Posts tagged Chevy Volt
22 Boom – 2011 Denver Auto Show and More – Episode 54
Mar 18th
We go to the 2011 Denver Auto Shows to check out all new cars, trucks, SUV’s, Crossovers, Vans and more this year. Plus Doug Duncan of TTS in Boulder gives us his Auto Tips for Spring and Summer and Jann host a car review of the Ford Thunderbird, then he goes to the Larimer County Goodguys Car Show, and the Forney Museum of Transportation. Lots of cars and fun in this one.
Videos in this Episode
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22 Boom Intro -
Denver Auto Show 2011 Introduction -
2012 Ford Focus Hatchback -
2012 Ford Fiesta and C-MAX -
2012 Kia Rio – Fisher Kia – Colorado Kia Dealer -
2012 Chevy Corvette and Camaro -
2012 Chevy Sonic -
2012 Chevy Volt -
2012 Volkswagen Jetta Sports Wagon -
2012 Honda Civic Review -
2012 Toyota Prius Plugin Hybrid -
Nissan Leaf -
2012 Fiat 500 -
2012 Acura TL -
Party Rock Anthem-Kia Soul Hamster Commercial -
Kia Soul Wagon -
Kia Forte Koup Commercial -
Kia Forte Koup -
2011 Honda CR-Z Hybrid Commercial -
2011 Honda CR-Z -
2011 Camp Jeep -
Fancy Cars at the 2011 Denver Auto Show -
Denver Auto Show 2011 Preview -
TTS Auto Tips – Spring and Summer Tips -
Auto Review – 2003 Ford Thunderbird -
Good Guys Car Show – Larimer County 2009 -
Forney Museum of Transportation -
TTS Auto Tips – More Summer Tips -
Outro
Yes, GM will loan you a Corvette if you’re scared your Chevy Volt will catch fire
Nov 29th
By Ray Wert
Yes, GM will loan you a Corvette if you’re scared your Chevy Volt will catch fire
With news of more Chevy Volt battery packs catching fire after NHTSA crash testing, General Motors yesterday made an unprecedented damage-controlling offer: Any Volt owner concerned about safety can request a free GM vehicle loan until the issue’s resolved. Yes, any car. Even a Corvette.
Earlier today, we received the official letter Mark Reuss, President of General Motors North America, is sending to all current Volt owners (they’ll also receive a follow-up phone call from their Volt Advisor — a dedicated GM employee on standby for the duration of their ownership to help them with any problems with the car). The full text of the letter’s below.
The letter includes news that GM will offer a GM loaner to any Volt owner worried about driving their car can drive a loaner car from GM until the situation’s resolved. But the verbiage in the letter — “we will provide you a GM vehicle” — piqued my curiosity.
What car would the General be handing out to owners of the automaker’s green machine? Any car GM makes? So… could you get a Corvette?
We’re not the only ones asking that question. So are several members of some of GM’s online fan forums. One forumite at GM-Volt.com said:
“I would temporally take a Corvette during the investigation. Other than that….. They aint takin my Volt!!!!”
So we called up a couple of folks at GM to find out — can you get a Corvette loaner if you’re scared your Chevy Volt will explode into a fireball after sitting in a wet parking lot for three weeks after a car accident?
It turns out the answer is yes. GM will absolutely put you in a Corvette if that’s what you so desire.
“Theoretically if you wanted to get into a Corvette, the customer’s Volt Advisor will work to get them into one,” said GM spokesperson and part-time genie in a bottle, Greg Martin.
“Obviously the intent of this program is not to provide a long-term Corvette test drive, but our priority is to make sure the customer is satisfied.”
But Martin says that they’re not concerned about a rush of owners running to grab a Corvette ZR1 or a Camaro SS for a multi-month green reprieve. Mostly because the type of person who buys a Volt presumably isn’t interested in high horsepower for the type of drives they’re taking in a Volt.
Pity. Because although I’m a fan of the Volt as a daily driver in semi-urban areas with adequate electric infrastructure, I also know I’d be even more satisfied with a multi-month “Volt vacation” in a Corvette if I were an owner.
But I do have to admit that this is a very shrewd PR move by GM and the Volt team. It’s nice to see a company once known for “turtling up” in their shell-like Detroit bunker at the first sign of a problem finally being proactive and standing by their product.
Here’s the full text of the letter from Reuss:
Dear Volt Owner,
You may have seen the recent news articles regarding the NHTSA’s (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) safety investigation of the Chevrolet Volt. I’m writing you today with more details that, I think, will put things in perspective and make you feel better about your Volt.
First and foremost, I want to assure you of one very important thing: the Volt is a safe car. The Volt continues to have a 5 star overall vehicle score for safety in NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. It was also given a Top Safety Pick Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
There are good reasons the Volt is safe. Our team has put more than one million miles into making the Chevrolet Volt as safe as it is remarkable. After all, our families, neighbors, co-workers and friends are among those who own the cars we’re tasked with designing, engineering and manufacturing.
