GM has just released a video of and blog post by Andrew Farah, the Volts chief engineer. Andrew demonstrates one of the new pre-production genuine Chevy Volts that has rolled of the assembly line. He reports he drove the first one on Tuesday, Integration Vehicle #1, more than a week ahead of schedule, and drove it again today.
He writes:
I adjusted the seat and mirrors, pressed the POWER button, moved the shifter to D, and then took it on a few laps around our Technical Center campus in Warren, Mich. This was the moment I’d been looking forward to and it was exhilarating. And when I was done, I pulled it into the garage and charged it with the production intent equipment.
As Andrew says, the preproduction properties “are the Volt” He notes this new era is not the end but the beginning of what he calls “the most important part of the process.”
Farah says the fundamental issues of the car are under control, but at this point his team needs to go into the refining the vehicle and make it something people “want to drive.”
Its the little things he says like “the ways the blinker sounds, the way the door sounds, and the way the steering responds.”
People, he says rightly, expect all of that to be flawless and finish developing. You can see the new location of the charging port door.
What makes it wonderful is that they are a few weeks ahead of schedule. And so the next major phase of the Volt coming into begin has occurred, 2 years 5 months, and 8 days after this site began as little more than a hope and a dream.
Source (FastLane)
GALLERY:
This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 24th, 2009 at 6:09 pm and is filed under Production, Prototypes, Video. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+6
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:13 pm)This is all pretty breathtaking for me. Just getting into a new Malibu at Henna Chevrolet here in Austin has me ready to buy a Volt.
The Volt (Malibu body), is just the right size for me (6-2) , and, it is very comfortable too.
Go over to your Chevy store and sit in a Malibu, and, you can very easily imagine yourself in a Volt.
You’ll get that breathtaking feeling too.
Dan
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:15 pm)It looks pretty nice actually! The design could have been a little better than this but it looks alright.
+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:24 pm)What a great day! we are seeing the future happen!
+8
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:25 pm)Bring on a small pickup with this type of drivetrain and HURRY!
Dreams into reality- how electrifying!.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:27 pm)The car looks great (but)…..
1) Does anyone know if the silver spoiler on the rear is standard or optional?
2) Ditto the projector headlights with blacked-out surrounds?
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:28 pm)I tried to buy a car last weekend. I could not find the car that met my various needs/wants (although the Jetta TDI Sportwagen came close). The Volt looks like something I want; performance, fuel efficiency, comfort, quiet…If priced right, the Volt is the car for me.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:29 pm)Ditto the fake grill?
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:31 pm)Congrats to the Volt Team for bringing the car out ahead of schedule in some very difficult times. They should be very pleased with their performance!
Also congrats to Lyle for creating this site, which has done a lot to keep the enthusiasm for the Volt rolling. It was a kick to have Lyle mention how the first Volt wold roll out of the door in his still photo in the morning and then have this video showing the Volt rolling out of the exact door in the afternoon.
This is quite exciting. I’m more or less a “pretty is as pretty does” kinda guy — so looks aren’t that big of a deal for me — but this is a nice looking car. More like an Insight than a Prius, it looks better than those vehicles and is definitely distinctive, which is important. While some may be disappointed that it doesn’t look like a Fisker Karma, this car will have plenty of exceptional things going for it under the hood. Also, it could be my imagination but it seems to have pretty snappy handling in the video.
NPNS!
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:31 pm)Test…
So why were all my posts getting deleted?!?!?
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:33 pm)Is $40,000.00 the right price?
+13
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:33 pm)What a day for Farah (i.e, a Farah-day)!
He gets to be first.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:34 pm)Hey, the next time you guysand Gals do a reply, Read the red text that pops up. It say’s “new comment is submiting, please wait a comment…”
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:37 pm)I put a picture of the Volt and the Insight next to each other and it looks like the Volt is shorter (bumper to bumper). Their silhouette lokks the same though….
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:37 pm)this is pretty legit but a few things that i noticed. at least to me, how the steering feels is not a “small part” it is very important to me. I hate dull steering as it is very boring. another thing; there was no Chevy badge on the front and that silver spoiler on the back just looked weird. also, the headlights looked much worse than when the car was unveiled back in, i believe it was September.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:37 pm)My first reaction is that $40k is too much. But, I’ll wait to see what actually happens, price-wise. Maybe incentives and fuel prices will make a Volt pencil out.
I forget, what kind of maintence does a Volt need? Regular oil changes at 3k miles?
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:39 pm)In reviewing the technology behind the grille, it looks like that there is in the very front of the chassis, the battery cooling system heat exchanger, then, you get cooled with the air conditioning condenser (for the A/C refrigerant to be cooled), then, the engine coolant gets cooled with a radiator.
So, it looks like the grille is likely and certainly a highly functional open one for the Volt.
Dan
-4
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:39 pm)I gave myself a -1 for that
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:41 pm)I think the spoiler in th back is a decoy/camouflage to some small extent.
Just IMHO.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:43 pm)WOOHOO!
Great job guys – bang out as many as you can and start polishing every minute aspect with the time you have left.
I can just see all the documentaries that will be made about this development effort. Fr. Staudemeier of the University of Detroit could write a piece, being an historian of tech development and its impact on society.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:45 pm)Lucky SOB. When can I get mine!
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:45 pm)Back on November 3rd, 2008, Lyle posted
http://gm-volt.com/2008/11/03/volt-lead-designer-on-the-production-volt-front-grille/
That post says,
“There has been some public debate about the appearance of the production Chevy Volt’s front grille. It is unique in that it isn’t a series of bars across an opening, but rather a closed but very firm and strong panel with openings around the sides. The panel has etchings that simulate a true grille.”
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:48 pm)Which will be easier to get: a Chevy Volt in Nov 2009 or a liver transplant?
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:48 pm)OK, in #16, is there a viral BOT that automatically goes out and post stuff like that on site “Content”?
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:48 pm)Ahead of schedule…and under budget? If so, lower the selling price.
+5
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:50 pm)Lyle – do you know / can you establish whether or not there is any anti-tamper feature for the re-charge connector?
From these shots it appears that when the flap is open it then stays that way during recharging. Hence anyone can come along, unplug you and/or rip off that open flap.
Citroen got it right on their Berlingo EV which has a ‘sub-flap’ on the main flap. This means that after you plug in you can RE close the flap, leaving just the handle portion of the connector (and cable) protruding from the sub-flap. The flap can only be released by a pull handle on the interior, rendering the whole arrangement tamper proof .
This also provides an extra barrier to water ingress in the event of torrential downpours.Simple, practical and much more TIDY.
GM engineers please take note – it isn’t too late to put this right. PLEASE do so or you WILL deter potential cusomers – myself included.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:50 pm)ThombDdbomb
Don’t do it. Don’t get a VW. Unfortunately, I can’t list here the reasons why you ought not get one.
Go over to the Chevy store and sit in a Malibu. You’ll see right away how luxurious and how far more solid it is, and, then, I’d bet you’ll be happy to wait for a Volt.
Dan.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:50 pm)doesn’t it look great driving around on the road??
its very distinctive and eye-catching. from the front, i dont know why, but it kind of looks like a CTS.
i think i like the charge port better too. it doesn’t really matter, i don’t guess though.
+9
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:50 pm)That depends on your Jobs.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:50 pm)@ThombDbhomb 19
“Ahead of schedule…and under budget? If so, lower the selling price.”
Yeah right. I/We wish.
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:52 pm)Black, Statik is going to like it. So when do we see a Victory Red one? Anyway we still can not see the head lights and tail lights. We are talking LED’s her are we not? Yes what is up with the white spoiler?
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:54 pm)@Red HHR 23
“We are talking LED’s her are we not?”
Someone correct me here but those are standard Halogen type headlamps right? I think LED sets were considered “cost prohibitive”.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (6:57 pm)If it is still every 3K miles and you rarely use the ICE, you’ll have to change oil maybe 1 – 2 times a year.
Nice, huh?
+30
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:01 pm)Nothing but good news here. It is nice to finally get to see a actual operational Volt. The glass is definitely half full for me on this one. (first time for everything I guess)
Congrats to the Volt team on realizing the finished product (more or less) and good luck on bringing it home on time.
I give them use of Tagamet’s song for the rest of the day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_v468ptuXw
———-
Also, a big gratz to Lyle on sticking with it/us for ’2 years 5 months, and 8 days’. I’m sure when you started out you had all the energy and enthusiam in the world (and probably still do on most days), but I’m also sure there have been a lot of days/weeks that were just a grind, and you really wanted a break. Cheers.
+1 to Lyle
+1 to Andrew Farah and the team
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:03 pm)I gave you a bump. Very punny.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:05 pm)The Chevy Volt can just as easily be called the American Independence day car. This is the beginning of independence from terrorist funding by Americans who buy middle-east oil everyday. A great day for America – November 2010 and from that day forever onward I pray. God bless this magnificent country and GM for spiking the world’s interest away from foreigners using our cash to buy our country.
US Air Force (retiree)
And to think, the I-Miev is $47,000, the Volt, the better car, will be $32,500 after the tax credit. This is a no brainer folks.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:05 pm)Stop it! Stop it! You are on a roll.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:07 pm)Probably a Kamm-Tail….
Just enough aerodynamic improvement to keep the cell count under 300.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:08 pm)I’d assume some kind of personal grudge against you by Lyle.
/anti CaptJack day
(=
+5
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:09 pm)The video is great.
Though I’d really like to see a video clip of a Prius being “T-Boned” by a “Pre-Production” Volt.
-1
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:09 pm)I have to say, after reading all the posts here, I’ve become a permanent Democrat. That party actually believes government can play a positive role in people’s lives.
Let the mud flying begin. I turned in my Republican card last Fall.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:10 pm)Well, it seems that the various heat exchangers and the devices to have the heat extracted from three different systems essentially appear to need about two square feet of ram air. Although some vehicles like the Vette scoop up air from near the road, I am thinking that to exclude undue risks to new designs which may need higher tolerance-margins of cooling air volumes, that the grille might need to be a truly functional one.
Maybe there could be some sort of spring-loaded door that opens at lower speeds (below 40 mph) on hot days (it was 105 degrees in Austin today), and have it close when coefficient of drag would benefit at higher speeds.
It would not surprise me that we might get Summertime temperatures in the mid Hundred-Teens toward the end of the useful life of the Volt, which I would hope to be 25 years/well maintained/gently-driven.
Dan.
-2
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:13 pm)…I have it on good authority/inside ‘source’ that only mental patients order Victory Red
/black is awesome
…that Robin’s Egg Blue we have been forced to look at the last 9 months is the exact opposite, and the source of many sleepless nights for me. I still hope the first car (and all subsequent cars) crash tested are in Robin’s Egg Blue…clearly the Volt team has been reading the forums and learning.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:16 pm)Yep, CJS.
They axed the LED’s long ago. I do not think they really seriously considered them, but they looked cool.
Cost of LED headlamps would add several hundered dollars. I forget the exact number, but I think it was closer to a grand?
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:18 pm)Hah! Best laugh I had all day, and boy-howdy, did I need it. I. too. give you a thumbs-up!
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:18 pm)I think both the Volt and IMiev have different markets, and I hope for the success of both.
Does not the IMiev get to partake in the tax credit? So, $47,000 is not a fair number, and I am not sure if I have heard a firm US $ price yet.
-5
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:19 pm)Last month the wife and I go down to the local GM dealer to look at the new Camaro. Because my wife commutes 80 miles a day we test drive an Chevy Avio. So we go talk money, we have a pile of GM card rebate dollars (we built our house with credit cards) well they will only give us a grand off. I told her to wait.. we will get them dollars yet. so she gets mad and we go buy a Prius, the next day we get a letter in the mail say we can use all of our GM rebate dollars… Then we get another with additional owner loyalty rebates…
Is all pretty funny, So if I use my GM rebates and Tax rebates the Volt could be affordable. However I believe supply and demand along with additional markups would leave me out for a while. i am just hoping when Volt generation two rolls out I will be able to get a first generation Volt?
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:23 pm)The Genset in my old Winnebago has an hour meter, and, the oil gets changed every 150 hours (equivalent to 3 months if it were a car’s engine hours if it were driven every day).
But the Volt might only need an oil change once a year.
I don’t like an oil to be represented to last 15,000 miles as it depends on what gets into the oil that matters more. Oils are so extremely good nowadays, the oil molecules themselves hold up that great, but its what gets into the oil that damages the rear oil seal and the valve seals. Long term acid buildup might also be a concern to have an oil change need twice a year depending on your Volt Genset hours, it seems to me.
Dan.
+3
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:23 pm)AWESOME! I do hope some of the cosmetic things we are commenting on are just camo tho.
Not to make another Prius comparison, but I’ve seen a lot of new 3rd gens now out here in silicon valley and, while VAST improvements on the 1-gen Priuses and incrementally better than the last in terms of styling, they don’t hold a candle to the Volt.
