E-Flex Update
By Bob Lutz
GM Vice Chairman
Some breaking E-Flex/Volt news for you… This morning, GM and A123Systems of Watertown, Mass., announced that we have agreed to co-develop A123’s cells with that company’s nanophosphate battery chemistry for a long-lasting, safe and powerful battery for use in our E-Flex system. In fact, the contract calls for GM and A123 to develop battery cells to meet the specific requirements of E-Flex.
This is a great strategic agreement for us because it speeds up the development of the propulsion system, and it’s going to help us get E-Flex – and vehicles like the Volt that use it – on the road sooner.
Breakthrough advanced battery technology is what will ultimately drive future automotive propulsion, and the company aligned with the best strategic partners will have a distinct advantage. That’s what is so important about this deal. A123 joins our roster of highly capable and competent partners, including Continental Automotive and Compact Power Inc., a subsidiary of LG Chem.
We’re not just sitting around waiting for the right battery, though. We are developing this battery technology, together with our partners, while doing the engineering and development work on Volt and other vehicles that will use E-Flex. We’re treating them just like any other vehicle development program.
Whether we’re talking about the future of the Volt, a plug-in hybrid Saturn Vue or a fuel cell-powered vehicle, we need to perfect the fundamental battery cell performance. This agreement will help us do that.
A123Systems is considered a leader in the development of nanophosphate based cell technology, which, compared to other lithium-ion battery chemistries, provides higher power output, longer life and safer operations over the life of the battery.
As we’ve said time and time again, we want to be part of the solution to society’s energy issues… as a matter of energy efficiency, as a matter of national security, and as a matter of environmental responsibility. We’re committed.
This agreement is another step toward meeting that commitment.
- Posted in Bob Lutz
Noel Park
Good. Anything which speeds up the introduction of the Volt technology is critically important.
As Lucky Jack Aubery was so fond of saying, “There is not a moment to be lost!”
Noel Park
Did you happen to see Dan Neil’s report on the Dodge Sebring convertible in yesterday’s L.A. Times?
It is the toughest car test report I have ever read. At least he is taking on Chrysler this time!
He also has some pithy comments about Chrysler, Cerebrus and Robert Nardelli.
Take heed GM management, it’s a cautionary tale.
jg
Bob,
Congratulations on Buick being # 1 at JD Power tied with Lexus! I can’t wait to read about this in your next blog. GM is doing a great job, now just bring on that Riviera!
Kirk J Nason
With the annoucment by Toyota that they are moving forward with a PHEV, GM needs to “Get the lead out
” and get this car out on the road for serious testing. The VOLT also needs to support “plugging in” as a fill source. More and more people will be going Solar over time and basically fueling will be FREE!!
Joe D., Cleveland
Hey Bob,
Still waiting for some updates on the Camaro….. How’s it going? What state of development are you at? Have you figured out trim levels (RS, SS, Z28) and what features will be stadard and optional on all of them?
I am really getting antsy. Haven’t heard a thing about it since you confirmed the prodution model will look almost exactly like the prototype, which seems like months or even YEARS ago
I just hope your silence is the calm before the storm, and we shall soon find out all the good stuff about our Camaros.
Model Year 2009 begins one calendar year from now. I certainly hope you will have a pre-production working vehicle for the 2008 auto shows
Schmeltz
Thanks for your continued striving to bring the Volt to reality. Just remember:
Always, always, always, under-promise, and OVER-DELIVER!
Best regards,
Schmeltz
Brian
it seems like you are getting closer to knowing an actual production schedule for this car, so when are you going to set a release date?
