Michigan wllz

The most fascinating automotive design and engineering work happening in the automotive industry is taking place inside a lab at General Motors’ Warren Technical Center.

That’s where GM is testing the battery pack that will power the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. The Volt and the battery pack at its heart are the most important things GM is working on right now. GM is betting that extended-range electrics are the future.

GM is promising that the Volt will be able to travel up to 40 miles on battery power alone after being plugged in to a standard 110-volt electrical outlet. While electric vehicles are not new, what is new is having a gasoline-powered electric generator on board to make sure the car isn’t stranded on the side of the road once the battery goes dead. The gasoline engine will allow the Volt to continue traveling for about 300 miles. Fill up at a gasoline station, and you’re good for another 300 miles. Sounds like any traditional car built these days.

GM says its research shows that most people drive less than 40 miles on their daily commute. Where traditional electric vehicles haven’t worked was for long trips, such as a vacation up north. On most days, Volt drivers will be able to drive to work and back home without waking up the gasoline engine. But on days when drivers want to go on vacation, their car won’t force them to end their trip in Detroit’s outer suburbs rather than going all the way to Traverse City.

The proof will be in the product. Too often in the past, GM has released special cars — think Chevrolet Corvair and Pontiac Fiero — before they were completely ready for public consumption. The Volt has all the makings of another effort by GM to roll out a special car before it is fully developed. The automaker is under tremendous pressure to get this car on the road and has accelerated the development time like few products in its history.

Getting the technology right at the outset will be critical as GM tries to entice buyers to invest in a car with a completely new powertrain concept. This isn’t like introducing the latest engine or transmission — the Volt will use a completely new propulsion system. While GM is performing exhaustive testing, it’s tough to predict just how the public will use their cars in real-world driving.

A lot of people will balk at the suggested retail price. While GM has not finalized numbers, a price of $40,000 has been suggested by some outside the company. Before you howl that $40K for an economy car is too much, consider a couple of factors. First, the government will offer a $7,500 tax credit. Second, new technology always costs more, and the early adopters will gladly pay for it so they can be the first on their block with the latest thing. The price will come down as GM reduces the cost of building the battery and as production volumes rise.

GM cannot afford to fail in the Volt’s introduction. The company has bet a large share of its limited resources that extended-range electric will be the powertrain of the future.

Denise Gray, director of Global Battery Systems for GM, speaks about the work of GM’s battery development center — http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid22879159001?bclid=22378947001&bctid=27101272001

Peek inside GM’s advanced battery lab — http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid22879159001?bclid=22378947001&bctid=28623261001