Chevrolet Volt/Cadillac ELR Thread: 2016 EPA Ratings

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Radracing
They just need the motivation to do it like corporate sponsorships, goverment tax write offs and media exposure.
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Or how about just corporate sponsorships and media exposure. Be easy there, Mr. California.
 
Keef
Or how about just corporate sponsorships and media exposure. Be easy there, Mr. California.
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When I meant Gov't tax write off, I meant it for small start ups like grass roots EV race teams. That should get a lot of laid off auto works to start building thier own EV race cars and teams. Mr Ohio. :)
 
They already sponsor Electric car challenges to some point, through universities and the like. In fact, if you want to start Electric competition, start by modifying Formula SAE from CBR600 mills to 100 HP Electric Motors.
 
Jim Prower
They already sponsor Electric car challenges to some point, through universities and the like. In fact, if you want to start Electric competition, start by modifying Formula SAE from CBR600 mills to 100 HP Electric Motors.
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Yeah, that would be a great start, but it would be nice to see it in real world street car applications too. When people see it in street cars conversions it will change a lot of minds on what the future of electric cars can bring.

Imagine a small team conversion competing with a Tesla EV or other EV on the market and show that it can compete or even beat it in a race. That would really get people to jump on the band wagon and try the same thing.
 
They'll either have to have quick-change batteries or really quick, dangerous-voltage charging, then. at full-bore, range would probably be about even with most cars, and pit stops would be required.

Short races: Drag racing, Autocrosses, etc, would be better for the electric "industry" than long endurance races.
 
The battery in the Prius only lasts about 10 years then it has to be replaced. By the time it has to be replaced the battery is worth more than the car. I am guessing the same thing will happen to the Volt and the cost of replacement will probably be more expensive than on the Prius. It doesn't seem to be a huge problem for Toyota though and the Prius has been out for more than 10 years so it may not be a problem for GM.
 
Long races are actually exactly what electrics need to prove viability. Range is the biggest worry of consumers, and how do you reassure them about range with drag races?

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Secondhand Prius battery packs command a good price amongst tinkerers and recyclers... so maybe the battery replacement problem isn't working out to be as big an issue as we've been supposing... but it's still additional cost on top of everything.

But GM will have to deal with a lot to make this viable. Honda is the only other manufacturer with really old Hybrids on the road, and they're experiencing a few issues, as well. GM will be lucky if their battery packs last as long as Toyotas, since they're on a deeper drain cycle, which will shorten the battery life even more than the mild cycles the Prius and Insight use.

Radracing
Off topic: Hey Niky, hope the typhoon in the Philippines didn't affect you too much.
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This? It's just a little rain. At least the 99% of the country that's underwater at the moment doesn't include the 1% I'm currently standing on. :lol:

Still... it's freaking crazy. One city up north got over 1000 mm in one week. That's crazy weather, right there.
 
Autoblog has an update on the Volt, which can be read here. GM just did a 1,200 mile test on some of their 65% complete models, and there are some interesting details that have emerged.

What's new?

  • A lot of the systems are nearing completion, but there is still plenty of work to do
  • Charge-Sustaining Mode has finally been set, where the engine will not work to re-charge the battery, but supply a constant level of energy (operating between 1,200 and 4,000 RPM) to supply electricity to the motor directly, while keeping the batter power at or around 35%
  • Fuel tank capacity hasn't been decided, but they are shooting for a 300 mile range when in charge-sustaining mode... The Volt will also be E85-capable
  • Test vehicles, in 65% form, are falling just short of their 40 mile battery-operated range, but fine tuning is still required
  • NVH issues, apparently, are the biggest problem right now with the transition between EV mode and Charge Sustaining mode.

Still a ways to go, apparently.
 
NVH? What does this term mean?
 
Noise, Vibration, Harshness. Generally, simple measurements of quality.
 
Ah. Transfer a little clunky, eh? well, that's just fine tuning, no biggie.
 