Kevin R
As I’ve said on the Chevy Volt blog I’ve been a life-long GM buyer. Fuel costs are going to continue to rise, no question about it (little dips once in a while don’t count) and I’m tired of fuel costs determining where I go and when I go somewhere. I’ve told GM several times that I’m going to be replacing my Pontiac Bonneville in the next couple years. I will not buy a car that primarily uses gasoline or any other fossil fuel for that matter. I will be buying a fuel cell or electric car…Period! I want it to be the Volt. I want GM to retake the lead. I want the USA to be at the forefront of cutting edge, non-polluting, planet saving, technology and I will support them. But I won’t wait much longer than 2009. I would buy the Volt now, with current battery technology as long as I could replace or upgrade the pack. I want the car to be comfortable and sophisticated like the Japanese cars. I won’t buy the Volt if it is a stripped down, plastic like cheap interior with stiff unforgiving seats. That I will not do. I will buy another manufacturers if that is what GM produces. The Volt turns heads. The Volt is cool looking. But the interior is pretty cheap looking. It appears on the inside to be a $8,000 car akin to the Yugo. Sure it’s slick, but it doesn’t look comfy. It looks like it would be a chore to drive any more than a few miles at a stretch. GM also needs to include the current technologies that the foreign car makers are including. IE: audio ports for Ipods, GPS, backup cameras or warning senors…etc. It cannot be so simple it is unappealing. Get it on the road ASAP…you’ll capture the market for years to come just as Henry Ford did with the Model A & T in the teens and twenties.
Michael
I am still not so sure the Volt is a big winner. Let’s face it, GM is intentionally leaving out a huge market for EVs–people who live in apartments. We can’t plug in any car to an outlet on the street, you know. This is like the big “DUH,” but once again, good ol’ arrogant Bob and GM don’t care about their customers. It’s GM’s way or no way. Sigh… Until such time as GM works out that major kink (and most people who would need or want an EV live in urban settings and in apartments), the Volt is Vaporware (so far as I’m concerned).
Jason Zebersky
Working smarter, not harder!
Plummeting gasoinline prices will sell lots of camaro’s.
Basic reserch and development of new paridgm battery and energy management standards (paid for by selling lots of Camaro’s and Caprices) will provide GM with royalty cheques to cover further market dominating new paridgm technology.
It’s totaly OK to sell E-Flex components and systems to competetors as long as GM can get the credit for developing these technologies, in the long run it’s better to have VHS and DVD than BETTA and BLUERAY, The royalties can go a long way tward paying for healthcare and retirement costs: thereby giving GM the moral high ground in the long run.
Noel Park
There is a very intersting Reuters article on the Volt on the Yahoo news site today.
They quote Mr. Lutz as saying that the lithium-ion battery packs will be available this October, that a Volt prototype will be testing on the roads next spring, and that the Volt will be in production by late 2010.
They also quote him as saying that GM is studying leasing the battery packs as a way to keep the sticker price of the car down.
Any comment on this?
Eric Matthew Vest
Mr. Lutz,
Congratulation on General Motors’ progress on battery technology. Be sure that General Motor’s advanced technology is protected. I would not put corporate espionage past some of your competitors. Some of your competition does not have General Motors’ high standard of ethics.
TexasKyle
Bob,
Hope you hold true to producing the Volt. Besides being a plug-in, I believe everyone likes it’s looks…….SO PLEASE….PLEASE…..make the production Volt look exactly like the concept.
I’m in my early 30s and love fast, sporty cars just like the next guy, but you really got my attention with the looks of the Volt. I don’t have to go 0-60 in 2 seconds, but I can look like I could and feel even better not having to watch the fuel tank and my wallet compete for who empties quicker!
edward Hobart
Way to go Bob. Toast those Toyota buns.
Please make a E-Flex car a big guy can drive.
Eric Planey
I found it interesting that while the Dow dropped 387 points yesterday, GM was up for the day. The world is beginning to take notice, Bob.
Al Giguere Jr.
Dear Mr. Lutz,
- I am so glad you’re turning the ship around and I honestly believe you havn’t hit the “Bankruptcy ‘Berg” just yet. The VOLT is a great concept for the future of GM. 8 billion dollars in one year was catastrophic, but it opened a lot of eyes in America. Now FORD is in deep trouble and Chrysler is Questionable at best.. Hopefully, GM can rush in to recapture the AMERICAN and Worldwide markets and lead itself back to where it should be…#1!
