GM picks Chevy Volt battery maker

1396 Views 16 Replies 10 Participants Last post by fp115, Aug 30, 2008

paddyk

Discussion Starter · Aug 29, 2008 (Edited by Moderator)

GM picks Chevy Volt battery maker
By KATIE MERX • FREE PRESS BUSINESS WRITER • August 28, 2008

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/BUSINESS01/80828091/1014

JOLIET, Ill. — General Motors Corp. has decided on a battery maker for the Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric vehicle, but it’s not saying who it is, yet, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said today on the sidelines of a media event touting the automaker’s 2009 vehicle line.

Lutz said GM plans to announce the battery supplier by the end of the year and will show the production version of the much-anticipated electric-drive vehicle “fairly soon.”

GM is hoping to regain a solid reputation for technological leadership in the auto industry with the Volt, which is expected to drive 40 miles on an electric charge alone and about 400 using an onboard gasoline generator to recharge its lithium-ion battery.

See less See more

Save

1 - 2 of 17 Posts

zete

· #10 · Aug 29, 2008

paddyk said:
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080828/BUSINESS01/80828091/1014

General Motors Corp. has decided on a battery maker for the Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric vehicle, but it’s not saying who it is, yet, Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said....

“The actual production of production vehicles may be earlier,” Lutz said.

Lutz said they've have significant number of Volts in test fleets next year. McCain mentioned the Volt coming out next year, which may have been an accidental slip.

My guess is that GM is lying about 2010 and this is a lot closer, and hence all the teaser shots we're seeing. If GM brings this out sometime next year they'll simply have the media swoon. It'll be funny to have to watch Toyota try to spin things. Perhaps they'll pull an Edison and electrocute something cute inside a Volt?

(for those unfamiliar with what I'm talking about, read about Tesla vs. Edison, the War of the Currents, which happened just over 100 years ago between Tesla's AC and Edison's DC and the lengths Edison went to discredit Tesla's superior system: Wikipedia Entry on The War of the Currents.)

I've literally never been so excited by a car -- or any product -- as I've been by the Volt. And I think that's a feeling that's generally true. My dad, as I've mentioned before, hasn't been excited by much ever and he tracks Volt news all the time. He said he'll be ordering one as soon as he can. He's that interested in it.

See less See more

Save

zete

· #15 · Aug 29, 2008

plane said:
When did we see our first Camaro shots? Still waiting?
I hope you're correct, but I seriously doubt that GM will bring out the Volt in any significant 6 figure quantities before 2011.

The Volt is Delta II, which means GM could bring out large quantities next year -- as they'll do with other Delta IIs in Europe.

However, and this is a big however, the Volt requires new Li-Ion batteries. Therein lies the problem. If the supplier can pump out 100,000 or more a year GM can easily build 100,000+ a year. But I see a ramp up starting next year as GM builds out a huge test fleet and, like you, I don't see 100,000+ Volts coming off the line prior to 2011.

Save

1 - 2 of 17 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.

Top Contributors this Month