a known entity. …still a veil of mystery here.

Future of EVs from GM

Farah says, “electrified vehicles will certainly be a significant portion of our future sales.” Though recently CEO Fritz Henderson told me gas cars will still make up “the lion’s share” of GMs portfolio in 10 years.

Charging Port Connector

He says his team has adopted a “revised SAE J1772 charge port/connector specification” that is larger than what has been shown previously, but will work with public chargers that are greater than 120V. He said the port was moved down to its own door location because “the SAE connector is a bit larger than would fit under the fender trim,”…”we moved it down to accomodate [sic].”

Charge Sustaining Mode

My question, which was ignored, is what genraotr mode sounded and felt like. To another questioner, Farah said he was “extremely pleased” with driving in the current calibration of charge sustain (generator) mode.

Trim Levels

Farah confirms there will be more than one trim level, “as with most other Chevrolets.”

Engine Noise at Stop

Farah confirms “our plan is to stop the engine when the vehicle comes to rest.”

Engine RPM

Our own N Riley asked if GM “will reduce engine rpm as the speed of the car decreases to keep it sounding like it is trying to run away?” Farah said Riley’s suggestion “clearly makes sense” and although not specifically promises this will be the case, reassures us that his goal for the Volt is it “should not surprise (drivers) unnecessarily.”

Cold and Hot Operation

Farah confirms hot weather testing out West will soon be underway but that the IVers have been operating at 90 degree temperatures in Michigan. He confirmed what we’ve heard in the past that at extremely low temperatures, the car will “use the engine to supplement the battery.”