ok, 5 months from release and still working on it? i guess that is for Europe which has a later intro date maybe?
Yes it's wrong, apparently: Chevrolet Volt will not have direct engine drive, electric only — Autoblog Green Europe will get the Opel Ampera later than we get the Volt.
So all those people who say the Volt actually exists; and apparently GM has not even decided yet what the drive train configuration will be!!! There are a bunch of test cars running around, and those cars say "Volt" on them, but the final design of the Volt that will actually be built (assuming they actually build any) does not yet exist. And as Dave says, they claim the car will be in dealerships in 5 months. I'll bet Evan has his Tesla Model S before a GM dealer in Spokane has a Volt they'd sell me, assuming I'd actually want one.
its the European Volt that is being modified. so, we can say the American version has been finalized?? but then again, we still have no price, so i have to think that the European version is not the only one not finished yet, but then again, its hard to say. with all these car companies, no one is really saying. Even with the Leaf, we know how much it costs, i have seen it in person, have seen a ton of interior shots, screenshots of the various display modes and all that kind of stuff, but all come with the disclaimer that the actual product "may vary"
The one they let us test drive looked complete. They have been driving around test mules for awhile, that are different, but same batteries/motor/engine. The things GM appears to be working on for the American model are software and some electronics mainly having to do with charging, using the engine for heat, etc. It accelerated well, but we were on a very small test area of city streets. The thing has been designed and tested to go up to 90, but who knows how long that takes to accelerate or how many miles it will go with that acceleration. GM had been saying around $40K, net $32,500 after the tax credit. I'm sure the Leaf announced price has GM trying to figure out if they need to drop the price, or whether the preorders mean they can sell at a higher price anyway.
Hmmm. I wonder if it's going to run the gas engine any time you turn on the heater? The Prius does that, and it contributes to reduced FE in very cold weather.
There is zero possibility of any drive train modification for Volt or Ampera at this point (beyond s/w changes).
Yes, the car is nearly finalized. It's 99% final, with the last 1% being software-related only. There will be no changes to the drivetrain. The car will be on sale in November in the previously announced launch cities. Just like the Leaf is only launching in a specific geographic region shortly thereafter.
I suppose this article is bogus too? Exclusive: Chevy Volt Is More Hybrid Than Previously Thought | Hybrid Cars "Efficiency is the Volt’s mantra,†Peterson said. “We will take whatever method we have to get there.†Asked if Volt engineers would use the gas engine to power the wheels—a signature of a parallel hybrid system—if it meant greater efficiency, Peterson replied, “You could do it. Absolutely. It’s a matter of software.†He added, “You have some motors, a planetary gear box, there’s a variety of things we can do in there.â€
It won't be on all the time, but they couldn't answer my about when it will be on. I too am curious about the noise and reduced range in very cold weather. They have been releaseing press releases about hot weather testing, but haven't pegged down exactly how much range will be lost. The Leaf also will lose range in extreme heat and cold, but if your in that group of 3/4s of Americans that drive less than 40 miles the decreased leaf range won't effect you.
The charge sustaining mode has always been a mystery. I have no idea what they're doing with it. But, for the first forty (or so) miles, it acts completely like a BEV. The gas engine does not assist in anyway until the battery gets to a certain level of charge. I can't wait to find out more! I like the idea of a full BEV, but it just would not be practical for me (and probably most people). An extended range electric vehicle/plug-in hybrid seems to be the best solution. During the week, I'll never use gasoline for my commute. And on the weekends, I can take the same car and drive to my parent's house 300 miles away (which would take about three days in a Leaf). So, call the Volt what you will. I'll call it a revolution.
The idea that the volt would slip shipment because the drive train is undecided is bogus. The idea that the volt may have all the hardware in it to become a ev/series hybrid/parrellel hybrid is unlikely. What is not bogus is that gm has designed the car so that they can quickly roll out a model that is series/parallel hybrid much like toyota made the Gen III prius mostly designed so that they could make the phv prius. From a marketing point of view, GM is stepping on message and causing some confusion. I would say its just another sign of miss mismanagement and not a sign the car is not nearly done.
Unless they price it so high that virtually nobody buys one, in order to give themselves an excuse to cancel it so they can go back to using the bailout money to build SUVs until they go broke again. For $40 K you could buy a Leaf for weekday commuting and a used Civic for weekend road trips. The Civic will probably get better mileage than the Volt in CS mode. And the Honda will be more reliable than the Chevy.
Just like the Leaf??? The Leaf has not been delayed. Not yet. So they missed sending out an email. BFD! What good would it do to get the Volt out a month before the Leaf if the Volt costs nearly twice as much and it gets lousy gas mileage in CS mode? The Leaf is designed to sell and to succeed. The Volt is designed --intentionally-- to fail so GM will have an excuse to trash it.
Yea Daniel ... just because GM has pushed flex fuel (one of the worst hoaxes, second only to hydrogen), and just because GM ran itself aground ... and refused to change out their dinosaur management, and turned their abandoned manufacturing sites into toxic wastelands, and lied, and conspired for over HALF a CENTURY ... that doesn't necessarily mean they are still the same ... right? (crickets) .
its hard to believe that final software adjustments are preventing GM from announcing a price. software is NEVER done. its a continuous process. i have to feel that they are still working on finalizing suppliers or something. for years (YES !! it has been that long!) i felt the real delay for the Volt was due to battery supply issues. now that they will have their own battery plant, i feel that is when we will see the Volt come out.
+/- a couple tens of thousands, GM devotees do not want (PH)EV, and (PH)EV devotees do not want GM. If GM ever makes more than a couple thousand of these cars, they are going to run into this brick wall.
I am 62 years old. GM has consistently screwed us over. See Hill's post above (quoted below). If you are very young, or you have a very short memory, you may be looking as this as a clean slate. It's not a clean slate. It's a company with a consistent history of dishonesty and a consistent disregard for the public and national interests.