- Anyway, What about Pontiac? Are they going to be the youthful performance Division they once were? Or are they doomed to “doctored” copies of other GM brands, with alphanumeric names? Or eventual death? “Solstice”, “Grand Prix”, “Bonneville”, “GTO”, and “Torrent” are memorable names, (even if the actual car it’s attached to isn’t). Pontiac’s names evoked racing, Bonneville..”Salt Flats”, Trans Am..”Racing Series”, Le Mans..”24 Hours of”, Grand Prix..”Racing”..ETC!
- Solstice + GTO + Firebird + Grand Prix + Catalina/ Bonneville = Pontiac! The Solstice is HOT! The GTO died due to poor sales…caused by poor salesmanship, massive overpricing, forced luxury options and sadly, the lack of input from loyal Pontiac Fans. Its the SAME exact reason the Camaro & Firebird lines faded away.
- Now, You are only bringing back the Camaro? Beautiful!, but I see its sales cutting into the Corvette’s & then slipping after a couple years. Seems like it is way too upscale/plush to be a Camaro. Why no Pontiac Firebird/ Formula/ Trans Am? It has always been GM’s upscale “Ponycar” line. It would seem that only $$$ and “Boomer” status will get you into a new Camaro…a 6.0 V8,+$$$ options/Z-28…No V6 RS! If the kid down the street, (making $28k a year), can’t buy a stripped-option V8 or the middle-aged woman,(who just sent her kids to college),can’t get a convertible V6 version, this Camaro won’t keep up the appeal amongst the masses. Look at the Mustang!!!
- Pontiac should really revive it’s 60’s performance car vibe, Add-In its’ 80’s “..We Build EX-CITE-MENT…PON-TI-AC!” slogan, and create a constant TV Ad campaign that shows Pontiac’s performance cars in action with a humorous edge to them. The late 90’s Trans Am/ Formula commercials were exactly like this, but sadly they were very short lived.
Take a note from your past mistake: WHY DID OLDSMOBILE FAIL?
Please!!!!,Don’t let the TIN INDIAN DIE!!!
O.Jeff
The recent bridge collapse gives one more strong reason that we all should advocate a phased-in increase in the gasoline tax. The following groups would probably support a tax:
* Those that feel we need more infrastructure spending for safety reasons.
* Those that feel we need more infrastructure spending to reduce traffic congestion.
* Those that feel we need to increase the gas tax to reduce global warming.
* Those that feel we need to increase the gas tax to reduce foreign energy dependence. (foreign policy/middle east entanglement)
* Those that feel we need to encourage energy efficiency.
I propose that we raise the gasoline tax and split the revenue in half:
* Half the tax money would pay for new substantial rebates to buyers of new cars like the Chevy Volt and other highly-efficient or non-petroleum/non-polluting vehicles. (The auto industry should LOVE this provision because it will encourage auto sales. And, it will cause the U.S. light vehicle fleet to become more efficient much more quickly than CAFE.)
* Half of the money would go for rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure and for providing for more roads and transportation.
Glad to hear about the partnership with A123. Of the advanced battery companies, they seem to be the only one that has truly demonstrated mass production capability. Look forward to seeing the first prototype vehicles next spring!
O.Jeff
Hey Bob, you need to take this bet!!!
“Don Esmond, senior vice president of Toyota’s U.S. automotive operations, said in an interview today. “I’ve got $100 in my pocket that says we’ll be the first automaker to put a lithium-ion vehicle out there.” “
Tyler
Good job! I’m very much looking forward to the E-flex becoming the premier eco-friendly vehicle platform. At this rate GM will defeat Toyota at the Green game hands down. Welcome to the future.
