GM's electric car (production version spotted!!!)

[wiggum]

Page two has spy photos of the Volt taken on the set of Transformers 2.


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This is the Chevy volt, it is so far on schedule to hit the market in 2010 as a 2011 model year car. It is the first extended-range plug-in electric car.

It represents the possibility of the United States (and everywhere else) finally being able to lessen our dependence on foriegn oil.

I don't know if you guys care that much about this stuff, but I think that this thing is really cool and I'm planning on getting one as soon as I can afford it.


If you have any interest in keeping up with the volt, or anything related, you should check out GM-volt.com (http://www.gm-volt.com/)

I guess I should point out that I don't work for GM or anything, I just think this is a really big deal.

[Shmaba]

We're one step closer to flying cars I suppose :P

I think it's neat to see how cars are changing with the way everyone is going green lately.

[invinciblewombat]

super cool, it's just a shame that the auto industry is getting their act together so late in the game

[archipelago]

watch the documentary "who killed the electric car?"

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Lets hope this goes through and something doesnt fuck it all up *cough*oil companies and bush*cough* Cause if this works, I feel sorry for my neighbors cause id be constantly hooking up to their outside outlet lol.

[Serpian]

Well it looks nice... The only question is how do you produce the electricity to power this car? If it's all wind power or something, then fine. But somehow I doubt it'll be that good...

[wiggum]

Well, the good news is that Bush will finally be out of office when this car is set to hit production.

Electricity for the car will most likely be generated by burning coal found in the United States, at least at first. Eventually Various types of green energy like windmills and water power could be used. In a relatively short period of time we could be driving cars that have no negative direct or indirect effect on the environment at all.

[Costau D]

I wonder how the tradition of fueling up will be like in the future...

Will we have a bar or hangout place at a charging station? Or maybe charging will just be very quick.

[wiggum]

Space Chimp-It will take about six hours to do a complete charge of the vehicle. But this could be done at your house while you sleep, but I do like the idea of a hangout at a charging station.

[a cozy hammock]

Hey, it's an electric car that doesn't look totally ugly.


We're one step closer to flying cars I suppose :P

Just get a helicopter.

[Justin.]

Tesla Roadster

more expensive,
shorter range,

but hell if it isn't hot.

kRd7ER7u-KU

[smugbug]

Here's the problem - from the Volt's FAQ:


drive up to 40 miles on pure electricity stored in the battery from overnight home charging

By the time this thing DOES come out in 2010 or 2011, there will be other cars that can outperform the Volt. As in, travel farther on a battery. Like, this one: http://www.phoenixmotorcars.com/

100+ miles per charge

[Digital_Blacksmith]

Yeah, but its ugly. Look kinda like the Aztec meets an Avalanche....

[wiggum]

PatriciaS-Correct me if I'm wrong, but the car you showed there is a fully electric car with a range of about 100 miles per charge.

While it is true that the Volt is only going to get 40 miles per charge on pure electricity it will also have an on board generator that will recharge the battery after it passes the 40 mile limit as it is running.

The genius of this is that the since the generator will not be directly hooked up to the wheels it will be able to run at one speed, producing more efficiency. After you reach the 40 mile limit you will be able to keep going another 500-700 miles on one tank of gas or ethanol. With pure electric cars you have to stop after 100 miles.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with that car you showed, and the fact that its American made is even better, but my god is that thing ugly.

[Serpian]

Yeah the problem isn't technology, with political will and MONEY we could have electric cars that are more than a match for old cars in terms of cost, effectivity and reliability. The most important thing, I think, is that the energy is produced in a green way.

But still, there's always a catch with these different ways of producing green eneergy...

[Justin.]

Yeah, but its ugly.

Your argument holds water like a rock

[smugbug]

PatriciaS-Correct me if I'm wrong, but the car you showed there is a fully electric car with a range of about 100 miles per charge.

While it is true that the Volt is only going to get 40 miles per charge on pure electricity it will also have an on board generator that will recharge the battery after it passes the 40 mile limit as it is running.

Via the link I provided, in the FAQ of Phoenix Motor Cars:

Q: What is the driving range of these vehicles?
A: The range is approximately 130 miles. We are currently working on an expansion pack extending the range to 250 miles, available in 2007.

Q: How do you charge the vehicle?
A: They charge with an on-board 6.6kW charger that plugs into a 220V outlet, the same as an electric dryer outlet in your home. Off-board charging can be accomplished with a special charger in as little as 10 minutes.



