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The hope of GM’s future rides on an Electric called Volt (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=148020)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_Exterior_News.jpgWayne Gerdes - CleanMPG (www.CleanMPG.com) - Sept. 16, 2008

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Actual production exterior.

Detroit - It is finally here. From the company that over the last century created the electric self starter, fully automatic transmission, catalytic converter and shatter proof glass, General Motors launched its next 100 years today by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the 40-mile electric range Chevrolet Volt with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional miles on its gasoline engine.

"Revealing the production version of the Chevy Volt is a great way to open our second century," said Rick Wagoner, GM Chairman and CEO. "The Volt is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future ... just the kind of technology innovation that our industry needs to respond to todays and tomorrow's energy and environmental challenges."

Form follows function

The design of the Chevrolet Volt production car has evolved from the original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Because aerodynamics plays a key role in maximizing driving range, GM designers created a more efficient aerodynamic design. Many of the design cues from the concept continue on in the production Volt, including the closed front grille, rear design graphics and outside rearview mirrors. The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag.

Working closely with GM aerodynamicists to shape the Volt, design and engineering teams developed one of the most aerodynamic vehicles in GM's history. They spent hundreds of hours with the Volt in GM's wind tunnel, testing and re-testing parts such as the front and rear quarter panels, rear spoiler, rockers and side mirrors. Aerodynamic improvements enabled GM to reach the Volt's target of driving up to 40 miles (based on EPA city cycle) without using gasoline or producing emissions.

Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan, and it delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any offered before on a Chevrolet sedan. Modern controls and attractive materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive Multi-function Display with integrated shifter distinguish the Volt's interior from other vehicles in the market.

Some of Volt's interior technological features include:
Driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display
Standard seven-inch touch screen vehicle information display
Touch screen-style climate and infotainment controls
Optional navigation system with onboard hard drive for maps and music storage
Standard Bluetooth for cellular phone and USB/Bluetooth for music streaming
New era in automotive transportation

The Chevrolet Volt is leading a new era of electrification of the automobile as GM redefined the common Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) into a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or "E-REV".

The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered only by electricity stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the charge of the battery. This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery.

The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.

Charge out of driving

The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior. More than 220 lithium-ion cells contained within the Volt's battery pack provide ample power. The Volt's electric drive unit delivers the equivalent of 150 horsepower, 273 lb-ft. (370 Nm) of instant torque, and a top speed of 100 miles per hour. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, make the Chevrolet Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.

GM estimates that the Volt will cost about two cents per mile to drive while under battery power compared to 12 cents per mile using gasoline priced at $3.60 per gallon. For an average driver who drives 40 miles per day (or 15,000 miles per year), this amounts to a cost savings of $1,500 annually. Using peak electric rates, GM estimates that an electrically driven mile in a Chevy Volt will be about one-sixth of the cost of a conventional gasoline-powered vehicle. The cost savings are even greater when charging during off-peak hours, when electric rates are cheaper.

The Chevrolet Volt is expected to be built at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck manufacturing facility, subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives. Production is scheduled to begin late 2010 for models in the United States. Pricing has not been announced.

Preliminary Specifications

General|Vehicle Type|5-door, front-wheel-drive sedan
|Category|Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV)
|E-REV competitors|None
|Chassis|Independent McPherson struts front, compound crank twist axle rear, four-wheel disc brakes, full regenerative brakes to maximize energy capture, electric power-assist steering
|Seating capacity|Four
|Manufacturing location|Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly (subject to GM successfully negotiating satisfactory government incentives)
||
Performance|Top speed (mph)|100 mph
|EV range, city (miles)|40 miles (based on EPA city cycle)
||
Dimensions|Wheelbase (in / mm)|105.7 / 2685
|Length (in / mm)|177 / 4404
|Width (in / mm)| 70.8 / 1798
|Height (in / mm)|56.3 / 1430
|Cargo volume (cu ft / L)|10.6 / 301
||
Battery System|Type|Li-Ion
|Energy (kWh)|16
||
Electric Drive Unit|Power (kW / HP)|111 /150
|Torque (lb-ft / NM)|273 / 370
||
Exterior|Tire and Wheel Size|Specially developed low rolling-resistance tires on 17-inch forged aluminum wheels

Exterior

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_Passenger_Side_Front.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_Drivers_Side_Rear.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_Drivers_Side_Profile.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_Drivers_Side_Front.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/medium/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_Drivers_Side_Back_Corner.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt_Front.jpg

Interior

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Volt_Interior_3.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Volt_Interior_1.jpg

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Volt_Interior_2.jpg

This car is wonderful, and it's just a start!

