THE CHEVROLET VOLT
BY BRUCE HUBBARD
AUTO ADVISOR GROUP
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is an amazing vehicle. Many call it the game changer. The Volt does not have to rely on charging stations thanks to the 1.4-liter premium gasoline engine that works in conjunction with a generator and the electric engine. A lot different than the Electric Vehicle only first designed by Engineers at GM in 1996 known as the EV1. So many magazines and auto shows have given awards to the 2011 VOLT. The VOLT works well in the market today. Why. GM may have figured out that with less than 1,000 charging systems in the US as of November 2010 they could not expect customers to stop and use a 110 to charge their vehicle. I travel a 525-mile trip often and few Interstate 80 Truck stop offers a charging station. They do have 110 but then that will take a long time to recharge the battery. Sure like the Nissan Leaf the Volt can be charged at charging stations quicker than at home with a 110. The smartest thing that GM did with the Volt was used back in the early 1990’s on electrical vehicles. Their redundant brakes help recharge the battery while on the go. In addition to the redundant braking to recharge on the go the 1.4 liter gasoline engine will come on when the battery is 70% depleted allowing the driver to travel where they needed using both modes.
General Motors Company started production of the Volt on Nov. 10, 2010 GM Vice Chairman of Global Operations Tom Stephens stated. Sales as of April 2011 are above 1000 units. Twenty some years after they introduced the EV1 Concept in 1990. But, in the past GM decided like Ford that profits from Diesel trucks, trucks and gasoline vehicle made business sense. However, they were spending money hand over fist and forgot they had developed a miracle machine in the EV1. Now since GM and their team including Bob Lutz moved forward did the vehicle ever come to be manufactured. Not a true EV like they were to build in 1996 but a vehicle that uses both electric motor and gasoline motors togther. Makes more sense at the present time.
In 1996 GM gave me their leather bound press kit on the introduction of the EV1 Electric Vehicle. They had a lot of knowledge in the field. Their ideas were brilliant then as they are today in 2011. Today we see one of the most remarkable vehicle ever manufactured in the USA outside of Henry Ford’s Model T. Research may have been the key to GM’s success in Electric Vehicles. They had the ways of producing this magnificent Electric Vehicle years ago. Now it is a reality but they still have the problem of introducing a true electric vehicle until Electric Charging stations are abundant throughout the USA. Sales of the Nissan Electric Vehicle have been very slow (again for recharging stations).
I believe sales will climb for the Volt once the public understands it can do a lot more than just an electric vehicle can do. Sure the pricing is high and the CREDITS State and Federal are not much to offset the original $41,000.00 cost GM must promote their vehicle to consumers. GM could have done a lot more since 1996 and did not do it? They did a lot with diesels and they were successful in their trucks. Why they did not do as they promised to bring diesel to cars is probably because GM was so large. One hand did not know what the other was doing. Just a few years ago they finally said they were bringing diesels to North America or the USA. But, that still has not happened. They can do it in a minute and compete with VW who expects to be the largest Vehicle manufacturer in the world. In Europe VW rules and Ford and GM are looked at as inferior. The market is ready for the VOLT.
At the 2010 Los Angeles auto show I recently attended the Volt received the Green Car of the Year award. That is after Motor Trend gave it the Car of the Year Award just a few days ago. Some of the staff at Motor Trend were not even of age in 1996 to drive a car but they did their research and decided that the VOLT was worthy of the trophy. In addition Automobile Magazine gave it the same as their pick as the Best Car for 2010. They are hoping to win the Car of The Year award at the North American International Auto Show in January.
The Volt boasts some of the most advanced engineering ever seen in an American automobile. The powertrain allows the VOLT to run as an Electric Vehicle, a series hybrid, or a parallel hybrid, depending on how far you drive and how you drive. GM electronics controls the powerflow between the 149-horse electric motor, the generator, and the 84-horse,1.4-liter naturally aspirated internal-combustion engine. By the way back in 1996 Toyota and GM agreed to share in EV or electric vehicle technology. That is how the Prius came about. GM learned from 20 plus years they do have EV plug ins as does the diesel and gasoline stations. So why the heck would anyone buy an only EV vehicle. Why ? In Florida where I spend a lot of my time DIESELS rule on the water in yachts and sail boats. But that is a different story. Golf Carts rule at the senior home communities. They use them as their main vehicle. But, unlike the VOLT they are small and let them go to where they must. The VOLT or Nissan All Electric Leaf could rule the senior citizen home communities in Florida for those users will travel less than ten miles a day. They travel probably no more than 30 miles a week!
