5
Oct
GM’s Chevy Volt has yet to hit dealerships and already tremendous amounts of buzz has begun circulating partially due to advertising efforts.
This is only the beginning says GM’s Bob Lutz as when the car is closer to hitting dealerships GM will be “pulling out the heaving artilery and get Volt buzz going”. In other words, GM is going to pour unheard of amounts of money into the Volt’s advertising campaign in hopes that it will catch out.
Read (Autoblog)
Tags: chevy volt, GM3
Sep
As far as Audi is concerned, the much heralded coming of the Chevy Volt is made for idiots. This was shared to the media by Audi President Johan de Nysschen, referring to the hybrid car as overpriced and no better than a Toyota Corolla. The rumored price for the Chevy Volt was said to be around $40,000.00.
The Chevy Volt is expected to be categorized in the company of cars priced in the $25,000.00 mark. However, a lot of criticism is being raised at the moment, waiting to see if the Chevy Volt can really be a car choice for people looking towards new electric cars coming out in the market. Will the Chevy Volt succeed? All we can do is wait and see once this GM hybrid car hits the automotive market.
Image courtesy: Auto Blog Green
(Source) Tech Whack
Tags: automotive market, car choice, chevy volt, electric cars, GM, hybrid car, market image, Toyota, toyota corolla22
Aug
Earlier this month we were given word that GM could potentially be seeing a drought of Chevy Volts due to limited production. Today, however, buzz suggets that GM will be producing a lot more cars than previously though.
If/when the public takes to the Volt, CNET sees the Chevy Volt reaching production of up to 70,000 vehicles each year. This would be after the ~400 GM plans to build in 2010 alone so it will most likely be a ways off until we see these kind of numbers.
Tags: chevy volt, GM, Production, rumor, speculation21
Aug
It seems that Ford’s Executive Chairman of the Board isn’t convinced about the Chevy Volt’s 230mpg claim. In fact, he isn’t even convinced that Nissan’s Leaf EV should be rated at 367mpg like the company said it would.
It’s not the automakers fault, he says, but instead the EPA who uses meaningless method of determining the fuel efficiency of such vehicles. Below is a quote Mr. Ford gave to Green Car Advisor concerning the matter:
“The government will have to come up with a meaningful number for customers – a user-friendly label. And I think they will. I can’t dispute that number, but I’m not sure it’s relevant to the customer either.
Mr. Ford may be onto something as it just doesn’t seem right to base all electric vehicles on the amount of gas they would use. I think instead they should just focus on consumers how much electricity the cars will use for every mile they are driven. Then again, consumers could probably just settle with knowing the vehicle’s range given a predetermined amount of charging.
Tags: 230mpg, all electric, bill ford, chevy volt, epa, ev, fuel efficiency, nissan leaf13
Aug
With all of the hype surrounding the Chevy Volt you would think GM would get their gears in motion and pump out as many vehicles as they can but that doesn’t seem to be the case.
According to recent reports, GM only plans on producing between 200-400 Volts from November-December of 2010, the vehicle’s launch window and then proceeding to slowly increase production throughout 2011. Furthermore, GM reportedly hopes to have 10,000 Volts on the road (or in dealerships) by the time we hit 2012.
Like I said before, the hype surrounding the Volt is massive which would lead one to think that the demand for such a vehicle will be just as high. Oh well, GM, I hope you know what you’re doing.
via AutoblogGreen
Tags: chevy volt, demand, GM, Production13
Aug
Last weekend we let you know that GM would announce the location of their lithium ion battery plant sometime this week. Well, right on queue, the automaker has issued a press release stating that their new battery plant will call Brownstown Township, Michigan its home. This plant will not only make lithium ion batteries for the Chevy Volt but also for other GM vehicles utilizing the Voltec powertrain system.
After the lithium ion batteries are manufactured, they will be shipped to GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant where they will then be installed in the cars.
In terms of the economy, this new plant will employ around 100 new people to man the 160,00 sq-ft facility with further employment plans being announced at a later date.
Tags: battery plant, brownstown township, chevy volt, lithium ion, Michigan, voltec11
Aug
Despite GM stating that the EPA had given their Chevy Volt a rating of 230mpg the EPA themselves has chimed in to let them know this is not the case. It seems that the EPA hasn’t even tested the Volt yet which means they are unable to give the car an accurate rating.
Below is a quote straight from the EPA:
EPA has not tested a Chevy Volt and therefore cannot confirm the fuel economy values claimed by GM. EPA does applaud GM’s commitment to designing and building the car of the future – an American-made car that will save families money, significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create good-paying American jobs. We’re proud to see American companies and American workers leading the world in the clean energy innovations that will shape the 21st century economy.