That said, Volts aren’t 10k better in terms of styling, but then again gas-free operation is worth much, much more to many people than looks.
While certainly completely different vehicles from a technical standpoint, in the public’s mind they are competitors. I am worried that green-niks out here may not accept the Volt, just because it is made by GM and not Toyota. GM needs a SUPERB marketing campaign out here on the left coast to win them over and an equally superb vehicle. If it can’t win them, only a major price slash can get others to buy it before the next couple gens come out at reduced price.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:23 pm)Touche!
+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:23 pm)Amen brother, preach on!
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:25 pm)Half full? Nice spin. We know that half full means half empty.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:29 pm)Thanks Mr. Petit. I will probably trade my “clunker” ’99 Dodge Grand Caravan for a 2010 Chevy Equinox.
I’m about to pour some money into my ’92 Honda Civic to get a few more years out of it. Then, it’s Volt time!
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:34 pm)Some Cadillac & Prius both use LED headlights, extra cost option though. I do not know about BMW and Audi.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:35 pm)I like the sound of silence at the very end of the video, only the tires against the road!
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:36 pm)I wonder if when the price is set Lyle will be reporting on the $50 per car ThombDbhomb official discount! GM does read this site don’t-cha-know!
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:37 pm)Nice car.
I hope it comes in a good choice of colors.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:38 pm)Do you have something against fire trucks? Every kid/adult should have a fire truck! preferably a convertible.
+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:38 pm)It really does look like its worth every penny. Go over to the Chevy store and get into a new Malibu, and, you’ll immediately know that you are getting every cents’ worth for your money.
And, it is just the right large size for me, because I’m a 6’2″ tall.
It is not a small car. I don’t even consider it a mid-sized car.
You can have a larger car with as smaller interior. My Element is as large inside as a Yukon, but it is called a Compact Utility Vehicle.
Go to the Chevy store and find out for yourselves. That’s the best way to find out.
Dan.
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:41 pm)Stick with the colors black, white, and red for the first run of 10,000 Volt.
Make some profit with a high sticker price for these.
Reduce the sticker to under $40,000 for the next 60,000 (2011).
I still believe the Volt will be competing with 6 to 10 year old conversions. Vehicles like the CR-V, Altima, Aztek, Vitara, and Forester will make nice retro conversions.
Great to see the wheels of the Chevy Volt on the road. A bit of good karma to GM.
=D~
+4
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:43 pm)Wow. Awesome. It’s finally here! The production intent Volt … the real deal. I guess if the Volt was software, this is Volt beta 2 and they’re getting closer to the release candidate phase.
All that’s left for them to do is to optimize and tweak the various systems under the hood and maybe do a few other things to the interior and exterior to make it even better. Kaizen … constant and continuous improvement. I read a story today about GM’s new product chief, Tom Stephens. He’s a guy who’s always looking to make an already good product a little better somehow. He wants to make GM cars as good as they can possibly be … the best in the world. Look out Toyota and Honda! GM just might be “blowing your doors off” in the next couple of years with their new models.
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10270192-48.html
I like the spoiler on the back. They ought to think about making it standard on the Volt. Make it look sportier and all that. Optimize the look of the Volt with those little tweaks. Try out different things. They could get a few ideas from the people who do modifications on cars all the time … like in the movie “The Fast and the Furious”. Stuff like that can sometimes make all the difference in the world if you don’t overdo it.
So far, I like what I see with this production intent Volt. I would like to see more videos like this of the Volt driving around on the streets and maybe going a little faster on the track on curves, etc. Maybe they’ll have some different exterior colors soon. I liked that super shiny silver model I saw a few months ago. I’d like to get a cameraman inside the car with audio to get the full Volt driving experience too.
Way to go GM Volt development team !! This is a big milestone for you guys I’m sure. Your vision and all your hard work is REALLY starting to come to fruition now. I can’t wait to test drive one in the next year or so.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:43 pm)US Air Force (retired) and stating your political switch? You are a brave man.
Whether you are a Republican or a Democrat, there are some things that just make sense. The Volt seems to make sense to both sides. There are many different opinions on how to get to the mountain top. But, we need to get there ASAFP. Despite all the armchair quarterbacking, the decision makers are moving the Volt along. Way to go USA (warts and all)!
Jun 24th, 2009 (7:55 pm)Pete,
I’m really glad you brought that up. With the tens of thousands of details going into the Volt, anything anyone can bring up right now that would help the final product is
******************************
helpful to the extreme
******************************
and, I’d bet GM engineering appreciates you as well.
Dan.
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:00 pm)JEC, good question, I don’t think the I-miev will be here in the USA for awhile. I think there is a $1500 tax credit in Japan, and the other point of sale location in Europe none I’m aware of.
We’re lucky to be here in USA.
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:01 pm)OMG that’s hilarious! I don’t care if it’s CG or real, I want to see that!
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:02 pm)Both parties have positives and negatives.
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:03 pm)November 2010. Wait your turn…
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:05 pm)What is the black box looking thing in front of the front wheels? It looks rather non-aerodynamic and low enough to be taken out by speed bumps or entry to a steep driveway. Is it there for test purposes only?
Unfortunately I can’t watch the video, but from the image supplied, the passenger window looks much smaller than I thought it was (I can see the door line appears to angle up now), and I take it the glass cover over the lights will be in place for the production model. I don’t think the image is all that flattering for the Volt, but I’m more interest in the technology, not the overall looks.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:07 pm)Since this is still a pre-production prototype (and the very first one, at that), I would imagine those headlights are temporary, until they get the finalized versions installed.I’m looking forward to watching details like this get polished in the next year!
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:09 pm)So far, I like what I see with this production intent Volt. I would like to see more videos like this of the Volt driving around on the streets and maybe going a little faster on the track on curves, etc.
___________________
I’d like to see a lot more video also. I could watch it on and on. I do hope they get a chance to tune the suspension though before they go trying to tip it over!
Perhaps using the oft noted professional driver instead of Mr. Farah. After all, so far these cars are coming in at several hundred-million-dollars-a-piece, with all development costs included.
+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:26 pm)Naw, not for Statik. When Statik says the glass is half full, it means he is absolutley XStatik. Something about that British culture up North being a little understated.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:35 pm)Ask your questions to AF tomorrow at 4pm on the FL chat. I have a lot of the same ones that were posted above (and more) but it will be midnight here in Moscow and I’m sure I’ll be at a bar.
Oh, and congrats all!
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:39 pm)This car is going to look awesome in white.
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:54 pm)“That depends on your Jobs.”
Now that…is nice.
Certainly a +1 for that.
-1
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:54 pm)“Both parties have positives and negatives”
Let the ions flow!
Jun 24th, 2009 (8:57 pm)In the picture, the rear door looks a lot shorter than the front door. That might make it though to get in/out…and it doesn’t seem like something that can refined for production.
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:02 pm)I may try to get my done in an American Flag color theme. Cost hopefully is not to high.
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:02 pm)BTW I deleted all my opinions and kept it in the understated form you see above!
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:17 pm)Great idea! Hookup the Dems on one side of a Volt battery, and the Reps on the other side, and let the electricity flow!
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:20 pm)JEC, full LED headlights are very, expensive…a lot more than a grand. You frequently see them as just DRLs.
Just as a example, on the R8 it is relatively new option last year…to the tune of €3590, about $6000 USD. Now that is a very high end automoblile.
It is hard to price it out as a ‘new’ option on the Cadillac, because it only comes on the ‘super tricked’ out Escalade Hybrid Platnium Edition, which is tens of thousands more than the standard version…same goes for the Lexus LS600h (starting at just over 100K)
“Mr. Goodwrench charges” you $3,044 for each headlight to replace. Of significance, the headlights in the Escalade have 5 LEDs for low beam and an additional 2 LEDs for high beam.
The new Prius does come equipped with low beam LEDs under the ‘option 5′ w/Advanced Tech package package, , which bases out over $32,000…again hard to strip out what costs what, but they did make a significant improvement to the tech, so much that only 3 LEDs are necessary over the traditional 5.
Simple/crude math says costing is around $2,609 using Toyota’s new ‘hotness’ on low beam LED technology ($3,044/7x2x3)
Sidenote: It is actually a company called Seisakusho Ltd. (manufactured by Nichia Kagaku Kogyo KK) who are the players here…if anyone cares.
/apologies, I bored myself with that post…sorry about that
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:44 pm)“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning”.
Sir Winston Churchill, Speech in November 1942
Churchill said that after the victory at El Alamein.
Andrew Farah nearly paraphrased Churchill
It is a very emotional time for everybody.
Congratulation to Lyle and the GM engineers, you have got us this far.
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:48 pm)Somehow I like the looks of the near-production Volt better than any other I’ve seen so far. I can really see myself owning one of these and driving it to work and around town.
I’m not so sure I can see myself *paying* that much for one since I’ve been very happy for years driving a Honda civic and getting a consistent 40MPG, but the Volt is the first American car I’ve ever considered buying and I’ve now decided my next car *must* have 40+ miles all-electric range.
+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:52 pm)If only we knew someone at NASA who could comment on those self-actuating grill slats, Dan …
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:57 pm)Lyle, thanks for getting the “charge port” pictures as requested. That answers a lot of questions.
Jun 24th, 2009 (9:59 pm)I actually stopped by a Chevy dealer tonight (after they had closed, unfortunately), and looked at Aveos, Cobalts, Impalas and Malibus that they had on the lot.
I couldn’t imagine thinking of the Malibu as a small car. It’s bigger than my wife’s Solara convertible: acres too big for me. I’ve had two Saturn SL2s, a Plymouth Horizon and Valiant, and breifly, my Mother’s 1970s vintage Buick Century (which felt like an aircraft carrier compared to the other four).
The V6 Malibu got 22 MPG City (the only number I generally look at), and the sticker was over $22,000; but on the windshield, they’d painted a price under $17,000. I hear the 2.4 4 cylinder gets something like 24-25 MPG City (same as the Aveo, hard to imagine), though I’d think that (perhaps paradoxically) they’d be in higher demand than the V6.
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:06 pm)Most likely later.
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:09 pm)I like it. Not as aggressive as the prototype, but stylish, clean and a little aggressive looking in a euro sort of way. I wish I could afford one.
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:10 pm)I’d fully expect the ‘ordinary’ red and yellow brake / turn signal indicators to be LEDs which are much less expensive than full headlights (but save 9/10ths of the electricity used by incandescent bulbs).
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:12 pm)Been visiting this site daily for over a year and this is my first post.
I think the IVs look awesome, can’t wait for mine, definitely in black!
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:13 pm)Actually, IMO, both parties are composed mainly of negatives.
I’m standing here all forlorn, with my positive cable in hand,
My electric circuit is all torn, with no “+” socket in the land.
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:16 pm)You can compare IMiev’s Japanese price and think thats the price here. The price depends on tax breaks – and in Japan they are higher.
Pricing here will depend on competetive environment too.
But I’m waiting for Nissan’s “Competetive with gas cars” prcing on their EV ….
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:23 pm)Wow this is such good news!
For the last two weeks the main headline news has been the Iranian dictatorship cracking down on the Iranian people. Its fitting that today we see the first pre-production run of a truly mass produced vehicle that will help free the US (and many other countries) from tyrannical oil.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:23 pm)Well, since the Volt is going to share it’s platform with the Chevy Cruze and the Cruze is the replacement for the Cobalt not the Malibu, I would say that the Volt will be closer to the Cobalt in size than the Malibu.
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:23 pm)No steering wheel to shimmy around or dash board to slip under in the back?
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:26 pm)Wow! A production Volt. This car is definately on its way. I can’t believe this is really happening. And a few weeks early! At this rate, they almost have to be the first major car company with any version of an electric car in the North American market. Not that being first is everything, but it definately gives them a extra edge.
Congratulations Lyle! And to the Volt production team. And GM.
+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:26 pm)Slightly off-topic, but related: My wife test-drove the new Camaro yesterday. It’s a home-run for Chevy for sure. I’ve never seen her get so excited about a car. Unfortunately, it might mean I need to wait a few extra years before I get my Volt. We can’t afford both…
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:35 pm)I believe Mitsubishi just announced $21k in the States
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:42 pm)??? Are you saying that the Democrats are responsible for the Volt? I hope not. Are you saying you just totally disagree with the conservative folks that post here? Actually, I’m not sure what you mean.
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:48 pm)I like the projector blacked out head lights a lot. I think they would be cool in body color though, so it matches what ever color people order. The clear chrome smeared eyeball look is played out. Time to retire it.
-1
Jun 24th, 2009 (10:54 pm)At this point, I tend to agree with you. But then again, I tend to be a “glass half-empty” person.
But there are positives and negatives to every political party. And every politician. No one is all good or all bad. I’m not crazy about Obama. I prefer him to Bush, but that’s not saying much. While I agree with many of his stated goals, I think his execution tends to be majorly flawed. He’s completely controlled by special interests, although he does a much better job of faking it. He just has less (and more) leeway because of the mess he inherited.
