A few days ago GM finally introduced the production version of the Chevy Volt to the world (officially this time) much to the delight of the hundreds of journalists packing the hall and the thousands upon thousands of folks who descended upon the internets to get a good look and all the pictures. While it was truly wonderful to be able to see the car poised upon its pedestal after months of impatiently waiting and then sitting back and discussing things like whether this version will look better in a showroom than the original concept, it's quite another to see it in its natural environment, rolling down the road.

Now, thanks to über Volt fan Dr. Lyle Dennis, who helps keep the world up-to-date on all the details of the vehicle through his GM-VOLT website, we can show you just that. And more! Lyle has gotten hold of a promotional video featuring the 40 mile "E-rev" gently cruising around a track and has posted it on Youtube. Not only do we get to see the Volt moving along from all different angles but there are also lots of shots showing off the bling interior with all the fancy LCD displays doing their thing. The soundtrack isn't even half bad. Hit to jump to see the production version of the Volt in action!

Update: Added bonus video from My Ride with additional footage.





[Source: YouTube]

While it seems the public must wait until September to get a glimpse of the final production version of the Chevy Volt, GM is letting John McCain cut to the front of the line to take a good look at the architecture that the company hopes will propel them into the next decade. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee was given a tour of the GM Design Center Dome at Warren, MI today where he later held a Town Hall meeting with hundreds of GM employees. We guess they're not holding that "Some of the jobs that have left the state of Michigan are not coming back," line from the primaries against him.

McCain seems not to caved to the auto industry's wishes on national emissions standards on this visit. Though last month he told the Detroit News that he would like a national standard that would make state standards unnecessary, today he clarified his position by saying, "I guess at the end of the day, I support the states being able to do that,[set their own standards]." He also recounted his earlier ideas for helping the industry get its groove back by giving $5,000 tax credits to low-emission vehicle purchasers and, of course, his $300 million battery challenge.

[Source: Detroit Free Press / The Detroit News via GM-Volt.com]

Our friend John McElroy isn't the only person out there who thinks that General Motors should dust off the old EV1 program and re-release it for public consumption again. Apparently, a passionate electric car enthusiast copied Mr. Bob Lutz himself on a letter suggesting that the EV1 needs to be brought back with its original lead-acid batteries. Remember, though, that Lutz is extremely involved in the Volt project, so it's not too surprising that he had plenty to say in response to the letter. In fact, Lutz echoes many of the sentiments expressed by our own Sam Abuelsamid, who recently wrote about the difficulties of reviving the long-dead program. Lutz highlights the fact that the General lost one billion buckaroos on that program the first time around and balks at the suggestion that lithium ion batteries are not yet ready for primetime. According to Lutz's response, the Volt's battery pack will not delay its launch. For our part, we're content to see the Volt picking up the pieces left by the loss of the EV1.

[Source: LA Times]

Sebastian is joined by Jeremy for AutoblogGreen Podcast #23, since Sam was hanging out with Bob Lutz and his Vectrix scooter when we recorded. Jeremy recounts his experience with Piaggio MP3 scooters on a ride from New York to Connecticut, and we move on to talk about the limited Prius supply as of late. We also touch on some developments at GM: the impending doom that may befall Hummer, and the coming of the Volt, which GM wants to build in Detroit. We go on for a while about hybrids and EVs for a while before wrapping up. Thanks for listening, we'll see you soon!

SUBSCRIBE to the AutoblogGreen Podcast in iTunes
LISTEN to the show now
ADD the AutoblogGreen Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

The next iteration of General Motors Global Compact Car or Delta platform will provide the basis of a variety of models sold everywhere. Among those are the Chevy Cobalt and Saturn/Opel Astra as well as the Opel Zafira MPV and, of course, the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. The first next-gen Delta cars are expected to come to market next year as 2010 models, but we may get our first official look at some of them as soon as this October at the Paris Motor Show. Two Chevrolet-badged Deltas are expected in France, the conventional one that will likely supplant the current Daewoo-built Lacetti and the production shape of the Volt. We've seen hints of where the Volt is going with the wind tunnel models but everyone has been waiting patiently to see it in final form with all the detailing. GM is also expected to make an announcement in Paris about an Opel/Vauxhall-badged E-Flex vehicle going into production with a diesel range extender. Expect that one to look much like the Flextreme concept but without the pair of on-board Segways.