The Volt’s light suspension makes driving very nice on the back roads and highway. The design that emerged from the wind tunnel plus light materials give the Volt good handling. Weight was reduced in the wheels by using forged aluminum. Then using specially developed low-rolling-resistance tires that were developed with Goodyear who delivered the Goordyear Flex Max tires. Back in 1997 when the EV1 was to be introduced they were going with puncture chassis is nimble and responsive, and the low-rolling-resistance tires deliver better than average grip for this type of rubber.
GM stated engineers in the General Motors wind tunnel helped to develop the most aerodynamic vehicle in Chevrolet’s history. Reducing the energy needed to overcome air resistance added an estimated eight miles of electric range and 50 miles of extended range to the Volt.
The electric steering is good. Only draw back seems to be the brakes that may not work as well as similar size gasoline vehicles. I need more time in the Volt to test that. But, the brakes are used to regenerate power through the generator and back into the lithium batteries to power the electric engine.
While some consumers may never need to regularly put gas in the car, the internal combustion engine will fire automatically from time to time to ensure the integrity of the fueling system, and to prevent the vehicle being stuck with a tank full of stale gas. Especially with ethanol fuels. I would use one of the ethanol stabilizers in my Volt to keep the fuel from losing its life. The first buyers are bragging about long distance driving. Many drivers have stated they can drive 350 to 500 miles easily thanks to the gasoline motor/generator and brake regeneration bringing energy to the batteries.
Long before the GM bankruptcy engineers decided that the Volt would share the frame being used on other GM vehicles. The Volt is built on GM's highly flexible Global Compact Vehicle Architecture (other GCVA vehicles include the Chevy Cruze, the Opel Astra, and the forthcoming Opel Zafira minivan). This also allowed the vehicles to share the sophisticated powertrain that can be easily adapted to other vehicles.
The Chevy Volt’s exterior design obviously came from the need for aerodynamic efficiency. Corners are sharp and the high decklid were designed by use of the wind tunnel. The front end reminds me of other Chevy vehicles.
EV1 back in 1996 from concept first shown in 1990
2011 Volt
The interior of the Volt uses a lot of plastics and has numerous electronic screens to view the vehicles actions. Looks like a Chevrolet to me.
Some testing facilities have stated that when the Volt is in Electric Vehicle mode the Volt uses energy at the rate 32.0 kW-hr/100 miles. The internal-combustion engine GM states uses approximately 40 miles per gallon. But, remember this is used only to run the generator to charge the lithium batteries while the Volt is driving.
The Volt can accelerate 0-60 mph in 8.8 seconds in pure EV mode, and 8.7 in combined gas/electric mode are competitive with conventional compacts. The Volt on the highway is capable.
Back in 1996 and before suppliers did a lot of the research to develop the EV1. The Volt was also developed in thanks to many of the suppliers to the auto industry. Without their assistance the Volt may have taken longer to manufacturer. Engineers at GM had a lot of experience in developing an EV alone. In the future once sales are demanding more production I expect that the cost of the Volt should come down.
Using EPA average figures of 12¢ per kW-hr for electricity, and $3.00 for a gallon of gas, the Volt costs just 4.0¢ a mile to run in EV mode, and 8 to9¢ a mile with the gas engine running. With gas moving up in price the fuel price will affect the final cost of running the Volt. We expect to see $4.00 a gallon in North America by May of 2011. Even with that the cost of operating the Volt will be a lot less than conventional gasoline powered vehicles.
GM is installing charging stations at its plants, research centers and office campuses throughout Michigan.
At the LA Auto show GM /Chevy Volt staff stated that they drove two identical Volts from Detroit to LA to prove that the volt can do even better than the media has been stating. The Volt used so little gasoline on the drive thanks to the braking redundant recharging of the Lithium – Ion batteries.
Power companies also are getting into the act. DTE Energy and Consumers Energy, Michigan’s largest utilities, already have pledged to install 5,000 240-volt home charging stations — 2,500 each — throughout the state for eligible electric car owners.
THE 1996 EV CHARGING SYSTEM NOT THAT FAR OFF FROM THE VOLT’S CHARGING SYSTEM IN 2011
Currently, 48 of 50 states have fewer than 30 charging stations, and even California’s nearly 550 charging station comparison to its roughly 10,000 plus gas stations. But, Nissan’s Leaf, Tesla’s, and the Volt can be charged at home.
