Gen 1 GM Volt Plug-In Hybrid (2011-2015)

[redLEAF]

More on the Ampera ... definitely see the what looks closer to the earlier Volt prototype

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2010/0707/1224274174107.html

 

[evnow]

Merging with Volt thread.

 

[jhm614]

Has anybody been allowed to drive a Volt in ICE mode yet?

Ar there good reports of this "charge-sustaining" (or, "charge-increasing") mode of operation?

Here's an article where Lyle from gm-volt.com was riding in Volt when ICE kicked in : http://gm-volt.com/2010/07/06/chevrolet-volt-highway-ride/

According to the article there is no noise or vibration when the ICE begins charging the batteries.

 

[evnow]

Here's an article where Lyle from gm-volt.com was riding in Volt when ICE kicked in : http://gm-volt.com/2010/07/06/chevrolet-volt-highway-ride/

According to the article there is no noise or vibration when the ICE begins charging the batteries.

Lyle had reported this earlier as well - but in both cases, he wasn't the driver.

I think this is one place where they let a journalist drive ... though it is not directly mentioned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/vauxhall/7849811/Vauxhall-Ampera-prototype-review.html

This is also the place where he infamously said the "acceleration at high speeds is poor" and "General Motors is working on the problem and this autumn plans to unveil a mechanical direct-drive from the engine to the front wheels through the existing twin-clutch planetary gearbox.", setting off a flurry of denials from GM and gm-volt.com.

 

[jhm614]

Here's an article where Lyle from gm-volt.com was riding in Volt when ICE kicked in : http://gm-volt.com/2010/07/06/chevrolet-volt-highway-ride/

According to the article there is no noise or vibration when the ICE begins charging the batteries.

Lyle had reported this earlier as well - but in both cases, he wasn't the driver.

Here's a video of from CNN that shows their reporter driving the volt : http://money.cnn.com/2010/07/07/autos/volt_production/index.htm

At about the 2:28 mark, the volt slips into Charge Sustaining mode and the reporter says the only reason he knew it was because the charging light turned on. However, shortly after that he says the car seems faster from 20-60 than 0-60 because he can hear the charging engine rev'ing? After the second statement, you can see he has opened the drivers window, so maybe that's why he could suddenly hear the charging engine.

 

[palmermd]

Unlike Nissan gm is forcing buyers to go to dealers to get on a waiting list to purchase a car. The dealers will be marking up the cars due to high demand and low production volume. I was/am on the gm-volt.com want list and was one of the first to sign up when Lyle started his blog. It's too bad gm is not going to use this list or even it's own list that I signed up for as well. Well see how this goes.

 

[evnow]

Unlike Nissan gm is forcing buyers to go to dealers to get on a waiting list to purchase a car. The dealers will be marking up the cars due to high demand and low production volume. I was/am on the gm-volt.com want list and was one of the first to sign up when Lyle started his blog. It's too bad gm is not going to use this list or even it's own list that I signed up for as well. Well see how this goes.

Yes - dealer gouging will be a real issue for Volt.

Funny he had an article or two on Nissan dealer gouging on Leaf - and not a murmur on dealer gouging for Volt :evil:

 

[Bicster]

Chelsea Sexton on Twitter:

Volt seems to be caught in middle between "new GM" and "old Chevy"...that tug of war is sure to end well, right?

and

@bentoboxx still end of the year, but the launch "process" isn't shaping up well from where I'm sitting.

 

[redLEAF]

Looks like GM is still waiting on EPA method for determining MPG calculation, but it's out in real world testing ... wait until the end to see who they're trying to one-up


http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100707/VIDEONEWS/100709924

 

[evnow]

Open season at GM dealers.

http://gm-volt.com/2010/07/08/poll-is-10000-volts-in-first-year-a-good-idea/#comment-207064

If we only get 6 cars for 12 months, then ANY price we charge is not gouging. And, to be clear, our General Manager checked with several other dealers who will be selling the VOLT for $3000 to $5000 over MSRP based on last Monday’s production announcement, and after a long fight (reviewing many of the comments from people like you from this blog) I managed to get him to approve my deposit-order form. [$1000 over for Previous Customers of this dealership and $2000 over for anyone else.]

 

[LEAFer]

Further "poisoning" the customer-dealer relationship ... and perpetuating the "can't stand car salesmen" folklore ... :roll:

 

[Clippy]

Open season at GM dealers.

http://gm-volt.com/2010/07/08/poll-is-10000-volts-in-first-year-a-good-idea/#comment-207064

If we only get 6 cars for 12 months, then ANY price we charge is not gouging. And, to be clear, our General Manager checked with several other dealers who will be selling the VOLT for $3000 to $5000 over MSRP based on last Monday’s production announcement, and after a long fight (reviewing many of the comments from people like you from this blog) I managed to get him to approve my deposit-order form. [$1000 over for Previous Customers of this dealership and $2000 over for anyone else.]