Hi All:

___About all I can add is I really really really like what Bob Boniface did to the interior. We will spend the next month sharp shooting the 4-passenger people space and smaller trunk but if they can bring this compact in for a price that makes sense, damn GM, you really woke up in a hurry with the 2011 Volt :) :) :)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Did they announce the battery manufacturer (LG or A123)?

Hi RedPriusII:

___Not yet and I do not expect that announcement to be released about which sub will receive the contract until early next year and that would be my earliest guess. Some members have even speculated that both LG and A123 could be suppliers with a little healthy competition between each to keep them on their toes ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

:eek: <Salivating!>

Dude... if they deliver this car at the right price, I'm there. :D

It looks like they streamlined the wheel ribs, giving them a teardrop or airfoil shape. If that the case, then there is going to be a left side wheel and a right side wheel that will have the lowest drag when mounted so its rotates in the proper direction.

As someone who has pretty much written GM off, I hope the Volt is a smashing success. Price it competitively and this thing could really be a hit. Plus, it's actually a good looking car to boot!

Hi Basjoos:

___Good catch on the wheel ribs!

___Killer, I am really hoping this thing brings GM back from the dead too! I also hope they can scale the platform to the rest of their lineup by maybe 2015 or so.

___I did notice they are using a torsion beam rear end so I doubt it will handle as well or be as comfortable on chop as the independent rear ends in the Civic’s and 3’s but with the pack darn near between the wheels front to rear and possibly a 50/50 weight distribution, it would go along ways to making this thing handle very well ;)

___But who cares! As long as it allows most here 50 to 60 miles AER, WoooHoooo :D

___Good Luck

___Wayne

I hate to admit it, but it actually looks good. Especially the rear quarter. Can't wait to see it in the show room!!

Nice! The real test for me will be whether we can get by with 1 car or not in 2011. Otherwise, it's hard to vote against a combo of an Insight-II/PriusIII/my current ride/Ford Fiesta and a small electric like a imiev or what Nissan is working on with the denki cube--pricing will be similar, after all, between either a Volt or an efficient combo ($35k+)! Still, I think plenty of folks will be able to easily justify a Volt--and just in time for GM.

I have been interested in the equivalent mpg (e-mpg) cost on this car and I see the latest numbers are less than before.

Looking carefully, I see that the wheels are in fact directional.

Oh, and it's a very-nice looking car!

hello all,what a sweet ride,can't wait till they get the bug's out of it.

I am rooting for the Volt as much as the next person. But regardless of how she turns out.................the mere threat she poses will do wonders for product development & speed of development at competitors.

I can't get the image of panic & urgency at Toyota & Honda headquarters out of my head. That panic & urgency means good things......... :)

Hi Paul:

___The 40-mile range is based on the City test cycle where a BEV/E-REV/PHEV/HEV would be doing really well. Not so much at 75 mph down the nearest Interstate however.

___Also, your $/kWh are a little high compared to the rest of the country. I believe Reno was up in that area as well but most of the Midwest is in the $0.08 - $0.011/kWh range and some of the Northwest is even less than that with as little as $0.04/kWh during off-peak IIRC? Can you imagine the minimal refueling cost if you are in a location that has a $0.05/kWh off-peak charging structure? That will not last long however as people buy PHEV based Hummers and attach to the grid looking for the cheap way out causing brownouts/blackouts and massive price spikes which will even it all out all over again to the detriment of all.

___A downside of course… If GM or anyone brings large PHEV based FSP’s to market and busts our grid, I am going to be really pissed.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Was weight given? I looked but maybe I missed the number?

Not crazy about the front, with the grille-that's-not-a-grille. I'm tired of smiley cars, and this was an opportunity to do something really new with the front end. Sides and back look vaguely Civic/VW, i.e., nice..

As for government incentives, are those tax rebates to purchasers or something that goes directly to GM? Does anyone else suspect that these will be written so as to be unavailable to Prius, Insight II, and other mfr's vehicles?

What sort of mileage does it get when it has to use the gas engine/generator? I also wouldn't celebrate just yet, this is still public relations marketing until they actually have these things on the show room floor. I'd watch for a bait and switch scenario from these guys. Probably really limited quantities and a premium price while they continue to churn out cars, 'crossovers' and such that get an "amazing" 30 mpg.
And that's not to mention the collatoral damge of any plug in: raised electricity rates on top of high gas prices just like the ethanol solution did for our food prices.

I’m thinking along the same lines as Mr. Pancake, he must be a grump old codger also. GM has been pumping out a LOT of television PR about their green vehicles that are not on the market yet. Example: their ads for a hydrogen SUV that has water coming out the tail pipe. And since he mentioned it, I really do dislike the status ALL manufacturers are giving the over 30 MPG thing.

But, being my brother is Mr. Goodwrench and I have had great luck with Chevy trucks, I am wishing Gm the best on this. After all it might be our money they are gambling with. I’m just skeptical that GM is promising something that will not be near up to the hype, sorry.

