GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

Technology marches inexorably to the future, ever changing and ever improving as the beat of human ingenuity propels it forward.

Just as the Volt represents a major paradigm shift for the automobile, so too one day even its technology and form factor will become outdated.

As much as we wait patiently for the Volt to roll into dealers lots and driveways across America, big thinkers sit pencil in hand dreaming up the next big thing. Not just about health and medicine, computers and technology, earth and space exploration but so too are people dreaming about the next generations of automobiles.

Chris Borroni-Bird is one such big thinker. Borroni is GM’s Director of Advanced Technology Vehicle Concepts and was in part responsible for the recently demonstrated EN-V concept.

The EN-V concept which stands for “electric networked vehicle” is a 2 person electric pod capable of autonomous driving via wireless networking to other pods. It is proposed for use in urban centers of the future.

Borroni along with GM’s former VP of R&D, Larry Burns who was responsible for the similar PUMA concept, and William Mitchell, Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences at MIT, co-wrote a new book called Reinventing the Automobile: Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century.

The book takes the premise that today’s vehicles are fundamentally no different than the old Model T and that in the near future they should become “green, smart, connected, and fun to drive.” They argue the concept of cars with high power and speed to move multiple people along great distances is becoming outdated. Most of the world’s population is in densely crowded big cities, and a new form of low speed high efficiency electric transportation would be best suited for them.

Four central themes expected to revolutionize personal mobility are outlined and expanded upon in the book:

1.  Base the underlying design principles on electric-drive and wireless communications rather than the internal combustion engine and stand-alone operation
2.  Develop the Mobility Internet for sharing traffic and travel data
3.  Integrate electric-drive vehicles with smart electric grids that use clean, renewable energy sources
4.  Establish dynamically priced markets for electricity, road space, parking space, and shared-use vehicles

Are these leaders correct in envisioning the transition of the high horsepower two-ton chrome and steel roaring machines into the little self driving electric pod for two? I don’t know but you can tell them what you think or ask them what your want.  GM-Volt is fortunate enough to be hosting a live chat at 2PM Eastern Time with the three authors in the chat box below.  You can also order their newly published book by clicking the Amazon link below:

The Volt represent a rational intelligent first step away from petroleum for the country in that it will operate without any gasoline for most people’s daily driving needs.

We realize another of the car’s tremendous values is its gas range extender which ensures that the car’s utility isn’t limited either as it is in pure EVs.

The car also breaks another important paradigm, performance.

Today’s hybrid cars still use gas, and frankly do not perform very well.

The Prius has improved through its three generations, but the car still takes about 10 seconds to get from 0 to 60 and doesn’t have a “sporty” feel by any stretch of the imagination. And for the new Honda Insight, lets not even go there.

But the Chevy Volt clears those hurdles with gusto.

Powered to give a 0 to 60 feel in the mid 8 second range, its instantaneous torque makes it seem like a typical 6 cylinder 250 horsepower sedan. Top speed is an electronically limited 100 MPH.

In this GM-produced video you can observe Volt chief engineer Andrew Farah taking a “hot-lap” around a course set up in LA at the Dodgers Stadium parking lot. Its the same course I test drove the car (only not so fast).  As GM spokesperson Phill Colley likes to say the Volt, ” burns some rubber without burning fuel.”

I witnessed this drive in person and came away impressed.

Yup, this video is cooler than the Chevy Volt dancers, but sadly won’t get as many views (Volt Dance is around 300,000 now).

How important is performance to you in an electric car? Is it all about not burning gas or do you want more?

The Opel Ampera is the twin sister car to the Chevy Volt.  The primary difference is rebadging with Opel styling cues, the platform and powertrain will be identical.   Canadian parts supplier Magna International is in negotiations with GM to become a partial owner of Opel.

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

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

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

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

Source (Autocar) and (Bloomberg)

Yesterday the Rocky Mountain Institute announced something they are calling Project Get Ready. The goal of the initiative is “to help communities prepare for and welcome plug-in vehicles including full battery electric, plug-in hybrid electric, and converted hybrid or internal combustion vehicles.”

This involves facilitating the engagement of advocates, utility companies, local government and other stakeholders to increase and prepare for the adoption of plug-in cars like the Chevy Volt. They have collated a menu of strategic actions that city and regional leaders can enact to become plug-in pioneers that are available on an online database.

Project manager Laura Schewel says “With this project, we can help get the nation to President Obama’s goal of 1 million plug-ins by 2015…and maybe even beat it.”

