GM Awards 2 Contracts For Volt Battery Development
GM Awards 2 Contracts For Volt Battery Development
General Motors Corp. has awarded two contracts to companies that will help speed up development of its plug-in electric car called the Chevrolet Volt, GM Chairman Rick Wagoner said Tuesday.
"Given the huge potential that the Volt and its E-flex system offers to lower oil consumption, lower oil imports and reduce carbon gas emissions, this is for sure a top priority program for GM," said Wagoner, who added that the company is trying to produce the Volt as soon as it can. No production timetable has been announced.
http://www.chevyvoltforum.com/index.php?showtopic=75
This car is starting to have me more excited than the next generation Solstice. Once the Solstice is paid off the Volt may very well be my next new car purchase. Unless I can get a Pontiac with a hybrid power train that delivers nearly the same efficiency.
The thing is this car needs to be pushed like the Camaro is right now. Its still 2+ years away but keeping it freshi n the minds of people. It will blow the Prius POS away in every aspect.
GM you need to get this car out last year. No lag in time. It has to be a 2 year car.
But is it possible??
GM you need to get this car out last year. No lag in time. It has to be a 2 year car.
But is it possible??
Bummer. I was hoping GM would be talking to Tesla Engery Group.
http://new.marketwire.com/2.0/rel.jsp?id=733892
http://new.marketwire.com/2.0/rel.jsp?id=733892
Telsa's solution is one that's, uh, interesting for a low-volume application. When it's time to actually produce a high-volume mass-production vehicle, simply tying together a bunch of small cells ain't gonna cut it.
Looks like some earlier posters in this thread need to understand the difference between "development contract" and "production contract". Furthermore, a realistic understanding of lead times would be of benefit. I'd love to see this thing in production ASAP, but even well-known powertrain technologies take a long time to bring from concept to production.
Looks like some earlier posters in this thread need to understand the difference between "development contract" and "production contract". Furthermore, a realistic understanding of lead times would be of benefit. I'd love to see this thing in production ASAP, but even well-known powertrain technologies take a long time to bring from concept to production.
They've got a big hill in front of them. They'll need to start with "Free Tibet."
Isn't that essentially what Toyota and Honda's packs are? C or D-size NiMH strung together? Obviously, Volt requires a significant scale-up of this, but the concept's been done.

When it's time to actually produce a high-volume mass-production vehicle, simply tying together a bunch of small cells ain't gonna cut it.
The Volt is making a bunch of noise now and will continue to do so. I have some news on the LG company that GM gave the Volt contract to (as well as the other).
Plus.....Cobasys is not out of the running for battery tech for General Motors. However, GM has made a HUGE step forward in producing the Chevrolet Volt and everything I've seen, been told and have read is that the Volt will be made and we shouldn't expect it before 2010.
Plus.....Cobasys is not out of the running for battery tech for General Motors. However, GM has made a HUGE step forward in producing the Chevrolet Volt and everything I've seen, been told and have read is that the Volt will be made and we shouldn't expect it before 2010.
Anyone seen the documentary "Who killed the electric car?" from '05? The EV-1 that GM leased in Cal. from '96 to about '01 seemed to show that they already could make a practical battery powered car. But then it seemed that GM went out of their way to kill it. They bought controlling interest in the co. that made the batteries they used, then sold it to Exxon! Talk about throwing them to the sharks! They also sued Cal. to get them to repeal the law that forced GM to make the car in the 1st place! They also refused to sell the cars to the people who wanted to keep them when their lease was up. In fact it looked like GM couldn't haul them off to the crusher fast enough! In short, if a vehicle like the Volt makes it to production at all in say, the next 10 years, it will surprise the hell out of me! I think the concept was just a publicity gimmick so GM could show everyone that they could be just as green as Honda & Toyota. But without any real intention of producing it.
Last edited by Maximum Bob; Jun 7, 2007 at 12:11 AM.
Anyone seen the documentary "Who killed the electric car?" from '05? The EV-1 that GM leased in Cal. from '96 to about '01 seemed to show that they already could make a practical battery powered car. But then it seemed that GM went out of their way to kill it. They bought controlling interest in the co. that made the batteries they used, then sold it to Exxon! Talk about throwing them to the sharks! They also sued Cal. to get them to repeal the law that forced GM to make the car in the 1st place! They also refused to sell the cars to the people who wanted to keep them when their lease was up. In fact it looked like GM couldn't haul them off to the crusher fast enough! In short, if a vehicle like the Volt makes it to production at all in say, the next 10 years, it will surprise the hell out of me! I think the concept was just a publicity gimmick so GM could show everyone that they could be just as green as Honda & Toyota. But without any real intention of producing it.