But right now I have to give Obama credit for everything he’s done for GM and the Volt. I may not like how he did it. Or why. So far he seems to be pulling off the 363 government sponsored bankruptcy for GM. He did pull it off for Chrysler. (Although I think it was a mistake to rescue Chrysler.) And without him, there would be no Volt, and possibly no electric cars. And, IMHO, they are a crucial step towards the future. Of GM. Of America. And the entire world.
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:04 pm)______________________________________________________
Wow….two thumbs up!
Way to go Voltec Team!
______________________________________________________
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:07 pm)The lurker sees the IV and cannot contain his enthusiasm. He steps out of the shadows. He is truly one of us now.
Welcome Newty2727!
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:13 pm)Everybody overlooks the straightman. Thank you eightzero for setting it up.
+2
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:21 pm)Indeed.
The i-MiEV certainly qualifies for the US rebate. And the $47,000 is a loose dollar conversion of a Japanese MSRP that is jacked up to cover off about $15,000 in rebates the consumer gets there (much like the US one will do/has done to the domestic MSRPs).
The $21,000 MSRP for the i-MiEV price (mentioned later in this thread by Herm) is a WAG from Mitsu about theoretical ‘future’ prices in the mid to later half of this coming decade, I wouldn’t put much stock into it.
(Ever notice how no one ever predicts things to get stay the same or get worse in the future?)
I’d wager that Mitsu’s cost will be somewhere in the low 30s by the time it lands here, and they price it around $35,000 (which would bring it to $27,500 post rebate)…I think they realize it has to be priced less than the Volt. (just my opinion though, I have no hard evidence/fact to back that up)
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:25 pm)______________________________________________________
Lyle Dennis and Andrew Farah somehow related?
Lyle & Andrew need to compare their family trees….their Volt enthusiasm, mannerisms, speech, looks, and geek smarts are way too similar for their not to be some family tree relation…lol
______________________________________________________
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:28 pm)jbfalaska:
$15,000 credit in Japan on the i-MiEV…and they have confirmed to have it for sale in the US in 2011 at the New York autoshow in April.
…it also gets a name change here, because i-MiEV is terrible
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/09/new-york-mitsubishi-confirms-i-miev-will-come-to-u-s/
+1
Jun 24th, 2009 (11:55 pm)Nice to see things progressing.
I’m a little unhappy about the charge port location. 90% of the parking lots have nose in parking. This means that there will have to be a longer charge cord on public chargers. This will provide a tripping hazard for passers by. Also the longer cord will require more time to put away and therefor will tend to get left out to be driven or tripped over. The alternative is to provide a charger along side the stall which will reduce the possible number of cars that will fit in a parking lot.
Another problem is curb side parking. The cord will either have to be dragged over the top of the car scratching the paint. Or the cord will have to be long enough to go around the front of the car to the side. Or it will have to be fished under the car. All while standing on the side of a potentially busy street. A charge port on the front of the car with favoritism toward the passenger side would make life simpler with a short cord that is easy to stow and wont be left out to trip over.
Beside the drivers door is pretty convenient for home charging but will require major changes in public parking spaces to accommodate both charging and safety. Either there needs to be a single standardized port location on the front or 2 ports with the appropriate interlocks to keep both from being used at the same time.
Changing this in the future will be problematic. I would hate to see problems with personal injuries stifle EV use. Making these decisions now will cut down on the expense and confusion.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:11 am)I want mine… electric blue.
Actually to be honest, I’d rather a coupe-style with half-doors for the back. One of the best ideas Saturn had, and other than the Mazda RX-8, one that seems to have been abandoned again.
+3
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:21 am)So you got annoyed that you couldn’t get a discount on a $10,000-ish car, so you get all annoyed and get a competitor’s $25,000-ish car instead out of spite? Yeah, you shown your bank account who’s boss!
Why didn’t you get a Toyota Yaris instead? That’s more comparable to an Avio, er, Aveo.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:25 am)I wish that they made the cord on a spool inside the car. It would have to be pulled out like a tape measure. This way it would go everywhere with you, so you would only have to find an outlet, and pull out as much as you need.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:26 am)Yeah, for the new Camaro, the blue ones are something like 2% of sales. I’m not a fan of baby blue either.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:37 am)Speaking of fire trucks, do you think the Volt will have an automated plug eject function? We have them on our structure engines.
Initially, the public will not be used to having a cord connected to the vehicle on those bleary workday mornings…
Regards
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:23 am)Can’t we wait a little on that. I would at least like to see a couple of production Volts on the road (including mine) before I have to figure out how to cut one up.
The Prius is tricky enough. As our Hurst tech said, “Don’t lick the big orange cable.”
Regards
+3
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:42 am)Do you think these blokes at GM are abit too anal?
How many decades have GM been making econo cars…. you’d think they’d have blinkers and doors pretty much sussed by now. The Volt is just on a standard platform… it all sounds like BS excuses for why it takes a monsterous company years to get a new car out the door (and 9 times out of 10.. it still has design flaws anyways)
Just start making the thing…………………………
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:43 am)Amazing, to finally see it alive is a thing of beauty. Excepth the headlights, and wheels, and unpainted lowers.
Still great to see, but damnit, I hope they listen to the people that bitch about the no sunroof option on the Insight and how many customers want all the normal conveniences that are on a gas car, ALSO on an alternative fueled vehicle.
Where the industry as a whole screws up is making alternative powered vehicles look so out of place with such boring styling and drab options.
Hopefully we see a fully optioned and styled Volt to come soon!
Excellent milestone!!
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:13 am)OH, oh, uhhhh.
Okay, Volt haters, I have to say it, the back end of the car IS out of proportion and looks terrible. The rear overhang (sheetmetal from the rear wheels) is SO out of proportion compared to the front overhang. Also, what a shame they abandoned the Volt badge charge port door and put in an UGLY round hole, sorry, door below the Volt badge. Truly a shame. I hope they will correct this oozing zit, sorry, design deficiency maybe for 2012.
And for all you Volt haters, SEE GM, bankruptcy and all, are bringing the Volt to production; EARLY.
TOLD YOU SO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:27 am)Welcome Newty2727, and I thought my 5 months of lurking was a long time!
Damn, that car looks sexy.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:29 am)Forget the Camaro then, it represents the best of the past, wait for the Volt it’s the future.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:30 am)Exciting! The Volt looks awesome!!
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:51 am)It’s really cool to finally see an actual \Volt drive around. After you watch the video a dozen times you begin to notice little details such as the car actually has the (airbag?) warning sticker on the driver’s visor and stuff like that.
I mean, if they’re essentially hand building prototypes and they’re prototyping the stickers, they’re serious about the details on this car, all right.
And you really get a sense of enthusiasm every time you read something or hear something from the people working on this car.
Not only is the reputation of GM riding on the quality of the \Volt, but to a large extent the reputation of electric vehicles in general will be riding on it as well.
Over the years, GM has had a lot of high and low points for cars but all things considered, I rather hope the \Volt goes down in history as one of the finest cars GM ever builds.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:58 am)I’m not sure they’ve quite figured out econo cars yet even after all these years, at least as indicated by sales in the US compared to Civics or Corollas or something.
In any case, tuning the sounds of blinkers or doors isn’t probably easily done on a CAD system. I could readily understand having to put the whole assembly together to actually figure out what things sound like in comparison to everything else and cabin noises, etc.
They probably know what to adjust to affect it though; that’s where all those years of other car experience comes in.
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:07 am)nasaman Says:
1) Does anyone know if the silver spoiler on the rear is standard or optional?
2) Ditto the projector headlights with blacked-out surrounds?
————————————————————————————–
1) It looks like the plastic part on the back is production, but hasn’t been painted yet.
2) The headlights appear to be missing their blue-ish plastic cover.
That’s what it looks like anyway.
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:12 am)Right. The charge connector is a big deal, not only for theft and vandalism, but also for rain and snow. It would be MUCH better if the outer charge port cover could be closed and locked when charging.
GM – take note!
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:27 am)I think most owners will be charging it in their garages..
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:30 am)Congratulations to all the GM folks involved and thanks to Lyle for his long, tireless reporting.
If Volt is a “moonshot” then this first car is Apollo 1.
A ways to go yet, but outstanding progress and much to look forward to. Exciting times in automotive history.
(And for some reason, the car looks better in this report than it has in the past.)
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:32 am)Now I noticed that lately on some of the europen cars, they no longer have those orange portions near the headlights, they are the same color as the headlights or they are inside the same glass of the headlight. It looks a lot better. GM should consider dropping that orange, it looks ugly.
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:37 am)Looks like an air dam, there for aerodynamic reasons.. perhaps its made of soft rubber to survive road rash. The Volts mileage on the highway will depend on stuff like this.
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:44 am)It is good to see that you are following the People’s car company during your absense, Comrade.
The Party will look favorably upon your decision.
Now enjoy the vodka!
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:55 am)Forget the Volt tax credit. The U.S. government has a part ownership of GM. Don’t waste tax payer dollars with the paperwork, time, mail costs and manpower needed to process tax rebates. Simply mark the sticker price as:
2011 Chevy Volt
MSRP $39,900 / $32,400
Instant green discount $7500
Let’s not fool around. It’s time to do something right.
=D~
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:57 am)Seeing this car finally roll out the garage door was very exciting.
To me, this is similar to the moon mission years ago (I’m dating myself). We got to see history unfolding before our eyes, and it was a living testiment to what man can do when he applies time, resources, and intellect.
For me, this is automotive history in the making. A high volume, no compromise vehicle that will transition the automotive transportation industry (which is 96% dependent upon petroleum) into the next age of propulsion. Truly an exciting experience.
Congratuations to GM and the Volt team, and thanks to Lyle for giving us all the chance to be a small part of this amazing transformation in the history of the automobile.
Jun 25th, 2009 (5:30 am)@58
Yeah indicators (blinkers) have been integrated into the main headlight on most designs since the milennium over here. I have a vauxhall(opel) vectra, and it’s all in one unit, so GM do do it outside of america. it does look like it’s a one piece headlamp on the volt/ampera, and if the indicator is LED then it won’t be obviously “orange” to the naked eye when unlit. although do you still have those horrible permenantly lit orange lights on your cars?
Jun 25th, 2009 (5:40 am)Well put, Static! When you add your “half- full to my “full full” we have a wonderful mess (lol).
I’d echo the kudos to Lyle and add the majority of people who’ve been avid fans of the whole “science experiment”.
Maybe instead of the Sunshine, lollipops song you could give us a reprise of some of your all time historic negative comments? Naw, that’d take too long (lol).
One great day here.
Way to go Lyle!
Be great,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!!
Jun 25th, 2009 (5:59 am)Well, I guess that Charge Port picture answers my question from yesterday. I think it is much better to have it on the side of the car.
Nice job, GM team. Let the naysayers be your motivation to keep moving forward, along with us here of course. We got your back and many of us are ready to buy.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (5:59 am)Or earlier, like say Independence Day, 2010. Wouldn’t that be a remarkable symbolic debut?!?
Be well,
Tagamet
Independence From Oil Day, 2010
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:10 am)Thomb,
Very diplomatically put!
Be well,
Tagamet
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:18 am)Spooky, but I noticed the same similarities.
Be well,
Tagamet
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:47 am)Never had a problem with comment moderation until I started my IV chant on a financial thread a couple of days ago (seems like light years now), so I’ll try it differently.
IV chant!
We Just Got The Volt Wheels On The Road!
Next stop, ER mode operation.
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:55 am)Completely agree, with enthusiastic congratulations to Farah, the GM team, and Lyle.!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:59 am)I was just watching some Tesla videos on YouTube and observed that the roadster is not a well behaved (rather ugly) little car. It cannot take a corner with any aplomb, and one tester ran out of juice after 55 miles, which, as we know is impossible, no matter how hard you drive. I suspect some of those 15,000 cell connections failed.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:05 am)Super-smart system has learned your name and that you cause…..
Actually, you are putting in something dot com or some other little word or phrase that the super-dumb system has on its list of objections. There are a lot of great things about this site, but the system for automated moderation is not one of them.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:06 am)Yes, Farah-day.
We he (and his team) read that, they will enjoy it too.
+3
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:07 am)The car is an advanced prototype but not a finished Volt.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:12 am)So here in the beautiful state of North Carolina, people say
“If God were not a Tar Heel, why is the sky Carolina Blue?”
Watch your tongue.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:14 am)LED lights are going down in price fast.
They are cheap to make, once the process is established.
Prices are high for the moment because demand is outrunning supply.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:19 am)Just back in to the parking space.
It’s better in lots of ways, and charging will be another.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:26 am)I think the problem is that all noise is much lowder in a silent electric car. And I admit that I never gave any thought to the sound of turn signals being to lowd in an electric car.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:29 am)The Volt wont start until you unplug it.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:33 am)You know I love ya Tag…I’m just teasing with you.
