Video: Sneak Peek At the Chevrolet Volt Production Model

[Tideland Prius]

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[apriusfan]

Great PR. When I can go to a Chevy dealer and touch a Volt and write a check to purchase one and then drive it off the lot, I will believe it. Until then it is a virtual car.

[hill]

I doubt GM pasted this Volt video to youtube. That wouldn't make sense. Right next to THIS video, near the top of the "Related Video" list, is a video of GM's EV1 being resurected. Its range was/is well over 100 miles. But this Volt video tells how GM still needs to come up with batteries that'll have only a 40 mile range. The EV1 video, right next to the Volt video, only serves to remind the public about something GM doesn't want the public to be reminded of.

[RonH]

Originally Posted by hill

I doubt GM pasted this Volt video to youtube. That wouldn't make sense. Right next to THIS video, near the top of the "Related Video" list, is a video of GM's EV1 being resurected. Its range was/is well over 100 miles. But this Volt video tells how GM still needs to come up with batteries that'll have only a 40 mile range. The EV1 video, right next to the Volt video, only serves to remind the public about something GM doesn't want the public to be reminded of.

I like how the suit talks about aerodynamics, light weight . . . kinda like a Prius, huh?

[PriuStorm]

Originally Posted by RonH

I like how the suit talks about aerodynamics, light weight . . . kinda like a Prius, huh?

That's what's so funny... the American car makers talk about this stuff like they invented it and are revealing it to America for the first time.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by PriuStorm

That's what's so funny... the American car makers talk about this stuff like they invented it and are revealing it to America for the first time.

Yeah.. we gotta make the car aerodynamic.. like the EV1

We gotta keep the weight down by using lightweight materials... like the EV1

To improve aerodynamics, we have to add underbody panels to smooth out airflow.. like the EV1.


Where did they get the current engineers and what happened to the EV1 engineers?

[cnschult]

well that wasn't much of a sneak peak, i've seen the whole concept in car magazines 6 months ago.
i'm going to the detroit auto show later this week, maybe the volt concept will be there, but probably not.

the volt certainly looks better than the current gen-2 prius, but has anyone seen the light-green gen-3 prototype prius in the magazines a few months ago? it looked awesome, almost as sexy as the volt, but the volt will still kill the prius in inefficiency due to plug-in capabilities.

toyota officials keep saying they have to stick with nickel cause the lithium isn't ready for auto applications yet, at least not up to their high standards. But that isn't stopping people from doing their own conversions at specialty shops.

[patsparks]

Originally Posted by cnschult

well that wasn't much of a sneak peak, i've seen the whole concept in car magazines 6 months ago.
i'm going to the detroit auto show later this week, maybe the volt concept will be there, but probably not.

What you saw 6 months ago was a concept car not the production shape. Did you hear him talk about changes to the concept, higher roof blunt front? That is the difference. You see a concept is a marketing tool not a car, they are working on a car now.

Toyota play their cards pretty close to their chest.

[McShemp]

Originally Posted by cnschult

well that wasn't much of a sneak peak, i've seen the whole concept in car magazines 6 months ago.
i'm going to the detroit auto show later this week, maybe the volt concept will be there, but probably not.

the volt certainly looks better than the current gen-2 prius, but has anyone seen the light-green gen-3 prototype prius in the magazines a few months ago? it looked awesome, almost as sexy as the volt, but the volt will still kill the prius in inefficiency due to plug-in capabilities.

toyota officials keep saying they have to stick with nickel cause the lithium isn't ready for auto applications yet, at least not up to their high standards. But that isn't stopping people from doing their own conversions at specialty shops.

I saw the Volt at EVS 23 in December; but it was roped off, buttoned up, and no under the hood peeking was allowed. I didn't see it move either, so I can't comment if this demo car was a pure ICE, plug-in, or if it had no internals at all. They booth babe said they drove it in. It wasn't at the ride-and-drive either. I got some pics of it.

Toyota is developing their own Li-Ion cells and modules with Panasonic. The use of NiMH in their concept PHEV is a way to keep developing the car while they wait. Naturally, the BMS will have to be specific to the battery chemistry and pack details. They will get there in a year or two. In the meantime, I don't think they will ever sell a NiMH PHEV.

[bruceha_2000]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

Where did they get the current engineers and what happened to the EV1 engineers?

Probably ran them over with a Hummer.

The sad thing is that they make all these high mileage Volt claims while continuing to fight increased CAFE standards (35 MPG fleet by 2020 is PATHETIC). Still saying it is impossible and will put people out of work. Doesn't sound like they are all that committed to a long term business strategy.

And this related to the ICE:

The efficiency of this motor amounts to about 50 mpg, for each gallon you use to charge the batteries.

I can get over 50 MPG in my Prius on the highway. On a 500 mile trip, the cars will use about the same amount of liquid fuel and I wouldn't use any grid electricity. Thus, at its 'least efficient' distance, the Volt is minimally a 100% improvement over any current GM mid-size car. So, why, if the Volt concept is valid, can't GM EASILY exceed the 2020 CAFE numbers and years earlier?? They should fire the lawyers and hire more Volt engineers.

This is a little scary:

GM also is working out how to develop a first-of-its-kind liquid cooling and heating system for the Volt's battery-pack that will protect it from extreme cold and heat where battery performance suffers, executives said on Tuesday.

Sort of like water cooled computers of the 60's and 70's? Extra size, weight and power consumption associated with that. And they are going to get that power from .... maybe the batteries? I wonder if they aren't trying to be too slick. Might be better to use the 'range extending power source' to warm/cool the passenger and battery compartments when necessary. After all, heating and cooling the people is one of the big 'range killing' hurdles in electric vehicles. If it is too hot/cold for the batteries, the people are uncomfortable as well. Maybe they could design in a 'I'm only going to the store' user selection and the car's computers can decide not to use the 'REPS' if the people and battery compartments need heat/cool.