I've been thinking that maybe their needs to be a new way of measuring efficiency for electric vehicles, and perhaps vehicles in general as electrics become more common.
 
To Be Filed: Cadillac Makes Yet Another Decision that is Not all that Surprising

500x_Cadillac-Converj-Concept-Detroit.jpg


According to the Detroit News, they'll be doing the Converj as a production vehicle. Not a surprise at all, probably a decent idea if they can make the car significantly different than the Volt/Ampera.
 
What's it going to be? If they build a luxury coupe on the Volt platform, they'll probably sell about five. Maybe they'll make a nice, fuel efficient luxury sedan with a little more sporty edge and a little less in the way of fuel efficiency?
 
I'm wondering if they'll market like a Mercedes CLS or VW Passat CC, a "four-door-coupe" electric sedan. Probably to preempt any luxury competition from the Europeans.
 
They should call it the Cadillac Watt. Bonus points if trim levels are designated TH and TF.
 
YSSMAN
I'm wondering if they'll market like a Mercedes CLS or VW Passat CC, a "four-door-coupe" electric sedan. Probably to preempt any luxury competition from the Europeans.
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It'd be interesting to see how GM created a coupe-like four door with the current edginess of their styling.

I wonder how it would be priced though. I personally think they should have debuted Voltec on a Cadillac so a price tag of $40k or $50k could have been used without seeming overpriced. Because now the Converj will have to be overpriced for its class in order to not be close enough to the Volt that it steals every sale.

Also, discussion on TCL pretty much suggests that this thing should be FWD.
 
One also has to see how sales of the HS250 are, because it will answer the question as to whether people actually want an overpriced luxury car that isn't particularly luxurious simply for the sake of having one.
 
Last I spoke with a Lexus salesman, they had received their first HS250, and were very excited to be selling the product. What that means, I don't know. I imagine there is a small market for luxury hybrids and electric vehicles, one that will likely grow as the technology spreads across the market, but we're at least two or more years away before that will get anywhere near a reality.
 
The Volt: Driven-ish

2011-chevrolet-volt-right-side-front-three-quarter-static.jpg


Today GM held a big press event out at Dodgers stadium ahead of the LA Auto Show to give the press some time with some of the newest pre-production models of the Chevrolet Volt. According to their counts, this is about as close as it gets right now; About 99% production-ready in terms of hardware, about 65% of the way done for software and other programming nit-picks.

Autoblog

Inside Line

Motor Trend

It sounds like there is a general feeling of surprise as to how the car drives and rides, but still lofty expectations that need to be met. The engineering team has roughly a year until it hits the streets in its earliest form, but its there, its tangible, and most-importantly.... Its better than the Prius.
 
Leno previews the Volt​

Jay Leno – in his traditional jeans and jean shirt, of course – has just had the opportunity to park a pre-production Chevy Volt in his Big Dog Garage, and he's kindly shared the experience with his fans. Right off the bat, Jay likens the future-tech Volt to a 1916 Owens Magnetic that operates on the exact same principle, proving that all good ideas eventually have their day in the sun on the road.

Leno has some interesting questions for Volt Chief Engineer Andrew Farah that are likely to be on the minds of regular shoppers who may consider the Volt for their next new car at the end of 2010. He also like the car's high-tech, lightweight stick... watch the video to see what we mean.

Naturally, Jay eventually takes the Volt out for a spin, and from what we can tell, he came away impressed. Somehow, Leno ends up talking about the Mazda Miata and wristwatches and why men should buy the Volt... or something like that. Anyway, hit the jump to watch the video and see Jay's reaction to the 2011 Chevy Volt
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Source: AutoBlogGreen

You'll have to follow the link for the vid, it's not on youtube and I can't find a compatible embed code.

Interesting video though. Jay seems impressed, and I have to admit although I'm an advocate of electric-only cars, the Volt seems a lot better than the Prius/Insight method of hybrids, at least for the average Joe rather than the performance car enthusiast.
 