Yea, I've been following that. Funny thing is, the guy's getting props from the other dozen or so regulars for only marking the thing up 2K. Then there's this...

As 1 of the 2 or 3 guys at our dealership who will be ‘Certified’ to demo the VOLT per GM requirements, I would be happy to demonstrate all the features and give a demo ride… But I tell you, if some troll wants to get in my face about it, my team will also be happy to throw them out of the showroom.

Maybe I should put up a sign: “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone”…!!!

Hey Nissan, you listening? I mean, I like being green and all (not really), but if you pull any stuff like this...well, you know the rest.

 

[garygid]

Before a LEAF dealer can have a LEAF to demo, they must get one (that is not for a specific customer-order), and (to be practical) have a working Level 3 (Quick) charger installed.

It is going to take a while for LEAF demos.

After all, the VOLT does not even need to be plugged in to demo it, only gassed up.

 

[evnow]

Some first hand account of Volt in UK ...

http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/showpost.php?p=46807&postcount=47

- The UK price should hopefully be £30k before rebates.

 

[mxp]

Open season at GM dealers.

http://gm-volt.com/2010/07/08/poll-is-10000-volts-in-first-year-a-good-idea/#comment-207064

If we only get 6 cars for 12 months, then ANY price we charge is not gouging. And, to be clear, our General Manager checked with several other dealers who will be selling the VOLT for $3000 to $5000 over MSRP based on last Monday’s production announcement, and after a long fight (reviewing many of the comments from people like you from this blog) I managed to get him to approve my deposit-order form. [$1000 over for Previous Customers of this dealership and $2000 over for anyone else.]

Hello evnow,
My apologies for being late to track this thread.
Is there a thread here tracking those who are in both running for a Volt and a Leaf?

What are the pros vs cons assuming you are in the early purchase opportunity for both the Leaf and the Volt?

I read over at the GM Volt website that GM is giving away free chargers for the Volt.

If there is a thread that discuss the both early purchase opportunities, pls point the way.
Many thanks in advance....

Cheers!

 

[AndyH]

Is GM giving away chargers, or is it Department of Energy money via the ECOtality ChargePoint America program? If the latter, this is a parallel to Nissan's ECOtality/EV Project.

 

[palmermd]

Is GM giving away chargers, or is it Department of Energy money via the ECOtality ChargePoint America program? If the latter, this is a parallel to Nissan's ECOtality/EV Project.

Volts usable pack is only half that of the Leaf, so using the 120v charger is less of an issue. Besides, its a hybrid so if you don't have enough time to charge one day, you just use gasoline. The specific roll-out details have not been answered, but they have said that there is no master wait list, just use your dealer to get into line. Dealers are all going to charge over MSRP. Its very unfortunate that GM did not follow Nissan's ingenious plan to help its customers avoid this problem. GM, as far as I can tell, is not going to partner to get 240 charge points to customers. If you want one, you can get one, but otherwise GM says that the 120v connection is all that the customer should require. I've been on the GM.com and gm-volt.com wait list for this car since Feb 2007, and it is unfortunate that they are not going to give any priority to those of us who have followed the progress since day one. I kept hoping that GM would use one of these lists and I never went to my local dealer until GM said to do it that way. Others had already got on the list way ahead even though I'm sure they were not waiting as long as I. It looks like I will not be getting a Volt. At least I have my Leaf reservation in order and I should be able to get one fairly early in the process. I was hoping that my EVSE that I get for the Leaf would be used for both cars...oh well.

 

[evnow]

Is there a thread here tracking those who are in both running for a Volt and a Leaf?

What are the pros vs cons assuming you are in the early purchase opportunity for both the Leaf and the Volt?

There isn't one really - as you can imagine most people here will buy Leaf. But here is my flow chart ...

 

[palmermd]

Thats awesome. Thanks for the laugh.

 

[AndyH]

Is GM giving away chargers, or is it Department of Energy money via the ECOtality ChargePoint America program? If the latter, this is a parallel to Nissan's ECOtality/EV Project.

Volts usable pack is only half that of the Leaf, so using the 120v charger is less of an issue. Besides, its a hybrid so if you don't have enough time to charge one day, you just use gasoline. The specific roll-out details have not been answered, but they have said that there is no master wait list, just use your dealer to get into line. Dealers are all going to charge over MSRP. Its very unfortunate that GM did not follow Nissan's ingenious plan to help its customers avoid this problem. GM, as far as I can tell, is not going to partner to get 240 charge points to customers. ...

That's why I asked about the 'other' ECOtality program.

ChargePoint America is the 'EV Project' parallel for the Volt, Ford, and Smart
http://chargepointamerica.com/

http://ecotality.com/pressreleases/06172010_LA_DC_DOE_Project_Expansion.pdf