altfuels
Michael–
I presume that you are the same Michael who wanted to “be the pin to burst this Volt balloon” over on the FYI blog a couple of weeks back (post titled “Chevy Volt Hits D.C. Streets” dated July 19, your comment dated July 23, 7:51 a.m.). I don’t know if you read my rather long reply (dated July 25, 2:04 p.m.), so I’ll repeat it in brief here. If “the Volt is Vaporware (so far as [you're] concerned)” because you have nowhere to plug it in at night, then if GM does sell them, don’t buy one. You are correct that it is awfully hard for an apartment dweller or somebody who parks on the street to arrange to plug in a vehicle overnight; however, I see no basis for your statement that “most people who would need or want an EV live in urban settings and in apartments.” Anybody who has a daily commute/errands driving cycle that’s anywhere near the national average (or below) could benefit from the Volt’s plug-in capability, and plenty of us live in houses, condos, whatever, with electricity in our garages. The Volt (or a battery-only electric vehicle — remember the Volt is a plug-in hybrid, which can keep going on gasoline past its battery range) doesn’t have to be all things to all people, just enough of a good thing for enough people to sustain a viable market. I think the potential target market for the Volt is bigger than the target markets for a lot of vehicles that have been successfully sold.
Besides, I have to wonder how you propose that GM should “work[] out that major kink,” i.e., the inability of most apartment-dwellers to plug a vehicle in at night. That’s a codes-and-standards issue, if anything, with cities needing to encourage or require developers to provide curbside or garage charging circuitry. (Either that, or someone has to implement the economically dubious solutions of setting up a battery-swapping infrastructure or a network of extremely high-powered quick-charging stations, as discussed in comments on the FYI blog post mentioned above.) I’ve said some very harsh things about GM on these blogs (most recently at the end of my comment in reply to yours over on FYI), but I fail to see how GM’s lack of effort to install plugs in apartment garages and on street corners is evidence that GM and Mr. Lutz are “arrogant” or “don’t care about their customers.” If automakers wait for everybody to have access to overnight recharging before (re)introducing plug-in vehicles, then we’ll lose more time than just the decade that has been wasted since the EV1s (and other makers’ electric vehicles) were introduced in the late 90’s with inadequate availability and promotion. Let’s get going, and get plug-in vehicles into the hands (and garages!) of those who could benefit from them today. If such vehicles are as successful as many of us expect them to be, then that will generate pressure on apartment-complex developers to add charging facilities so their tenants can join the party.
Fred Turner
Bob, Great news on the eflex/Volt. I hope it happens sooner rather than later. Also, Thank you for my new Sky Redline! Fantastic car! 28mpg on the highway at 80mph and perma-grin! Should keep me happy till my new Camaro gets here! Keep up the great work!
Noel Park
The LA Times has basically the same Volt article this morning which ran on the Yahoo site from Reuters yesterday. They don’t say anything about leasing the battery packs, however. See 4:48 PM yesterday.
Noel Park
I also note the beautiful 2 full page layout on the Volt in the new Automobile magazine. I am taking it home to show my wife her next car!
If you don’t produce this car after all of this, you will never live it down if you live to be 100 years old! On the other hand if you do, you will clearly deserve to do so, and go down in history.
So how about a reservation program a la Smart? I have suggested this before, as have many others. Maybe $999 instead of $99? I would put up $9999 if I had to, just to make a statement about how important this is. Again, say what you want about Roger Penske, I don’t hear anyone calling him a fool.
Noel Park
Well, I tooki the photo layout home to show my wife Saturday. She had her scrap book group at the house. They all fell in love with the styling of the Volt, even before I tried to explain the plug in hybrid idea to them.
I told her, “This is your next car”. She smiled all over her face and said “Bring it on.”
So, I have to agree with TexasKyle, at 8/9, 5:38 PM:
“SO PLEASE….PLEASE….. make the production Volt look exactly like the concept”.
Even Honda admitted that they had made a mistake in basing their Civic hybrid on the production Civic instead of making it a stand alone car like the Prius. I know some bloggers don’t like the looks of the Prius, but for sure you know it’s something different when you see it.