/nice to have you back on a regular basis
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:38 am)Yeah, I know, Stat. I toyed with the idea of coming back with a chorus of “The Volt’ll come out TOO-MAH-ROWWW” but I’ll hold that for July 3rd, 2010…”
Be well,
Tag
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:39 am)Dave,
I really agree strongly with you. Any benefit to be had ought to count equally to all as well. Assign the benefit to GM and let their computers do all the work.
Lots of business people like me must relentlessly cut costs and *eliminate totally* all taxable profit margins entirely to be able to get contracts.
This means that although we pay lower income taxes after required business equipment to be purchased every year (diagnostic equipment, etc), we are unable to make as much or any use whatsoever of a tax credit.
(We pay other taxes too that most others don’t pay, such as generated sales tax revenues for the State, to far more than make up for the lowered Federal Tax at “break-even” that would otherwise be offset by a Volt tax rebate).
So, I really agree strongly that there ought to be a provision in the law to make that $7,500 into an “instant green discount” for GM to be instantly credited that amount. Somehow, however, in such a way that it would not disrupt or slow down GM’s or the dealership’s needed cash flows or bottom line whatsoever.
Dan.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:44 am)Your size comparison makes sense, but I have to say that the Volt appears larger than a Cobalt….even bigger than a Honda Civic.
Looks more like the size of an Accord, but that’s just me.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:53 am)They are not related.
But if Andrew Farah married Farrah Fawcett, she’d be Farrah Farah.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:57 am)The Volt is an electric car. It should look different than conventional cars. I’ll bet when you see it in the flesh you’ll like it.
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:59 am)Funny, I thought the exact same thing. When I watched the above video I at first for a second thought it was Lyle. They could be brothers.
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:00 am)The Volt is almost exactly the same size as the Honda Civic.
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:03 am)I am not a Tesla fan, but I saw one up close in the flesh, and it is a gorgeous little car. They did that right. Looked well built too, body-wise. It’s basically a Lotus, and they know how to build bodies.
Hooking 6800 laptop batteries together to motivate a car down the road, however, will be a technology that will be relegated to the scrap heap of history in very short order.
-2
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:05 am)I just ran that incredible video above, and, I now see what you mean about the styled grille.
I think It would not look as good, or , rather, it would look too different, too soon, if they didn’t have it there for what you might call a styling transition, it seems to me.
But, still, being a functional guy, I’d want all those systems to be just as comfortable from the Texas heat as I want to be with a truly open and functional grille for some added “ram air” for more cooling CFM’s. But I still have to keep in mind coefficient of drag.
So, as long as that adequate cooling of all systems happens here in the scalding Texas heat, I’m OK with whatever GM engineering and Style Design departments want.
It was 106 degrees where I was working yesterday, and today, the heat index is expected to reach 110 degrees. So, the AC system will be working hard in my Volt, as I believe Global warming as a trend is clearly showing up. The “historical average” for this time of year is supposed to average 92 degrees. That’s “history”. It just aint gonna happen nomore.
Dan.
-2
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:12 am)The Volt looks a little like my 2005 Acura TL. It’s pretty sharp looking.
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:22 am)Anyone seen a right side picture of the Volt? I was wondering where the fuel filler door is, and if it looks like the new charge port door.
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:26 am)______________________________________________________
Historically Significant Voltec Photo:
That car hanging photo in Lyle’s above article is of the first production-intent Chevy Volt having its t-battery installed. I’d love to have a copy of that photo signed by the Voltec Team…I’d pay for that…I’d frame it and hang it up at my office…perhaps Lyle can arrange to make available in his gm-volt store? Or hi-res scan and make available by link for download.
“The first production-intent Chevrolet Volt is fitted with a lithium-ion battery pack at the General Motors Pre-Production Operations (PPO) building in Warren, Michigan Wednesday, June 3, 2009…”
Source:
http://gm-volt.com/galleries/photo/3658614390/preproductionchevyvolt001jpg.html
_____________________________________________________
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:32 am)I can’t play the video for some weird reason. Tell me more.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:34 am)Good point. But remember, NOTHING is safe from the sufficiently talented fool =)
-2
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:40 am)“And without him, there would be no Volt, and possibly no electric cars.”
O may be a great speaker but he does not control the world. Electric cars will be built because people want them not because O did something.
Chinese and Japanese Electric cars will hit our country in force in a few years. Ford will have one. None of this has to do with the one…
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:56 am)I agree with avatar except I say make mine a bit more powerful and heavy enough to pull a medium weight boat.
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:57 am)I was also a longtime lurker before venturing forth (or fifth, I forget which)
Jun 25th, 2009 (8:59 am)As much as I liked the original (production intent) prototype’s blue-LED accents in the headlight area, I never understood how they would get away with it. I believe there is a law now restricting blue lighting on cars (for Police only, not yours). However, I’ve seen some after-market blue-LED things on cars, so maybe I’m wrong.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:01 am)… wait a minute. Has anyone ever seen Lyle and Farah at the same time?
Pretty good costume, though.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:03 am)From the photos with driver it sure looks like the cabin area is almost the same as a Malibu, but with very little trunk space.
Have there been any published figures for interior dimensions?
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:04 am)http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn15/sunpowr/2009_05_09_Tesla/chrgng.jpg
here is a picture of the Tesla charging cord, notice how thick it is?
from this thread:
http://www.gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3070&highlight=tesla&page=2
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:12 am)The boot (trunk) is 350litres according to Opel/Vauxhall.
-3
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:13 am)The overall design doesn’t look as impressive as the prototype, but the production models rarely do. In the case of the Chevy Volt, the one feature that I’d like to see (as a consumer) is a solar charging system built into the roofline, trunk (deck lid) and even in part of the hood.
My reasoning is simple – stop trading one dependancy for another. Why stop short at using less (or no) gas if you still need to plug the unit in at night – a process that will still costs me money.
Instead, integrate a solar charging system into that car that can charge the car FOR FREE during the day while it’s parked in the parking lot at work. This option is something I’d even pay extra for if it were available. Get OFF the grid and back to basics…and a little common sense.
I’m not suggesting that the Volt do away with the plug (it’s still necessary), but just add the solar charging option…
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:15 am)Great news, we will all need VOLTS if Nancy Pelosi and her gang pass the energy bill they want to ram down our thoats in the next few days.
God Bless America,
Tom
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:21 am)You might get 500watts of usueable power by covering the roof, bootlid and bonnet. if you parked it in direc sunlight and moved the car on a turntable to catch the best light all day long it would take……….
16 hours.
So parked in one spot, with between 6 and 12 hours of usable sunlight in a whole day you may get a 25% charge. provided your panel is clean, you’re not near any tall buildings or trees and you’re not parked in a garage/underground parking/multistorey parking. so, if you only use the car once a week (or do less than 10 miles a day) then integrated solar cells could be a viable power source. instead of paying the extra $ on the vehicle you may be better installing a large solar/wind system at home, and actually charging your volt from that. driving on wind power would be pretty cool…
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:22 am)Good! I am happy to hear that they are ahead of schedule. That is evidence of committment to the project. Keep it going and don’t get derailed for I am sure there is things happening that would stop this project. Mother GM, has to protect the baby (i.e., Voltec) from much unknown factors, possibly the US Government itself.
Good report! That is what all of us supporters want to hear however, we still are indoubt about the executive pool and to who, is the I GOT TO TAKE HOME A LOT OF MONEY guy.
Considering greed, somebody at GM is taking advantage of the existing situation but hopefully, it does not affect the progress on the Volt project.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:22 am)i agree that most recharging will be done in your garage, but the future goal of america (should be) is to have charging stations at your work or on the street in front of a restaurant. it would be simple now to engineer this connection now rather than just push it off and say it isn’t our concern just to get it out of the door into customers hands.
plus, marketing people from competitors will use anything they can to be better.
as electric cars become more and more in the next ten years, i wouldn’t want my $40k volt to be one of the ones that people don’t want because of the public connection isn’t secure.
+3
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:31 am)Brian, this is old ground that the technos on this site have gone over long ago.
It is simply not cost effective or feasible to get enough juice from the sun shining on you car to run anything more than a little fan to keep the car cooler while it is parked so you don’t need as much AC when you get in and drive.
That’s about it.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:31 am)Personally, I think that BEVS are doomed to remain a niche item unless and until battery costs come way down dramatically. Range anxiety is real. Charging time can is an issue. Not to mention the other assorted advantates of an EREV. (Battery conditioning, etc.) And for battery costs to come down to that point, we need EREV to bridge the gap. And GM is the only one building one.
Besides, the only reason Ford (and Chrysler) is jumping on the electric car wagon is because a) GM has the Volt, and b) the expanded federal tax credit. The Japanese car companies are, for the most part, very comfortable with the current status quo. Nissan is invested in BP, which IMHO is impractical anywhere other than Isreal. They only recently announced their own regular BEV.
Mitsubishi is the obvious exception. But they don’t have the resources to change the market on their own. Or spur this kind of investment in car batteries technology. And any shift coming from them would, IMHO, take much longer than the Volt.
China’s a different story. But I don’t see the American public accepting Chinese cars any time soon. Not with all the public health scandals coming out of China right now. It’s great for the Chinese market. The whole world will benefit from cleaner air and reduced gasoline usage in China. But that won’t help with the North American market. And, by the way, even they still don’t have the kind of resources for new battery technology that the US government has.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:32 am)They said they are already working on changing small things they found and they are not even supposed to have any IVER’s out yet until more than a week from now – hopefully you’re on to an ongoing trend in Volt progress Tag!
Every day of testing and improvement is a hard earned “free day” ahead of schedule and under budget!
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:36 am)That was so bad it was good!
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:36 am)Very cool! Can’t wait until I get the chance to experience a real ride in a Volt!
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:38 am)I definitely miss that little slider tool on the right side of this website. Its hard to find things now and you don’t know where you are in the comments portion or how long you need to scroll to get to the top or bottom of the site.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:39 am)I bet you are right that it’s camo, along with the ‘bodged’ together headlight clusters. I wouldn’t build the rather expensive headlight assemblies until I knew the body lines were right either!
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:44 am)LauraM
You are a formidable debater. I am very impressed. I wouldn’t challenge you unless I was very prepared. Even then, my fear would be my downfall.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:47 am)Lyle,
I figured out how to make the new comment thingy better; put the “Recent Comments” box (found on the home page) on each of your posts. Then, everytime I refresh, I can see where new comments were added.
If you take up my suggestion, I would add that the list of recent comments be lengthened, maybe with a day time stamp.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:50 am)Bring on the Stig!
-3
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:52 am)Thank you I was waiting for someone to finally comment on the idiocy of that statement, and it took only 52 posts. Give me a break GM, you are allowing stupid sh!t like blinker sound tie you up, because you need to make a car people want to drive, I’ll tell you a secret WE DON’T WANT TO PAY $4.00 BUCKS PER GALLON AT THE PUMP that’s what we want, I don’t give a damn if the car has turn signals, I know my hand signals I’ll use my hands, just build the damn electric power train.
-4
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:52 am)Nice car but 40 mile electric range is pretty weak. It shouldn’t be hard for other EV makers to top that I am sure.
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:00 am)Ahh, another optimist in the group (lol). Actually, I’ve been floating that 7/4 release date for a long time now. Soooo many variables that NOONE knows exactly when it’ll hit the pavement. It might as well be EARLY (lol).
Be well,
Tagamet
LJGTVWOTR!!**********NPNS
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:02 am)Last I checked Tesla Roadster could easily go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds ! Nothing GM makes can touch it.
No charge for the lesson. Consider yourself schooled.
The Bus Driver
“I take everyone to school”
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:03 am)Brian, this has been discussed many times and it basically boils down to the fact that you simply can’t get enough power out of a cell that size to make any significant sort of impact to battery condition.
They have been used to run vent fans successfully in other cars but with the price of the car already pushing most budgets the running guess is that solar will not make the cut in GEN 1.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:03 am)Great report Lyle. Now we finally know where the charge port is located. Good video and pictures. Thanks to all for a great vehicle and a wonderful web-site that I spend too darn much time on. Good luck GM and keep up the good work. We are all in a tizzy waiting to see one at our dealership. My savings account is building up every month. Hope I can keep my hands out of it until I can buy either the Volt or some other electric vehicle. Or maybe the convertible Camaro, if it ever hits the market.
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:06 am)Double ditto for me too.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:06 am)Well if they add a gas, diesel, or hydrogen range-extender to their vehicles I will seriously consider them as well.
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:07 am)It looks OK, except with it being in black it is hard too judge the true lines of the vehicle. It would be great to see it in a lighter color – white or silver.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:23 am)When is Congress and the EPA going to step in and mandate minimum electric range on these hybrids. I think the automakers are dragging their feet on this one. Everyone knows that just about any car made today can be electrified for around a 100 mile range using off-the-shelf technology. This is a no-brainer. The automakers are just artificially limiting range to keep their cost down and maximize profits. This cannot stand. It is time the EPA grew a pair and forced the industry to maximize current technology now. Man Up.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:28 am)The heat here in Austin is a normal and localized variation of average temperatures. We are in a heat wave, not in the grips of global warming. Other parts of the country that are usually very hot this time of year are seeing below average temperatures.
