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Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing”

Filed under: Hybrid, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

A lot of ink is being spilled over the Chevrolet Volt. There are arguments over whether it is worth even the $33,500 it costs after the Federal tax credit kicks in, or the $350.00 per month lease price (after $2,500 downpayment). There are debates over its real fuel economy, and range. There are debates about whether any vehicle should get a $7,500 rebate to make it decently affordable. The market should decide, the argument goes.

We know the market will decide in the end. Even as the federal government has imposed “Corporate Average Fuel Economy” rules in the hopes of forcing manufacturers to make more fuel efficient vehicles, new vehicle sales show that consumers in the U.S. still like their pickups and SUVs.

What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”

What most of the arguments over the Volt don’t take into consideration is what I call “The Vision Thing.”

General Motors board member Steve Girsky, who is a former Wall Street analyst and consigliere to the United Auto Workers, says he has been a voice arguing inside the automaker to make a greater commitment to Volt and extended-range electrics. He also says that CEO Daniel Akerson is another voice pushing for the vehicle and technology despite its high cost.

“GM hasn’t had a leadership vehicle like this in a long time. And Ackerson is insistent that we have that,” says Girsky.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Continue reading Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing”

Opinion: Chevrolet Volt debates leave out that whole “Vision Thing” originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit

Filed under: Concept Cars, Detroit Auto Show, Hybrid, Crossover, Chevrolet, GM, Rumormill, Electric

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show

Chevrolet Volt MPV5 at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Car and Driver, General Motors may have something special planned for the Detroit Auto Show in January. Word on the web is that The General is planning to pull back the sheets on the next vehicle to use the extended-range hybrid drivetrain from the Chevrolet Volt. The next branch in GM’s electrified family tree will be a five-seat crossover, potentially called the Chevrolet Amp. Using the same basic architecture, engine, motor and batteries from the Volt, a production Amp would help GM spread its substantial Voltec development costs over more than one model.

GM has been making noise about a crossover with Volt guts for some time, and thanks to the sleuth work of the detectives at Car and Driver, we know we may be closer than ever to seeing the vehicle become a reality. The company has gone through the pains to register a host of web domain names associated with the Amp moniker, some of which were snapped up as recently as October. Combined with the unveiling of the Volt MPV5 Concept at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show, there’s a good chance that a battery-operated Crossover will grace Detroit with its presence next month. Thanks for the tip, Phrime!

Gallery: Beijing 2010: Chevrolet Volt MPV5 concept

[Source: Car and Driver]

Report: Chevy to unveil Volt-based Amp crossover in Detroit originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: GM studying how to double or triple Chevy Volt production

Filed under: Hybrid, Plants/Manufacturing, Hatchback, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

Early Volts reportedly cost $40,000 to build

Chevrolet Volt battery pack – Click above for high-res image gallery

How’s your math? If you have 240,000 “potential buyers” but only 10,000 vehicles to sell them in the first year, what can you do? If you’re General Motos and the item in question is the Chevrolet Volt, then you look for ways to seriously increase the number of Volts you can build (and, of course, sell).

That’s exactly what CEO Dan Akerson says his company is trying to do, looking to double or triple production rates of this very important car. The problem, according to GM North America President Mark Reuss, is the bottleneck created by the limited number of battery cells that vendor LG Chem can produce for GM. The current plan is to make around 10,000 in 2011 and 45,000 in 2012. That 2012 number has already been increased from 30,000.

Upping the production numbers is good for GM for another reason. According to Steven Rattner, who was President Obama’s former auto bailout chief and worked intimately with GM, “At least in the early years, each Volt would cost around $40,000 to manufacture (development costs not included).” GM won’t confirm this number, but increased production will get the company, presumably, better economies of scale and thus lower production costs.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt battery pack

[Sources: The New York Times, Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: GM studying how to double or triple Chevy Volt production originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Dec 2010 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video]

Filed under: Hybrid, Videos, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

chevy volt charity auction

First Chevrolet Volt gets built – Click above to watch the time-lapse video

Want to be like Lance Armstrong and get the first available production model of one of the most eagerly-awaited vehicles of the decade? You can, if you’re willing to bid some money to help the Detroit Public Schools – more specifically the Detroit Public Schools Foundation, which supports math and science education.

The “first Chevrolet Volt available for retail sale” will be auctioned on Bidonthevolt.com through 6 p.m. (EST?) December 14, with the winner announced on December 16. The actual first retail Volt will be kept by General Motors, so the Viridian Joule auction car will have a vehicle identification number ending in BU100002. The car includes the Light Neutral interior with dark accents, has the Premium Trim Package, Rear Camera and Park Assist Package and polished wheels. The auction starts at $50,000 and comes with a 240-volt charging station installed in the winner’s home. No word on whether of not winning the auction still qualifies you for the $7,500 federal tax credit.