Just checked out some photo galleries on other sites. The rear seat area looks pretty pathetic compared to a Prius, which is a huge bust for those having to tote car seats or grown people in the back. :(

Hi Mr. Pancake and WoodyWoodchuck:

___With the 1.4L Turbocharged ICE in a charge sustaining mode (the pack is depleted), the latest info was rumored to be around 50 mpg city/highway.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Wayne, the ICE isn't supposed to be turbo'd for the Volt. Just the Cruise (same powerplant).

Hi Sean:

___Hmmm.

___Still trying to pull more interior shots of GM but their server is toasted right now :(

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Don't worry -- it is still supposed to get around 50mpg. :D

Hi All,

I hope it happens but I am currently a skeptic. I don't think that GM can go from a manufacturer of highly inefficient automobiles to a profitable state-of-the-electric-art automobile manufacturer in one generation.

I noticed a couple of glaring omissions:

1. The article mentions the Volt's outstanding aerodynamics and wind tunnel tests but the cars CD is never mentioned.

2. No weight is given.

3. No indication of it's fossil fuel thirstiness.

One last comment. A 16Kwh pack to go 60km/40mil sounds like a very inefficient ratio. The Hymotion L5 pack on the Prius can do the 60km/40mil with a 5Kwh pack. Am I missing something?

Rick

Rick, the CD has been stated to be between .27 and .28 --> keep in mind that CA is the important number.

The weight should be around 3520lbs according to recent info. Imagine the coasts you could get out of this thing!! :eek:

The 1.4L normally aspirated 4cyl ICE (to be used in the Cruze with a turbocharger) is spec'd at around 50mpg when running at 1 of 4 fixed RPM levels.

The weight should be around 3520lbs according to recent info. Imagine how hard this thing will be to stop!! :eek:

Fixed. ;)

Fixed. ;)

:thumbs_up: :D

Hi Rick:

___The 16kWh pack is not all going to be used just as the 1.3 in a Prius is only touched to about 40% of its total SoC. I suspect GM will allow 8 kWh and with a 200 Wh/mile allows the 40 miles AER number we have discussed over the past 9 months.

___Regarding the Hymotion/A123Sytems conversion, the L5 is a 5kWh pack and if the Prius were driven on the city cycle with it installed, you will not be getting 40 miles AER. From the following: PHEV_Hymotion Prius Model Validation and Control Improvements (http://www.transportation.anl.gov/pdfs/HV/455.pdf) paper, it appears as if only 3 kWh is actually available to protect the packs longevity out to 2,000 + cycles. Adding to that, it is tough to keep the PHEV Conversions in electric mode as it is as has been shown by Jay (TheForce) in his PHEV conversion review.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Thanks Wayne and Right Lane Cruiser,

I have a supplementary question for Right Lane Cruiser. What is CA?

I read the entire thread on the review of the Hymotion L5 pack for the Prius and I am aware of the issues with the ICE starting up during city driving. As I understand it, the EV mode button can be used to mitigate this issue... correct? Dispite the issues with this pack, I am planning on going forward with the installation. It is either that or buy a Vectrix which costs about the same and can only be used in fair weather.

BTW. Both CD and CA are not in the glossary.

Rick

The Volt is growing on me and I especially like the interior.

Hi Rick:

___I think Sean meant Frontal Area or FA? Cd = Coefficient of Drag and Frontal Area is a measure of the perpendicular area that is disturbing the incoming airflow, not area of the cars front end. Take a life size picture of the front end of your vehicle and measure that area. Now you have your FA.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Wayne is correct. I should have written "CdA". Coefficient of drag multiplied by the frontal projection (blocking) area -- a dimensionless qualifier that can be used as a direct comparison between vehicles measuring the effects of aero drag. :)

Found another related article: boston.com (http://www.boston.com/cars/news/articles/2008/09/16/gm_unveils_production_chevrolet_volt/) ... while looking
for something completely unrelated, in fact. Front page [at least
on the website] today, hmmm...
.
_H*

They have nowhere to go but up.

How far and how fast can the Prius go if the battery is fully charged?

Would it be possible to somehow prevent the gas engine from running and use a charger on the battery at home?

hello wayne,does the volt look like it has a glass top 2 you.lived in detroit all my life,drive by the plant there're talking about making this car everyday. thx

How far and how fast can the Prius go if the battery is fully charged?

Would it be possible to somehow prevent the gas engine from running and use a charger on the battery at home?

Stock Prius II is only .5 to maybe 2 miles AER. An EV button can be added (standard outside of N America). However, several conditions must be met before the ECU will permit EV mode to engage or continue (State of charge being a big one).

Depending on the PHEV conversion, I see 6 to 12 mile AER alot, but don't really know.