The Volt on the otherhand is exciting to see in this advanced stage…long live GM.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:38 am)Last I checked Tesla Roadster could easily go 0-60 in less than 4 seconds ! Nothing GM makes can touch it.
No charge for the lesson. Consider yourself schooled.
The Bus Driver
“I take everyone to school”
_________________________
Final exam time -
“2010 Corvette Z06: will cost just $75,235….
We need to talk a bit more about that engine, the LS7 7.0L V8. As we mention above it produces 505hp and can go from 0-60 in 3.7 seconds, and has a top speed of 198mph.” From Product Review News
Even teachers have to hit the books sometimes!
I’ve been a Tesla Roadster fan from it’s first announcement.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:39 am)To get this done on time, with all that has been going on around them is truly amazing (engineers are people too). Those guys have accomplished something they will remember all their lives.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:40 am)I think we can say that when we can buy one and drive it off the lot.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:42 am)That’s the whole idea.
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:43 am)I live just down the road from the proving grounds. That video was shot going down my roads! I haven’t seen the Volt out and about, but I’ve been looking!
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:43 am)Dan, you need it for business, so the whole darn car is tax deductible!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:44 am)I see your point, but the new Camaro gets pretty decent mileage for what it is (the V6 anyway) and is simply a beautiful car.
It takes all kinds to make the world go round.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:45 am)Thank-you Tom, well said. Sadly, however, Nancy and many of her cohorts have been owned by the extereme enviromental movement for years. And thanks to them, there really isn’t enough electrical energy capacity to sustain a mass produced EREV, in the numbers that we need, to truly offset the amount petrol Nancy and her minions have roped off, that we can’t drill for.
Sorry, wind mills and solar panels won’t get it done, Nuclear energy could, but then we are back to the Nancy and her gang problem.
You need thousands of mile’s of new electrical power lines to even start to thing about getting the wind mill juice to the grid. Oh, good luck with, you need to spend years and dollars fighting the extreme enviromental lobby to get permits and approval to put those lines up.
There might be an endangered tit mouse or wild flower that must come first ya know
+5
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:51 am)Wow, I admire you not only for getting to the heart of automakers stunning level of selfish greed in putting profits before customer needs, yes the automakers recent profit levels are truly stunning by any measure of red ink, but I also admire the great wealth you have accumulated to be able to afford the type of vehicle that you advocate legislating. Well done!
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:55 am)Some very good points.
The current location will work well for me since I will charge at home in my garage and there is not even a whisper of public charging stations here.
But you bring up some interesting issues like curb parking and nose-in parking that hadn’t occured to me.
Jun 25th, 2009 (10:56 am)Has anyone else seen Transformers 2? Volt barely makes a half second appearance with grill. No video of the car running around or its body. Disappointing. Minus 1 star.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:01 am)I say, is that Dr. Spock? My parents used his retched baby raising book and the results are, well, still not in. LOL! Now…
Der Fuhrer got Herr Porsche’s appeal for state assistance for an affordable small car and ran with it though his naming suggestion was nixed and so Volkswagen came about. Adolf penned 10 areas of concern for the Bug to address. Why is my head spinning thinking that we NOW must have to have Der EPA step in and DICTATE what the Volt perimeters should be?! Oh! The US controls a commanding ownership of the Volt unlike Porsche.
Humm, and the newly converted DemoKats are all comfy with their New Das Stat are they? Sure. Our Congressthings and Der iene will also step in and throw their oh so valuable two cents in and Rep. Barney Franks, 3 cents. God forbid that they might even get to re-name the car or forbid black as a colour option!
If these forces grow anymore, ANYTHING, they need also to grow little paint mustaches, or walk around wheezing, looking like, oh, I don’t know, yes I can, Darth Vader. Ooops, no environmentally bad black paint options on that helmet!
Let the Volt come into it’s own with out any further STATE dictats or the delays will be that the Volt will never get a legitimate, real birth certificate! Looking good it seems. Thanks Lyle!
The Boys, Zeus and Apollo are growling. Have to attend to them. WHAT!? They grew some little mustaches! Heavens whats next!
Regards! Higgins
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:08 am)The Citroen Berlingo EV had a charge door that was hinged at the side with a “flap” door at the bottom of the charge door. See the below link: (Click on the “Charging” option on the left side of the page to see a picture of the charge port with cord plugged in.)
http://www.berlingo-e.co.uk/
When closed the charge cord has the flap door over the top of the cord. With it closed it looks like it pretty well sealed the charge port.
GM, you should consider something like this.
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:09 am)GM will do “heavy lifting” toward plug-in goal [w/POLL]
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/25/gm-will-do-heavy-lifting-toward-plug-in-goal-w-poll/
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:15 am)I have driven a 2008 Malibu. The Volt will be slightly smaller inside and out. Hopefully the fit, finish and quality will improve on the Malibu which is a very big improvement over my last Chevrolet car. The Malibu is a great looking car inside and out. Kudos to GM for developing it. Now improve it even more GM. Especially by adding a strong hybrid system to it. Not what you just discontinued.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:15 am)You have a legitimate point.
BUT… if the fancy new car hits the road and the doors rattle or the ‘blinker’ sounds awful or the switch gear feels cheap then they will get FRIED in the media!
The USER experience has to be better than excellent!
The media (who the majority of customers WILL listen to) need to be blown away by the car which means they (Andrew and team) have to get it right the first time.
Spend the time, make sure they are 8 hour seats “comfort window”, (My ’97 Land Rover Discovery has them and my 2002 Subaru Impreza does not, my ’98 Malibu with leather seats is somewhere in the middle.) Make sure the damping is right on the switch gear (not too stiff but not too ‘floppy’) and on and on.
They have most of a year to work this stuff out, let them do it. This is the real difference between the Chinese stuff and the German stuff, The Volt needs to be pretty damn German in this context.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:19 am)It does look nice but I still like the concept better. I know, I know aero changes needed to be made.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:19 am)Not yet but I think i’ll be looking more at Megan Fox than anything
lol….
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:25 am)I loved my 2001 VW Jetta GLS TDI. It was a very very cool car, and it matched what I want out of the driving experience peeve-for-peeve, at least while I was living in the Appalachians. Up to this point, it’s been my favorite car.
The only problem with it was that it was a Volkswagen. The diesel engine performed wonderfully over the time I owned it, but the transmission was total crap. I went through about 5 transmissions during the time I owned it (though I only had to pay for 1.5 transmissions). There’s NFW I’ll ever own any Volkswagen product again, unless it’s inside the factory warranty period, there’s a VW dealer in town, and I have a second car to drive while the VW’s being overhauled yet again.
But it’s a testament to how much I liked the car was that I still miss it, even after so many transmission-swaps. But, alas, I’m not rich enough to own a VW, and I probably am rich enough to own a Lexus.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:31 am)Sometimes the students correct the ‘teacher’.
Comparing sports cars to sports cars…
http://www.gm.ca/gm/english/vehicles/chevrolet/corvette/overview
ZR-1 0-60 3.7 seconds.
No charge for the correction.
I left school a long time ago.
-5
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:31 am)Okay 2.5 years and 1.5 billion dollars of taxpayers money and this is the best you yanks can do. Gidday.
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:32 am)Sounds reasonable.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:34 am)I agree and a house based solar/wind solution is in the ‘thinking about it’ phase.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:35 am)Yup. Was there anything else in the movie besides Megan Fox?
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:36 am)even at that level it looks like a very expensive way to run a Fan
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:37 am)Agreed. A lot more negatives than positives for both parties. I don’t care which party it is, both are out for themselves and their big money supporters much more than for you, me or the country. A pox on all politicians is what I say.
+4
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:38 am)The strength of this design is that you carry around enough battery for 90%-ish of your driving and then use the fuel efficient range extender to go as far as you want or need on the weekend or whenever.
Some night the kid is sick and you HAVE TO go to the hospital now… depleted battery or not the little Chevy will be good to go.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:42 am)I disagree with you LauraM on the comment that without Obama we would have no Volt. Even if George W Bush was still President, he would have supported GM the same way. As would most of the top few people who ran for the office last year. The only thing Obama has going for him is the deep problems we have and we can thank his party and the GOP for most of that. Add the Wall Street bankers to that list and you can nail down the culprits to this mess.
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:42 am)Great Lyle thanks,
JC NPNS
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:44 am)“almost exactly ”
AHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
You crack me up dude……
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:49 am)Man go read some specs/datasheet or research the Volt before opening your fat trap. There’s a built in “Range Extender” you idiot.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:50 am)LauraM, you may be correct about fully electric (BEV) vehicles. Mostly because if the Cap and Trade bill passes as envisioned by the democrats it will raise electrical rates so high as to make electric cars much less desirable. But, personally, I think a BEV would make an excellent second or third car for a family. Just think of all the running around the neighborhood – all short mileage trips. Sounds good to me, but only if congress and Obama gets off this Cap and Trade bill. That one bill will cost a lot more than we will ever gain in saving the environment. And nothing in the bill insures any environmental savings. It is just another way to force people to live in the manner that the big government and environmental people want you to live. Plus it will generate a lot of tax money to be wasted on special interest spending. All to purchase votes at election time.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:50 am)LOL! right on the money!
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:52 am)The Volt in the video looks very similar to a Prius as it goes down the road. Without the tiny styling details that I know about (but my wife does not) I would have thought it was a Prius.
I think Prius styling is fine, though not particularly excitingly, but the lesson I draw from the very similar appearance is that everyone will be doing a comparison of Prius vs Volt. I’m not sure that’s a good thing, as it will accentuate any price differences.
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:52 am)I just don’t understand the environmental movement sometimes. They want clean energy, but no windmills. Windmills kill birds and apparently look ugly. Personally, i think they look very cool. Especially in a wind farm.
In CT there was a fight against high powered electric lines. They are being run anyway now.
With the environmental movement, we are damned if we do, damned if we don’t.
Question: Why don’t we need thousands of miles of new electric power lines for Nuclear energy? No one wants these things in their backyard, so they may need to build them in the middle of nowhere. In which case, new lines will have to be run anyway. Am I right about this?
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:53 am)They will get this done and these small details are very important to the perceived value of the Volt – I own a 2008 Malibu (excellent car – I’m 6’1″ and all the details are well thought out) and the development of the Malibu & CTS will be a huge help to the fit and finish of the VOLT as well as cutting down the development time for these details.
I am with TAG in that July 4th 2010 would be an excellent day to roll out the first 1,000 Volts (Red – White & Blue(the Imperial Blue of the ’08 Malibu))
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:56 am)Check out these folks: http://www.solarelectricalvehicles.com/products.shtml
Now for buyers in the US, use that $7500 tax rebate to buy a solar package for your home. And yes you also get a Fed AND State rebate on the home solar package. Kind of like double dipping…..kind of.
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:57 am)Personally those “green-niks”, as you called them, can take a flying leap out of the tallest building on the left coast as far as I am concerned. Any company who tries to tailor their vehicles and marketing to them will end up losing more money than they make. Those people have minds like bear traps – but just permanently closed. GM should forget them and build a car for the “masses”.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:00 pm)Actually, I read that Tesla Roadster G3 is going to be the last of these batteries. Don’t know about the Model “S” or their eco model yet to be named.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:00 pm)I wish the video would show the car running on generator. That is the mode the majority of my commute will be in every day. It’s kind if a HUGE detail the keep leaving out. The car is a gas hybrid, why do they seem to be marketing it as a BEV?
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:04 pm)I agree on the location but wonder if making the ‘shiny’ Volt emblem the charge door instead of the plastic ‘gas filler’ style door. (much like the original design but hinged instead of sliding. Of course the plastic gas filler door thing will be cheaper, but a shiny charge door would be cool and would feel ‘nicer’.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:07 pm)That is a great thought but I highly doubt it. Also, I wouldn’t be surprised if the “Cash For Clunkers” is extended for another year to accomodate the rollout of the Volt and GM bumping the Price to $40,000 + $3500 = $43,500.00
Or
$40,000 + $4500 = $44,500.00
That’s my “Nostradamus” SWAG if you will,,,,
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:10 pm)I have to disagree with you about the look of the car.
It’s a classic ‘wedge’ shape and I’ve always loved the look.
Disclaimer: I even loved the “shape” also known as the TR7, so maybe I should shut up now…
-2
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:12 pm)lol. Thank you.
But it shoudn’t be about debating. If you disagree with me–please tell me. And tell me why! That’s why I come here. To learn from the other posters. (And Lyle, of course.)
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:13 pm)Cool video and news, Lyle, but each day I bring up your site, I’m hoping for the following headline: “I finally get to test drive the pre-production Volt in ICE mode!”