As you might expect, GM is highlighting the connection between all of the advanced technology in the Volt and the math and science needed to create it. General Motors North America president Mark Reuss said in a statement that, “By encouraging Detroit-area students to pursue these topics, we hope to cultivate the next generation of engineers who will build upon the Volt’s innovative technologies.” To this end, GM will also hire 1,000 engineers and researchers in Michigan within the next two years. You can read about these jobs on AutoblogGreen, but before you go anywhere, check out an official time-lapse build video of the first Chevy Volt after the jump.

[Source: Chevrolet]

Continue reading Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video]

Chevrolet Volt production officially begins today, GM auctioning first one for charity [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 30 Nov 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Chevy Volt gets 93 mpge (and 37 mpg and 60 mpg) rating from EPA

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

After yesterday’s 99 miles per gallon (equivalent) EPA rating for the Nissan Leaf, General Motors had to be eager to get the numbers for the Chevy Volt from the government – if for no other reason than because these efficiency stickers are the last thing holding up deliveries of the first production vehicles.

Today, GM shared the official numbers with the world, and they range from 37 miles per gallon to 93 mpge (equivalent) combined to 60 mpg “composite.” Sixty mpg composite is a “combined, combined” number, and will be completely different for everyone. You might want to think of it as a lifetime figure, since it accounts for both electricity and gasoline consumed. Oh, and it’s also best in class for compact cars. The Volt’s official electric-only range will be 35 miles, but GM, like Nissan, has been giving a range recently of 25-50 miles. The Volt now has an official total range of 379 miles, with 344 miles of that being extended range (i.e., gas) driving. As Tony DiSalle, Chevrolet product marketing director, said, “If you try to boil it down to a single number, it gets quite difficult.”

Doug Parks, Chevrolet Volt Global Vehicle Line Executive, said he is “quite pleased” with the numbers and understands that it is a complicated story to tell. GM and the EPA worked together to come up with this label to figure in all of the different modes that impact the vehicle’s efficiency. We’ve heard that the 2011 Volt will have a temporary EPA label, but Parks told us that what you see above will likely be what we see in next year, saying “Our intent was not to do something that was a one-year deal. Our hope is that this is very similar to the path that everyone will go down in the future. We tried to make the label look as similar as it can to next year.”

So, what about that “230 mpg” GM touted last year. Well, that was a different way to calculate things. “230 by itself was never intended to be a composite number,” Parks said.

[Source: General Motors]

2011 Chevy Volt gets 93 mpge (and 37 mpg and 60 mpg) rating from EPA originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Motor Trend defends its selection of Chevy Volt as COTY

Filed under: Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevrolet Volt is only a short time away from having a home at dealerships across the country, but like many media outlets, Motor Trend has been thoroughly testing GM’s halo car for some time. In fact, MT has been so impressed with the Volt that it just recently name the extended range EV its Car of the Year. That’s a big deal for General Motors and its newest darling, but not everyone is happy with the magazine’s choice. In fact, outspoken radio show host Rush Limbaugh recently weighed in with not only a bit of criticism for this decision.

This isn’t the first time Limbaugh has been less than favorable in his opinion of the Volt. As you may recall, he first lashed out on the electrified sedan back in July. This time, however, Limbaugh questioned Motor Trend‘s credibility, and in order to make sure both sides of the argument are well-represented, MT‘s Todd Lassa has issued a rebuttal. Here, Lassa’s main point was to reinforce why the Volt won this award, though a few shots are Limbaugh were made, as well. Lassa called the Volt “the biggest automotive technological breakthrough since… I don’t know, maybe the self-starter,” and then went on to hammer Limbaugh and fellow political pundit George Will for not understanding what makes the Volt so significant. The sleeves are rolled and the claws are out, folks. Head over to MT to read the response for yourself.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Motor Trend]

Motor Trend defends its selection of Chevy Volt as COTY originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Chevy Volt wins Green Car of the Year title in LA

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

Joel Ewanick, VP, U.S. Marketing, General Motors

Joel Ewanick, VP, U.S. Marketing for General Motors, and the Chevy Volt with the Green Car of the Year Award

The Chevrolet Volt drove off with the 2011 Green Car of the Year Award at the LA Auto Show this morning, beating out tough competition from the Nissan Leaf and ending a two-year diesel powertrain reign (at the 2008 show, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI was named the winner; last year, the Audi A3 TDI won). The other finalists for this year’s award, given out by Green Car Journal, included the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid , Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and the Ford Fiesta.

The Natural Resources Defense Council’s Roland Hwang said during the ceremony that “the environment means business.” To be globally competitive, automakers need highly-efficient vehicles to compete and, “what this means is that green vehicles are going to go mainstream.” The Green Car of the Year award embodies this change. When it was first given out in 2006, it was sort of tacked on at the end of the LA Auto Show. Today, as it was in ’09, the ceremony was a highlight of the show.

Last year, Green Car Journal editor Ron Cogan made a point to mention the five vehicles up for consideration were notable because they were mainstream vehicles that were already available. This year, only three of the candidates are currently on dealer lots. With the high tech involved in the Leaf and Volt, though, we’re okay with the slight delay in availability.

