Category Archives: GM

Chevy Volt

Mr. Mobile Reviews the 2017 Chevy Volt

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Mr. Mobile gives an in-depth review of the new, 2017 Chevy Volt. Chevy has made some key enhancements since 2012, make sure you are up to date with all the new features.  The 2017 Chevy Volt includes self-parking, proximity sensors, front and rear mounted cameras that indicates when you are near an obstacle, blind spot warnings, remotes starting, locking, and locating, and just an absolute myriad of  “smart” features you might come to expect with a high-end vehicle these days. Also, the new Chevy Volt can take regular unleaded gasoline, instead of the premium unleaded the generator sipped before.

The Chevy Volt is an extended range electric vehicle; or you could just call it a E-REV or a PHEV.  So, it has an electric range of about 50 miles before its four-cylinder generator kicks in to extend the car’s range to 420 miles.  Then, you can choose to plug it in, charge it, or both.  Since the Volt concept’s inception, Chevy has held on to the idea that consumers would like to hold on to their traditional gas station fill-ups, while enjoying the newfangled garage charging sessions.

Unfortunately, the Chevy Volt has never been as exciting to read, write, or dream about as the Tesla Model S 85D model with a rating of 270 miles, and its $85,000 price. However 50 miles a day of solid, EV drive is more than enough range for the average American driver. According to the Borough of Transportation Statistics, the regular Joe American Driver only drives 29 miles a day.  Additionally, 45% of our trips are simply shopping and doing errands.  So like Jay Leno demonstrated, if you partition your trips wisely, you might not put a drop of gasoline in Chevy’s Volt for years.

So if you are interested in kicking gasoline to the curb, or at least enticed by visiting the pump much less frequently than Jane Soccermom in her SUV crossover next door for $34,490 to about $40,000 fully featured, the Chevy Volt may be a great deal for you.

Chevrolet Spark EV, Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf

Be a vehicular environmentalist with these fuel-efficient cars in 2016

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Car manufacturers have been working hard to produce cars which have lower emissions and have as little an effect as possible on the environment. However, despite the good intention behind these vehicles the number of sales is declining, in parallel with the reduction in the cost of fuel. As fuel becomes cheaper it is easier and more affordable for consumers to return to standard gasoline engines.

However, manufacturers are continuing to bring new, fuel efficient cars into production; this may be in part due to these cars being designed whilst fuel process were exceptional high. The range of new, fuel efficient cars expected to be released in the near future include the Toyota Prius hybrid, Chevrolet Volt ‘extended range’ electric vehicle, the Nissan Leaf full electric vehicle and the new Tesla X model.

Porsche Carrera S by SONY NEX-5

In fact the twelve greenest cars at the moment are all electric vehicles, which should not really be a surprising fact. The fact that the market for these vehicles is slowing will force the prices down and help people who want to help the environment but couldn’t previously afford to.  These people are being aided by discounts, cash rebates and the federal tax credit which can go as high as US$7,500!

The Best

The Smart ForTwo Electric Drive received a green score of 63 from the ACEEE and is, for the third year running, the greenest car available in the US. It can achieve a whopping 107 miles per gallon in a combined environment. Although the Chevrolet Spark EV gives it a good run for its money; it also scores 63 and can do a huge 119 miles to the gallon!

Top Fuel Efficient Cars

    • Smart ForTwo Electric Drive Convertible / coupe which can do 68 miles on one charge and 107mpg.
    • Chevrolet Spark EV is only available in California, Maryland and Oregon. It can do 82 miles on one charge and 119mpg.
    • Fiat 500e is available in California and Oregon and can go for 82 miles without a recharge. IT can achieve 104mpg and scored 62 in the ACEEE ratings.
    • Toyota Prius Ecco is a hybrid electric / gas combination which can achieve 56mpg and scored 61 in the ACEEE tests.
    • Volkswagen e-golf can travel 83 miles on one charge at an average rating of 116 mpg. It scored 61 and is available in a wide range of states.
    • Nissan Leaf; this all electric vehicle can do 107 miles on one charge and achieve 116mpg!

2012_Prius_c_Two_09

  • Kia Soul Electric is only available in California, it can do 93 miles on one charge and achieves 105mpg
  • Toyota Prius C is a hybrid which scores 61 in tests and can offer 50mpg.
  • Standard Toyota Prius – this vehicle is also a hybrid and scores 58 in the tests while providing 52mpg.
  • Ford Focus Electric can cover 76 miles in one charge and offers 105 miles per gallon. It is available across America and scored 57 in the ACEEE tests.
  • Chevrolet Volt – this hybrid vehicle offers 53 miles on one charge and 106 miles per gallon on electric only power or 42mpg in gasoline mode.
  • Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid; with a score of 56 this vehicle takes the number twelve spot and offers 44mpg under a hybrid electric / gasoline mix.  It scored 56 in the ACEEE test.
  • Porsche 911 Carrera S – the 911 Carrera S can get to 60 mph in 4.1 seconds. This makes it both fast and fuel-efficient. There’s a 3.8 flat six engine under the hood that helps this beauty get to 400 hp.

