Chevy Volt goes production?
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,043
From: Shelbyville, IN
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,958
From: Kansas City, MO
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 119
From: FFX, VA
.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 750
From: Alton IL
Yeah. But the good news is that prices on batteries have been going down. And battery life has been improving greatly every year. The Telsa should see(and is warrentied) 100,000 miles before its range is affected.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,705
From: Oakland, California
One factor in the Volt's favor: Lutz supports it. He introduced the Volt at the Detroit show and has said the Volt could be ready in 2010 if suppliers produce a reliable lithium ion battery.
Registered User
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,713
From: The Golden State
So we're looking at it being built on the a Cobalt line, along side it's replacement:
... and would be powered by different engines worldwide:
Unlike Toyota, I think GM will actually make some money on the thing. 
The development team has selected the next-generation Delta platform for the vehicle...
The assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which currently builds the Chevrolet Cobalt, is said to be the leading contender.
GM has said its next-generation Delta architecture would be the platform for the next Cobalt or Astra small car.
The assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which currently builds the Chevrolet Cobalt, is said to be the leading contender.
GM has said its next-generation Delta architecture would be the platform for the next Cobalt or Astra small car.
European versions could have a diesel engine, Burns says. And the South American Volt could have an internal combustion engine fueled by pure ethanol.
"We want to sell this around the world," Burns says. "We don't want this to be tailored uniquely to the United States or uniquely to Europe. We want to give all our markets a chance."
"We want to sell this around the world," Burns says. "We don't want this to be tailored uniquely to the United States or uniquely to Europe. We want to give all our markets a chance."
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 121
Diesel engine only in Europe?
I know that this thing is gonna be expensive already - and diesel engines cost more than their gasoline counterparts.. but why not at least have the option to buy a diesel/electric in the US? It would give GM unbelievable bragging rights. What do you think the effective mpg would be on that thing? GM's missing a marketing opportunity. IMO, if GM is serious about changing people's perceptions about them, then it can't miss too many opportunities like this.
Last edited by cmutt; May 9, 2007 at 04:14 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 750
From: Alton IL
Stolen from the Obama thread:
Bob Lutz was on Autoline Detroit last week and explained that the current European diesels won't come close to meeting the new California/NE emissions standards. He said that you basically need a chemical factory built into a diesel car and that it (the chemical factory) would cost as much as the car (effectively saying, "Yeah, we have the technology to do it, but is anybody gonna pay $40,000 for a $20,000 car?") Even at $4 a gallon, the monthly fuel cost difference between a 40 mpg car and a 27 mpg car is only $50. I think most American's prefer to not be forced to stuff themselves into a tin can to save $50 a month. Like it or not, that's capitalism. And the manufacturers know that, while gas prices look bleak now, they are not going to risk it all when they know we could be back to $1.50 gallon within a couple of years (don't laugh, while not likely, it could happen). I remember back in 1979, it was virtually a lock that we were going to be out of gas within a decade and there would be no such thing as a V8 after 1981. It is all basic economics. California Congress-people notwithstanding, the only way to get a free population to buy more fuel-efficient vehicles on their own is for it to make economic sense.
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 915
From: Tucson, AZ
How about a plugin-only vehicle like the Tesla - but mass production? I would rather have a 200 mile capable electric that i plugin once per week than a hybrid electric that barely gets me through one day of driving.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,705
From: Oakland, California
California is often called the "greenie" capital. Quite frankly a 200 mile range is the downfall of cars like the Tesla (and its sticker price.) I would consider a plug-in full electric if I could cruise from San Francisco to LA, non-stop, at 70-80mph. Until a full time plug-in vehicle has a 500-600 mile range on one charge, provides A/C (most don't) and can be purchased for under $30K... until that happens, full electrics will fail except for a handful of enthusiast/eco-consumers.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 750
From: Alton IL
California is often called the "greenie" capital. Quite frankly a 200 mile range is the downfall of cars like the Tesla (and its sticker price.) I would consider a plug-in full electric if I could cruise from San Francisco to LA, non-stop, at 70-80mph. Until a full time plug-in vehicle has a 500-600 mile range on one charge, provides A/C (most don't) and can be purchased for under $30K... until that happens, full electrics will fail except for a handful of enthusiast/eco-consumers.
Range is always going to be an issue with eletric cars. In reality I would be able to get by on a 200 mileage range 50 weeks out of the year. But yeah, I dont like the idea of being stuck somewhere.
Last edited by Evilfrog; May 9, 2007 at 10:13 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 121
new emissions laws
I can understand Lutz's points regarding California and the northeast, but what about the other 45+ states in the US? What about Canada? GM is still missing an opportunity here by not having it be an option. If they can't offer the diesel option in a half dozen states, then so be it.
Last edited by cmutt; May 10, 2007 at 07:14 AM.
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,600
From: Pewee Valley, KY
An insider who works w/ Opel and the Willmington plant is saying that Willmington will likely build this. He is saying the low volume and specialized output make the Willmington plant the place to bulid it. Just throwing that out there.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 9,705
From: Oakland, California
Last edited by jg95z28; May 10, 2007 at 12:17 PM.
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,496
From: Roseville, MI, USA
As I reported for ChevyVoltForum.com a full 100,000 units will probably be more like 2015-2018. At least thats when we can expect it to be profitable.
Last edited by Josh452; May 10, 2007 at 03:11 PM.