Chicago 2009: Goodyear and Bose help to boost Chevy Volt efficiency
In order for the Chevy Volt to achieve both a 40-mile electric range and the 10 year/150,000 mile battery durability target, every aspect of the car must be optimized to minimize parasitic losses. We've already seen the car's shape change allowing it to slice through the air with less resistance. Now, partners like Goodyear and Bose are stepping up to the plate to help. How much can tires do? Goodyear's new Assurance Fuel Max tires are claimed to contribute an extra mile of driving range compared to similar performing tires. Goodyear cites a new tread compound that helps reduce rolling resistance.Even in green cars, modern car owners like to be entertained on the way to wherever they are going. Bose has developed a sound system for the Volt that has more efficient amplifiers and speakers. Digital signal processing circuitry aims to provide concert hall sound while consuming half the energy.
Undoubtedly over the next 18 months,we'll be hearing plenty more about new sub-systems that are designed to reduce the load on the battery pack but this is a good beginning.
[Source: GM]
PRESS RELEASE:
General Motors, Goodyear and Bose Collaborate to Boost Chevrolet Volt's Efficiency
Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires
CHICAGO - When the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle debuts next year, advanced, fuel-efficient tires by Goodyear and a new sound system by Bose will be among the components helping the Volt to achieve up to 40 miles of electric-only range.
GM announced today that the production version of the Chevrolet Volt will include energy-saving Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max tires and the Energy Efficient Series sound system by Bose. Internal tests show the low rolling resistance Goodyear tires will allow for approximately one mile more of electric-only range under certain driving conditions on a fully charged battery when compared to other tires of a similar performance level.
The Bose® Energy Efficient sound system is 30 percent smaller, 40 percent lighter, and uses 50 percent less energy than conventional Bose sound systems. Under certain listening and driving conditions, this energy savings results in increased all-electric drive capability equivalent to removing up to 50 pounds of mass from the Volt.
"Everything we do with the Volt is about maximizing its mechanical, electrical and thermal efficiency. From the Voltec™ propulsion system down to individual components such as tires or sound systems, we have been analyzing every part of the Volt so that we can offer a vehicle that is as efficient as possible to maximize the electric range. I think we have achieved this with Bose and Goodyear," said Frank Weber, vehicle line executive, Voltec propulsion system and Chevrolet Volt.
For trips of up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered by electricity from the grid and stored in its lithium-ion battery pack. Beyond 40 miles, a small engine-generator creates additional electricity to extend the range of the Volt several hundred additional miles until the driver can plug-in to recharge the battery.
Volt on a roll
The force required to keep a tire moving at a constant speed is known as rolling resistance. The Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max all-season tires on the Chevrolet Volt use Goodyear's most advanced current rolling resistance criteria, and represent the next generation of fuel-efficient tire technology. A special energy-saving tread compound helps reduce energy loss, so less effort is required to keep the tires rolling.
In addition to low rolling resistance, Goodyear has packed performance features into the tire to enhance the Volt's fun-to-drive characteristics, Weber said.
Big sound, smaller package
The Volt also will feature the debut of Bose's Energy Efficient Series sound system, delivering the clarity, accuracy and dynamic range that high-quality audio buyers expect.
Bose engineers focused on three areas of technology in designing the Energy Efficient Series: switching amplifiers, high motor force speakers and digital signal processing circuitry. Smaller, lighter amps use less energy and generate less heat, new speakers deliver the acoustical output of heavier speakers and proprietary digital control circuitry produces concert hall volume with half the energy.
Other Volt developments
GM is making great strides toward bringing the Volt from concept to the showroom. Recent developments include:
* Last week at the Washington Auto Show, GM revealed a comprehensive plan of action to help early-adopter communities get ready for plug-in electric vehicles. The communities include cities such as San Francisco and metropolitan areas such as Washington, D.C.
* Last month at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GM announced it will manufacture the 16-kWh, T-shaped lithium-ion Volt battery packs in the United States. More than 30 prototype vehicles powered by lithium-ion battery packs are undergoing rigorous testing at GM's Proving Ground in Milford, Mich.
* GM also announced it will join with the University of Michigan to create a new automotive advanced battery lab in Ann Arbor, Mich., and a specialized curriculum within U of M's College of Engineering to develop automotive battery engineers.
* In June 2008, the GM Board of Directors approved the Chevrolet Volt program and Voltec propulsion system for production starting in late 2010. The production-intent design was revealed in September 2008.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ignatius 8:54AM (2/11/2009)
And to boost price, no doubt, knowing BOSE...
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dwarg 10:27AM (2/11/2009)
No doubt!
Am I the only one that thinks GM should really focus more on using existing technology to get a few more fuel efficient, and affordable, cars out the door ASAP?
