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Will the Volt fly? The budgets and energy being directed its way say definitely. (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/in-the-news/t-chevrolet-volt-its-just-a-concept-car-right-6853.html#post50297)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Volt_in_Boston.jpgWayne Gerdes – CleanMPG (www.cleanmpg.com) – Oct. 15, 2007

The Volt as seen on display in Boston. By all appearances, it is still the same non-working concept shell we saw in Detroit in January … as it should be!

The Blogs were active wrt the Volt yesterday and Edmunds joined into the fray with their own speculation including "GM has yet to say whether E-flex and the Chevrolet Volt are ready for prime time."

Unfortunately or not, the Volt is being developed from a concept just as all new vehicle platforms are. Whether or not there are barely working prototypes deep inside GM’s Tech Center in Warren, MI., driving around GM’s Proving Grounds in Milford, MI. or doing warm weather testing at GM’s Desert Proving Grounds in Mesa, Arizona, it is still being developed from a concept. With a little over 9 months since the concepts public debut at the 2007 NAIAS in Detroit, seeing a road worthy version would be a stretch. Prime time? Of course not. Under intense development with thousands of dedicated individuals and tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars of development dollars being channeled into its development, hell yeah!

"Yes, the Volt is still a concept car, but GM has taken many affirmative steps toward making it a reality in the next few years," said Bob Boniface, GM’s Design Director of E-Flex Systems.

Questioning GM’s commitment at this point would be a foolish endeavor given public comments from other even more influential individuals within GM. “I’m hoping that as early as spring of ‘08, we will have the first rough prototypes running, which will permit members of the media to drive 30 or 40 miles purely on batteries and listen to the internal combustion engine kick in.” said GM’s Bob Lutz. Regarding an actual release date, “It’ll either be late ‘10 or early ‘11, but we’re still holding everybody’s feet to the fire for 2010.”

The realities and speculation of the worlds first OEM PHEV.

The release of the Saturn VUE 2-Mode is scheduled for 2008 with vague commitments for a PHEV version that will get approximately twice the fuel economy of any SUV currently on the market in 2009. Its PHEV capabilities are only estimates at this point but there are Saturn VUE 2-Modes being driven today with 7kWh A123 Systems Li-Ion packs. At an estimated 50% DoD and 350 Wh/mile consumption, a 10 mile AER (all electric range) PHEV would be a great start for the first publicly available OEM PHEV long before anyone else has the chance to offer the same including speculation that a yet to be seen Toyota Prius-III PHEV variant or the Chevrolet Volt would be the first.

Well, "Build it, and they will come" comes to mind here. But, first they have to really build it.

It will be interesting to see what comes of it. GM is doing their "green" commercials now and it was prominantly displayed in their ads. I think when the volt comes out it will have to look similar to the concept car since Chevy basicaly said "this is the volt", and "comming in 2010" or similar words.

I can't see them now putting out the "volt" as a subcompact. It sounds like they should have a couple hundred test vehicles on the road in a few months. Hopefully someone we know can get one for a test drive.

350 watt hours for a suv is pretty good, if they release that in 2008 oh heck i might say screw the chevy volt lol! I Need the space to carry big items from time to time, unless the chevy volt cargo carrying space can match the one with the VUE. I just hope the GM Volt doesn't have a trunk design otherwise all carrying cargo is moot.

Let's hope it doesn't come with the legendary GM quality issues!

The Volt's been under conception how long? Paper Tiger at best.

Hi WH1984:

___The PNGV was founded in 1993. When Toyota was snubbed they began a crash program of their own which is where the original Japanese only Prius (NHW-10) came from. 58 HP and 0 – 60 in 14 something seconds … It was released into the Japanese market in 1997. We received the updated Prius-I (NHW11) in in mid 2000. That was 7 years from idea to practical vehicle on US roads.

___The Volt program is all of 10 months old now :rolleyes:

___Good Luck

___Wayne

So it took the japanese 5 years from concept to production. If it is nearly a year now and they plan on introducing it in late 10 or early 11 then we are talking what 3 or 4 years to develop. That is only 1 or 2 years quicker than the Prius and some of the stuff was already being developed before the volt concept was thought of so there is some time savings there.

The fact that GM is fighting for the lead again and has real incentive to complete the project gives me hope that we will see it when they say we will.

Imagine if the volt was the Prius killer. Imagine how many American jobs will be created if they have unexpected demand and have to increase production like Toyota did (after they allowed their dealers to milk the market by keeping supplies low.)

I guess I'm just to much of a wishful thinker, but I really think GM is going to pull this off.

I certainly hope so, Tom!! The Volt is a vehicle I would seriously consider owning. Especially if the price isn't silly high. I've mentioned this before but the drivetrain in this thing has the potential to be simple enough that it could well be the most durable and reliable vehicle GM has ever produced -- if they do it right.

It would certainly be nice to be able to say that I'm proud to drive an American car because it is the best out there.

The Volt program is all of 10 months old now

Actually, it was my impression that GM's been promoting the Volt concept since just after the EV1 debacle. If its truly been 10 months, that's one thing, but IIRC the Volt as an unnamed concept with similar drivetrain promises due "just around the corner" has been around since the late 90's.

Hi WH:

___GM has been doing $Billions in FCV research but little to nothing wrt a PHEV since they scrapped the HEV technologies from the PNGV work. Nothing in EV since the EV-1 was pulled either :( They have supported the Challenge X programs but that is not quite the same thing. The Volt idea was pushed late last year and the concept shell(s) they brought to Detroit were barely ready to be displayed.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

i don't worry too much about quality, all EV should have better reliability because EV are intrinsically simpler, there are 50% less movable parts. except for battery , everything is mature reliable technology, the controller is electronic, the motor is one the most reliable technology. and you put wires connect them together.

think of Volt is just a fuel cell car with a ICE generator replace hydrogen fuel cell generator. so the technology has been there for quite some time.