So I guess we’ll have to wait until the EPA actually gets their hands on the Chevy Volt before we see any rock solid numbers so as for now, the Volt’s 230mpg claim remains unofficial.
via GreenCarAdvisor
Tags: chevy volt, epa, gas mileage, rating11
Aug
Just yesterday we let you know that GM was gearing up to announce the mileage rating for their much publicized Chevy Volt. Well today, just on cue, they have announced the information; the Chevy Volt will get 230mpg.
This comes as news after the EPA has determined exactly how to rate extended-range all-electrics such as the Volt who say that the car will consume 25kWh for every 100 miles driven. Couple that with the minimal gas tank featured on the car and that is how they came to the 230 mpg rating.
The EPA hopes to fine tune this method of rating and will get back to us when they figure out what consumers are more likely to get during everyday use.
via Autoblog
Tags: chevy volt, epa, gas mileage3
Aug
Currently, the most publicized extended-range all-electric vehicle is the Chevy Volt. Everyone is making it out the be the most revolutionary car the world has ever seen. However, Mitsubishi may be looking to give GM a run for their money as they too are reportedly working on an extended-range all-electric vehicle.
Apparantly, Mitsubishi’s extended-range EV will be based on the cX concept that was showcased back in 2007 at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
If you don’t know what an extended-range EV is, it’s essentially just an all-electric vehicle that uses gasoline to replenish the car’s battery once it runs out of juice. So yes, you’re still using gasoline but it’s not used to actually power the car directly, instead it powers the battery that then powers the car.
via Register Hardware
Tags: all electric, chevy volt, cx concept, ev, extended range, frankfurt motor show, Mitsubishi24
Jul
Jon Lauckner, VP of Global Program Management over at GM, let us know yesterday that we wouldn’t officially know a price for the Chevy Volt until mid-to-late 2010. Even earlier than that, we learned that GM was inking a deal with eBay to allow consumers the ability to bid on brand new cars. But is there a connection between the two?
According to Chevrolet Brand Manager, Ed Peper, yes, as in a recent interview with GM-Volt.com he confirmed that GM is pondering if they should or shouldn’t sell the car on eBay.
If they do this, it would make the Chevy Volt’s pricing extremely competitive as it wouldn’t necessarily be predefined. Would you buy a Chevy Volt if they put it on eBay?
via AutoBlogGreen
Tags: all electric, auction, bid, chevy volt, eBay, ed peper, ev6
Jun
A lot of things have been said about the Chevy Volt. Among them include the high price but if there is one highlight that deserves notice, it would be the feature which includes its new electrical propulsion system.
Set to be released in 2011, GM is hot on the tails of quality control for the highly awaited Chevy Volt. The expected retail price is said to be around $39,000, quite pricey for this car that aims to provide renewable energy using advanced batteries. These Hybrid batteries are even more advanced in most electric cars we know today.
GM Volt was designed to move more than 75 percent of America’s daily commuters without a single drop of gas. This is an amazing revelation that a future electric automobile could meet most daily travel needs without foreign oil dependency. GM says that the United States is currently using 96 percent of dependent petroleum for cars and trucks and more than half of it is imported.
Chevy Volt will probably be the electric car which starts a new revolution, and the major players are General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and soon others will follow. The thought that someone could drive 15 miles to work, then 5 miles to the grocery store, then 5 miles to the post office, then 15 miles back to home on one single battery charge is remarkable.
(Source) News OXY
Tags: battery charge, chevy volt, commuters, electric automobile, electric car, electric cars, electrical propulsion, ford toyota, General Motors, gm volt, grocery store, new revolution, oil dependency, post office, propulsion system, quality control, remarkable source, Renewable energy, travel needs19
Apr
For a company that is in trouble, you have to admire how their branches are trying to weather the storm. General Motors has been in the news lately and has been reportedly experiencing turbulence in the financial world but don’t tell that to their Australian branch which is launching a new line of vehicles carrying the EcoLine title.
The EcoLine vehicles will highlight the companies use of alternative fuels, fuel saving technology, and hybrid and electric models. Initially, the EcoLine of vehicles will include diesels, liquified petroleum cars, and vehicles with active fuel management systems that can cut power to cylinders to save gas. In 2010, Holden will introduce an E85 vehicles into its lineup.
But the big news is that GM’s Holden group will introduce the extended range Chevy Volt electric vehicle in Australia in 2012. The Australian automotive market appears to be behind most of the world in terms of advanced engines and low emissions. The technologies introduced by the EcoLine such as E85, cylinder deactivation, advanced diesels, are all available in the U.S. and most have been for years.
Australia’s demand for fuel efficient vehicles may be behind the times, but a Chevy Volt will be a big step towards lower emissions and acceptance of hybrid and electric vehicles in the country.
(Source) All Cars Electric
Tags: alternative fuels, automotive market, chevy volt, country source, cylinder deactivation, diesels, e85 vehicles, electric models, electric vehicle, electric vehicles, emissions, fuel efficient vehicles, fuel management systems, fuel saving, General Motors, GM, holden, liquified petroleum, turbulence, volt electric