Breaking News... GM CEO Fritz Henderson and Vice Chairman Robert Lutz are to announce this morning that the Chevrolet Volt will be certified with a city fuel efficiency of 230MPG when it begins production early next year.
GM Press Release (Press Event at Warren Technical Center later today)
WARREN, Mich. - The Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle is expected to achieve city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon, based on development testing using a draft EPA federal fuel economy methodology for labeling for plug-in electric vehicles.
The Volt, which is scheduled to start production in late 2010 as a 2011 model, is expected to travel up to 40 miles on electricity from a single battery charge and be able to extend its overall range to more than 300 miles with its flex fuel-powered engine-generator.
Bloomberg story below the fold. More details as they become available...
From Bloomberg
Aug. 11 (Bloomberg) -- General Motors Co. expects its Volt electric car to earn a fuel-economy rating of at least 230 miles per gallon for city driving, more than four times that of Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius hybrid, people familiar with the plans said.
Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson will announce the rating and combined city-highway mileage of more than 100 mpg today at a new-vehicle exhibition at GM’s technical center in Warren, Michigan, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the details aren’t public.
The Volt will receive “a higher number than anyone would expect,” GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, 77, said by e-mail yesterday. He wouldn’t say what the mileage will be.
GM said in September it reached an agreement with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on a testing method that would yield a rating of at least 100 mpg for the Volt, which will be able to go 40 miles (64 kilometers) on battery power before tapping an onboard gasoline engine for a recharge.
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From my diary doing the debate over whether or not to offer loan guarantees to the Detroit automakers.
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Detroit doesn't innovate - NOT TRUE
Think back to the last 5 major automotive trends in the past 40 years - RWD muscle cars (Ford and GM), FWD cars (GM), minivans (Chrysler), SUV's/pickups(SUV-Ford/Jeep, Pick-Up-Ford/GM), and hybrids (Toyota)- Detroit has led on four of those five.
- Furthermore, GM's dual mode hybrid system, may be more expensive than Toyota's Syngery Drive, but is highly superior in just about all technical aspects.
- GM is leading the push for the electrification of the automobile. Before anyone comes out and says that this is nothing but vaporware and a PR stunt, read this article from the Atlantic. Then look at this picture. Do you really think GM would spend billions and put all this time and energy into developing actual powertrains and mules for testing if they weren't going to release the car?
Photo of the Volt's powertrain undergoing testing at the GM campus in Warren MI
Powertrain mule putting the Volt mechanicals through their paces at the Milford Proving Grounds
Photos of the reveal of the production Chevrolet Volt at Renaissance Center (GM HQ) in Detroit.