GM’s Director of Infrastructure Britta Gross says “We know that many Volt drivers will never require a public charging infrastructure, instead depending on the Volt’s range-extender to carry them any distance beyond its electric vehicle range. But public infrastructure is very important for those who live in apartments or houses without garages where they can’t simply plug into a household outlet for a full charge.”

RMI has announced they are working on initiatives with Portland, Oregon; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Raleigh, North Carolina and plan to convene at least 20 cities in the near future to develop best practices.

The following are RMIs 15 “Must Have” Actions*
Suggested stretch target: 2% of registered vehicles by the end of 2015.

Barrier: Not enough cars in the pipeline, OEMs need proof of future consumer demand
1. Corporate/city/state fleets commit to buy a certain number of plug-ins (RFPs for major purchases or conversions).
2. Stakeholder group provides a place for interested consumers/fleets to register early, and put cash down to reserve plug-ins (cash used for readiness where possible).

Barrier: How can we manage this as a multi-sector, city-wide project?
3. Create collaborative stakeholder group within the community to help regulatory, commercial, and community interests align. Sign on to a clear regional plan (based on this menu!). Plan should give equal consideration to conversions.
4. Have one “champion” whose job it is to keep this group moving forward, who has authority

Barrier: How can we bring down upfront costs for consumers?
5. Work with banks and dealers to offer low-interest loans for plug-ins, based on projected lower operating costs from gas savings.
6. Bundle all key incentives at vehicle point of purchase (home charger vouchers, rebates, etc.)

Barrier: Consumer hesitation at diving into a new paradigm for mobility
7. Perks: access to HOV lanes, free tolls/downtown parking, reserved airport parking.
8. Create consumer, city government, local business and utility education plans including test drives and “quick lease” options to individual and fleet consumers as well as high profile drivers.
9. Reduced (or free) electricity rates for charging.

Barrier: Red tape around infrastructure installation
10. Fast-track permitting for charging stations.
11. Ensure new and reconstruction/renovation building codes support the operation of plug-ins.

Barrier: What if these cars exacerbate my peak load?
12. Tie provisions of free home and public charge spots, as well as free or cheaper electricity, to either utility override power or “no charge” times.

Barrier: Who will pay for infrastructure?
13. Local employers/retailers provide some charge stations at parking decks.
14. Install public charge spots in high-traffic zones and parking areas, either with public money (via utility or gov’t for the first 2% of vehicles) or private money that uses the stations to market.
15. Provide affordable and available—or free—Level 2 home-charger/driveway circuit installation.

Source (RMI) and (FastLane)

Also should you be so motivated you can Tweet with Britta Gross on Twitter @GMblogs later today at 3:30 p.m. Eastern time.

And as a reminder we have a special Plug-in Readiness Forum right here on GM-Volt.com.

In this inspired video clip, Frank Weber, GM’s Volt vehicle line executive, discusses public acceptance for electric propulsion.

He notes people will see the obvious benefits of petroleum free driving; no emissions, and quietness, but also goes on to extol that electric propulsion “opens a new dimension in driving performance and experience.”

He says electric propulsion gives you torque at zero RPM and sheer propulsion with no noise.

He analogizes driving the Volt to driving a “high-end luxury car with a massive, noise-isolated, combustion engine.”

He also says environmental friendly cars were sacrificial in performance, but that the Volt breaks that paradigm.

The Volt’s torque, he notes, is equal to a 250 hp V6 engine, despite it actually being 150 hp. He says “it is like flying,” and people, he feels, will learn about it and be surprised.

He talks about the current production-intent Volt/Cruze mules driving around, and the eagerness of the GM senior leadership to drive them, and when they do, initial smiles are seen within 30 seconds.

Weber is certain that electrification is the future not just for petroleum independence but for driving performance and advised that GM has positioned the Volt “rather on the sportier side” to make the transition to electric vehicles as easy as possible for people to accept.

[flash http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkTCAED7s5A]

Tomorrow, Chrysler is expected to unveil its quickly cobbled together version of the Chevy Volt.  Reports indicate the car will use the same E-REV paradigm as the Volt, with a 40 mile EV range and combustion range extender.

It was also reported that Chrysler may have to work with a partner on the powertrain.

A late breaking report out of the Wall Street Journal quotes inside sources as saying Chrysler is actually in advanced talks with A123 Systems of Watertown  MA to supply the batteries for that car, which is expected to launch by 2011.

A123 is of course one of the two battery suppliers in the running for the initial Chevy Volt production contract.

A contract with Chrysler would help bolster A123s upcoming IPO.

Chrysler for its part with this forthcoming announcement is reportedly responding to fear about being left out of the electric car buzz that the Volt has clearly generated.

Source (Wall Street Journal)