The genius of this is that the since the generator will not be directly hooked up to the wheels it will be able to run at one speed, producing more efficiency. After you reach the 40 mile limit you will be able to keep going another 500-700 miles on one tank of gas or ethanol. With pure electric cars you have to stop after 100 miles.

Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with that car you showed, and the fact that its American made is even better, but my god is that thing ugly.

Basically, the FAQs of the Volt goes like this:

The battery can last for the first 40 miles. After that the on-board gasoline/E85 generator will power up to keep the battery from running out.

So, on PURE electric, it only runs up to 40-miles. AFTER 40, it runs via gas or ethanol. While that "ugly" vehicle in the link I posted (as if the Volt is a thing of beauty), runs on ONE charge, 100-miles.

Right now, there ARE electric cars that run 40-miles on electric, so the Volt is ALREADY behind the times. I'm not raining on GM's parade, just stating that they are VERY late into the game. And what they are producing here is nothing new nor innovative.

There's already options out there and this as so far in 2007 was still in "concept" mode. In other words, I ain't going to hold my breath for GM to release this car.

ETA: we've (my SO and I) have been shopping for an electric car; something we can tool about in town (small town) and on our 13-acres. We've found a local dealer that sells ZAP! cars and have several contacts in the biz (locally) who know this shit inside and out. Besides, our home is solar powered, we're pretty much set up for an electric car (all we need is a couple more solar modules for the charge) and it's the next stage of our "evolution".

For anyone else interested in more information, some links:
http://www.projectbetterplace.com/
http://www.zapworld.com/
http://www.evworld.com/

[wiggum]

PatriciaS-I'm not trying to start an argument here, and I think it is great that there are a lot of great companies working on electric cars, the fact that a lot of them are american makes things even better. Perhaps stiff competition will really lite a fire under GM's ass.

Since I live in Detroit I have a soft spot for the big three, so I'm still going to support GM and the Volt.

[Meloncov]

Well it looks nice... The only question is how do you produce the electricity to power this car? If it's all wind power or something, then fine. But somehow I doubt it'll be that good...

Even if the electricity was generated by burning coal, it would still have less carbon emissions. Electric engines are inherently more efficient than gasoline.

[wiggum]

GM has reportedly reached a design freeze for the first generation Chevy Volt, while they haven't actually released any pictures of it yet their was recently some video taken in one of their test facilities in Warren showing a one third scale model of what will most likely be the final design in a wind tunnel. Unfortunatly it is obscured by tape so it is hard to tell exactly what it looks like. Here is a pic and a link the the video along with another teaser pic GM released of the final design's front end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_8uF8QKfeI

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You can check gm-volt.com for more info.

[Blahm]

I feel like this is the only thing that will save the american car companies, or chevy at least.

[HunterKiller_]

All the more power to Chevy for taking the initiative on electric motoring.

I'm surprised and disappointed that other car companies seem oblivious to the fact that petrol cars are no longer attractive.

What's funny is Holden and Ford with all their V8's, and the people who drive them. Such naivety.

[light]

I'm surprised and disappointed that other car companies seem oblivious to the fact that petrol cars are no longer attractive.


your personal opinion is a horrible way to decide what everybody else thinks

[Robert.B]

We need this bad and im glad chevy is planning on releasing it at 30k. I want one so bad !

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1ACbdTJws0

[dusty imp]

Even if the electricity was generated by burning coal, it would still have less carbon emissions. Electric engines are inherently more efficient than gasoline.

electric engine efficiency doesn't have much (or, rather, doesn't have a damn thing) to do with the way the electricity for it was produced. last time I checked coal power plants weren't very green. now, as far as "gasoline engine that powers the car via crankshaft" as opposed to "gasoline engine that powers the car via spinning a generator" I somehow doubt that it's more efficient in mile per gallon ratio. which is what that car boils down to, since 40 mile range on battery charge is a laughable proposition for anything other than a single commute back and forth within a 20 mile radius.

[Ian Mack]

*cough* Greenwashing. *cough* This car doesn't even come out for four years and they have massive posters covering buildings. Have you seen the commercial? Sooo happy! Three children(all PC), enthralled by the car while a black Mr.Rogers lovingly explains it virtues.

I'm not against it but I AM much more excited for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUXhJZZRUIg

[REGNIRUTH]

*cough* Greenwashing. *cough* This car doesn't even come out for four years and they have massive posters covering buildings. Have you seen the commercial? Sooo happy! Three children(all PC), enthralled by the car while a black Mr.Rogers lovingly explains it virtues.