VW Jetta Hybrid WAS 2012 0720

The Rating

The rating is decided based upon the mile per gallon figure, the emissions and the overall impact on the environment which includes the effect of its manufacture. Even a zero rated emissions car will have had an environmental impact depending upon the materials used and how the power is generated to both manufacture it and run it. Whilst an electric vehicle is going to be much more environmentally friendly than a petrol powered one, the actually effect on the environment is controlled by how the electricity is generated which powers it.

By Christopher Austin and Design911.co.uk!

Chevy Volt, GM

Info on the Chevy Volt’s Safety Enhancements

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Long story short, GM will be strenthening the Volt’s frame that protects the battery pack from side impact collisions, and make enhancments to the vehicle’s battery cooling system.  The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Preliminary Evaluation which found that a full-scale vehicle crash test last May resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later.  GM reiterates that the vehicle is still safe to drive.  However, it might not be safe for collision repair shops, where vehicles tend to go after these types of accidents.  Also, there is an inherent danger of fire for any type of vehicle collision, so take the battery fire anxiety with a grain of salt.
Press Release:
GM Announces Enhancements to Chevrolet Volt
Changes follow NHTSA investigation into post-severe crash battery performance2012-01-05WARREN, Mich. – General Motors today announced enhancements to the vehicle structure and battery coolant system in the Chevrolet Volt that would further protect the battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe crash.

The enhancements come in response to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Preliminary Evaluation to examine post-severe crash battery performance.

NHTSA opened its Preliminary Evaluation on Nov. 25 following a severe-impact lab test on a battery pack that resulted in an electrical fire six days later. The test was conducted to reproduce a coolant leak that occurred in a full-scale vehicle crash test last May that resulted in an electrical fire three weeks later.

The Volt is a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and has earned other safety awards from key third-party organizations. Through the first 11 months of 2011, Volt owners accumulated nearly 20 million miles without an incident similar to the results in the NHTSA tests.

“The Volt has always been safe to drive. Now, we will go the extra mile to ensure our customers’ peace of mind in the days and weeks following a severe crash,” said Mary Barra, GM senior vice president of Global Product Development.

GM will conduct a Customer Satisfaction Program to further protect the Volt battery from the possibility of an electrical fire occurring days or weeks after a severe side crash. Modifications will:

Strengthen an existing portion of the Volt’s vehicle safety structure to further protect the battery pack in a severe side collision.
Add a sensor in the reservoir of the battery coolant system to monitor coolant levels.
Add a tamper-resistant bracket to the top of the battery coolant reservoir to help prevent potential coolant overfill.

GM conducted four successful crash tests between Dec. 9 and 21 of Volts with the structural enhancement. The enhancement performed as intended. There was no intrusion into the battery pack and no coolant leakage in any of the tests.

“These enhancements and modifications will address the concerns raised by the severe crash tests,” Barra said. “There are no changes to the Volt battery pack or cell chemistry as a result of these actions. We have tested the Volt’s battery system for more than 285,000 hours, or 25 years, of operation. We’re as confident as ever that the cell design is among the safest on the market.”

Volt customers will be individually notified when the modifications are available for their vehicles. The enhancements are being incorporated into the Volt manufacturing process as production resumes this month.

“We’re focused on one thing right now: doing what’s right by our customers,” said GM North America President Mark Reuss. “We’ll live up to our commitment to make sure our customers are delighted with their purchase.”

Vehicle electrification technologies are important to future of the automotive industry, which is why GM will continue its leadership role in helping the Society of Automotive Engineers develop standards that will help tow truck operators, salvage yards and vehicle recyclers in the proper handling of electric vehicle components. GM will help develop educational materials that can be used by these stakeholders in the future.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Isuzu, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.

 

Nissan Leaf, Vauxhall Flextreme

Electric Cars – The Future has Arrived!

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Electric cars. For years they’ve been a pipe dream; an experiment, something for Jeremy Clarkson to laugh at. By 2012 however, that could all change, with the imminent release of a couple of vehicles…

Earlier this year, Vauxhall offered its Ellesmere Port staff an opportunity to see the new hybrid car, the Ampera, ahead of it going into mass production, and Nissan’s Leaf is being debuted in the US and Japan at time of writing.

When these vehicles hit these shores however, picking one up might well be worth the money if you’re looking to buy a new car: Nearly every single European country are offering to subsidise electric vehicles in some way or another, and they’re keen to try to tempt people to switch to a newer, more environmentally friendly vehicle, as the technology within them is likely to represent the way transport will be powered in the future – although admittedly not for some time yet.