If they want to spend the time and money to engineer the perfect green luxury car, more power to them, but the price target for the Volt keeps growing and it's already at the point where very few people are going to be able to afford one if/when it finally does come out.
As for changing the cars shape to better, "slice through the air."
1. Do you mean, after deciding they might actually build the Volt instead of showing off a concept car body and making up theoretical performance stats, they had to make a real car design?
2. It's not like it's an Aptera, they just stole the design of the Prius and made a few changes.
Sorry for the pessimism but I'm getting tired of all this news about the Volt that isn't bringing it to market any faster and certainly not any cheaper. I had been waiting to trade in my Saturn and buy a fuel efficient American car but finally had to break down and buy a Toyota last month because it just wasn't happening.
Detroit is dead to me now.
Chad 2:25PM (2/11/2009)
Available now, Chevy Cobalt XFE 5-speed manual:
25 city/ 37 highway. If you drive gently you can get 40 mpg easy.
I've seen them in dealer ads for about $10,000. They are practically giving them away.
Mike Z 10:43AM (2/11/2009)
BOSE:
Basically Overpriced Sound Equipment
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Tim 11:40AM (2/11/2009)
I think the "everyman's chevy" Volt is being replaced by the "every corrupt Statitist politician's reason to give us taxpayer's money" Volt.
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John 1:43PM (2/11/2009)
as a sound engineer bose is top of the line in quality, yes they are expensive, no most people cant tell the difference, are they overrated? maybe, but there will be a trickle effect of this system i would imagine. the audio and music industry are huge consumers of power and new tech developed for the volt can be scaled up for other applications to allow lower power use while still providing quality sound. on the other note, i dont think anybody who has been paying attention to the development of the volt could ever have said its a "everyman" car. they developed its range so it could be but the price and scaling costs wont make it such. why do people never remember that the car itself was a rich mans toy, why dont we remember this? it took ford and others and mass production to reduce costs, its going to take boosted lithium mining and battery production before the price will come down. quit complaining about the cost, tax breaks will reduce the cost to a more manageable price, yes i wish it were lower but realistically it wont be any time soon.
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ziv 12:36PM (2/11/2009)
Bose has been working with GM for 20+ years, do you expect GM to put a cheap sound system in a car that will cost us $30,000 even with the tax credit? And the low rolling resistance tires is a no brainer, tho I hope sportier tires will be an option at the same price point. My beef with Chevy is that the concept actually had a .43 cD, and the production Volt is still only a .275 cD or thereabouts. Lutz said it would be between .27 and .28, and that is not as good as it should have been. I do most of my mileage at 40 mph or less, so it won't hurt my AER too much but for people that commute at 65+ mph it will be noticeable. The Prius is .26 so it is definitely an area GM should be working to improve.
Just get the car built, as soon as possible, for a net price (after tax credit) of $30,000 or less. The first year they will sell these things as fast as they can build them. The trick will be reducing the battery pack and management system price enough so that the 2011 Volt will be cheaper, because it will be hard to sell 60,000 Volts at a net price of $30,000, though if gas prices go back above $4 a gallon, who knows...
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dwarg 5:11PM (2/11/2009)
I don't know where everyone is getting this $30,000 number from. According to Bob Lutz the break even point for the Volt is $40,000 and climbing as they waste more time tacking on fancy features and waiting for some miracle battery technology and government money to bail them out of trouble.
Sasparilla 2:24PM (2/11/2009)
Nice to see these details starting to trickle out. If I remember right the EV1 had self sealing tires so they could skip having a spare. I can't wait to hear more stuff.
>> because it will be hard to sell 60,000 Volts at a net price of $30,000, though if gas prices go back above $4 a gallon, who knows...
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Sasparilla 2:27PM (2/11/2009)
Sorry for the double post, my comment mark messed up my previous post:
)) because it will be hard to sell 60,000 Volts at a net price of $30,000, though if gas prices go back above $4 a gallon, who knows... ((
I think you can count on the price of oil getting back up there. The basic production of oil hit a plateau in 2005 (liquids increased from liquids from natural gas etc., but Oil production itself didn't get much higher) despite the best efforts of the oil producing countries who wanted to cash in on that bonanza (till the crash in oil prices last fall). The biggest fields are old and many are in decline (produce less each year). There hasn't been financing available for new oil projects (and low oil prices puts a dagger in them as well) - so when we finally come out of this downturn - the production capacity will probably be lower than it was last year even though demand will get right back up there. That $4 or higher gasoline will be waiting for us (and put upward pressure on other fuels like it did with natural gas etc. last year), thank goodness we're getting a break from it for the time being.
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