News
GM Hustles To Bring Chevrolet Volt to Market by November 2010
DETROIT — In the most encouraging progress report to date on the production version of the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors on Thursday said it aims to have the gas/electric plug-in hybrid in showrooms by November 2010.
The automaker said testing to simulate 10 years and 150,000 miles of usage is going on "around the clock in GM test facilities in Warren, Michigan, and Mainz-Kastel, Germany." GM is still striving to reach the goal of having the Volt drive the first 40 miles on electric power alone. It reports that the lithium-ion test batteries are performing well.
"Production timing of the Volt is directly related to our ability to predict how this battery will perform over the life of the vehicle," said Frank Weber, Chevrolet Volt and E-Flex systems global vehicle chief engineer. "The challenge is predicting 10 years of battery life with just two years of testing time."
Weber described the Volt as "the No. 1 priority project we have at GM."
While GM has yet to issue photos of the production Volt, designers hinted that the production version will not look like the concept car. Instead, it will be a four-passenger vehicle with a sloping roof. "We made a conscious decision to make the Volt a four-passenger vehicle to keep the roof low, an important aerodynamic enabler," said Bob Boniface, E-Flex design director.
The Volt's battery is located in the middle of the vehicle. GM says the interior will "accommodate a 6-foot, 2-inch male comfortably in the front and rear seats." It also noted that the Volt is being engineered with a "relatively small fuel tank" to reduce mass and weight. The Volt will have a driving range "in excess of 400 miles between fill-ups," according to the automaker.
In other Volt details, GM said the vehicle now has a "coefficient of drag that is 30 percent lower than the original concept."
What this means to you: The Volt appears to be on track as it continues to hit key development targets. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
The automaker said testing to simulate 10 years and 150,000 miles of usage is going on "around the clock in GM test facilities in Warren, Michigan, and Mainz-Kastel, Germany." GM is still striving to reach the goal of having the Volt drive the first 40 miles on electric power alone. It reports that the lithium-ion test batteries are performing well.
"Production timing of the Volt is directly related to our ability to predict how this battery will perform over the life of the vehicle," said Frank Weber, Chevrolet Volt and E-Flex systems global vehicle chief engineer. "The challenge is predicting 10 years of battery life with just two years of testing time."
Weber described the Volt as "the No. 1 priority project we have at GM."
While GM has yet to issue photos of the production Volt, designers hinted that the production version will not look like the concept car. Instead, it will be a four-passenger vehicle with a sloping roof. "We made a conscious decision to make the Volt a four-passenger vehicle to keep the roof low, an important aerodynamic enabler," said Bob Boniface, E-Flex design director.
The Volt's battery is located in the middle of the vehicle. GM says the interior will "accommodate a 6-foot, 2-inch male comfortably in the front and rear seats." It also noted that the Volt is being engineered with a "relatively small fuel tank" to reduce mass and weight. The Volt will have a driving range "in excess of 400 miles between fill-ups," according to the automaker.
In other Volt details, GM said the vehicle now has a "coefficient of drag that is 30 percent lower than the original concept."
What this means to you: The Volt appears to be on track as it continues to hit key development targets. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
Add A Comment »