By 2020, Nissan Motor Company estimate that no more than a tenth of the traffic worldwide will be electric powered – and even this paltry number is considered optimistic by many people within the industry, who think that electric vehicles are likely to be a niche product for the foreseeable future as the general public refuses to change. Nissan are very keen to focus on the upsides of hybrid and electric vehicles however; when asked about how far the Leaf can travel on a single charge (Otherwise known as range), spokesmen for the company focused on the fact that you would never need to travel to a petrol station instead of discussing the fact that with the aircon on, the Leaf can only be expected to do around 80 miles in motorway conditions. Vauxhall’s Ampera contains a small petrol motor that keeps the battery charged, and whilst this is not a completely emission free system, the amount of fuel (and the emissions produced) are miniscule compared to a standard petrol car.

The Ampera recently completed the longest journey in the UK by an electric car, making a 160 mile journey under its own power from Luton to Ellesmere Port.

So where is electric motoring going in the future? Right now, it’s very difficult to predict. Electric cars are only just now starting to be seen as a credible alternative to “old-fashioned” petrol propelled vehicles, especially as anything more than a city runabout. Part of the reason the adoption rate has been quite low is the fact that every element of motoring would need to change to accommodate them – from car insurance to fuel, garages and car rental.

It is clear that electric cars are going to take some time to fit in, but one day electric vehicles will have to become a contender to petrol vehicles, and when they do it will be very interesting to see the changes they bring…

Chevy Volt

Pre-Production Chevy Volt Test Drive

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This is a neat video of a pre-production Volt in action. You actually get a first-hand perspective of what it is like to ride in this range extended plug-in electric vehicle. The car is basically complete, with a working LCD screen in the dash. The passengers note that the car does have a good amount of pep; the 100% torque of the electric engine should provide competitive acceleration. The car is also whisper quiet of course. See and hear for yourself:

Chevy Volt

GM’s 230 MPG Volt Campaign

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GM Volt 230

I watch YouTube more than I care to admit. Last week I noticed a mystifying advertisement before many of the videos: A green screen with a large number 230, with the 0 depicted as a winking standard electrical wall outlet, and a smaller date 8-11 underneath. Since I had no idea what the numbers meant, I Googled them to no avail. Eventually, I discovered that this was a GM marketing campaign for the Volt. But how did the number 230 come into play? Does is stand for 230 volt outlet required? The number of days before GM declares bankruptcy again?

Finally, GM revealed on August 11th, 2009, that 230 was the official MPG rating given by the EPA. The advertisements now link to Chevy’s Official Volt page. While I was disappointed in the general lack of content on the actual page, the bottom corner provided a real gem of a link: Chevy Volt’s Facebook page. Those who do not know much about Facebook should know that people, places, events, and even inanimate objects such as the Chevy Volt can have their own Facebook pages now. The Chevy Volt Facebook Wall actually has a death of information on the Volt. People are free to voice their concerns and a Chevy spokesman tries his darndest to answer them all. Here is the spokesperson’s explanation of where they got the number 230.

It’s based on draft EPA fuel economy methodology, which takes into account thousands of drive patterns over an extended period of time. For example, some people will never use a drop of gasoline as they will always stay within the 40 mile pure electric range, while others will use a combination of pure electricity and engine-generated electricity when driving, and still others may stay within the 40 miles and just drive innefficiently. The assumption is most Volt owners will plug-in daily, so there has to be some common ground to compare vehicles between nothing and infinity. To rationalize all these scenarios and situations, the EPA’s draft methodology calculates this via mpg and our estimates based on that methodology are at least 230 mpg in city driving. Just as important, we are expecting the Volt to get more than 100 mpg combined (city/hwy). Also, we have not announced the charge sustaining mode mpg yet because we’re still testing and validating that mode of operation. -Phil

Originally, I was very disappointed in this ad campaign. All this build up around an arbitrary number and it all leads to a very plain, uninspiring website with a bunch of arbitrary numbers being crunched to explain where 230 MPG comes from.

It is crucial to convey what exactly the car does, and how the car is capable of your daily commute without needing a single drop of gas. I’ve witnessed first hand that the general public does not fully understand how plug-in hybrids work. One of my colleagues at work, an educated twenty something year-old, said he wasn’t a fan of the Chevy Volt because he thought it just died after 40 miles of electric driving. This was disconcerting, especially because we worked for an environmental activism group. I would have expected him to know how a breakthrough hybrid vehicle such as the Volt switches on an electric generator, when the battery is low. But not everybody has researched this. Therefore, simplifying this plug-in hybrid system to an arbitrary number, 230 MPG, might actually be the best way to communicate to the masses how such an unfamiliar vehicle operates.

So my final summation on the campaign is that Chevy did a good job simplifying and minimizing the dangers of bringing something unfamiliar to the market. Next, I would suggest some good old fashioned car advertising. Show it driving up a hill or blasting past a Mazda.