I'm not against it but I AM much more excited for this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUXhJZZRUIg

finally! Motorcycles like the one that Kaneda drove in the movie "AKIRA", sweetness!

[M.C.Barrett]

The fundamental difference between the Volt and the myriad electric cars already on the market is that the Volt is intended to provide the comfort and convenience that people expect from conventional mid-sized sedans, not to mention the safety of advanced crash structures and systems that are generally unavailable in current small-scale manufacturers' products. The reason people don't flock to those is the same reason that nobody likes the Geo Metro. Ever ridden in one of those? There is little or no noise/vibration/harshness control due to such measures resulting in increased weight, cost, and decreased range, the materials are light and flimsy, and they float all over the place on a windy highway at speed. That's why the second generation Toyota Prius stomped all over the Honda Insight- it's an essentially similar driving experience to a Corolla or Camry, rather than a super-lightweight novelty commuter.

[HunterKiller_]

your personal opinion is a horrible way to decide what everybody else thinks

Where did I say that this is what everybody thinks?

Do you have anything better to do than troll in the lounge?
Every time I see your comment in the lounge, it's something negative aimed at another poster.

[wiggum]

The fundamental difference between the Volt and the myriad electric cars already on the market is that the Volt is intended to provide the comfort and convenience that people expect from conventional mid-sized sedans, not to mention the safety of advanced crash structures and systems that are generally unavailable in current small-scale manufacturers' products. The reason people don't flock to those is the same reason that nobody likes the Geo Metro. Ever ridden in one of those? There is little or no noise/vibration/harshness control due to such measures resulting in increased weight, cost, and decreased range, the materials are light and flimsy, and they float all over the place on a windy highway at speed. That's why the second generation Toyota Prius stomped all over the Honda Insight- it's an essentially similar driving experience to a Corolla or Camry, rather than a super-lightweight novelty commuter.

I couldn't have put it better myself.

Here is a higher resolution pic of the model I took from gm-volt.com
http://www.gm-volt.com/images/volt_tunn2.jpg

[alesoun]

http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/

[light]

Where did I say that this is what everybody thinks?

Do you have anything better to do than troll in the lounge?
Every time I see your comment in the lounge, it's something negative aimed at another poster.

What is "attractive" is determined by what the majority likes and saying something along the lines of companies not realizing that gas based cars are no longer attractive would mean you speak for some kind of majority.

[NoSeRider]

p2Ke1VWhZJA

I'm hope'n Aptera will make a good show'n over the evil empire of GM.

[HunterKiller_]

What is "attractive" is determined by what the majority likes and saying something along the lines of companies not realizing that gas based cars are no longer attractive would mean you speak for some kind of majority.

I'm sure that when I say petrol guzzling cars are no longer attractive, I am at least speaking for a significant amount of people out there. People who are considerate of their own actions, and people who actually care about the environment.

[wiggum]

These photos have been going around the internet for a week or so. Apparently the Chevy Volt is going to be in Transformers 2 and while on set someone got a few shots of the production version of the Chevy Volt! (actually, from what I understand it is just a volt shell on an old Malibu Chassis, but it is still representative of what the car will look like when it his showrooms in 2010)
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It is not as sexy as the original concept, but I would take this over pretty much any other advanced power train car on the road right now. I got these pictures off of gm-volt.com

In case you have not been keeping track, here is some more Volt news (all info take from either gm-volt.com or worldcarfans.com):

GM has been testing Volt mules at their facilities in Warren Michigan, the mules have reportedly been able to attain 40 miles on all electric even with prototype batteries and Beta software

GM has been in talks with two companies for the contract to produce the Lithium Ion batteries that will power the Volt. Recent Press releases state that a supplier has been chosen, but said supplier has not yet been named.

There has been some talk of a merger between Ford and GM, this seems very unlikely but they have been in talks that could result in an alliance between the two allowing them to share R&D costs. This would result in GM having access to Ford technology like their ecoboost engine, and Ford having access to the E-Flex drive train that will power the Volt.

I'll mention one last thing here. GM has indicated that it already has two more E-Flex vehicles in the concept stages of development that have yet to be revealed. Adding this to the Opel/Saturn Flextreme concept and the Cadillac Provoq conept there could be as many as five E-flex vehicles produced by GM in the very near future. Of course this is just speculation.

In case you were wondering, this is the Flextreme (backup generator runs on deisel)
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And this is the Cadillac Provoq (backup generator runs on hydrogen fuel cells)
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