[Source: Channel4.com]

Here is one reason why blogging can be so fun: take two stories, blend, and voila! More questions! The first story that I'm writing about is one which was covered here on our site. See here: "Lordstown, Ohio could be the home of the Volt". The other story in question is this one: "Chevrolet Volt: Where Will It Be Built?" over at Edmunds Auto Observer. Read both, then come back.

(Maestro: the Jeopardy theme begins now)

So, just what role did the Volt play in the UAW's contract negotiations and strike with GM? Small cars like the Chevy Cobalt and Pontiac G5 are low-profit vehicles that GM needs to compete in certain market segments. The Volt, despite being based on similar architecture, may turn out to be a bit more profitable. If not profitable in money, at least in market perception. Depending on how many GM is able to manufacture and sell, it could be a huge home run for GM, the UAW and the factory that is making it. In other words, the Volt is one vehicle that the UAW would like to see built in the States.

[Source: AutoblogGreen and Edmunds Auto Observer]

Yesterday, Sam pointed out in a late-night posting that GM might be planning on producing as many as 60,000 Volts in its first year of manufacture. It is thought that GM could make a profit on the vehicle if it sold that many for a bit under $30,000. But, is it possible?

According to Menahem Anderman, president of Advanced Automotive Batteries, maybe not. He said, A 60,000-unit target "is totally ridiculous at this point. To reach that level by 2010, they'd need to be placing the orders right now." He went on to suggest that A123, GM's battery supplier of choice, does not have "experience in high-volume manufacturing on such a scale."

What does Toyota think about all of this conjecture? According to Irv Miller from Toyota, "We have consistently affirmed that there are many issues that need to be resolved, beyond the safety and reliability of lithium-ion batteries, before a commercial lithium-ion-equipped hybrid – and what we're talking about here is the so-called plug-in hybrid, or PHEV - is ready for the market.

"These issues include battery cost, availability, performance and packaging. All of the car makers face the same problems when it comes to these issues. The answers, unfortunately, are not just around the corner... They will appear only when our high standards are met."

So, what do you think? Will GM beat Toyota to market with a plug-in hybrid using lithium ion batteries? Will they be able to make 60,000 of them in the first year of production? You have the floor.

[Source: Bloomberg and Toyota's blog]

Lyle over at GM-Volt.com had the chance to chat with Nick Zielinski of GM about progress on the E-Flex development. Nick is the Vehicle Chief Engineer for Advanced System Integration on E-Flex. Lyle and Nick discussed the A123 announcement that was made last week as well as progress on getting development mules up and running as well as accessory systems and how they will affect the range of the car. You can hear the audio at GM-volt.com.

[Source: GM-Volt.com]

A123 Systems, based in Massachusetts, was included in Congressional hearings the last few days discussing the conversion of hybrid vehicles to plug-ins. We have covered this story a few times already, so I won't be discussing it here, but something else of interest apparently came out in the discussions. It seems that employees of A123 Systems were given a sneak peek at the Volt, and even got to drive prototypes of the vehicle. The cars were apparently very similar to the one that we all saw in Detroit at the Auto Show. A123 is involved with the lithium ion batteries that will likely be used in the vehicle.

This all reminds me of when my older brother worked in the IT Department at Alcoa. You might remember that Alcoa built the aluminum structure of the EV1. He got a chance to drive prototypes of the EV1 before it was for sale. This all gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling for the Volt, because as you know, the EV1 did in fact make it out into the wild. I know, I know... these are totally unrelated instances, but at least it makes me feel better.

