Dec 30
Tesla is arguably the tech world’s favorite electric vehicle manufacturer. Its CEO Elon Musk founded Tesla, SpaceX and PayPal. Now an investment trader and analyst is predicting Big Three auto … Continue reading
Aug 21
Smartphone wireless chargers are easier to find than ever, but built-in inductive systems for cars? Those we don’t see often. According to Bloomberg, General Motors will incorporate wireless charging systems for phones on some of its 2014 car models, joining the ranks of Toyota and Chrysler. Unlike the chargers aboard the 2013 Avalon and the Dodge Dart, however, GM’s cars will (officially) be the first ones to use Powermat. When the carmaker first announced a $5 million stake in Powermat in 2011, it said the Volt will be the first to offer the wireless charging perk. A two-year delay might have changed GM’s plans — it originally wanted to launch an in-car system in 2012 — but we won’t know for sure until the company releases official details.
Filed under: Wireless
Via: Autoblog
Source: Bloomberg
Aug 06
Chevy Volt sales have been stagnant to say the least, with inventory at double the healthy level at a 140-day supply of Volts just lying around waiting for owners. To combat this and get the car selling again, Chevy has announced that the 2014 model of the Volt will see a 13% price drop compared […]
Aug 06
While the price of a Model S may have increased ever-so-slightly, EVs for the rest of us are starting to become reasonable propositions. GM, for instance, has announced that next year’s Chevy Volt will be listed at $34,995, knocking $5,000 from the current list price. Of course, you’ll still have to pay an $810 handling fee on top of that, but federal and state incentives could cut the cost down to $27,495 — which might make you think twice about that i3.
Filed under: Transportation
Via: Daily Tech
Source: GM
Jun 14
Bosch recently released an $450 charging solution for EVs, but if you want to go wireless, it’s going to cost you a lot more. The company has formed an exclusive partnership with Evatran for the distribution and installation of its wireless chargers for the Nissan Leaf and Chevy Volt. Each Plugless Level 2 Electric Vehicle Charging System (now that’s a tongue-twister) costs $2,998 for the Volt and $3,098 for the Leaf, not including taxes and installation fees. It’s comprised of a wall-mounted control panel that provides electricity to the parking pad, which transmits power to your vehicle. You’ve got to admit it’s convenient when all you have to do to juice up is park on top of the pad, but would you actually shell out that much cash in the name of convenience when plugging a (cheaper) charger in is no Herculean task?
Via: Plugin Cars, Autoblog
Source: Bosch
Jun 11
Chevrolet‘s first attempt at a true hybrid vehicle isn’t going so well, and the company is boosting incentives just to get the cars rolling off of dealership lots. It turns out that Chevrolet has way too many Volts lying around, mostly due to the fact that Chevrolet is churning them off of the assembly line,
Dec 26
In November of 2011, American commercial airlines consumed 48.3 million gallons of fuel—every day—and paid a total of $49.8 billion that month to do so. And with increasingly tight operating budgets, fuel efficiency has quickly become a primary concern for the airlines. Boeing thinks one possible solution is its new plug-in hybrid jet concept that burns 70 percent less gas per flight with the help of the local power grid. More »
Nov 15
GM and ABB repurpose used Chevy Volt batteries to provide home backup power
Posted in: Today's Chili 
We’ve heard previously about GM’s and others’ plans to recycle and reuse electric vehicle batteries after they’ve outlived their automotive usefulness, and it looks like one of those possible solutions is making some considerable headway. GM and ABB, a company focused on power and automation technologies, have announced that they’ve successfully demonstrated an energy storage system built from five used Chevy Volt batteries, which would be capable of providing two hours of backup power for three to five average homes. As the companies note, while they’re no longer suitable for use in an electric vehicle, the average end-of-life battery has only used up about 30 percent of its charge, the rest of which can go a long way in other applications (especially when a few of them are paired together). Of course, this is all still just at the demonstration stage, but ABB’s Allen Burchett says this demo is an example of “how fast this research concept is turning into reality,” and that the next step is to test out how the system will actually work on the power grid.
Continue reading GM and ABB repurpose used Chevy Volt batteries to provide home backup power
Filed under: Misc, Transportation
GM and ABB repurpose used Chevy Volt batteries to provide home backup power originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 15 Nov 2012 23:46:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Nov 15
GM partners with ABB to create backup power storage units with old Volt batteries
Posted in: Today's ChiliOne of the biggest concerns many automotive manufacturers has with electric vehicles, and hybrids is what to do with the batteries once they are no longer appropriate for automotive use. General Motors has been conducting an investigation into what to do with the batteries from its Chevrolet Volt extended range electric vehicle once those batteries are removed from the vehicles. GM announced a partnership with ABB today to reuse those Volt batteries.
ABB and GM will repackage five used Volt batteries into a modular unit capable of providing two hours of electricity to 3 to 5 average American homes in the event of a power outage. The uninterruptible power supply and power balancing system was demonstrated during GM’s Electrification Experience recently. The prototype unit provides 20 kW of power and 50 kWh of energy to power off support lighting and audiovisual equipment used for the event.
During the GM event, the energy storage system was run in its remote power backup mode providing 100% of the power for the facility. The power from the battery packs was ran through the ABB Energy Storage Inverter system. GM and ABB say that similar application could be used to power a group of homes or small commercial buildings during a power outage.
The system is designed to allow for the storage of power during inexpensive periods for use during more expensive times of peak demand. Battery packs can also be used to make up for gaps in production from solar, wind, or other renewable power generation systems. There is no indication of exactly how much this uninterruptible power supply using five batteries would cost or when it would be available at this time.
GM partners with ABB to create backup power storage units with old Volt batteries is written by Shane McGlaun & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.
Oct 24
It looks like cars are not exempt from this thing known as firmware updates now, as General Motors (GM) has announced that their 2013 Chevrolet Volt (approximately 4,000 of these Volt plug-in hybrids were affected) would be on the receiving end of a firmware upgrade, and this exercise can be done after you send your ride back to your dealer. According to Michelle Malcho, a spokeswoman for General Motors, who mentioned over a telephone interview, this firmware upgrade is a must have, just to make sure that your precious new Chevy Volt would not end up stalling when in motion.
The issue lay with a delayed-charging function, where this particular feature enabled owners to preselect a convenient time to charge the Volt’s batteries, for example, when the electrical rates are at their lowest. Choosing such an option, however, would see the software run amok and could result in the electric motor shutting off at a different time, even while you drive. Good thing the power steering and brakes are still working under such situations, but it is dangerous nonetheless.
By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Chevrolet SS is first rear wheel drive performance sedan in a long time, Chevy Sonic does graffiti ,
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