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Doing one battery isn't an issue, the issue is doing thousands and thousands that last years and years. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/AUTO01/804030340/1148)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/VOLT_Rear.jpgSharon Terlep - Detroit News - April 3, 2008

Working prototype June timetable might actually be met? -- Ed.

SACRAMENTO -- General Motors Corp. has settled on a final design for the much-anticipated Chevrolet Volt, a GM executive said on Wednesday.

Larry Burns, GM's vice president for research and development, said that aspect of the vehicle's development is officially complete. But a group of reporters and analysts from around the country who will converge in Warren today won't likely get to actually see the car's design, even though they're in town for the latest news on GM's ambitious attempt to build an electrically driven car for the masses.

Designing the Volt was especially tricky because GM needed to fit a battery pack "the size of a linebacker" into a car essentially the size of a Chevrolet Cobalt, with enough room for four passengers to fit comfortably inside, Burns said.

The finished Volt will bear a "clear family resemblance" to the sporty vehicle initially shown at last year's Detroit auto show, Burns said. "But it won't be a twin."… http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080403/AUTO01/804030340/1148

2-Words...Hatch back

OMG! The visibility out the rear will be terr...

Oh, wait.

Hi Guys:

___Don't worry, this (the pic) is not the final design ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi Guys:

___Don't worry, this (the pic) is not the final design ;)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

When do you think they will have the final design.

"Although we haven't said exactly when the Chevy Volt will come to market, we've set our internal targets to complete the vehicle by the end of 2010. The specific date depends on the results of rigorous battery testing that's going on right now."

Realistically, it most likely misses MY2011. More likely than not it misses MY2012 as well.

-mr. bill

When do you think they will have the final design.

2013 they will say its not feasible...."how about an H4 though eh, eh"?

Hi Jud:

___I am a little less skeptical than most but a late 2010 release as a 2011 makes sense. The Prius-III will not come until early Jan./Feb. 2009 and that includes an almost 6 year development period from Gen 2 to 3!

___I suspect GM has finalized the exterior appearance and the only pic I have of this supposed final design in the wind tunnel is the one in the following:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Volt_pre-production_prototype_in_the_wind_tunnel.jpg

___Even that pic could be a photochop as it is not an official GM media release but notice the cleaned up gaps and lines from the fascia, through the grille and into the hood?

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Hi Jud:

___I am a little less skeptical than most but a late 2010 release as a 2011 makes sense. The Prius-III will not come until early Jan./Feb. 2009 and that includes an almost 6 year development period from Gen 2 to 3!

___I suspect GM has finalized the exterior appearance and the only pic I have of this supposed final design in the wind tunnel is the one in the following:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Volt_pre-production_prototype_in_the_wind_tunnel.jpg

___Even that pic could be a photochop as it is not an official GM media release but notice the cleaned up gaps and lines from the fascia, through the grille and into the hood?

___Good Luck

___Wayne


i want to change mine to 2010/2011....with a production ending date of 2014 because its not profitable....EV1 style.

Hi All:

___I just received some more info and will try and get it up within the hour … Really basic stuff in the graphic below but it is something :rolleyes:

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/VOLT_EREV_operations_modes.jpg

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Designing the Volt was especially tricky because GM needed to fit a battery pack "the size of a linebacker" into a car essentially the size of a Chevrolet Cobalt, with enough room for four passengers to fit comfortably inside, Burns said.

I thought lithium batteries were supposed to be small, hold lots of energy, and be really expensive. Seems like batteries the size of a linebacker would be able to give you a little bit more than 40 miles range wouldn't it?

I thought lithium batteries were supposed to be small, hold lots of energy, and be really expensive. Seems like batteries the size of a linebacker would be able to give you a little bit more than 40 miles range wouldn't it?

For your first sentence: yes, yes, and.... yes. As for the size, consider the size of the Prius pack. From what I understand that is worth maybe 2mi at really low speed from full (driven by Larry, Dan, or Marc ;)). 20x that size would be very large indeed. By comparison, a linebacker (could it really have been a comparison of weight instead of volume as well??) seems quite small. The energy density is the kicker and "small" is a relative term.

I just let this one fall off my radar ever since they announced they couldn't make it under $30k. Although I know little about the new Honda Hybrid, I am a lot more excited about what little is known about the global hybrid.

Too bad the CR-Z will be the new Accord Hybrid. :rolleyes:

Hi All:

___A few more details including the size of the 16 kWh Li-Ion pack vs. the Prius’ 80 + pound 1.3kWh NiMH unit …

Chevrolet Volt Development Charges On (http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?p=82916)

___Good Luck

___Wayne

Ah! Thanks for the extra specs, Wayne!

From those numbers, a comparable NiMH pack would weigh in at 985lbs -- the other article quotes around 380lbs (says more than 375 so guessing?) That's quite a difference!