The Volt makes the Prius look absolutely stodgy. The flash will only draw attention to the technological brilliance. Right on TexasKyle!
altfuels, 811, 2:35 AM:
Thanks for your thoughtful comment on recharging of electric cars by apartment/condo dwellers.
John
You guys are going to have a SERIOUS HIT on your hands with the Volt if you get it to market soon and price it right and it lives up to most of the promises.
I’ve mentioned this car in passing to various friends and family members, most of whom are not car buffs, and all of them have had their eyes light up at the concept of a mostly electric car that
gets 60 mpg and can run on plug in power.
A lot of us are pretty much over funding terrorism each time we go to the pump, so more electric/high-mileage vehicles from GM will definitely be nice options to have.
I’m sure a lot of apartment dwellers will be running extension cords from their apartments when this car comes out.
Come on GM, make this one well and make it soon!
PaulW
The Volt seems like a great sports-car type vehicle, but I need a vehicle with a bit more practicality, like the HHR. Is there any way Chevy could produce an E-Flex based HHR, in addition to the Volt?
Gary Dikkers
Michael,
GM has no reason to care where you live or that you can’t recharge a Volt if you have to park on the street — there are more than enough people who live in houses with garages to buy all the Volts they will build.
The solution to recharging a Volt if you park on the street will have to come from “after-market” entrepeneurs. Some enterprising person in your city will figure out a way to provide you with a recharging service — although I’m sure you will pay a premium.
Perhaps you can even be the first in your city to jump into providing that service. Think of it as GM providing you a business opportunity.
As ever,
Gary Dikkers
Hank
How about we convert the regular gas stations to exchange drained battery with fully-charged ones and the consumers pay for the services?
GoWheel
Finally, GM is going in the right direction with the right battery. Maybe they finally heard that China is currently producing over 10 million all-electric 2 wheelers just for their own market and are eliminating gassers throughout Europe.
GoWheel
Phil
It will be a great thing to have E-Flex capability on future architectures. Now let’s take extra care to
‘ENCLAVIZE’
GM’s engineering/manufacturing capabilty so that you don’t have to stare at any GM vehicle to tell what it is.
Those spy photos of Chevy “Traverse” seem to indicate a vehicle with the identical greenhouse to Outlook and Acadia, which gives us a feeling that the OLD GM THINKING still rules board meetings.
Gary Dikkers
The Think electric city car from Norway
Interesting — possible competition for the Volt from — of all places — Norway. A collaboration of the Norwegian company and Google.
Think electric car from Norway
Look’s interesting, and will apparently be on the market before the Volt.
They’ve assembled enough talent and innovation here, that this just might have legs. Given Google’s record of the last few years, GM had better pay attention.
Regards,
Gary Dikkers
Noel Park
Gary Dikkers, 8/16, 10:31 PM:
Thanks. This is really fascinating. Sign me up!
A friend of ours works for a local Ford dealer who was a Think distributor. We almost bought one, just before Ford bailed. I have always been sad about it, even though we are probably better off without an orphan. Plus, it’s hard for us to be seen in a Ford.
Come on Bob, can’t you guys buy into this somehow? Slap a bowtie on the front, and we’ll write you a check. If you can do it with an Daewoo, you can do it with a Think.
JOSH TORNABENI
BOB,
Why dont you write a book about your past telling stories about your time in the car biz ? Man i would buy it and standing in line behind me would be another couple million people who’d do just the same! so uh is gm going to bring back the grand national to buick hey that 3.6 DI would do the trick in making that car fly off the shelves come on Bob do it and make the car look good a 2 door thats in the 20k price range this is my contribution Bob i won’t take credit you can have the credit JUST MAKE THE CAR!
Josh Tornabeni
Michael
Gary–
Thanks for answering the question about electric infrastructure to come (from Think and Google) in cities. Too bad GM couldn’t have thought of this first…sigh.
Noel Park
Gary:
Speaking of electric power sources when off the grid, I read a piece somewhere last week about Pacific Gas & Electric gathering up Prius batteries which have lost enough of their edge to be replaced in the cars, but still have some life left.
