GM to begin testing Volt electric car by spring

Reuters via Yahoo! ^ | 08/09/07 | Jui Chakravorty

[Abathar]

TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. will begin road testing its Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid in the spring of next year and remains on track to produce the rechargeable car by late 2010, a senior executive said on Thursday.

As the race to bring a mass-market, rechargeable electric vehicle to the market heats up, GM's global product chief Bob Lutz said he expects to have next-generation lithium-ion battery packs ready for the vehicles by October this year.

"We should have the battery packs by October," he said, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an industry conference. "We'll have some on the road for testing next spring, and we should have the Volt in production by the end of 2010."

GM is the only automaker to have provided a timeline on the production of a plug-in hybrid vehicle, even though other companies, such as Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Corp. are working on similar technology.

Automakers have said lithium-ion battery technology remains the biggest challenge in producing a plug-in vehicle as they try to lower the cost of the batteries and increase their power and storage capacity.

The current generation of lithium-ion batteries, used in devices such as laptop computers and electronic devices, also has a tendency to overheat.

The Volt would be outfitted with new lithium-ion battery packs, which hold a charge longer than the nickel metal hydride batteries now used widely in automobiles.

"The cost of the battery would likely be high even at the time of production," Lutz said, adding that GM is exploring options that would allow consumers to lease the battery when buying the vehicle in order to bring down the sticker price.

Unlike earlier gasoline-electric hybrids, which run on a parallel system twinning battery power and a combustion engine, plug-in cars are designed to allow short trips powered entirely by the electric motor, using a battery that can be charged through an electric socket at home.

GM is designing the highly-anticipated Volt to run 40 miles on battery power alone, reducing or even eliminating the need for drivers to fuel up an on-board gasoline-powered engine provided as a backup power source.

Lutz said GM is requiring a 10-year life for the battery, and said the No. 1 U.S. automaker would look to price the vehicle like a "traditional mid-market car."

GM is racing rival Toyota to offer the first mass-market electric vehicle. Toyota last month unveiled a "plug-in" car based on its popular Prius hybrid model, saying it would test the fuel-saving vehicle on public roads -- a first for the industry.

But Toyota said the car, called the Toyota Plug-in HV, is not fit for commercialization because it uses low-energy nickel-metal hydride batteries instead of lithium-ion batteries, believed to be a better fit for rechargeable plug-in cars.

Environmental advocates have been pressing automakers to roll out plug-in vehicles that could be recharged at standard electric outlets as a way to reduce oil consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions.

In June, GM announced contracts with two companies -- a subsidiary of South Korea's LG Chem Ltd. called Compact Power Inc. and Germany's Continental AG to work on parallel battery development programs for the Volt.

On Thursday, GM announced another contract with A123 Systems, which has been working with Continental on battery technology.

GM said both Compact Power and A123 could end up providing the batteries for the Volt, or only one of them might meet the automaker's requirements.

[Abathar]

I saw the video of the small computer battery fires from cell phones and laptops. I wouldn't want to be near one big enough to drive your car 40 miles, that would be a heck of a fire.

[P-40]

we should have the Volt in production by the end of 2010."

They probably should just lease the technology from the models that are in production now. 2010 is a long time away.

[GovernmentIsTheProblem]

“TRAVERSE CITY, Michigan (Reuters) - General Motors Corp. will begin road testing its Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid in the spring of next year and remains on track to produce the rechargeable car by late 2010, a senior executive said on Thursday.”

Plug in... In other words it’s coal and natural gas powered.

[Abathar]

Or nuclear power, don’t forget that clean source of go-go juice.

[SteveMcKing]

Big Battery companies seek windfall profits....

STOP THE BATTERY CARTELS!

[FreePaul]

Maybe they can just take the “diesel” engines out of the 1980s Oldsmobiles and install electric motors. Would certainly be an improvement.

[BurbankKarl]

They should send some of these to Ed Begley and the rest of the fartknockers in CA that were on Who Killed The Electric Car.

GM has been making some smarter moves lately, killing the Olympics and NBC contracts, and pushing money and cars to the talk radio hosts.