GM has installed more than 100 charging stations, including 10 solar-powered stations at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant. Two chargers are in the ground in front of the GeneralRenCen, where GM has its global headquarters. They have also added nearly twenty more around the GM Renaissance Center.
The automaker plans to install solar panels at many of its major work sites to generate electricity for the stations, and has set up about 140 employees with home chargers, as well.
"We want to make it easy for our employees to also drive green," Stephens said.
About 1,500 Volt dealers nationwide will install electric car chargers for customer use.
Nissan Motor Co. is selling its all-electric Leaf, which will cost about $8,000 less than the Volt. They had 20,000 pre orders from customers.
The Leaf has a 100-mile range on a single battery charge, and Nissan is touting it as zero-emissions vehicle that will never need gas.
The Volt comes standard (as does the Leaf) with a three prong 120 Volt cord. However, customers have the option of upgrading to a fast-charging, 240-volt station with a price tag of $490 plus an estimated $1,475 for installation. The utilities will cover up to $2,500 of the cost of the charging station and installation.
Brilliant engineers developed the Volt's powertrain that can operate as a pure electric vehicle (EV), a series hybrid, or as a parallel hybrid to deliver the best possible efficiency, depending on your duty cycle. GM has stated that this is world's first intelligent hybrid.
Volt drivers and passengers GM states will be wrapped in a cocoon of standard safety. With eight air bags ready to deploy in an emergency, including dual-stage front bags, knee -bags, and side-impact bags for the driver and front passenger and roof-rail mounted head curtain bags that protect all four passengers. Other safety features include anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control. The stability control cannot be turned off. Works well with the front wheel drive Volt. To assist the driver GM includes a five-year subscription to OnStar's® Directions and Connections® Plan including Automatic Crash Response. In the event of a collision, built-in sensors can automatically alert an OnStar Advisor, who is immediately connected into your vehicle to see if you need help sent to your exact location.
In New York City, at the Edison Awards the OnStar Mobile App won the silver award as the 2011 Best New Product in the Transportation in the Remote Driving Aids Segment. In the Volt, the app allows users to control vehicle charging functions and view charge level, electricity rate tables and electric vehicle data along with other features.
Buick started the Smart Phone APPS and now the Chevrolet Volt benefits from the same sophistication offered never before with a cell phone. Anywhere you get a signal on your Smartphone, you can have total control of your Volt. Enter your code and with the OnStar mobile app, you'll be able to check the battery charge level, available range, tire pressure, remote lock and unlock and even activate the remote start to heat or cool the interior to your preferred temperature. The smart phone even allows changing how and when you want your Volt to charge. You can even set up Alerts via text or email to remind you to plug in your Volt, when charging is complete or if charging has been interrupted. The app also provides a single button to access a Volt Customer Advisor who can answer vehicle specific questions.
GM’s PR people state electricity is a cleaner source of power. And as technology improves in the generation of electricity, we will continue to see reduced carbon outputs. Advancements in electricity production along with reduction in emissions from electric-powered driving could help make our world a cleaner place GM states today just like they did in the 1990’s.
The success with their Volt is showing the world that others should develop intelligent hybrids. Just now GM has shown a concept vehicle. The Cadillac Converj’s Voltec electric propulsion system is made up of a 16-kWh, T-shaped battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car. One more potentially successful intelligent hybrid from GM.
Last November 18th was another big day for GM. The IPO or initial public offering was a huge success. With GM’s European operations growing the future of GM is just getting brighter. Now April of 2011 GM has released sales for March. Up 16% joining the Big Three in boost of sales for North America.
Back in 1996 EV1 was talking about recycling and the body parts were plastic. EV1 was far ahead of itself but it took until 2011 for it to work. GM canceled the EV1 production and I agreed with them. Just as it is in 2011 few recharging stations in USA would have made the vehicle a financial success. In 1990 the first Impact Electric vehicle from GM made the auto show circuit. Twenty-One years later it is a reality with the award-winning VOLT.
Did you know that the EV1 in 1996 had tire pressure monitors! Why- you know to let the driver know when the tire pressure was low. Low or incorrect tire pressure can waste fuel. Now in 2011 all cars are mandated to have tire pressure monitors.
Recently in New York City the Volt received the Gold Award at the Edison Awards annual event. “Being selected as an Edison Award winner validates our drive to develop an all-new transportation solution,” said Tony Posawatz, Chevrolet Volt Vehicle Line Director. “Innovation has been at the heart of the Volt from its onset; from the development of the Li-ion battery to the drive unit and the driver connectivity.”
The Volt is only the beginning for GM’s transportation future.
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