Research into Volt fuel cell mass production begins

[Wiyosaya]

(June 15, 2007) — For years, workers at General Motors' Honeoye Falls fuel cell research center have been laboring just to prove that fuel cells could power cars and trucks.

Starting July 1, they will begin research into how to produce fuel cells on a mass scale for the day when GM starts rolling out the electrically powered Chevrolet Volt.[/b]

Full article

Interesting article. (I happen to live very close to this research site.)

I remain skeptical that they can get this into production in time to meet their 2010 deadline.

[Swanny1172]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Wiyosaya @ Jun 18 2007, 12:35 PM) [snapback]464036[/snapback]</div>

Full article

Interesting article. (I happen to live very close to this research site.)

I remain skeptical that they can get this into production in time to meet their 2010 deadline.
[/b]

I just read in Popular Mechanics that GM thinks they will have a working release by 2010, but won't be able to mass produce the E-Drive vehicles until at least 2015.

[hobbit]

The more publicity we keep hearing about all this, the more skeptical
I become. If GM was really going to drop a huge bomb on the market
with this thing, they'd be quietly bringing it to fruition in a
"skunkworks" environment sort of like Toyota did, and wouldn't make
such a ballyhoo until it was ready for prime time.
.
_H*

[Highly ImPriused]

Are they talking about a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Volt? I can't see them going into mass production with it until hydrogen filling stations are widely available. The version of the Volt with the all electric-drive motor that gets recharged by an ICE seems viable (and I look forward to), but a hydrogen fuel cell version has to be pretty far off I would think.

As an aside, I also live near the Honeoye Falls plant and it's neat to occasionally happen upon one of their research vehicles on the road.

[Marlin]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Highly ImPriused @ Jun 18 2007, 01:39 PM) [snapback]464103[/snapback]</div>

Are they talking about a hydrogen fuel cell version of the Volt? I can't see them going into mass production with it until hydrogen filling stations are widely available. The version of the Volt with the all electric-drive motor that gets recharged by an ICE seems viable (and I look forward to), but a hydrogen fuel cell version has to be pretty far off I would think.[/b]

The US is not the only market for cars. China is real hot on fuel cell vehicles. GM showed off a gas-electric prototype of the Volt in the Detroit Car Show. However, it was a Hydrogen Fuel Cell version of the Volt that they showcased as the Shanghai Car Show. China is shaping up to be a huge market for fuel cell cars.

[Pinto Girl]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jun 18 2007, 12:24 PM) [snapback]464085[/snapback]</div>

The more publicity we keep hearing about all this, the more skeptical
I become. If GM was really going to drop a huge bomb on the market
with this thing, they'd be quietly bringing it to fruition in a
"skunkworks" environment sort of like Toyota did, and wouldn't make
such a ballyhoo until it was ready for prime time.
.
_H*
[/b]

Ditto!

If only they could figure out the 'gas' tank, GM would have one heckuva electric car.

[boulder_bum]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(hobbit @ Jun 18 2007, 11:24 AM) [snapback]464085[/snapback]</div>

The more publicity we keep hearing about all this, the more skeptical
I become. If GM was really going to drop a huge bomb on the market
with this thing, they'd be quietly bringing it to fruition in a
"skunkworks" environment sort of like Toyota did, and wouldn't make
such a ballyhoo until it was ready for prime time.
[/b]

I think what GM is trying to do is improve PR because 1) they realize that the "green" image Toyota gained from the Prius helped boost the sales of other Toyotas and 2) they need public sympathy in their fight against strict CAFE standards that could cost them a lot of money to compy to.

If the public has no sympathy for GM, Feinstein's bill is going to have a much better chance over the less effective Levin-Bond bill GM and the UAW want.

[Sufferin' Prius Envy]

I just can't help but notice the historic parallels . . .

GM is naming this car after Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the battery.

So why are they now talking as if fuel cells are needed for the Volt's rollout?
"Starting July 1, they will begin research into how to produce fuel cells on a mass scale for the day when GM starts rolling out the electrically powered Chevrolet Volt."

At the end of the article it states:
"The company is working on two versions — one powered by fuel cells and one that combines a battery with a 40-mile range with an internal combustion engine that recharges the battery when it is drained.
GM has not set a date for when the Volt will be commercially available or how many it plans to make at the start. But vehicles often take three to four years from concept to arrival at dealerships, Burns said."

WOW! That's a big enough weasel-worded black hole statement that you could drive a nonexistent Chevy Volt through and never see it again.

Since GM seems all hot and bothered to hype the fuel cell part of the Volta . . . I'm guessing they haven't really improved much on Alessandro Volta's first batteries . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandro_Volta

. . . it too was known as a "Pile."