They need to get the environmental whackos on their side, and out of Toyota’s hip pocket.

[captain_dave]

Maybe they can dust off the blue prints for the EV-1 and start making those again.

It’s not like GM is inventing anything new. They made electric cars before. They can make them again.

[longtermmemmory]

mere 40 miles?

useless and impractical.

until these cars can go 300-400 miles without refueling and can refuel and go in two minutes like current vehicles the only thing these cars generate is a serious “smug”.

[BurbankKarl]

I had a Cutlass 6.2 Diesel! The engine blew at 42000 miles.

[BurbankKarl]

I think you should read up on the Volt.

[longtermmemmory]

40 miles on the battery alone.

that alone makes it useless.

When I see a peterbuilt with this type of engine THEN I will think it is serious enough to look into.

[pierstroll]

We're in dire need of nuclear power for more than just cars.

I'd like to buy a plug-in, all-electric and get off the oil teat all together. It will take some power plants, but what's a better way to go. We need the plants for a growing population anyway.

GM is too late. Toyota already has plug-in hybrids if you do the plug-in after market. When they announce for 2010, I cringe. Toyota will jump way ahead of them by then. They're talking 95-100 MPG.

[Drawsing]

No more blood for batteries!

[gunservative]

GM is designing the highly-anticipated Volt to run 40 miles on battery power alone, reducing or even eliminating the need for drivers to fuel up an on-board gasoline-powered engine provided as a backup power source.

This above article is poorly written and researched.

Read this from the Chevy Volt web site:

What about those weekend getaways or driving vacations? Concept Chevy Volt can tackle them.

At the start of your trip, you can drive approximately 40 miles on your charged electric battery. Then the range-extending power source will automatically come on to recharge the battery as required so that you can keep driving with either gasoline, E85 or biodiesel.

A trip like this will give you an estimated 50 equivalent miles per gallon using gasoline. Driving range between fill-ups could be as much as an outstanding 640 miles.

[tfecw]

that’s kind of a slick looking car.

[P-40]

Some nice models here also:

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/01/phoenix_motorca.html

http://www.teslamotors.com/index.php

http://www.zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=4560

[Abathar]

If they actually keep that body style right there they will sell a bunch of them from styling alone.

[dangerdoc]

They will use a new generation battery with different annodes. It doesn’t go boom. The battery type is already in production and is used in select high-end cordless tools.

[pierstroll]

gotta get that Tesla price down.

[Abathar]

I hope so, I just got an emergency recall from Milwaukee on a cordless saw we have here at work. Seems they have a tendency to start blazing away while you are running it.

[dangerdoc]

40 miles on electric only. They are hybrid and have a fuel powered engine also. After 40 miles the engine kicks in and you get your 300-400 mile range and two minute refil.

We traded in the Trail blazer, V-6 at 13MPG for an Escape hybrid which is giving us about 30 MPG on the same roads. We are saving about $300/ month in gasoline. The Volt would probably save us another $200 a month. Sounds like a good idea to me.

[P-40]

gotta get that Tesla price down.

I just have to figure out a way to write it off as a business expense. Maybe if I just put it under 'Office Supplies - Other' no one would notice. :)

[Red Badger]

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2007/08/gm-and-a123syst.html#more

Here’s a related article..................

[Red Badger]

I just have to figure out a way to write it off as a business expense. Maybe if I just put it under 'Office Supplies - Other' no one would notice. :)

Just do what everybody else does. Get a magnetic door sign for both sides and rear of car with your business info on it. The "cost" is now "advertising"...................People look at fancy sports cars and get your message..............

[pierstroll]

I think there’s a $25,000 limit on vehicle purchases for business expenses. You can buy the more expensive model, but the rest of the money won’t be a business expense. Maybe someone can verify.

[CGTRWK]

At $3 a gallon for gas, you’re driving about 2300 miles a month to save $300.

The Volt’s battery pack has a capacity of 16 kWh, at 70% charging efficiency that’s about $3.40 per fillup at 15c / kWh. 40 miles on $3.40 of electricity is equivalent to 35mpg on $3 gasoline.