They are evidently installing them in buildings in their service area, to be charged off peak, and then used during peaks.
As I’m sure you have seen, they are experimenting with doing something similar with plug in hybrid cars. Charge your car at the off peak and sell power back to the utility at the peak. They seem to forsee enough of these cars to really make a difference, and seem quite serious about this.
It wouldn’t surprise me to learn that some of these Google/Silicon Valley types are involved in this initiative as well.
The winds of change are blowing every day. As my old Marine friend used to say, “Lead, follow, or get out of the way.”
Noel Park
I went down to my local Chevy dealer this morning to give them the cool ad for the Volt from the latest Automobile Magazine. I have this idea that maybe they will give you some feedback that the customers are out there.
I have already offered to give them a deposit, but they just looked at me as if I was from another system (OK guys, that’s a freebie).
I walked by a bright yellow Aveo with aluminum wheels. It really caught my eye. As I have said before, it is better looking than the Japan, Inc. B cars. Then, alas, I looked at the window sticker. 24 mpg city, 33 highway (34?).
As Rick Luori said, it is a good car in search of a driveline. Again, can’t you parts bin something together with Rick’s famous 1.4 Ecotec and a better transmission? Or tell those Daewoo guys to get the mileage competetive, or you will find somebody who can. Where is Jon Moss, now that we need him?
Gary Dikkers
A story on the Volt from Sunday’s Chicago Tribune:
Critics sceptical of buzz over GM’s latest electrical car
Regards,
Gary Dikkers
Tim
Including a Trip GPS tied to the “range extender” control is a no-brainer. Trip GPS is cheap and available in many car models today. This system will make sure that the “range extender” only provides enough electricity to reach the next off-board charging opportunity. I have trip GPS and it would only take about 30 seconds to punch in a destination address and indicate if opportunity charging is present. That’s less time than it takes to warm-up your current ICE.
Will it save fuel and money when used? YES.
Will everybody use it? NO.
Will most buyers want it? YES.
Will most volt divers use it to save more fuel? YES.
I LOVE my Trip GPS!!! Once you use it, you’re hooked!
Bob Rudasill
A 35 HP DC motor dual shaft one end connected to the tranny the other end has a 3/8 in steel plate with all accessories mounted on it driven by a pulley on the shaft simular to the crankshaft pulley used today. If the altinator will not keep the lithum batter fully charged make one of the rear axels a live axel and mount a hydralic pump on it driving another altinator in the trunk. We don’t need oil or gasoline to operate this car. She will roll down the street very nicely don’t you think. Bob give it some thought
PaulW
I am getting worried about whether the E-Flex incorporates battery-charging from the vehicle brakes. Can anyone tell me if the E-Flex cars will have this?
Al
I suggest GM start taking deposits for the Volt. Based on how successful the Tesla Motors early buyer program has been, you’ll be pleasently surprised at the demand for the Volt.
Al
I’ve put off spending $25000 on a whole house standby generator. I’ll put the money in a Volt and adapter to power the house in an emergency using the builtin 53Kw generator. Like getting the car for free.
Alan Rivers
Nice article Bob. Don’t forget - consider the HHR panel van to offer the SS turbo charged 2.0. Thanks for keeping us up to date.
Noel Park
AL, 8/25, 12:30 PM:
Right.
I have suggested this several times, as have several others.
Come on guys, take the hint. I think that this would really help to build up the buzz, and put some more momentum behind actually making it happen.
Gary Dikkers
Al and Noel,
There was an article in last Sunday’s New York Times about using a Prius to do exactly that.
NY Times — Prius powers house
Several people on this blog have suggested the same for the Volt in the past. Surely GM must realize the potential. They will be making a serious error if they don’t build that capability into the Volt — and market it as a plus.
As Al said, it would be a strong selling point — owning a Volt would eliminate the need to have a backup generator for your house.
Best,
Gary Dikkers