GM road-tests batteries for Volt electric car

Chrome · 04-03-2008, 05:45 PM

WARREN, Michigan (AP) -- The lithium-ion batteries to be used in General Motors' Chevrolet Volt electric car will soon be installed and tested in specially-equipped versions of the Chevrolet Malibu, the company said.

This will allow the automaker to test the batteries in actual driving situations, the company said during a media event in the Detroit suburb of Warren.

According to GM's plans, the Volt will be produced as a mainstream electric vehicle that can be recharged by being plugged into a household outlet. It will have a small gasoline engine that will be used only to recharge the vehicle's batteries if they run down while driving.
Because of the extreme power demands involved in driving a car in the real world, the vehicle would be powered by lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and can store and release more power than the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in today's hybrid cars.

The Volt will be a four-seat car. Not having a center seating position in the back will allow room for the car's battery to run longitudinally down the center of the car while keeping the roof low for better aerodynamics, according to a GM press release. The T-shaped battery will also extend out under the back seats.

"After extensive aerodynamic testing of the Volt, the vehicle now has a coefficient of drag that is 30% lower than the original concept," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design. "It's not easy, but it is a necessity."

The Volt concept car was unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show.
GM also announced a new computer algorithm to speed laboratory-based durability testing of the batteries.

GM recently announced that it will begin using lithium-ion batteries in mild-hybrid vehicles such as the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Saturn Vue Hybrid. While those vehicles will still run under gasoline power, with just an assist from electric motors, using lithium-ion batteries will greatly boost fuel economy.

The company also expects to release a plug-in hybrid version of its Saturn Vue Green Line in 2009. Unlike the Volt, the Saturn Vue plug-in will operate like a typical hybrid car, with a gasoline engine and electric motor working together to power the vehicle

GM testing Volt batteries - Apr. 3, 2008

Chrome · 04-03-2008, 05:46 PM

I hope a lot of you have an appetite for crow.

patrickindallas · 04-03-2008, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrome

I hope a lot of you have an appetite for crow.

I will gladly eat this type of crow.

But...

I think it's interesting how the title of the article is written in present tense, but anyone who cares to read the body will notice that it is written in future tense.

jayman · 04-03-2008, 07:50 PM

The plot so far is roaring along like a Lawrence Saunders detective novel

GM to road test Volt battery packs in July | Reuters

What I really have to wonder is why all the delay in producing the imaginary Volt, especially all this talk about batteries. Seems I recall GM actually did have a very useable electric car

EVWORLD FEATURE: Eulogy for the EV1:GM | EV1 | ELECTRIC CAR | EULOGY | EV |

Now, what on earth happened to that nifty little electric car??

jayman · 04-03-2008, 07:56 PM

Oh, it's also interesting that after DOE dissected a Prius, they had this to offer about Li-ion

http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels...pdfs/40378.pdf

Stev0 · 04-03-2008, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrome

I hope a lot of you have an appetite for crow.

Seriously, I do hope GM makes, markets, sells, and doesn't recall and crush the Volt. I seriously hope it does everything they say it does.

But then, I also hope I win the lottery, and considering I don't even buy lottery tickets I still think my odds are about the same as that of the Volt coming out as advertised. If it is released, it will be some half-assed version sometime in 2012 (or later).

Jimmie84 · 04-03-2008, 09:59 PM

Thats some good news. Granted that they recalled and destroyed the EV1 but hey, Lets give them a 2nd chance and see what this new technology brings forth.

What kind of numbers will we possibly see with the new car? 80 MPG+ ?

john1701a · 04-03-2008, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmie84

What kind of numbers will we possibly see with the new car? 80 MPG+ ?

Sales are the numbers that actually make a difference.

No merit is earned from hype.

.

Godiva · 04-04-2008, 12:00 AM

Was this written/posted on April 1?

Stev0 · 04-04-2008, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmie84

What kind of numbers will we possibly see with the new car? 80 MPG+ ?

Right now it's getting 0 MPG. Numbers for non-existent vehicles don't count.

04-03-2008, 05:45 PM	#1
Chrome Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 138 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 1	GM road-tests batteries for Volt electric car WARREN, Michigan (AP) -- The lithium-ion batteries to be used in General Motors' Chevrolet Volt electric car will soon be installed and tested in specially-equipped versions of the Chevrolet Malibu, the company said. This will allow the automaker to test the batteries in actual driving situations, the company said during a media event in the Detroit suburb of Warren. According to GM's plans, the Volt will be produced as a mainstream electric vehicle that can be recharged by being plugged into a household outlet. It will have a small gasoline engine that will be used only to recharge the vehicle's batteries if they run down while driving. Because of the extreme power demands involved in driving a car in the real world, the vehicle would be powered by lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and can store and release more power than the nickel-metal hydride batteries used in today's hybrid cars. The Volt will be a four-seat car. Not having a center seating position in the back will allow room for the car's battery to run longitudinally down the center of the car while keeping the roof low for better aerodynamics, according to a GM press release. The T-shaped battery will also extend out under the back seats. "After extensive aerodynamic testing of the Volt, the vehicle now has a coefficient of drag that is 30% lower than the original concept," said Ed Welburn, GM vice president, Global Design. "It's not easy, but it is a necessity." The Volt concept car was unveiled at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. GM also announced a new computer algorithm to speed laboratory-based durability testing of the batteries. GM recently announced that it will begin using lithium-ion batteries in mild-hybrid vehicles such as the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid and Saturn Vue Hybrid. While those vehicles will still run under gasoline power, with just an assist from electric motors, using lithium-ion batteries will greatly boost fuel economy. The company also expects to release a plug-in hybrid version of its Saturn Vue Green Line in 2009. Unlike the Volt, the Saturn Vue plug-in will operate like a typical hybrid car, with a gasoline engine and electric motor working together to power the vehicle GM testing Volt batteries - Apr. 3, 2008 __________________ Vrooom.

04-03-2008, 05:46 PM	#2
Chrome Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 138 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: Thanks: 2 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts Friends: 1	Re: GM road-tests batteries for Volt electric car I hope a lot of you have an appetite for crow.

04-03-2008, 07:50 PM	#4
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: GM road-tests batteries for Volt electric car The plot so far is roaring along like a Lawrence Saunders detective novel GM to road test Volt battery packs in July \| Reuters What I really have to wonder is why all the delay in producing the imaginary Volt, especially all this talk about batteries. Seems I recall GM actually did have a very useable electric car EVWORLD FEATURE: Eulogy for the EV1:GM \| EV1 \| ELECTRIC CAR \| EULOGY \| EV \| Now, what on earth happened to that nifty little electric car??

04-03-2008, 07:56 PM	#5
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: GM road-tests batteries for Volt electric car Oh, it's also interesting that after DOE dissected a Prius, they had this to offer about Li-ion http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels...pdfs/40378.pdf

04-03-2008, 09:59 PM	#7
Jimmie84 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Minnesnowta Posts: 1,074 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: Thanks: 204 Thanked 77 Times in 52 Posts Friends: 6	Re: GM road-tests batteries for Volt electric car Thats some good news. Granted that they recalled and destroyed the EV1 but hey, Lets give them a 2nd chance and see what this new technology brings forth. What kind of numbers will we possibly see with the new car? 80 MPG+ ?

04-04-2008, 12:00 AM	#9
Godiva AmeriKan Citizen Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 10,340 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #1 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts Friends: 7	Re: GM road-tests batteries for Volt electric car Was this written/posted on April 1?