Volt test production starts

[Dr Mordrid]

Test production means cars built on the real production lines but for evaluation of the procedures and tooling; essentially they are 99% plus ready to go when it reaches this stage. Software development has about 4 more months to go.

Post-Federal tax credit price looks to be in the $29,500 range due to a larger than expected drop in the cost of the batteries from the original estimate of $1,000/kwh to just $400-$450/kwh. The US Govt. has dibs on the first 100 Volts produced for their fleet.

[Tjalfe]

$29.500US, with $1US=$0.98cdn, It would end up here at $40K or so, I would think

I forget, how was it they were dealing with heating the interior in winter time.. excess heat from the generator?

[Dr Mordrid]

Typical winter start condition would be for it to be plugged in at home, during which time the car can be pre-programmed (either by the dash touch screen or your iPhone) to pre-heat before you leave. During the drive the car is superinsulated plus it scavenges heat from the batteries and about everywhere else before it fires up some new-tech electric heaters that'll be used in a lot of EV, hybrid and plug-in vehicles. When it's in charge sustaining mode, or in deep cold, the generator fires up to get more amps to the heaters. Tested to to -40F and it only lost a couple miles of EV range doing this.

[VJ]

Typical winter start condition would be for it to be plugged in at home

What when you cannot plug it in?

[Dr Mordrid]

Optional roof solar array and that range extender generator can come on for a few to help heat if it's really cold.

[Tjalfe]

So, thinking ahead, what kind of power do I need to bring to the garage to get the fastest charging time?... as in, how many amps / what voltage can I charge with?

[Dr Mordrid]

Charges on 120/15 amp in 8 hours and the SAE J1772 EV connector spec it complies with can handle up to 80 amps @ 240v, though GM says 3 hours using a standard 240/30 amp connector. The charger is smart, and programmable either directly using the touch screen or via iPhone app, so it knows the difference. Cost is <= $1 per 40 mile charge here (as low as $0.40/charge if you have low rates). That translates into <= $30 per month to drive 1,200 miles if you drive 40 miles/day and presuming the range extender doesn't come on.

Heard a rumor that the touch screen can use skins (at least experimentally - 4 months of programming to go) and that one someone created was a Star Trek TNG style interface.