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:13 pm)I bet when you test drive in the flesh you’ll Lust for it…
Ya beast!
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:18 pm)Certainly it is true that the ER part of EREV is critical, and we have not seen much of ER yet. But on the other side, it is the EV part that separates Volt from the ICE cars on the road today, so it is good that EV is emphasized.
-2
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:19 pm)Forty miles on a single charge. Are you shitting me ?
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:20 pm)Hey, umm, no one was supposed to get that one!
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:24 pm)When I say “debating,” I don’t mean anything negative. I mean an exchange of opinions that is well-reasoned, fact-based, and possibly convincing to someone whose ego is not caught up in their position.
Many times, I have disagreed with your conclusions, but I can’t “go at” you because I know you would make me look stupid.
Keep up the good (but evil
) posts.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:26 pm)You can go farther if you don’t mind using gasoline !
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:26 pm)Well, he’s kinda right. I see volt wheels on the road…
Maybe we need something like LJGOBITS – “Let’s Just Get Our B… In The Seats!” but it doesn’t sound as catchy.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:29 pm)Yes I am! And your a good SHI*
-4
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:34 pm)What’s the point dude, once you start using gasoline you cancel out any gains made from the electric range. Get your head on straight man. This is a hybrid, not a full electric. Think Prius, not Tesla. I know, the Volt was inspired by Tesla but Lutz could not get funding for a true electric, hence the compromised Volt you see here. Get It !!!
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:35 pm)For cold climates where folks plug in their engine block heaters, I wonder how the Volt will handle this? The Volt has an ICE, so they will need some sort of heater, but will this be incorporated into a single plug that can heat the block, battery pack while charging the battery?
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:36 pm)It would need to be a postumous wedding. Farrah Fawcett died this morning.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:36 pm)If you can find it, there’s a Top Gear episode where they drove two Tesla’s around. (If you’ve never watched the show, it’s a BBC show featuring 3 hosts larking about with sports cars and car projects – it’s a hoot). In any case, (and I apologies for any mistakes since I’m recalling this from memory) they got about 50-60 miles out of a charge driving around their track. I suspect a large part of the problem is that track driving requires hard non-regenerative braking and there are more losses accelerating hard and driving at track speeds. In any case, they managed to cripple both cars. I remember they overheated one, hosed the brakes on one and something else went out on one. But for the time they were operating they were very enthusiastic about their driving characteristics.
I think that was the same episode where they compared mileage between a stock Prius and a stock BMW (3 series?) and the BMW won with a couple miles/gallon higher mileage than the Prius.
Of course the challenge was that they drove the prius around the track as fast as possible and all the BMW had to do was keep up with it. If I recall correctly Prius mileage went to 19 on the track and the Bimmer did about 22 following it.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:42 pm)Brutus my boy, the complexity and cost to build an EREV far exceeds a BEV.
Maybe you should read up on what the Volt is and is not, prior to blessing us with your next insightful posts.
PDNFTT (but, just this one time. They do need to thrown a bone or two occasionally)
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:42 pm)Headline:
GM Tests First Pre-Production Chevrolet Volt, Plans to Sell In China
http://www.freep.com/article/20090625/BUSINESS02/906250453/Chevy+Volts+to+be+built+and+sold+in+China++too
Or
http://rumors.automobilemag.com/6558152/green/gm-tests-first-pre-production-chevrolet-volt-plans-to-sell-in-china/index.html
So, just as I have always said, GM is a GLOBAL company and to play in the “Level Playing Field” for labor you are competing with lower labor rates. For those who bithc about this read the link above.
Now, with GM doing this, they are taking the manufacturing jobs to China to sell to China. This is a little disturbing in that shouldn’t China prices also include the R&D costs incurred for Volt development? Why not import the cars in from the US? Sure it may be cheaper but what about the jobs? Is this what the billions were used for? To build cars in China and jobs? This makes no sense at all. This only confirms that GM smoke screens ALL funds given from the tax payers for the bailout loans so well, you can’t determine where the funds go to and to what branch in the massive pool of GM accounts.
So here we go again. In the past I have seen shit similar to this in that although it appears that they are (and they probably will be) manufacturing the Volt in China for China, many other parts and subassemblies are identical and will get built there (China) then shipped back to the US and installed in the US Volt. In bulk, it is cheaper than it being assembled here in the US buy a UAW employee.
Believe me I have seen it and it will happen.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:44 pm)Folks, take it from an engineer: Whether the glass is half-full, or half-empty, makes no difference. The real take-away in either case is that YOU CAN GET BY WITH A SMALLER GLASS!
Today’s is the most exciting post in the history of this excellent website! Kudos to the Volt team for getting their glass sized just right!!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:46 pm)With an adopted name like “Spock” you should act more intelligent.
Your comments are illogical on so many levels I don’t know where to start, so I won’t.
Go LEARN something before you blog here.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:46 pm)nope..believe it..impressive aint it..and the best part is, unlike other all electrics, whenthe battery is dead, you have an emergency back up system in place instead of an expensive paper weight that needs a tow truck….
Wanker…good handle, because from here it looks like the end of your name is the end result of a good wank…
spurt spurt…
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:47 pm)There are competing interests for many initiatives, and it’s important to consider all the implications before we do things. (Not doing this led to the corn-based ethanol disaster.) Environmentalists are people like everyone else. That means we disagree with each other. And sometimes that means that the message isn’t very coherent.
I personally support windmills, but I prefer the newer slower moving ones since it will kill fewer birds. And, if possible, I think they should be placed away from migration routes.
Ugly isn’t an environmental concern. That’s the Not-In-My-Backyard contingent. I.e. people who may or may not support “green” in general, but aren’t willing to make any tradeoffs. My guess is that most of the objections to the high powered electric lines are from the same source. There is a large environmental contingent against nuclear power, but I think they’re being completely unrealistic.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:48 pm)I disagree, Gregski. There is only so much premium that people will pay for “gassing up” at the electrical plug each night instead of at the gas pumps each week, especially in this economy. I know that nearly everyone buys a vehicle with credit instead of cash, but think about having $35-$40K in cash and you are looking for a vehicle. For that kind of scratch, you could find an ICE-powered Acura, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Land Rover, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Saab or Volvo. Or you can buy a hybrid Chevy Volt. I want GM to sweat the details on the Volt! Like the old ad used to say, “This isn’t your father’s Oldsmobile”. That’s what the Volt needs to say – this Chevy is not just a departure in powertrain design, but in quality and overall engineering design as well.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:48 pm)Okay, I haven’t seen anyone mention this idea, probably obvious are already considered and discussed thoroughly on another thread,… but: ‘Owzabout a computer interface at the charging port, USB-like or something. Then, when all of the details are worked out, in a few seasons or so, we will simply be able to have entered into the on-board computer system our “electric-car refueling account” information. Then, when we pull up to the mall or restaurant we simply plug in and our account is automatically billed for the service.
All though none of that infrastructure has even begun to be developed, if the initial Volts were simply equipped with a USB interface at the charging port, or something like it, and an onboard computer that can run some form of Windows like some PDA’s use, then wouldn’t it be already equipped for the software whenever the out-in-public electric refueling infrastructure does get developed?
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:49 pm)I have to pay 40 large to be able to drive 20 miles and then turn around to make it back home for a re-charge. Something don’t add up here. This is not the electric car I was looking for. I need some “extended range”. That is “extended electric range” , make that EER-EV for you Volt mutes.
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:50 pm)There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying the best of the past. Go get her that Camaro, Ron. If that is what you both decide is good for you, let ‘er rip. By the time most of will be able to get or afford a Volt that Camaro will be well on its way being paid off. Plus think of all the miles of enjoyment you will be having. That is why I purchased a new car last October. Plenty of time to enjoy life with it on the highways. Part of of economic problem is that people are delaying purchases when they should be out there spending – just should not go wild about it.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:50 pm)The Volt will never be mistaken for a Prius when you see one.
They are worlds apart, both in looks, and more importantly, in technology.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:51 pm)Depends on the state.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:58 pm)AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!
U R FUNNNNNNEEEEE!
Or were you not kidding?
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:58 pm)WARE THE BRIDGES!!! Trolls are out now that the first volt is a reality!! (brutus, wanker, spock et al) (edit..add louis P…)
(Troll: a mythical web based creature, easily identified by its seeming lack of a head, this visual indicator is, however, incorrect as close examination of several specimens have in fact determined that the head and cranial areas are located in the lower posterior cavity. Additionally trolls are rather tall… their short apparent stature is influenced by the neccessity of keeping their heads in the proper location (see above)
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:58 pm)Nope, the Volt is technically NOT a a hybrid.
A hybrid has to have two sources of power, each of which can, by itself, turn the wheels, or working together. This is your Prius, etc.
The Volt is driven ONLY by an electric motor. 100% of the time.
The small gasoline powered Range-Extender is there to generate electricity for the Volt’s electric motor if and when you get low on battery power. It never drives the wheels.
So, the Volt is really a BEV with a Range-Extender.
+4
Jun 25th, 2009 (12:59 pm)The REAL danger of having ANYTHING manufactured in China is that your design is instantly “public domain” foolish CEO’s have sent so much intellectual property to China.
Please for gods sake GM DO NOT send the voltec details to China.
There are some WONDERFUL copies of propritary designs that had been sent there for manufacture coming out of the state factories. Their value system is different there is no guilt about taking someone elses design.
Produce in the US, Canada, Mexico or Europe but do not make the mistake of giving your work away for FREE to the Chinese.
They WILL take it.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:05 pm)I thought we coverd this already. If my beer glass is not completely full, then it’s EMPTY!
Fill it up if it’s 1/2 or 1/4 full………..PERIOD!
And make it cold too!
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:05 pm)Nice vehicle. Great job for all involved. Too bad their bosses sold them out to socialism and having 30% of country turn their back on GM products while under government ownership.
Did I mention the ~$46k price tag to finance? Yeah, that’s $800 a month.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:07 pm)Then “Lou Pascal” wasn’t kidding?!?!?!?
lol…..
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:08 pm)Chinese reverse engineer everything. This will be reversed engineered within the first 1-2 years, sold at a cost GM can’t compete with, but be less refined.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:11 pm)That is fantastic Mitch!
Mitch the Trollbuster!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:12 pm)Call me a geek, but the biggest thing that stood out to me when watching the video is how snappy the acceleration seemed to be. I don’t know if it’s a video trick and they sped up the footage at all, but it look like the little bugger moves out pretty quick!
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:17 pm)Hmmm…
Willy Wanker, and Brutesy beefcake… sound like they were made for each other… I see a new e-harmony commercial coming.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:17 pm)Is that a Volt or is that your dad’s Oldsmobile ?
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:18 pm)I only hope this is a bad rumor.
Your second link was rumors.auto…….
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:20 pm)Hence why it is so important to NOT give them the damn “blueprints”!
At least make them work for their ill gained goods.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:21 pm)I was thinking the same thing!
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:23 pm)Mitch the “Trollinator”!!!!
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:23 pm)Mr. Wanker,
Please don’t work your brain too hard, you might hurt yourself.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:25 pm)Yeah, I can’t buy one. I’m just a nerdy blogger. But I am going to convert my own car for only $12K. That’s for the Pickup and parts to convert. I know, what a nerd huh???
YEEEEHHAWWW!!!!
GO EV!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:27 pm)Hey, are some posts overrunning on others? And some look like they appear twice and other weird stuff.
Sup wit dat?
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:29 pm)Since the price still hasn’t been set figuring out payments is a wee bit premature methinks.
But assuming you are right about that its a good thing they didn’t use a Fuel Cell eh? Then it would be more like $146k to finance!
Correct me if I’m wrong but that means there is 70% of the US population plus the rest of the world which is a heck of a lot more than that is still available as a pool to absorb the at first 10000 cars a year…
It definately IS a nice car.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:30 pm)yuk.
nasty.
OVERSHARE!
TMI
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:32 pm)I have noticed some strange behaviour today as well.
+2
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:35 pm)I think it’s the Trolls.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:37 pm)The Boys, Zeus & Apollo are on top of all of that bone throwing JEC, I can assure you! And as for the DUDE this and DUDE that, where did this most banal word come from? A, DUDE Ranch?
Right you are JEC, the fellows wanking about need a tad of reading up and getting a bit more edumedicated before getting all DUDED up and splaining things for us so that we can, ah, “get it”.
Per whether using scatological exclamation words to, cram the point across, I think I would rather hear the word, dude or anything else as the outside world is filthy enough as it is no need for it here.
The Boys want their tasty bones now as they have funny little mustaches and an attitiDude now. see reply to #79
Regards!—— Higgins
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:39 pm)Wow, if nothing else, check out the fifteen hi-res photos of the Volt in this article!!!! Got em’ all downloaded as my wallpaper!
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:39 pm)It seems inevitable that a system like this will need to be developed.