[Source: The Detroit Free Press]

After taking a look at Tesla Motors and their lithium-ion battery powered Roadster with a rather "critical eye", I decided we should take a look at General Motors and their Volt. On the surface, there doesn't appear to be a great deal in common between the Volt and the Tesla Roadster; do any of the concerns we discussed regarding Tesla Motors carry over to the General? Well, yes and no. There are certainly concerns, but the only one which carries over directly relates to the batteries. This just happens to be a very big issue, perhaps the largest of them all. If you have spent any amount of time perusing the comments that we get whenever we mention the batteries being the biggest issue with the Volt, you know that some agree and many don't agree with that sentiment. With vehicles such as GM's own EV1 already proving to some extent that electric vehicles can be viable for certain consumers, where does GM come from in telling us that they can't make the Volt yet? We'll discuss that issue here, and a few others. So, strap in and read why Chevy might not succeed with their Volt.

Continue reading after the break.

Update: AutoblogGreen is not endorsing any of the companies in the article linked to below. The point of this post is to point out that there are many companies who are hoping to get a piece of the green automotive pie.

Update - Editor's Note: We should make clear from the top of the post that Investor Ideas is paid by Zap! to promote Zap! products and so they are not an independent third party. AutoblogGreen does not take money for posts, and we never have and never will, and we should have pointed out that Investor Ideas does in the original text of this post. Investor Ideas does disclose the financial relationship with Zap! in tiny print at the bottom of their page, but we want to state it clearly up front. Thanks to Darryl and Rick for their comments pointing this out.

If you frequent our site, nothing in this article will come as groundbreaking to you. If not, you really should read our content! Then, if you want, check out the article. What you will find is that there are currently some pretty good choices for you next vehicle if you'd like to go green. You will also find that there are many more choices poised to grab some market share. Competing technologies such as plug-in electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid vehicles and even hydrogen vehicles will be attempting to make inroads on American roads soon enough. What that means is that this is an exciting time to be involved, as we are kinda at a "Genesis" in the technology. Where will things go from here? Time will tell, and consumers will vote with their pocketbooks.

If ZAP! can actually bring their exciting products to market, I'd expect them to become a major player. As it stands now, though, their three-wheeled electric vehicles are not going to be replacing too many internal combustion powered cars anytime soon. If their electric Lotus APX or their Obvio vehicles actually show up, watch out!

GM intends to produce the Volt, read about that here. If you don't need a new car before, say, 2010... you may be in luck. We here at AutoblogGreen soundly believe that the Volt could be a market-changing vehicle for GM in the same way that the Prius was for Toyota. Don't forget Honda, the most fuel efficient brand in America, either. Like I said, exciting times indeed!

[Source: Investor Ideas]

It appears as if everyones favorite series-hybrid may make it into production as early as 2010. This news comes courtesy of General Motors Larry Burns, GM's vice president for research and development and Jim Queen, group vice president of global engineering. It is no secret that the Volt was a huge hit for GM at the Detroit Auto Show this year, and as our own statistics show, it was a hit with consumers who research their vehicles on the internet as well. Another positive point for the Volt's production possibilities is that Bob Lutz is behind the project, and as "the man" in charge of global product development, as he wishes, GM does.

Last week, Burns said that the next-gen Delta platform would underpin the Volt. Because this same platform is expected under the next-generation of the Chevy Cobalt, the same plant in Lordstown, Ohio might get the nod to produce the Volt as well. Although the vehicle is expected to be produced in America, it is also hoped by GM that the Volt could be sold in other parts of the world, and the platform can accept other methods to charge the batteries, such as a diesel engine in Europe.

