GM announced a major shift in production to smaller more efficient vehicles. GM will be shutting four truck and SUV plants in order to shift production to smaller, fuel-efficient vehicles. GM has also committed to production of the Chevy Volt, essentially a plug-in hybrid, by 2010.
It seems the days of gas-guzzling SUVs are officially numbered when GM announces such a major shift. Although there are not many specifics on the Chevy Volt as a production model, we thought it would be appropriate to gather some videos that highlighted the "concept vehicle". The video dates range from ~ 2007-2008.
GM spokespersons discuss several aspects of the Chevy Volt including the fuel-cost savings estimates and a production date of 2010.
GM representative Tony Posowats is interviewed about the Chevy Volt. The Volt is a plug-in hybrid and according to Posowats the vehicle is capable of traveling in electric-only mode for first 40 miles; most customers commute less than 40 miles and would therefore use no gas for their daily commutes. Posowats suggests the electricity costs for powering the Chevy Volt would be about one-fifth the cost of gas.
electric vehicle
Tesla Roadster (electric powered)
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Jay Leno talks with Elon Musk of Tesla motors about the much anticipated all-electric Tesla Roadster, "production unit one". Leno then takes the vehicle for a test drive and seems genuinely impressed with the vehicle's performance characteristics including acceleration, low-end torque, and the unusual lack of engine noise.
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ABC News Nightline (2007) does a segment on the Tesla electric car, a sweet-looking electric sportscar that runs on Lithium-Ion bateries and boasts very impressive perfomance. This vehicle does 0-60 in about 4 seconds and has a top speed of 130 mph. The Tesla can be charged in 3-1/2 hours and travel 200 miles between charges. Orders have been taken for the first 100 Teslas at about $100,000 each. Investor Elon Musk discusses a marketing strategy that begins with high-end cars; and then through inovation and optimization progressively work towards affordability with each progressive model. This vehicle should create some positive publicity for electric vehicles.
Plug-In hybrids can Recharge the Grid says Google.org
Google.org’s RechargeIT program promotes plug in hybrids. It seems Google is becoming a great think tank of modern day; their involvement with plug-in hybrids is no exception. Vehicle owners need economical transportation and power companies are desperately searching for ways to avoid building power plants. Google.org came up with an innovative “vehicle-to-grid” approach that actually has vehicle batteries being used to recharge the power grid during times of peak electricity consumption. It is believed that using vehicles as “distributive energy storage systems” will tilt the economics in favor of plug-in-hybrid ownership; vehicle owners would sell electricity back to the power companies during times of peak power usage.
In addition to maintaining a fleet of corporate plug-ins to prove their viability, Google.org is currently working with power companies to make the vehicle-to-grid vision a reality.
Venturi Electric Vehicles
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Two radical designs from Venturi Automobiles. According to a company spokesperson, the second vehicle will be presented at the Paris Motor Show in October; it will be available in Europe in "early 2009"; and a "little bit later in the US". The first vehicle is a concept vehicle and according to the spokesperson will not be commercialized.
XH-150 Hybrid Vehicle
CNN does a feature story on the "XH-150" plug-in-hybrid vehicle that boasts 150 m.p.g. overall, and a 40 mile range while in electric-only mode. The vehicle is a prototype and is based on an alterered Saturn View, a small SUV, with added batteries and electronics. The vehicle is expected to cost about $8,700 more than gas only SUVs according to the company.
Electric Car Lithium-Polymer Battery Fabrication
Interesting television segment explains the production process for a lithium battery that is to be used in an electric vehicle.
