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Despite
favorable battery test, Volt by 2010 a "stretch"
January
08, 2008
The
Chevy Volt program is moving forward without problems and
battery tests are "favorable". Still, GM's CEO
Rick Wagoner things a Volt by 2010 is a "stretch".
(more)(comments)
Flex
Brothers: Chevy Volt and Cadillac Provoq
January
07, 2008
The
E Flex drive is about FAR more than than just the Chevy
Volt, and the Cadillac Provoq is just another example of the
powerful potential of the E Flex Drive.
(more)(comments)
Chevy
Volt: It's the battery stupid
January
03, 2008
I'm
participating in the GM
next event today which is focused on the future of
GM. One of the hottest topics is the Chevy
Volt, and the key to the Volt is the battery technology.
(more)
(comments)
(See
Right Hand Column for more Volt Stories)
My
take on the Chevy Volt
Updated,
December 1, 2007
So, did GM
kill the electric vehicle?
O.K., let's
not even go there. Instead, let's talk about GM's newest
electric concept vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt.
The Volt
electric concept vehicle is a sedan powered by GM's
next-generation electric drive propulsion system. The
Chevy Volt is to be the first variant built upon
GM's E-flex system, which will enable GM to utilize the
same chassis for multiple electric drive propulsion
systems. Thus, the Volt - in theory - could be a plug-in
hybrid, a capacitor-powered hybrid, a pure electric
vehicle, or even a fuel cell vehicle.
Additionally, GM can
combine lithium-ion batteries
with diesel, gasoline, hydrogen
or flex fuel engines for power assist - these engines
don't drive the wheels, they simply create
electricity. So, the E-Flex platform is truly a
flex-fuel platform.
In the future,
if fuel cells were added to the Volt, there would no longer be any need for an
internal combustion engine to assist with electricity
production. In fact fuel cells would also reduce the
need for lithium-ion batteries. However, lithium batteries
could be utilized to capture regenerative energy thereby
increasing the efficiency of the Volt.
In fact, the
next generation of fuel cell vehicles will be built using
the E Flex Drive, just as the Volt.
Ultimately,
the idea
here is flexibility. Adapt to local, available energy
sources, especially grid electricity, and evolve into a
pure fuel cell electric vehicle. Flexible. Adaptable.
Evolutionary.
As a result
the Chevrolet Volt is powered completely by electricity.
While lithium-ion batteries fuel the vehicle with
electricity, a 1-liter, 3 cylinder turbocharged engine -
again using multiple fuels - can
create electricity to fuel the batteries. This combination
of fuel and batteries gives the Volt an extended road trip
range of 640 miles averaging an impressive 50 mpg.
Still, for
the daily commute, the Volt electric can provide 40 city
miles of pure electric vehicle range when the battery is
fully charged - achieved by plugging into a 110-volt
outlet for roughly six hours.
No
emissions. No gas. No joke.
For trips of
60 miles - using a combination of liquid fuel and
electricity - the Volt can achieve an impressive 150 mpg.
Since most Americans only drive about 60 miles per day, or
less, most Americans could regularly achieve 150 mpg.
And, if your
commute is less than 40 miles per day, a driver might
never need to fuel up with gasoline, diesel or any other
liquid fuel.
So, is the
Volt electric for real?
GM's E-Flex
system is real and it is being developed for production. While there is no production date for
either it or the Volt, GM is now conducting core engineering and
manufacturing feasibility studies and hoping to start
selling the Volt in 2010.
On October
31, 2007, GM took delivery of the first lithium-ion
battery pack which is now being tested by GM. In the first
quarter of 2008, GM will begin using such batteries in the
first fully functional Volts, which will use a Malibu body
on the Volt chassis while the Volt body is refined for
production.
Even more
Chevy Volt Stories
-
Is
the Chevy Volt "miles ahead" of the Prius
-
GM:
Stop calling the Volt a hybrid.
-
Volting:
Bob Lutz did not kill the electric car
Malibu/Volt
hybrids on the road in 2008
GM:
Tests prove Volt superior to plug-in Prius?
First
operational Volt prototype not ready until June or July
Chevy
Volt: It's the battery, stupid
No
guarantee the Volt will be ready by 2010
Why
the Chevy Volt will succeed
Chevy
Volt takes another baby step towards reality
How
much would you pay for a Chevy Volt
Is
the Chevy Volt "miles ahead" of the Prius
GM:
Stop calling the Volt a hybrid.
Volting:
Bob Lutz did not kill the electric car
-
Malibu/Volt
hybrids on the road in 2008
-
LG
Chem delivers Volt batteries
-
No
small GM hybrids until the Volt
-
A123Systems
acquires more money for Volt batteries
-
Flextreme
versus the Volt
-
Volt
Road-Ready this Spring?
-
Lithium
hybrids: Too dangerous or too expensive?
-
GM
to build the Volt in the U.S.?
-
GM
YouTube's Volt Video
-
GM
steps up E-Flex plans
- The
Volt: Is it a hybrid or not?
- Dreaming
about a Chevy Volt SS - A truly American hybrid
- GM
to speed up Volt development?
- Seriously,
GM is serious about the Chevy Volt
- GM's
Fuel Cell Powered Volt Update
- GM's
Volt Doubts?
- Lutz
describes Volt development process
- Volt
powers buzz back to Big 3
- Tesla
takes on the Volt
- 100
mpg Prius versus the Volt electric
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