The hard part is of course getting everyone to agree on how to do that! RFID chip? USB? wireless ethernet? ‘smart’ power cord with data line integrated into the connector? (my preference) That data line could be used at the home charging station as a flash update port for the cars firmware as well.
My current plan is simply to charge at home and buy gas as needed (but that shouldn’t bee too often!).
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:42 pm)“horrible permenantly lit orange lights on your cars”
If you are referring to “Daytime Running Lights,” they are scheduled to be mandated on all cars at a future date, but at present it’s hit or miss whether an automaker puts them on the cars (GM has put them on cars for almost 10 years). They are actually (in most cars) incandescent lamps operating at less than their full rating for longevity, and as such, are more off-white than “orange.”
Recently, some high-end cars offer white LED DRL lights, whose tint always make me think of the fluorescent lighting in an old department store.
Who knows? If we could be trusted to turn on our headlights when it’s raining, we might have avoided this mandate. Hopefully, their appearance will improve with time.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:43 pm)I refer to an empty beer as ‘broken’…
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:44 pm)Forty miles on a single charge means I will rarely ever buy gasoline. Also, if I wanted to go across country, I could do that without range anxiety.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:44 pm)Noel,
Which do you mean? “Ram down our throats” or “God Bless America”? There are distinct differences in those two statements and possibly your answer.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:49 pm)I tend to disagree with you about “environmentalist are people like everyone else”. That is like calling a blackbird and a crow the same bird.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:51 pm)That’s “Corn-cob Nance” to you, bub! lol…
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:51 pm)When you can cover those areas with multi-junction solar cells which have a conversion efficiency topping 80%, for less than the cost of the rest of the car, you might be on to something (that efficiency has never been attained even in a laboratory; it is better than the efficiency of the cells on the Mars Exploration Rovers, BTW). Meanwhile, don’t hold your breath.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:55 pm)We understood it very well. Good sarcastic humor.
Jun 25th, 2009 (1:58 pm)If your comment wasn’t so damn full of truth it would be absolutely the funniest today. Thanks, I needed that!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:00 pm)You should shorten your screen name to “Crock,” somehow that seems more appropriate.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:00 pm)Again, the GM HEADS are only using the US as a host piece of Earth Dirt from which to play from. I don’t think that many at GM gave a moments thought about the dubious nature of allowing the Red Chinese the techno info of the Volt. As the United States actually now owns a major part of GM, the ONE, our, LEADER should put a screeching halt to technology transfer to RED CHINA.
The Chinese look at the LONG picture and we seem to be lost on staring at the tip of our nose. So this is why the Chinese will be a space faring people and will dominate as a new world super power and we will slink back to specials at Wal Mart and our comfy chair with a cold Imperial PINT mind you.
Per MuddyRoverRob: US or Canada for manufacturing please. Mexico did nothing on the bailout and gets bailouts all the time by being oh so ever close to u.s. . To see GM shift manufacturing South of the so called Border brings me to recall the time in Burma when the Nipponese USED us to build a bridge. We were cheap and died nicely… . LOL!
Thank you WarNpeace for the heads up!
Kind Regards!— Higgins
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:07 pm)Clip found.
http://www.wired.com/autopia/2008/12/top-gear-flogs/
It must be understood, and those who watch the show regularly understand this, Jeremy hates any car that doesn’t run on gasoline. He hates diesels the same way. It’s just that he’s so funny that you just go it’s Jeremy… whatever…
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:08 pm)I think we are once again being visited by the infamous “no name,” that dude who won’t use a consistent screen name in order to simulate (rather badly) a rising tide of Volt dissent.
Just in case I’m wrong about that,
If you drive 20 miles to work, and 20 miles home you use zero gas.
If you drive more than that, you burn the gas just for the difference between your commute length and the 40 miles electric. For the vast majority of drivers, this amounts to 90% of their overall driving without using gas — with a less expensive battery than would be required to drive farther with no generator backup.
Oh, and when you do have to go farther (perhaps coast-to-coast), you can; with hybrid-like efficiency.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:08 pm)Yes, see this link and picture 5 of 15 and 15 of 15 in the gallery of pictures with the article. Same type and size door as for the charge port it looks like.
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/06/25/gm-will-do-heavy-lifting-toward-plug-in-goal-w-poll/
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:08 pm)List of Cars: Wheelbase (in), Hieght (in), Width (in)
Insight: 100.5/56.1/66.7
Jetta TDI: 101.5/57.4/70.1
Cobalt: 103.3/57.1/67.9
Volt: 105.7/56.3/70.8 (Projected)
Civic: 106.3/56.5/69
Prius: 106.3/58.3/68.7
Lexus HS: 106.3/59.3/70.3
Malibu: 112.3/57.1/70.3
The Chevy Volt is well positioned in size versus its main compeditors. Unfortunely, the Malibu is a bad comparison as it has significantly longer Wheelbase. The Cobalt is also a poor comparison, The Volt will be significantly bigger in the two most important dimension: Wheelbase and Width.
I don’t consider hieght as important, I drive a car with hieght of 56.2… but the interior feels alot taller than a Cobalts!
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:11 pm)Is that you again, No Name? Do you lack so much imagination that you cannot devise a series of phony names which are not obvious stand-ins for the same low-life cretin?
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:12 pm)Right Ron – get the pavement-ripper now, have fun and grant the bride’s wish. Agree with N Riley. Some years down the road there’ll be a kick-a*s Voltec vehicle that’ll do it for you both.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:12 pm)I agree that George Bush would have supported GM. Any polician with the slightest understanding of economics or advisors who had the slightest understanding of economics would have. The economic consequences of a GM meltdown are, IMHO, very real.
However, he probably would have done it differently. He would have a)forced many more concessions from the UAW (a good thing), and b) forced GM to stop work on the Volt as an “uneconomic use of resources.” (IMHO, a very bad thing.) He definately wouldn’t have expanded the federal consumer credit for electric cars, which also helps. Yes, the Volt was already in the pipeline. But the credit will help GM by reducing losses on gen1. That’s why I’m crediting Obama with supporting the Volt.
I’m also impressed that Obama managed the 361 sale of Chrysler. I’m not happy that he did it. I don’t see the point of what amounts to a gold plated invitation/bribe for Fiat to enter the American market. But I’m impressed that he pulled it off at all, never mind so quickly.
I’m hoping he can pull off the same speed with GM since it will help in terms of their long term viability. No GM, no Volt. Also, IMHO, the American economy needs GM. We need to save whatever industry we have left. (Of course, if that was Obama’s motive, he wouldn’t have saved Chrysler…but that’s another post.)
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:17 pm)The HID headlights on the Prius are expensive enough. The dealers often want to charge about $500 to change them. They’re supposed to last the life of the car, but we had one go out at 95k miles. I replaced it myself with a 3rd-party HID bulb for “only” about $100. (The service-manager at the dealership was pretty interested in the source for the cheaper bulbs, claiming that he needed to replace a HID bulb in his Lexus. I thought Toyota was trying to throw their service departments a bone.)
The numbers sound absurd, but the absurdity is blunted a little bit by the fact that the headlight we replaced did last longer than both the alternator and the timing belt on my Ford Ranger, and it was easier to replace than either. As cool as HIDs and LEDs look and sound, I think I might prefer conventional halogen headlights…
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:21 pm)If it’s CG, it should be backed up by some good LS-DYNA results (or results from whatever tool GM uses to do crash simulations).
Yes, I’m an unabashed Prius fanboy, and I’d love to see the car of the future obliterate the car of the present.
-1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:25 pm)I agree that cap-and-trade will make electricity more expensive relative to gasoline in the short term. But that’s why we need a gas tax! Electricity should be more expensive!
All cap-and-trade is doing is forcing people to take into account the actual relative price of various forms of energies. So this way, the negative externalities will show up in their electric bill. And this will will give utlity (and other) companies a market incentive to invest in clean energy. And find new ways to reduce carbon emissions.
We did something similar with sulphur dioxide emissions. With the same predicted outcome. And due to innovation, the cost of compliance was much much lower than predicted
Also, since they’re giving away so many of the permits, it probably won’t increase the price of electricity too much. And it probably won’t generate very much tax revenue. Although I have nothing against tax revenue. Personally, I’d much rather have higher taxes than higher deficits.
ABout BEVs–I agree that with current technology, they make an excellent second or third car. But that makes it a niche vehicle. If we’re going to make a serious dent in our oil consumption, we need more. We need EREVs, and we need cheaper BEVS with longer ranges. And the scale partially driven by the EREVs will help us get there.
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:26 pm)I hope you are right about that…
I’d really like the LED headlights, but would likely “cheep out” at the current price of them.
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:30 pm)N Riley Thank you! My pleasure indeed! Check #89, and #90 my replies, for some more fun.
The Boys are chasing a RABBIT. I wonder what they would do with that if they caught it? Turn it into a Panzer, my guess.
Kind Regards!——— Higgins
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:33 pm)I’d like electric blue, too.
And a wagon. But I’ll take just the blue, if I have to.
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:37 pm)For parade duty….
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:39 pm)Should have been “Nancy” not “Nance”.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:41 pm)Trolls? What Trolls? I don’t see no damn Trolls? What you drinking? Oh, never mind. We already know. LOL…
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:43 pm)Yep, CJS. It seems like they are “thick” enough to step on today. Must be something in the air, huh?
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:48 pm)yes..see my post #94..now that an important “here is a real volt on the road” stpe is a fact..the bashers are comin out!!
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:50 pm)Doesn’t China still require all foreign manufacturers to have Chinese partners. If this is still true wouldn’t your Chinese partner gladly take some of the day to day issues off of your hands after getting thoroughly familiar with your business and strategic plans, blueprints and patents.
The system inspires US managers to decide, Chinese businesses will reverse engineer my technology all over the world any way, so I might as well partner up and make some money while I can now, if that kind of “partnership” is actually still required by the Chinese Government.
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:51 pm)They fact that electric motor only drives the wheels doesn’t mean its not a hybrid. In generator mode the car is running ultimately on gas. You can spin it however you want, but gas is gas, and after 40 miles you wont get too far without it.
Jun 25th, 2009 (2:52 pm)They haven’t managed to reverse engineer cars suitable for the American market yet. In fact, they’ve barely managed to reverse engineer cars suitable for their own market. Admittedly, that has a great deal to do with the complexity of the ICE engine…
But I agree. GM would be incredibly short-sighted to manufacture the Volt in China. At least right now. But they wouldn’t be the only ones. Look at Apple and Amazon. Or even Microsoft who really should know better.
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:02 pm)Keep your camera with you!
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:02 pm)Wow really 70% of 300 million. That is a lot. Too bad they will only have 10,000 to go around – big mistake!
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:09 pm)LOL, My dad drove a 396 ss Impala convertible… burn the tires off that thing!
My first new car was an Olds Cutlass, the Volt would do well to look and drive as well as that car.
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:09 pm)Oh sorry, also the “rest of the world” too.
I assume that MuddyRoverRob means the “industrialized” world with that. I can’t imagine any looting dictators and companions trying to save a bit of gas with Volt purchases.
Who knows though, this green halo thing may just cast a very long shadow.
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:10 pm)Adrian – Did I mention the ~$46k price tag to finance? Yeah, that’s $800 a month.
_____
Did I mention I’m planning on paying cash.
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:31 pm)In the video with Andrew Farah the black IVER has no plastic trim pieces at the rocker panels and the front trim is different, seemingly recessed. This configuration looks better IMO, giving the car a more aggressive stance and less rounded look.
I think it has also been noted by others that the clear lenses covering the lights in front and top and bottom peices in rear, are also not in place. The rear spoiler appears to have a primer coating only.
I’d really like to see a white IVER to judge how much of the fascia, glass, clear, or blacked out areas have been retained around the windows from the earlier versions. I have to say this version is the one I like the most so far!
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:36 pm)You are absolutely correct, the Volt has a gas engine so here is a question.
How far is your drive to work?
-If you go less than 20 miles you likely will not use any gas at all to commute.
-If you go 30 miles then in your 60 mile commute (assuming you cannot charge at work) you will only use gas for the last 20 miles of the drive (in a highly efficent manner) that ain’t bad.
I take it you would like a pure battery 500 mile range sports sedan that can pull a house at 150 mph with the air-con running and a super model in the passenger seat for $25k. (no compromises)
Heck if you find such a beast let me know, I’ll buy one too!
(without the super model,, my wife would have an issue with that…)
Pretty sure it doesn’t exist though.
Considering the cost of batteries, and the potential benefits/disadvantages of carrying around a bunch of battery capacity that is only used once in a while I’ll take the VOLT every time. My commute is well under 40 miles and most days the genset will not start up unless I end up running about in the evening.
In later generations the GENSET will likely change;
clean diesel?
Mr Fusion? (who wouldn’t want THAT??)
Maybe the sky will fall and Fuel Cells will become viable,
For now the lightweight 4cyl engine in the genset is the right choice economically and environmentally for this single drive mode extended range electric car.