If you were rooting for the Leaf, don’t worry too much. Today, that car won the Green Car of the Year title from TheGreenCarWebsite.co.uk over in the UK. Still, in the U.S., the Green Car Journal award is the big one, and we want to know if the Volt claiming the first Green Car of the Year award of the electric era – and if there’s one message we’re heard here in LA this year, it’s that we’re really in the electric era now – make sense to you. Let us know in the comments below.

[Source: Green Car of the Year]

Continue reading 2011 Chevy Volt wins Green Car of the Year title in LA

2011 Chevy Volt wins Green Car of the Year title in LA originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Chevy Volt configurator powers up

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, GM, Electric

It’s hard to believe that the time to purchase a Chevrolet Volt is finally almost here, and the latest evidence of this fact comes in the form of Chevrolet’s official online vehicle configurator. Taking a quick look at the “build and price” options reveals few options for the seven markets eligible to purchase a 2011 Volt. That’s probably a good thing since a new Volt starts at $41,000, (or $32,780 after U.S. government tax breaks).

If you want to spec out more than a base Volt, you can choose from one of three uplevel paint jobs, $695 for a rear camera with Park Assist (an option we very much recommend after experiencing the Volt’s compromised rear visibility), $595 for polished aluminum wheels or $1,395 for a Premium Trim package with heated leather seats and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. All optioned out, the Volt jumps to $44,680. If that price tag feels like a bit of a tall order, keep in mind that the Volt can be leased for $350 a month for 36 months with $2,500 due at signing, an option that we suspect will be very popular. Head over to the Volt configurator to build your own. Hat tips to Richard and Clayton!

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt

[Source: Chevrolet]

Chevy Volt configurator powers up originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Chevrolet, Event Alert

Chevrolet Volt

Chevy Volt Tour hits L.A. Fashion Weekend – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Nissan Leaf is on a nationwide tour to spread the electric gospel, and it turns out the Chevrolet Volt is also making a national round to pitch its “More Car than Electric” mantra. We swung by its L.A. stop more interested in the L.A. Fashion Weekend show that was going on behind the test drives. This particular blogger had never been in the Volt and hadn’t thought much of it beyond the three years of headlines it’s been making – especially because our tastes tend more toward words like Gumpert Apollo and Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport and Aston Martin DBS Carbon Black and Lamborghini Murciélago.. and Fisker Karma.

But then we drove it. Twice. Once with the engine juicing the battery, once on battery power alone. They were short drives, just around a few blocks. And, um, we hate to go all Volt homer with this, but we have no choice: it was fantastic. As coincidence would have it, we rocked up to the event in a Honda Insight and discovered that the Volt is at the opposite, highly enjoyable pole of hybrid driving. We characterized it as “the best hybrid experience we’ve ever had.”

Of course, we can’t pass judgment on the car as a complete proposition because we had just a moment of seat time. Yet it was long enough to know that we’re going to get in one again as soon as we get the chance. And it was long enough for us to recommend that if the Volt tour comes your way and you’re into cars at all, then take our advice: drive it. For dates and cities, have a look at the info after the jump.

Gallery: Chevy Volt tour in LA

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too

The Chevrolet Volt is out there on the test drive circuit, too originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Filed under: Hybrid, Sedan, Hatchback, Chevrolet, First Drive, Electric

“She Blinded Me With Science”

2011 Chevrolet Volt – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Chevy Volt has finally, successfully, made the leap from science fiction to fact. Quite a bit has changed in the nearly four-year journey from the 2007 Detroit Auto Show to last week, when General Motors let us drive a production-spec car. The Volt may not be the stuff of Blade Runner, but it’s a technologically advanced showpiece for GM, and the first widely practical electric vehicle, ready and waiting for mainstream acceptance.

Give GM credit for building the Volt during the most miserable turn of events in the company’s long and storied history.

But first some basics: The Volt is a four-passenger, compact hatchback. While there’s considerable controversy over whether or not to call it a plug-in hybrid, that’s how we’ll be referring to it, following the lead of the Federal government. GM prefers “extended-range electric vehicle,” which is somewhat misleading, since the Volt is only an electric vehicle for the first 25-50 miles. In EV mode, the Volt’s electric drive system draws power exclusively from a 16 kilowatt-hour battery pack, at all speeds up to its 100-mph maximum. Once the battery gets drawn down to 35 percent of its capacity, the Volt’s gasoline engine fires up, spinning a generator to produce more electricity.

Of all the changes GM’s engineers have wrought since the first Volt concept, the most controversial has to be the design of the transmission, which GM kept a secret until last week. GM has been saying all along that the Volt was driven purely electrically, but as it turns out, this is not exactly the case. At highway speeds in extended range mode, the Volt’s gasoline engine is actually clutched together with the electric drive system inside the vehicle’s transaxle. There’s no point in belaboring the controversy beyond saying that the design is 10-15 percent more efficient, according to GM. Since efficiency is pretty much the whole point of the vehicle, we’re satisfied, even if we’re not happy that we (along with the rest of the media) were misled. However, it’s time to move on and focus on evaluating the Volt as a vehicle, and to that end, it’s an amazing piece of machinery.

Gallery: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: First Drive

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt

First Drive: 2011 Chevrolet Volt originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Oct 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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