At 35mpg equivalent for electric only trips and 50mpg with the gas engine running, you’d probably save under $100 a month - and 28K a year is a lot of seat time.

[ReignOfError]

I saw the video of the small computer battery fires from cell phones and laptops. I wouldn't want to be near one big enough to drive your car 40 miles, that would be a heck of a fire.

Yeah, as opposed to all those non-flammable internal combustion engines we're hauling around now ...

[Abathar]

*snicker*

Took someone long enough to call me out on it!...

[ReignOfError]

mere 40 miles?

useless and impractical.

Ah, the old "it doesn't do what I need, so it's of no use to anyone" argument.

My daily commute is well under 20 miles each way. For that, I wouldn't need to kick in the gas engine at all. I could double that range if my employer gave me someplace to plug in while I'm at work.

There are a lot of families that have an SUV or minivan to drive the kids around, and a small car for Mom or Dad to commute to work; this would fit fine into that niche.

until these cars can go 300-400 miles without refueling and can refuel and go in two minutes like current vehicles the only thing these cars generate is a serious “smug”.

GM estimates the range before refueling at about 600-700 miles, and I don't know why the gas pumps would be slower fueling the hybrid than they are for whatever you drive now.

[BurbankKarl]

The Toyota corporation plug in hybrids arent even being tested in Japan yet. The aftermarket ones void the warranty.

[dangerdoc]

I don’t know the exact numbers but our car can go about 25 miles on electric only, this discharges the battery about 50%. I assume the lithium batteries will also only allow about 50% discharge to maximize battery life.

This leads to a calculation of about 40 miles on 8kWh. Also, we pay $.10 per kWh. Thus my estimation is a little different than yours.

And yes, 28K is a lot of seat time. My wife wears out a car about every 4 years.

[eraser2005]

The FAA just banned the shipment of lithium batteries on aircraft...

[dangerdoc]

The lithium batteries used in computers can suffer runaway heat production. The company that will be providing the batteries for the Volt use different materials that do not suffer from the run away heat or produce hydrogen gas during recharge.

[longtermmemmory]

A Harley Davidson Motocycle with ALL the trimmings would be more fuel efficient and far easier on the environment after its duty life was over. (if a Harley Davidson every has a duty life that ends)

AND the Mrs. would get to buy a whole new wardrobe to fit in...

[quant5]

I disagree. For many, including myself the drive to work is 15 miles each way. Yes, it would be wonderful to have a vehicle I can go on vacation with and never have to fill up on gas but this is a great start toward energy independance.

[pierstroll]

I know. It's an indication of US technology advantage when some small companies can get into a market.

In the future all cars will be electric plug-in at home and gas stations will fade out.

When the gov gets a spine and approves nuclear plants and GM or Ford gets the point, then there will a boom in this country.

If we don't do it, Toyota, Honda, or Hyundai or someone in the US will do it for them.

The sooner we get started and get off the corn and hydrogen roads, the sooner it will happen. These are wastes of time and distractions. We need a "moon program" or just get the government out of the way on BS research like hydrogen. With what we know and a 200 mile battery, we'd be off and running in a significant segment of the market. When the battery reaches 400 miles, you'll forget you ever drove a gasoline powered car.

GM had the technology and bought the battery company, but they sold the battery company to Texaco. So you know where that's going.

[ReignOfError]

Maybe they can dust off the blue prints for the EV-1 and start making those again.

The EV-1 had some rather serious limitations that a series hybrid doesn't have. And GM doesn't want to commit to long-term support for older technology while the effucuency of batteries, chargers and electric motors are improving at fast as they are. That's why the EV-1 was only offered for lease, never for sale. -- for the number they could sell, it wasn't worth maintaining parts stores and mechanic training for, at a bare minimum, ten years.

There have been plug-in electric cars for as long as I can remember, for limited applications -- "neighborhood vehicles," or the little 3-wheeled vehicles used by maintenance crews on college or large company campuses and military bases. But making them fast enough to keep up with traffic and fast enough to survive a crash at that speed meant enough of a weight trade-off that the range fell below anything of much use.