Chevy Volt production possibilities: 100,000? 60,000? Same as it ever was
When General Motors unveiled the Chevy Volt back in January, here's what our own Sam Abuelsamid reported as far as possible production numbers:
GM's goal was to create an electric car that would not force users to plan their travel around the next charging session, while still providing all the capabilities of a standard four door, standard compact car and produce it in quantities of 100,000+ per year.
In August, we were talking about 60,000 Volts per year, something the president of Advanced Automotive Batteries said was "totally ridiculous at this point. To reach that level by 2010, they'd need to be placing the orders right now."
Well, now that GM has gotten its hands on some of the Volt's prototype lithium-ion batteries, the talk of how many Volts might be available each year is back in the news. Alas, there's nothing new to reoprt. WIRED's Chuck Squatriglia sees GM's Bob Lutz talking about a range between the numbers we've heard already. Lutz didn't give concrete numbers, but did say, "it's a very safe bet it will be produced in the tens of thousands. This is not sanctioned, not an official GM number, but in the first full year of production I would like to see between 60,000 and 100,000 and then go up from there."
Guess we'll have to keep waiting. 2010 is a long ways away.
[Source: WIRED, Chuck Squatriglia]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
BlackbirdHighway 1:55PM (11/01/2007)
2010 is only 26 months away, and they are just starting to bench test the first prototype batteries. They have a very long way to go, and mass production requires lots of very long lead tooling and parts supply chain planning. We won't be seeing production Volts until at least 2011.
Looking forward to lots of early prototypes that should be out testing as early as late 2008. Normally, GM would not publicize these, but maybe they'll decide to follow the Tesla approach, and be more open about it. They have more to gain than they do to lose.
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AES 2:26PM (11/01/2007)
"They have a very long way to go, and mass production requires lots of very long lead tooling and parts supply chain planning."
They are buying the batteries from third parties with well-established manufacturing facilities.
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Throwback 2:40PM (11/01/2007)
2010 does not necessarily mean Jan 2010. My guess is LA Auto Show 2010, which would be 36 months. Doable if all goes well, and does it really matter if the first one is delivered in March 2011?
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Peter 2:42PM (11/01/2007)
True, but you can't drive batteries down the street. They are going to need body panels, chassis structures, suspension parts, interior fittings, and all the rest. And then they'll need to put it all together and make sure everything works.
The typical automotive product development cycle is 5+ years, so announcing a 2010 model in 2007 is very aggressive.
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a54 3:08PM (11/01/2007)
Didn't we just read that GM is/ will bb already testing Volt components in other vehicles and mules by the end of this year?
You can test the components without having to have a full prototype rolling down the road. Heck you are probably seeing the major portion of the components running around in the fuel cell equinoxes.
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Throwback 3:11PM (11/01/2007)
The thing to remember is that the basic platform is already developed. The E-Flex is built on GM's global Delta platform (Cobalt, Astra etc,. Astra mules have been spotted out testing in Europe, (worldcarnews.com i think). What is obviously different is the powertrain, and really it all comes down to the batteries.
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Ernie 3:45PM (11/01/2007)
You know, there's a difference between "projected" and "actual". Kind of like when they were building my townhouse - They told us it would be done the year before they actually finished it. Kind of like how either the budget or the deadline (or both!) on any project anywhere - regardless of industry or type of project - are bound to be exceeded.
It's not even necessarily that he's lying. Overoptimistic perhaps, or underestimating, but at least he's not saying "5 to 10 years from now", which basically means "never". And there's real-world testing being done and they have every intention to make this happen. I wish them the best of luck. Perhaps that way they'll get the Volt to market sooner rather than later. ;)
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battery dude 10:04AM (11/03/2007)
Ok, with all due respect these guys are smoking some serious crack. Either the battery industry has changed drastically since I went into niche applications or GM is over hyping.
You could probably build the cells but from cell to pack there are many steps, including lots of testing. I would like to see someone claiming 100k pack/year capability.
Now with a couple of new plants down it might be possible but someone has to actually invest the money.
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John 4:55PM (11/03/2007)
You can rest assured that GM will have it as ASAP. This is GM's hottest project in history.
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Lewis 10:07PM (11/04/2007)
2010? 2011? Not a chance. If GM really intended to produce this thing in significant enough quantities to have an impact on the average MPG of their cars then they wouldn't be spending so much money lobbying to block CAFE MPG increases.
First they'll delay it and claim the batteries just aren't there yet. Then they'll delay it again. Maybe they'll build a few of them eventually but at most it'll be a token number. Then they'll quietly kill it and claim that the public just isn't interested.
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