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:39 pm)“Look at Apple and Amazon. Or even Microsoft who really should know better.”
They weren’t given billions of $$$ from tax payers. This just puts salt in the wounds. I just saw it in the autobloggreen.
Jun 25th, 2009 (3:47 pm)One enters one of those partnerships at their financial peril.
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:04 pm)Heh, the rest of the world as in there are people nearly everywhere who care about saving gas usage where it makes sense like for the daily commute.
There will be some in Canada, (me, statik and others) Europe, Africa, South America, (Brazil is actively ‘green’) Australia, We KNOW about New Zealand having at least one interested body… Japan, South Korea, Russia, the middle east too. Lots of other places I missed as well of course.
I’m sure you are right, the ‘evil’ dictators likely won’t want one, (but I bet if you figure out the ratio out of 6 billion people on our little rock they are not statistically significant) and their neighbor with the wind turbine might want one.
In any case there is a pent up demand worldwide and I think the first 100000 Volts will go quickly.
10000 the first year, 60000 the second and bring the second line on for year 3 to see 120000 or more, I can’t see making a million by 2015 but they CAN put a big dent in that number.
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:18 pm)Me too! It is a significant day in the history of Ground Transport.
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:36 pm)I thought sunlight was bad for trolls…
Ah well almost beer time!
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:44 pm)Wonderful pictures and video. Welcome to the world VOLT. We anxiously await for your siblings to be “born” on the assembly lines. May they all find good homes with plenty of clean electric power for healthy travel.
+1
Jun 25th, 2009 (4:45 pm)Well said.
The Guvernator himself, was unable to get the initiative passed, to send electric power from the newly built, highly subsidized, but unusable and completed but never used, Solar power plant built in the Mohave desert, to market.
Green cloacal cavities opposed building transmissions lines after they campaigned to waste prodigious amounts of taxpayer dollars building it. So it sits there like a white, er green elephant, just rusting in the desert doing squat except eat tax dollars. Only in the fool’s land of California. But reality and 10.5% unemployment, second only to auto ravaged Michigan, will hopefully bring California crazies to their senses.
Ms. Pelosi meanwhile continues to jet back and forth to California weekly on her very own government furnished and fueled Boeing 757. Unlike the world’s richest man Bill Gates, or the CEO’s of the automakers, whom she criticized, flying in a mere Gulfstream V, was just beneath her dignity, and too small for her.
The fatheaded b*tch, deemed it important to get her own provided jetliner, and for the first time the Speaker of the House was assigned one, when she had a temper tantrum. Fathead compromised on the Boeing 757, suitable for 200 passengers, as she originally wanted a Boeing 747, just like Air Force One, that the President flys in. No previous Speaker even had a plane assigned to them, permanently.
The sooner that phony, green Witch is retired; the better off the country will be.
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:07 pm)The “superb marketing campaign” can be a Volt in my driveway. I promise to drive it around Seattle and take video of me passing gas stations while Prius owners are filling up.
Perhaps I could get a bumper sticker, “Think globally, re-charge locally,” or “Powered by falling rain.”
GM can contact me at any time. I am ready to take delivery immediately!
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:10 pm)Why not green? Some can use it to make a statement. I just love the color.
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:12 pm)The cold war ended decades ago.
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:28 pm)I hear what your sayin Noel, but for intents and purposes that is a real Volt, those are real wheels, and that is a real road.
Not that I’ve had doubts since mid-’07, but anybody that doesn’t believe this project is a “go” now is just fooling themselves. The car we see in that video will be built nearly identically to what we see. This passes my litmus test.
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:49 pm)If they only reverse engineered it would only be half as bad as it really is. MuddyRoverRob has it right. There is no respect or rule for intellectual property.
Jun 25th, 2009 (6:53 pm)Ughhh!
Assembly in China is OK, but not pack, power electronics, and not controls, etc.!!!
Jun 25th, 2009 (7:04 pm)Gotta love this new format. LOL. Really tuned up the old blog, what?
I really don’t have time to keep going back to the beginning to see what has been added, but these long strings of replies really are good for a laugh.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:06 pm)Well,it’s two seperate issues. The first is whether it’s in GM’s interest to produce in China–short term yes, long term no. Right now they are doing very well in the Chinese market, which has replaced the North American market as the largest in the world. And it is likely to stay the largest. So, it’s in GM’s short term interest to do whatever they can to keep that lead. And Voltec will help with that.
However, I think that long term, they have zero chance at maintaining any kind of presense in China. At some point, when the technology transfer is complete, the homegrown Chinese auto companies will take over. I doubt the Chinese government will do anything so blatant as openly through them out. But there many ways to put foreign companies at a disadvantage in your home market. Japan certainly mastered that art a long time ago. And China’s always been Japan on steriods in terms of trade manipulation. Meanwhile those same companies will be able to compete here using GM’s technology against them.
The second issue is that it’s definately not in the taxpayer’s interest that GM send US funded technology to China. We need the jobs here. And right now, GM is beholden to the taxpayer. Unfortunately, we really can’t stop them without being charged wtih protectionism, and risking a trade war. It’s the same reason we gave the loans to Nissan.
Personally, I think its past time the US started doing something about the situation, and adressing our unbalanced trade agreements. As well as the theft of our intellectual property, and the rampant technology transfers. But all our policians get too much campaign funding from companies that pad their profits with outsourcing. And, they’re terrified of violating the free-trade orthodoxy that pervades so much of Washington. So, I don’t see it happening. I hate it. But that’s the way it is.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:35 pm)It is very much in the US’s interests for Mexico to become a strong and prosperous country. And they compete fairly. They don’t steal our intellectual property. And they buy our goods.
Yes, they have a trade surplus with the US. But you know what? That’s our fault. Not theirs.
Jun 25th, 2009 (9:44 pm)Battery electric vehicles are expensive and even people at GM
are concerned that they might not be the answer to the future
of the automobile.
2. “Still, production of the new cars will be limited. GM, for instance, plans to produce only a little more than 10,000 Volts in the model’s first year.
‘People ask us when will we produce not just 10,000 but 50,000,’ said Frank Weber, GM’s global vehicle line executive and chief engineer for E-flex systems. ‘I say when the battery and power train costs have come down significantly.’”
3. “‘There’s fluff and there’s reality,’ (automotive analyst Maryann) Keller said. ‘The fluff is the Chevy Volt . . . That’s not going to save GM in the next five years. What will save GM is more small sedans and more crossovers. That’s what people are going to be buying.’”
Hydrogen critics might be quick to say that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles are even more expensive than plug-in battery vehicles. But is this true?
Here is an excerpt from an article published on Edmunds.com in September that discusses what Honda thinks about the cost of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles versus plug-in battery vehicles:
“(Honda research chief Masaaki) Kato told Bloomberg that Honda engineers don’t believe lithium-ion batteries will satisfy most consumers because of their high cost and limited range compared to gasoline engines.
In Japan, he said, battery developers are still trying to meet a government goal of boosting energy storage capacity by seven times while slashing battery costs to just 2.5 percent of current costs.
‘That gives you a pretty clear example of what type of gap we’re facing relative to a gasoline vehicle,’ Kato said. ‘At this point, I’d say it’s impossible to imagine a date at which such a breakthrough could occur.’
He said Honda believes it will be easier, less costly and quicker to perfect the fuel-cell electric vehicle, such as the FCX Clarity that it is leasing in small numbers to select consumers in Southern California and Japan.”
Are you surprised that plug-in battery vehicles will be so expensive considering how many people act like they are ready to go today? Considering the comment from the Honda research chief, doesn’t it seem like the mainstream media, politicians, etc. have a lot to learn about hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and when they will be ready?
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:11 pm)They do not compete fairly. That Mexico is our third world little buddy just over a way too tiny stream, the great captains, the marvels of industry rub their chubby hands together (our fault for sure) and make a dollar off the backs of a hideously impoverished people. The Mexicans that benefit from this are multi millionaires and come to think of it, I want US citizens to benefit from manufacture. Amazing concept!
And true, they don’t have any plans to steal our intellectual property but to sell it to the highest bidder and shop at Saks 5th Avenue in NYC.
So, I would like, get this, the United States of America, to once again become a strong and prosperous country.
Kind Regards Once Again.————Higgins
Jun 25th, 2009 (11:45 pm)LOVE the headlights!
Jun 26th, 2009 (12:02 am)Look. I’m an American. And I want the US to become a strong and prosperous country again, too. But we can’t blame everyone else in the world for our problems. We brought many of them on ourselves. We are the ones who decided to consume more than we produce. (Well, I didn’t, but I’m in the minority.) And that has consequences. And no one forced that on any of us.
China, Japan, and South Korea don’t play fair. And we need to do something to stop their trade manipulation before they bleed us dry. When it was just Japan, it was managable–sort of. Even South Korea. But the sheer size of China–we just can’t handle it. Not if we hope to retain any vestige of our current standard of living.
But that doesn’t mean we should stop trading with everyone else! We need trade. It is crucial to both innovation and growth. Show me proof that Mexico violates trade agreements and/or closes its market, and I might change my mind about them. But I’ll need more than “they’re a poor country.”
I’m not entirely sure what you mean by them selling our intellectual property. They’re not stealing it. It’s still ours. And if their wealthier citizens like to shop at Saks, why is that a problem? Saks employs lots of US citizens. And better Saks than Walmart.
Jun 26th, 2009 (12:20 am)Remember when the bankers on main street said things like, I have a fiduciary responsibility to my customers while Wall Street schemed about getting more of their clients money. I know that was a lonnng time ago. But it just seems like so many, like mortgage bankers, local banks, realtors, up to the financial giants jumped on the gravy train and said so what about the customer we’re making a ton of money.
Jun 26th, 2009 (12:35 am)3. “‘There’s fluff and there’s reality,’ (automotive analyst Maryann) Keller said. ‘The fluff is the Chevy Volt . . . That’s not going to save GM in the next five years. What will save GM is more small sedans and more crossovers (and fuel cell vehicles, hehehe). That’s what people are going to be buying.’”
Jun 26th, 2009 (6:59 am)That Charging Port Door / Hinge Mechanism is going to get some serious use and abuse. I hope the production version is up to the task. Rugged but designed for easy / quick repair.
Mr. Goodwrench shouldn’t have to remove a fender to work on it.
Jun 26th, 2009 (7:29 am)[...] Video: Pre-Production Chevy Volts Hit the Road! | GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site. Share: [...]
+1
Jun 26th, 2009 (9:03 am)Our problems are manifest in greed, in individuals who make decisions that transcend any notion of any other purpose than to make the money. The nation be nothing more than turf from which to play “cricket”.
Per Mexico violating this or that, the country is rife with corruption or it would be something else today, like a more viable place for normal human life. I know those who shop at 5th Ave. . In Mexico you have the “delightful” situation of having the very very wealthy and the poor. Middle class is, well, not much like it is slowly evolving here. So if I wanted to have high tech stuff in relatively safe hands I would NOT look at countries riddled with a mentality of corruption. Kind of like hiring a baby sitter. Hire the one with a cig hanging from her mouth and a crime sheet, or…
You missed the point entirely of it not being fair to US workers for having the US worker somehow compete with those who make little in comparison. And we agree about China… .
I recall in Monterrey Mexico having breakfast with a US exec who was gloating about the transfer of a heavy equipment factory to Mexico and all the money to be made. His beef? That he had to stay there and nurse maid what he could dig up for managers. The gold on his fat neck, his heavy chain, certainly was dazzling. He picked up the tab. I smiled and walked away nauseous. OH, I was there Laura M for trade of American grain to Mexico. The process of negotiating there was indeed some Dante’s Inferno nightmare. Bowed out as the scamsters got too noticeable. So, I am not against trade per se but all for fair trade which is all to scant in this greedy world.
Have to run to work to pay for all the splendid joys of the welfare state.
Regards!——- Higgins PS: seems that bees are making a comeback.
Jun 27th, 2009 (9:28 pm)Lots of info there, you do have a talent for research….
I wonder if the cooling systems for the battries could be used for the LED’s. Cooling the LED’s is a big part of the cost. I bet that there will be LED’s only on the top trim line.
/I just have a problem with the filament
/cheers
Jun 28th, 2009 (10:56 am)Ughhh??? Quite the wordster there.
Assembly in China is not ok. We need the jobs here not in China. And if they get part of the package they will get all of the package eventually.
Off once again to work to pay for delights of the welfare state and unemployment benefits…
Ughhh regards!——-Higgins and the Boys
Jun 29th, 2009 (11:27 pm)VW’s are better of late. The 1999-2002 models had atrocious reliability. Some are still iffy but the Jetta is now average reliability. I know that’s little comfort to someone who had to replace 5 transmissions, but I had to say it. I think I may have mentioned this to you recently anyways.
If this generation TDI proves reliable I may pick up a used one in a few years (when I have the money for it).