[FastMover]

http://www.greenfuelsforecast.com/Ar...?articleID=708

By adding a small gasoline/ethanol fueled engine and generator, the extended range electric vehicle (ER-EV) would eliminate the range anxiety inherent in operating an electric vehicle in the real world. Over the course of the 28 months since the concept was revealed to the world, GM made the decision to move the Volt to production status and began an intense period of production engineering.

Isn't this what we refer to as a HYBRID?

During our visit to the GM Tech Center GM brought out two of the Cruze mules for the group of journalists to drive around a two mile loop on the campus roads. The cars were equipped with the full Voltec powertrain including the LG Chem battery pack, and range extender. However, for our drive, GM disabled the range extender functionality so that we could experience the electric drive capabilities. The Cruze based mules are similar in size and only slightly heavier than the production intent Volt so in general the performance is similar.

[jdenenberg]

FastMover said:

http://www.greenfuelsforecast.com/Ar...?articleID=708
Isn't this what we refer to as a HYBRID?

It is a classic "Series Hybrid" with a 40 mile "Plug-in" feature. Prii and FEH (and some others) are parallel hybrids (can operate as serial under some conditions) and can be made into partial (low speed only) plug-in vehicles by third parties.

JeffD

[HB-RX400h]

Check out the first non press, journalist or politian to get to drive the Volt "Mule" http://kirkn.spaces.live.com/blog/cn...624!1461.entry

The Volt is a ERV (Extended Range Electric), it can go 40 miles on battery only and you can use zero gas if you can handle your commute in this range, return home and plug it in. BUT you can go somewhere in the 700+ mile range with the motor that runs at a constant speed and just charges the batteries. The engine does not drive the wheels.

jdenenberg said:

It is a classic "Series Hybrid" with a 40 mile "Plug-in" feature. Prii and FEH (and some others) are parallel hybrids (can operate as serial under some conditions) and can be made into partial (low speed only) plug-in vehicles by third parties.

JeffD

[centrider]

In an article in the Tech Section of the Washington Post of a couple of days ago was the news that the Volt was costing GM too much in subsidies to get the Volt to market. It seems that the Volt is being put on ICE perhaps until the cost of gas rockets up to 4 bucks/g.

Sorry. The article with references was sent to Jason, so watch for it.

[centrider]

centrider said:

In an article in the Tech Section of the Washington Post of a couple of days ago was the news that the Volt was costing GM too much in subsidies to get the Volt to market. It seems that the Volt is being put on ICE perhaps until the cost of gas rockets up to 4 bucks/g.

Sorry. The article with references was sent to Jason, so watch for it.

Ok. I didn't go to university for nothing: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...src=newsletter

Lane (his byline) thinks that Volt has little chance for success under present economic conditions (i.e: barrel of oil price as low as today's.).

[HB-RX400h]

centrider said:

Ok. I didn't go to university for nothing: www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/28/AR2009042801191.html?wpisrc=newsletter&wpisrc=news letter

Lane (his byline) thinks that Volt has little chance for success under present economic conditions (i.e: barrel of oil price as low as today's.).

Interesting as GM states the Volt platform is their future and they have 9+ vehicles lined up for it. If GM fails with the Volt they will steadly loose share to Toyota and Honda who both plan to extend their Hybrid lines. Toyota will put Hybrid technology into all their cars as time goes on. Honda is POURING advertising dollars into Insight advertising.

It is sad that the Saturn (including their Hybrids) were dumped. They could have had a awesome PHEV on the Skye..

[centrider]

HB-RX400h said:

Interesting as GM states the Volt platform is their future and they have 9+ vehicles lined up for it. If GM fails with the Volt they will steadly loose share to Toyota and Honda who both plan to extend their Hybrid lines. Toyota will put Hybrid technology into all their cars as time goes on. Honda is POURING advertising dollars into Insight advertising.

It is sad that the Saturn (including their Hybrids) were dumped. They could have had a awesome PHEV on the Skye..

Although this is Lane's take (and I'm guessing his sources), GM might go ahead and push the Volt, so to speak into a dying wind. The difficulty GM faces is that it must play catchup when it doesn't have much else to give.

I can't comment on the Saturn Hybrids. But I will say their halcyon days of the early 90's when the management and union seemed to share responsibility for the product were its best days. We owned 3 Saturns from'93 - '96. The '96 went up at auction for 1900.00 in '06 when I bought my Prius.

[FastMover]

"About" 83 pre-production cars to be built. Chevy says they are ahead of target showroom date.

http://www.craveonline.com/lifestyle...oduction-61425

RFB

[FastMover]

Here is a short video on a pre-production Volt drive with Frank Weber that was released yesterday.

http://www.spike.com/video/go-for-ride-in-pre/3225687

Obviously not a finished product, but a good progress report.

RFB

[abicarsy]

Volt is going to bring a revolution in the market.