According to this article on Automotive News (subscription required), GM has decided to go ahead with the development of both the original Volt concept with its internal combustion engine powering a generator which is capable of charging the on-board lithium ion batteries as well as the more recent fuel cell platform which uses an on-board hydrogen fuel-cell to provide a range-extending charge to said batteries. Speaking of which, the batteries are currently the largest stumbling block to seeing the Volt in your local Chevy dealer's lot. Assuming that suppliers can get the high-tech batteries and their associated systems working in time, it looks like the Volt is "a go"; which is great news indeed. Could the General be seen as the new green automaker, taking the lead from stalwarts such as Honda and Toyota? They could, and the Volt would be an excellent opening salvo in making that possibility a reality.

Update: According to a GM spokesman no plant has yet been selected as the production site for the E-Flex vehicles although planning and development are proceeding full speed ahead. Since Lordstown is the current plant for the Chevy Cobalt, it's obviously in the running but is not a shoe-in.

Click here for our initial coverage of the Volt.



[Source: Automotive News (subscription required)

Beth Lowery, Vice President, GM Environment and Energy, has posted a new entry on the GM Fastlane blog site. She gives her personal thoughts on GM's stance on the CAFE (Corporate Average Fuel Economy) standards and their role in changing the environment. She sets out to dispel what she refers to as "two long-time myths" regarding GM. The first is that "GM doesn't care about the environment", the second is that "The CAFE program works." It is clear that GM has something to either gain or lose if CAFE standards are raised, as many are pushing for. She says that "we believe that it is the company's obligation to society" to "to develop new vehicles, powered by new systems running on alternative fuels as the only way we'll be able to grow our business and meet the world's growing energy demands."

I would say that it is the obligation of every person and corporation to examine their impact on the environment and make whatever changes are necessary and feasible to reduce their own "footprint," as they say. That seems like common sense to me. GM is actually doing a very good job of investing in alternative fuels and technologies these days, despite the fact that some claim they "killed the electric car" a while back. Will they revive it with the Volt and their E-Flex platform? Perhaps, with the assistance of smaller companies who are working on their own electric cars.

[Source: GM Fastlane Blog]

As my fellow blogger Sam pointed out recently, Darryl Siry, Vice President of Marketing for Tesla Motors, recently wrote on their site's blog that "The Media Need to Toughen Up on the Subject of EVs". This is true on many levels, and it could be argued that the media needs to toughen up when it comes to reporting in general. But, this is not the subject of this particular editorial. But, in the spirit of doing exactly what he asked the media to do, let's consider some of the hard questions facing hopeful electric vehicle manufacturers in the coming years.

Darryl mentioned, as did Tesla Motors CEO Martin Eberhard in Sam's interview, that Tesla perceives themselves as different than other new electric vehicle manufacturers. Indeed, they see themselves as more like GM, Ford, Toyota and Nissan. Are they? I am not sure, as they have yet to produce a single vehicle for public consumption, as compared to the almost too numerous to mention vehicles those other companies have sold. This begs the question, is Tesla getting ahead of themselves? Are they really competing directly with GM and Toyota?

Continue reading my thoughts after the break.

AutoblogGreen has been bringing you all the news we can find on the Chevy Volt. But, if you're the type of person who likes to get your news directly from the source, we won't fell too bad if you spend a few minutes over at the official GM website section on the Volt. While I'm sure there will be lots of good stuff revealed on the site as we move from concept to production (hopefully), the site offers a pretty basic – and coy – overview of the Volt's capabilities right now and GM's greener side.

Why coy? Check out this line: "Concept Chevy Volt is just another way Chevy is working to bring you drivable and practical vehicles that help decrease our dependence on petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions." Yeah, GM's really been a leader in the green car movement. I grant that GM has done some good, environmentally-friendly thing in the past. And I'm all for PHEVs and the cleaner future cars like the Volt will bring us in the future, but let's not smudge over the past here, K?

There is one thing about the Volt I'm going to need more information on. GM's website says: "You'll also enjoy ... new convenience features allowing you to charge certain small electronic devices without plugging them in." (Emphasis added) How, exactly, is this supposed to work?

[Source: GM]