Here are the facts behind the most recent news articles. In May, the NHTSA ran one of its most severe crash tests at a test facility in Wisconsin. The Volt battery was damaged and the coolant line was ruptured. Three weeks later, an electrical fire involving the test vehicle occurred.
NHSTA, working with GM engineers, has been running a program of severe impact and intrusion tests on Volt battery assemblies as part of its effort to understand and replicate the May 2011 incident. Thanksgiving night, NHTSA told us that one of the batteries tested was involved in an electrical fire similar to the one that took place in Wisconsin. As a result NHTSA has begun a preliminary investigation of Chevrolet Volt battery assemblies.
We are aware of no real world consumer incidents that have produced a similar result. These recent tests show a very rare set of circumstances: A severe impact resulting in the battery and coolant lines being compromised. And then the passing of a significant amount of time before an electrical fire may take place.
The Volt is as safe as conventional vehicles for its occupants – before, during and immediately after a crash. When electrical energy is left in a battery after a severe crash it can be similar to leaving gasoline in a leaking fuel tank after severe damage. It’s important to drain the energy from the battery after a crash that compromises the battery’s integrity. GM and NHTSA’s focus and research continue to be on battery performance, handling, storage and disposal after a crash.
Even though there have been no customer incidents, we’re taking steps to ensure your peace of mind. If you are in any way uncomfortable driving your Volt as a result of this information, we want to make it right. We will provide you a GM vehicle to drive until this issue is resolved. Contact your Volt Advisor to make arrangements or to answer your questions. If you are not aware of your specific Volt Advisor, the contact information is: phone: 877-4-VOLT-INFO (877-486-5846) email: Voltda101@gmexpert.com.
We take enormous pride in Volt and what it represents-a new era of electric vehicles that can reduce dependence on gas, reduce air pollution, and more. On-going collaboration between the government, manufacturers and other stakeholders will enhance post crash protocols and accelerate acceptance of electric vehicles.
There is nothing more important to us at General Motors than the safety of our customers. We will continue to aid the NHTSA investigation in every way possible.
We stand 100% behind the quality and safety of the Chevrolet Volt – now and always.
Thank you for being a Volt owner. By the way I am also a Volt owner, my daughter drives it every day and she will continue to do so.
Mark Reuss
President GM North America and Volt Owner (#1457)
CU-Boulder, USCS to lead E-vehicle studies
Oct 17th
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – University of Colorado Boulder faculty will join with University of Colorado Colorado Springs faculty to teach courses in the design and implementation of electric vehicle drivetrains to new and retraining engineers.
The U.S. Department of Energy recently provided a five-year $954,000 grant to UCCS for the development of courses to prepare engineers for careers in developing new technologies for vehicles having electric drivetrains. The master’s-level courses will be taught by both UCCS and CU Boulder faculty members with expertise in batteries, battery controls, and power electronics.
The courses will be available through distance learning technologies such as online courses and, possibly, CISCO Telepresence, in addition to traditional in-person classrooms, making them available to people nationwide.
“There are thousands of engineers who have either been displaced as the U.S. auto industry shifted or who have an interest in learning about creating vehicles of the future,” Greg Plett, professor, UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science, said. “This program offers them the opportunity to retrain without relocating.”
Plett, the principal investigator on the project, has spent his career working with battery controls and has close relationships to many Colorado-based companies who manufacture batteries or their controls as well as large corporations such as General Motors. Plett is working with General Motors’ engineers on new methods for battery controls in future extended range electric vehicles, beyond the Chevy Volt.
The GATE Center of Excellence in Innovative Drivetrains in Electric Automotive Technology Education will provide students the opportunity to earn a graduate certificate in electric drivetrain technology by taking four courses in battery dynamics, battery controls, power electronics and detailed courses in adjustable alternating current drives. Plans also call for creating options for students in master’s of science in electrical engineering programs at UCCS and CU-Boulder to pursue specialization in fields such as battery controls, taught by UCCS faculty, and vehicle power electronics taught by CU-Boulder faculty members.
CU-Boulder faculty will build upon strengths of the Colorado Power Electronics Center research and education programs, including a highly successful Professional Certification in Power Electronics already offered online by the College of Engineering and Applied Science’s distance education program (http://cuengineeringonline.colorado.edu/)
“This program combines the strengths of the faculty of two CU campuses for the benefit of students,” Plett said.
Plett also believes the collaboration of faculty will lead to new research in battery technology. Battery life and power outputs have long been considered hindrances to the development of electric vehicles including cars, trucks and mass transit vehicles.
Plett envisions that fellowships to reduce the cost of the graduate coursework will be available with 30 to 40 students enrolled annually beginning with the fall 2012 semester.
Working with Plett will be Scott Trimboli, assistant professor, UCCS College of Engineering, and Regan Zane, associate professor, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, CU-Boulder, and Dragan Maksimovic, professor, Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, CU-Boulder.
For more about Plett, visit http://mocha-java.uccs.edu/. For more information about the UCCS College of Engineering and Applied Science, visit http://www.eas.uccs.edu/ .For more information about the CU-Boulder Department of Electrical, Computer, and Energy Engineering, visit http://ecee.colorado.edu/.