Bob Lutz Takes Chevy Volt Plug-in Hybrid Test Car for a Drive
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 06. 9.08
Chevy Volt Plug-in Hybrid Test-Drive
The plug-in series hybrid Chevy Volt was introduced 14 months ago at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. That might seem a long time to some, but it's fairly short in car development world, especially when a company is trying to incorporate new technologies.
So we're happy to learn that a new milestone has been reached for the Volt. A "mule" car - a 2007 Malibu - rolled out with a full E-Flex drivetrain, meaning that it was powered by electric motors and a li-ion battery pack, with a small 1.0-liter gasoline generator that kicks in only when the battery is running low. It's basically the prototype of the insides that the Volt will have.
General Motors vice-chairman Bob Lutz drove about 20 miles and went up to 75-80 miles per hour (120-130 kilometers per hour) without the gas generator kicking in. He described the ride as "electrifying" and "thrilling", and was particularly impressed at the lack of engine noise and great acceleration (electric motors generate lots of torque from very low RPM).
Chevy Volt: Next Steps in Development
GM currently has about 3-4 mules with E-Flex drivetrains, but it wants to increase that number and have full prototypes, inside and outside, on the road by the end of the year.
By the spring and summer of 2009, the integration vehicles incorporating all the production intent systems will be up and running. By that time, GM expects to have several hundred vehicles running at test facilities and on the road. These vehicles will be used for crash testing and so engineers can complete all the software development and calibration, as well as validate battery durability.
Bob Lutz Drives an Electric Scooter
Here's some trivia: Bob Lutz just bought a Vectrix electric scooter.
Chevy Volt Plug-in Hybrid
The Buzz Around the Chevy Volt
Chevy Volt: An All-Electric Gasoline Hybrid?
Chevy Malibu+ Lithium-Ion= Chevy Volt?
Electric Cars
Here's What Happens to a Tesla Electric Car Battery at the End of its Life
First Tesla Electric Car Store Opens in Santa-Monica
Introducing the BYD E6 Electric Car
Plug In Hybrids
BYD F6DM: Will the First Plug-In Hybrid be Chinese?
F3DM: The Second, Smaller, Plug-in Hybrid by China's BYD
How's The Google Plug-In Hybrid Fleet Doing?
More on Bob Lutz's Volt Test-Drive
Bob Lutz discusses driving the Mali-Volt
Bob Lutz Test Drives the First Chevy Volt Early Prototype and Says “it Was Electrifying”
Thirsty for more? Check out these related articles:
- Can Obama's Monster Limo Be a Hybrid? Yes It Can!
- Will the Next New Deal be Transit-Based? Three Plans to Rescue the Economy and the Earth with Public Transportation
- Toyota: It's Lonely At The Top, Gets Credit Rating Lowered
- German Solar Company Offers GM €1 Billion
Did you mention the GM sponsorship of Planet Green? You SHOULD!
I see the Volt as perpetuating the car-centered aculture of the suburb. The only people who can buy a plugin or electric car are people who have a reliable parking spot that is close to an electrical outlet. In other words, a garage. Where do people live that have garages? The suburbs.
A very smart person once said something like "If all you know is suburbs, your solution is going to be a suburb." Well, there's not enough room on the planet for everyone to live in a suburb. We're going to have to find something different. And long, low cars that need plugs won't work in a city unless we have huge parking garages and wide corners.
Bikes, public transportation, and small cars or motor bikes are the future. The sedan isn't.
...."I see the Volt as perpetuating the car-centered aculture of the suburb. "......
blah, blah. The world can live with a smart car.... What about people with families? I fix factory equipment. I have to travel. That technology will soon filter it's way into my next van. A van you say? Yes, I need a van to haul equipment, tools, and co-workers.
This is one of the most important steps in automotive development in a decade. I know cars and I am positive this is the way many cars will be in 10 years. It makes so much sense.
By the way, I use a motorcycle when I don't need my van. and live in suburbia...in a central area to the factories I fix.
"The only people who can buy a plugin or electric car are people who have a reliable parking spot that is close to an electrical outlet. In other words, a garage. Where do people live that have garages? The suburbs."
Shame you have no access to an electrical outlet. That would mean you would be stuck at 50 mpg using the Volt's backup generator until you got an extension cord.
If people who could use electric propulsion used it, the price of gas would not rise as fast for those who could not use electricity. The gasoline car isn't going away anytime soon, but we could sure use a lot fewer of them.
I'll believe it when there is one for sale at the Chevy dealership down the street.
It's all propaganda at this point. Chevy is good at hype.
In the meantime they are still making pushrod V-8's, and Suburbans.
But if it's true that by next year I can buy one of these. Then awesome. I'm all about it.
"Well, there's not enough room on the planet for everyone to live in a suburb. We're going to have to find something different. ...Bikes, public transportation, and small cars or motor bikes are the future. The sedan isn't."
Actually, you haven't dug deep enough.
The real solution is to LIMIT POPULATION GROWTH. We have more people alive on this planet now that have lived in all of recorded history.
We don't need any more people! If the pop of mother earth did not increase by another person, the future of this planet would be plenty secure and everyone who wanted one could have their electric Volt. I'm one of them.
I'm saving up already - BRING IT ON, GM!
Feel free not to have kids and try to convince others via rational argument all you want, Svelte. As long as you don't preach some kind of totalitarian police state to enforce your views.