LiveBlogging from Warren, Michigan: Chevy Volt Test Drive and New Battery Lab Tour
Note: see more updates on the author’s Twitter feed.
Just a few days before GM declared bankruptcy, I was surprised to receive an email from the company asking if I’d be interested in test-driving the Chevy Volt.
The offer to test-drive the product of a $1 billion development program (as well as one of the most anticipated cars of my lifetime) isn’t something that comes along every day, and I’m excited to say that tomorrow I’ll be test-driving the Volt as well as liveblogging from GM’s Tech center in Warren, Michigan.
- » See also: Is the Renault-Nissan Alliance Going in Two Different Electric Car Directions?
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Only a handful of folks have driven the Volt prototype so far, and like them, I will not be driving the full-production prototype. The Volt powertrain is still being housed under the skin of a Chevrolet Cruze (pictured above), although the car is using 80% of the parts of the final version.
There will also be a press conference for the grand opening of GM’s Global Battery Systems Lab, followed by a tour of the facility.
If you’d like to follow along with the event, I’ll be liveblogging on this page (click the liveblogging button at the top of the page, above the title, to see real-time updates) as well as posting updates to my twitter feed (@claybodie). The press conference begins at 10 AM ET / 7 AM PST and I’ll be test driving the car around 4 pm ET / 1 pm ET.
If you’ve got questions about the Volt, feel free to post them in the comments section here, and I’ll be sure to ask GM anything I can’t answer directly.
>> LIVE FEED:
Well, it’s 5 am back home. Time to head down to GM’s tech center.
@claybodie: Made it to the GM tech. center and waiting for the press conference to start. Getting photos of the Volt drivertrain which is on display.
@claybodie: Folks are shuffling into the conference room now. Packed house!
GM CEO Fritz Henderson speaking now. GM announces new battery facility here in Warren, MI.
Wants to produce 14,000 Chevy Volts by 2012.
New manufacturing facility for battery modules, bringing online later in the summer. LG Chem will supply the cells. Looking to further develop lithium-ion batteries.
GM’s comprehensive battery strategy = in-house responsibility for battery technology and bolstering supplier options.
@claybodie: “GM believes electric vehicles are best long-term solution for sustainable transportation.” -Global VP of Engineering Jim Queen
GM is committed to being a leader in EVs.
Battery lab: 6 MW capacity for new lab with 160 test stands, 42 thermal chambers for real-world temp. testing.
@PhilColley: Queen: “Over half of the lab is dedicated to testing the electrochemical battery cells. This is providing us a significant increase in our cell testing capability.”
@claybodie: Governor Granholm: diversification of industry needed, i.e. manufacturing batteries.
@claybodie: This is the largest battery testing facility in the nation.
Check me out at GM’s FastLane Blog: http://fastlane.gmblogs.com/
@PhilColley: Michigan Congressman Sander Levin: “GM is not just being reorganized, it’s being reborn…the new GM is not just going to emerge, it’s going to burst out of its shell.”
There are an incredible number of Senators here today.
Anne Marie Sastry of University of Michigan: 80% of auto R&D is fifty miles from Warren, MI. This is a tremendous opportunity to be a solutions provider.
@claybodie: Press conference is over, breaking for battery lab tours now!!
Just finished my Volt test-drive and on the way back to the airport. Will have more later, including pictures, voice, and video. Have to say, the Volt mule is fun to drive. For better or for worse, you might not even know you’re in an electric car, as some have called it ‘unremarkable.’ But that’s what the team at GM is going for: making driving an electric car a normal, every-day experience.
Got home last night after midnight. I will be posting much more on this in the next day or two, but here’s a sample. Audio from the press conference is included below:
Audio:
Battery Facility Press Conference Introduction:
Volt hwo ? 30 bilions $ for what ! TESLA S with 300 miles range RULES !
@Constantin I’m a big fan of Tesla too, but I personally can’t afford a $60-$100,000 car. $32 is something I could save for.
The Volt also has a range of over 300 miles since it has an onboard generator. That means it really doesn’t present the “range anxiety” issue you have with straight electric cars, since you can still refuel at a gas station if necessary.
The Chevy Volt is a dead duck. With a cost twice as much as the Chinese BYD, whih also gets 50% greater electric driiving range, GM is about (a year late) to produce a non-competitive vehuicles, that has
has already been stripped of its concept car good looks, all to squeeze out 2 more miles or driving range. When that happened, roughly half of those who expressed strong interest, walked away. GM has devoted money and time trying to ensure that the car will act just like a gas powered vehicle, at a time when electric cars or any type are selling. GM has managed to be there first, yet completely screw up their product. Thanks, departed Rick Wagoner. Now Fritz least-likely-to-succeed Henderson is claiming 14,000 Volts by 2012. That ain’t squat.
Tesla is a niche car that rich people will drive.
The Volt is more affordable and it looks like a regular car.
I’ll let others try out Chinese quality with the BYD.
For all GM’s faults, I’ve had nothing but good luck with all my GM cars. I still think that the 3800 Series II V6 that was put in the Impala LS (and Buick LeSabre, Pontiac Grand Prix) from 2000-2005 is size-for-size one of the most fuel efficient engines ever built.
Kent, gotta say one thing is for sure, GM will certainly sell more volts than tesla sells or BYD will sell. Have you checked out the BYD car….? You should look closer. And, do either of those manufacturers have a 2nd or even 3rd generation in development like GM does that will bring the cost down to where everyone can afford it? Are any of those manufacturers cutting the battery size in half like the 2nd generation volt will reducing weight significantly while maintaining specs? Did either of those manufacturers open a serious research facility like GM did today…? Dead duck? Maybe, but it will be the last one standing….
What is the latest on battery life and disposal? Is there a sustainable path so we are not faced with a massive toxic waste issue?
@Neal: GM is designing the battery to maintain a range of 40 miles for 10 years, and I’m pretty sure they said they will warranty that amount of time.
When batteries come out after their usable in-car lifetime, they’ll most likely be used as backup storage for utilities, so they’ll be re-used for a long time before being recycled.
I hope GM sells tons of these when they finally come out. Then they can hopefully pay our government back and we will finally have a good American car around. I am all about GM succeeding with this rather than a massive gas guzzling SUV.
[...] covering my trip to Michigan to test-drive the Chevy Volt. See also: LiveBlogging notes from the opening of GM’s New Battery Lab. Disclaimer: GM flew me out for this [...]
Wow! The Chevy Volt is a great looking electric car. We have been depending of fossil fuel for far too long. It is time for a change. No doubt there are a few drawbacks on pure electric car right now, but we shouldn’t ignore it.
Can’t wait to see all the electric cars on the road.
Thanks for the post.
‘Will