Jay's whole review generally encapsulated everything that the Volt is all about. It looks and drives like a normal car, you don't notice that it is running on electrical power, and its quiet. Like he points out at the end, its less about the hardware and more about getting people to believe in the idea of a car like that.

If I had the cash, I'd honestly consider buying one.
 
It's just a pity that when it gets to the UK it'll be badged as a Vauxhall, which is like a magnet for all the country's worst drivers.

If GM hadn't screwed around so much they could have done a few tweaks and badged it a Saab. It would have suited the brand very well, I reckon.
 
YSSMAN
Jay's whole review generally encapsulated everything that the Volt is all about. It looks and drives like a normal car, you don't notice that it is running on electrical power, and its quiet. Like he points out at the end, its less about the hardware and more about getting people to believe in the idea of a car like that.

If I had the cash, I'd honestly consider buying one.
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If I had enough cash that buying a toy costing $40k would be as easy as buying a 40" TV... maybe. If not, I don't think so.
 
The first production battery has been built to be put in near production models.

votlbattpackfirst000_opt.jpg
 
Someone stick their tongue to the outlet. I dare them. >:3
 
This may or may not belong in this thread specifically, but it appears that GM is keeping what Volt stuff it can away from the UAW.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/gm-and-delphi-ditching-uaw-for-new-green-production-jobs/

As GM tools up for production of its Volt extended-range electric car, Automotive News has noticed something interesting: workers at GM’s new battery pack assembly plant are not represented by the United Auto Workers. Located in the heart of UAW territory (Brownstown Township, MI), the Volt battery plant represents the very jobs that local politicians and GM leadership hailed as the green future of the auto industry. When the plant opened, GM Chairman/CEO Ed Whitacre waxed eloquent about the opportunities:

The development of electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt is creating entire new sectors in the auto industry – an “ecosystem” of battery developers and recyclers, builders of home and commercial charging stations, electric motor suppliers and much more. These companies and universities are creating new jobs in Michigan and across the U.S. – green jobs – and they’re doing it by developing new technology, establishing new manufacturing capability, and strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness.
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As long as they do so without UAW representation, apparently. Needless to say, if GM can get away with using non-union workers at a crucial plant that’s supposed to represent the firm’s future, things aren’t looking so good for our friends in organized labor.

And though GM only has 25 workers currently working the Brownstown plant, that number will increase, and the symbolism is far more important than pure numbers. The plant is part of a new wholly-owned subsidiary called GM Subsystems Manufacturing LLC, and GM spokesfolks confirm that non-union labor was an important factor in maintaining competitive manufacturing costs.

Though electric motor production at Maryland’s White Marsh plant will be a union shop, GM’s biggest supplier Delphi is also taking measures to keep its EV component factory in Kokomo, IN, free from union representation (in line with its new union-free mantra). Kokomo Local 292’s president calls the decision a “smack in the face” for the union, which is facing a decades-long slide in membership. The former DuPont plant will supply electric drives to Allison Transmission for use in medium-duty trucks and buses, and will eventually see its non-union workforce grow to 190.

Meanwhile, five Delphi plants that were transferred to GM during the supplier’s bankruptcy are being pressured to break their master agreements so they can compete amongst each other for work. In fairness though, UAW leadership doesn’t seem to be doing much to improve the situation for workers.
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Good for them. But I still think all these green jobs initiatives are gonna put us in a mess like Spain.
 

Well, this looks like it will (probably) be the next vehicle to "for sure" get the Voltec technology under the hood now that the Converj is apparently dead. Its a bit bigger than the current HHR, or give or take, about the size of the Orlando which will replace it. Bigger, heavier, with more space and so on... They say the MPV5 can do only 32 miles on the electric charge, versus 40 for the Volt.


I'd call it a fair trade for the death of the Two-Mode VUE, at the very least.
 
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