First prototype Chevy Volt battery packs arrive
GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz spoke to the Detroit Free Press on a wide range of product topics today and revealed some very important news. The first prototype battery packs for the Chevy Volt have arrived at GM's test labs this week. Compact Power was first to the line with a pack for testing although the current units don't have a cooling system incorporated. For the bench testing that will be done on these first units, GM will rig up a cooling system. A123 Systems should be delivering their first pack sometime in December. After these units have been bench tested additional units will be installed into the first mule vehicles early in the new year.
[Source: Detroit Free Press]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dave 2:59PM (10/31/2007)
Any chance these various battery packs will perform better than 40 mile all electric range?
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Karkus 5:39PM (10/31/2007)
Sure, I'd say there's a chance the packs as designed could go over 40 miles.
But... can GM deliver a complete VOLT for under 30 grand (as origninally promised) by 2010? I'd say that's a snowball's chance in hell, although I hope they prove me wrong.
Unfortunately, they're already talking about leasing the batteries (so much for your fuel savings), and the production date seems to have slipped from 2010 to 2011 already. And GM has also said they expect to lose money on this car (of course that wouldn't be the first car to lose money, at least initially until they crank up production).
So if the batteries as originally designed happen to go over 40 miles, I bet they will reduce the number of cells (to minimize battery costs) back to the point where they can still claim 40 miles.
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Tush 11:27AM (11/01/2007)
Didn't the EV1 have a real-world range of 50+ miles? If they could do it almost ten years ago, what's the problem now?
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Throwback 1:18PM (11/01/2007)
The EV-1 was much smaller and lighter than the Volt will be. Probably was more aerodynamic as well. The Volt will also have to pass much tougher safety requirements, and has much higher expectations. My guess is the 40 miles is a very conservative estimate. Moderate climates may well see 50+ miles before the engine kicks in.
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Chris M 3:40PM (11/01/2007)
The EV1 was much more aerodynamic, and had a much larger (and heavier) battery pack as well, but didn't tote the weight of an engine, fuel tank, and generator. The result is the EV1 batteries stored more electrical energy, and had better "electric fuel milage" than is planned for the Volt.
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Assunta Maria 12:56AM (11/15/2007)
I would like to know how I can get on a list to order this vehicle as soon as it is available. Please advise, thx!
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