GM 2008 Washington D.C. Auto Show

2008 Washington D.C.
Auto Show

Chevrolet Volt Extended-Range Electric Vehicle Concept Could Reduce Trips to the Gas Station

GM’s E-Flex propulsion system can make electricity to power the vehicle from hydrogen fuel cells, E85 ethanol or biodiesel

WASHINGTON, D.C. – For the past year, the Chevrolet Volt concept sedan and other GM concept vehicles powered by GM’s E-Flex electric propulsion system have energized car enthusiasts in the U.S. and abroad with their potential to greatly reduce trips to the gas station for many commuters, as well as greatly reduce CO2 emissions.

The Chevrolet Volt on display at the Washington Auto Show is a battery-powered, four-passenger extended-range electric vehicle with 40 miles of electric drive range, with a gas/E85 FlexFuel on-board engine to create additional electricity to extend the vehicle’s range. However, the E-Flex System can be designed to accommodate other sources of electricity, such as a hydrogen fuel cell or a biodiesel engine.

“Electric vehicles like the Volt represent nothing less than a transformation that affects both General Motors and the entire automotive industry," said GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz. "Fuel cell and battery electric technologies will radically alter the landscape for personal transportation for decades to come. It’s as big as the shift from horse-and-carriage to horseless carriage that happened a century ago."

GM has made considerable progress during the past year in making E-Flex a production reality. It is aggressively pursuing battery-development contracts with two leading suppliers and is expecting to receive experimental battery packs later this year. In addition, it has created a dedicated E-Flex Studio with 25 designers who will work on future E-Flex vehicle variants. The studio is led by Bob Boniface, the GM executive who led the design of the original Volt.

What is the E-Flex System?
Simply put, the “E” in E-Flex stands for electricity; “Flex” for the many ways to make and store it. In fact, GM introduced three E-Flex variants last year, including the FlexFuel Volt in the U.S.; a hydrogen fuel cell variant in China and the bio-diesel Opel Flextreme in Europe.

When its lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the FlexFuel Volt will be expected to deliver up to 40 miles of pure electric vehicle range. When the battery is depleted, a 1L, three-cylinder turbocharged engine will be designed to create enough additional electricity to provide triple-digit fuel economy. The Volt also can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day.

Some of the technology behind the Volt draws from GM’s previous experience in starting the modern electric vehicle market when it launched the EV1 in California in 1996: Many of the same engineers who worked on the EV1 are working on the Volt and E-Flex System.

Fuel-cell variant of the E-Flex system
The most recent fuel cell variant of the E-Flex System is the Cadillac Provoq concept, introduced earlier this month at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. This hydrogen fuel cell-concept can drive 300 miles (483 km) on a single fill of hydrogen – with 280 miles (450 km) from hydrogen and 20 miles (32 km) on pure, battery electric energy.

A pair of 10,000 psi (700 bar) composite storage tanks beneath the rear cargo floor hold 13.2 pounds (6 kg) of hydrogen to feed the fuel cell stack, located under the hood. There, hydrogen mixes with oxygen to generate electricity – up to 88 kW continuous power. A lithium-ion battery pack can store up to a total of 9kWh of electrical energy and also provides a peak of 60 kW of power for additional performance.

The electricity generated by the fuel cell is distributed to a 70 kW co-axial drive system for the front wheels and individual, 40 kW wheel hub motors on the rear wheels, giving the Cadillac Provoq its all-wheel-drive traction and great driving dynamics. Its 0-60 mph (approximately 100 km/h) speed of 8.5 seconds is a more than 30-percent improvement over the previous-generation fuel cell system and with instantaneous torque to the wheels, it feels even faster. Provoq has a top speed of 100 mph (160 km/h).

Battery development continues
Key to making the E-Flex System a reality is a large, reliable, lithium-ion battery. In August, GM and A123Sytems Inc. entered into a contract to co-develop cells with A123System’s nanophosphate battery chemistry for a long-lasting, safe and powerful battery for use in GM’s E-Flex System.

A123Systems, of Watertown, Mass., is considered a forerunner in the development of nanophosphate – based cell technology, which, compared to other lithium-ion battery chemistries, provides higher power output, longer life and safer operations over the life of the battery.

GM also has awarded two contracts for advanced development of battery packs – which require the integration of multiple battery cells – to Compact Power Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Korean battery manufacturer LG Chem, based in Troy, Mich.; and Frankfurt, Germany-based Continental Automotive Systems, a division of Continental A.G., a tier one automotive supplier. Under these agreements, one contract was awarded to CPI, which will use battery cells developed by parent company LG Chem. The contract with Continental calls for using the cells being co-developed by GM and A123Systems.

The promise of GM’s E-Flex System
The world’s growing demand for energy and its dependence on oil for transportation point to a need for diversifying energy sources.

For transportation, electricity offers impressive benefits, beginning with the ability to use a variety of fuel sources, including many that are renewable. GM’s E-Flex System will enable multiple propulsion systems to fit into a common chassis. Depending on the market, electricity could come from natural gas, coal, wind, hydroelectric, solar and the like. Another benefit of most electrically driven vehicles is that there are no emissions when they operate in all-electric mode.

“Whether your concern is energy security, global climate change, natural disasters, the high price of gas, the volatile pricing of a barrel of oil and the effect that unpredictability has on Wall Street – all of these issues point to a need for energy diversity,” said Larry Burns, GM vice president, research and development and planning.

“Today, there are more than 800 million cars and trucks in the world. In 15 years, that will grow to 1.1 billion vehicles. We can’t continue to be 98-percent dependent on oil to meet our transportation needs. We think E-Flex helps bring about the diversity that is needed. If electricity met only 10 percent of the world’s transportation needs, the impact would be huge.”

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 76 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 274,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2006, nearly 9.1 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, HUMMER, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. GM’s OnStar subsidiary is the industry leader in vehicle safety, security and information services. More information on GM can be found at www.gm.com.

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Specifications, features and performance capabilities subject to change without notice.

CONTACT(S):
Rob Peterson
GM Powertrain Communications
Phone: 248-857-4214
Mobile: 313-402-6326
E-mail: robert.d.peterson@gm.com

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