What is GM's overall position...?
What global challenges have...?
What can we start doing now...?
How do you envision the auto...?
What is the Chevy Volt?
How is the Chevy Volt different...?
What is the driving range of...?
How long will it take to...?
GM has stated a goal of having...?
How much is each vehicle...?
How did GM make the decision...?
What are the advantages of...?
What is GM's overall position in the "path to electrification"?
At GM, we believe tomorrow's automobiles must be flexible enough to accommodate many different energy sources. And a key part of that flexibility will be enabled by the development of electrically driven cars.
Electrification of the vehicle is key because it will fundamentally improve all aspects of the automobile’s design and performance. Electric propulsion enables vehicles with zero tailpipe emissions that can be energized by a diverse array of locally produced energy sources, many of which are renewable.
Electrically driven vehicles will offer a diversity of energy generation and storage options, including battery, fuel cell, or internal combustion engine/electric generator set. They will also enable a variety of primary energy sources, such as renewable biofuels, nuclear power, or fossil fuels.
What global challenges have inspired the reinvention of the automobile?
Environment and population growth have lead us to the reinvention of the automobile. By the year 2030, the world’s population is expected to be about one third larger than it is today. That’s two billion more people—the equivalent of almost two more China’s. Energy demand worldwide is projected to be more than 50% higher than it was in 2006, with most of that growth coming from developing Asian countries, in particular China and India. Today, only 12% of the people in the world own automobiles—88% do not. But, as the population increases and economies thrive, more people are expected to.
Almost all of the energy used to power automobiles today comes from petroleum. However, it’s not likely that petroleum alone is going to be able to supply all of the world’s growing automotive energy needs. We have to find a way to meet the demand for more energy. Yet, we also need to address the long-term concerns about the environment.
What can we start doing now to prepare tomorrow's consumers for the next wave of transportation/power and energy technologies?
As we look to reinvent the automobile, there are clear societal concerns that need to be addressed such as reducing energy consumption, reducing greenhouse gas and tailpipe emissions, reducing accidents between vehicles and with pedestrians and cyclists, etc., and reducing congestion all at an affordable price. There are numerous competing technologies that can help with these concerns, but they fall mainly to two categories - electrification of the automobile (battery EV, fuel cell EV and extended range EV) to address energy and environmental issues, and the second is connectivity between vehicles and with roadside infrastructure to address accidents and congestion.
How do you envision the auto industry 20 years from now? What kind of vehicles will we be driving and what will fuel them?
Technology will make lots of things possible 20 years from now. For example, zero emissions vehicles running on renewable energy that can drive themselves and won't crash into each other or with pedestrians and can park in a fraction of the space required today and could cost less than today's vehicles are not out of the question. However, achieving this will depend on cooperation between governments, automakers and energy companies on the energy side. The biggest challenge with autonomous vehicles is not the technology, but consumer and societal attitudes such as privacy and liability. Different parts of the world with different cultures and legal attitudes may adopt this capability sooner than others.
What is the Chevy Volt?
The Chevy Volt is an extended-range electric car being developed by General Motors. It currently exists in pre-production prototype form only but GM reports they are fully committed to bring the car to production. In June 2008, GM’s board of directors voted to fund production of the vehicle, and in September 2008 the production version was unveiled. Mule vehicles have been running since 2008 and the first pre-production cars arrived in June 2009.
How is the Chevy Volt different than other cars on the road?
The car is a plug-in range-extended electric vehicle with an on-board gasoline generator. It will have a large battery that stores power from your home electric outlet and which is connected to an electric motor. The electric motor directly propels the car. The battery can last for the first 40 miles. After that, should one continue to need to drive, the on-board gasoline/E85 generator will power up to provide electricity for the motor.
What is the driving range of the Chevy Volt?
The car is being designed to drive at least 40 miles on pure electricity stored in the battery from overnight home charging. After that the gas engine will kick in and allow the car to be driven up to 300 miles on a full tank (~8 gallons) of gas.
How long will it take to recharge the Volt?
6.5 hours using a 110 volt (standard home) outlet, and about 3 hours if you have a 220 volt supply.
GM has stated a goal of having a feasible hydrogen powered vehicle by 2010. Do you really think you can make that?
GM is on track to be able to validate and design a fuel cell propulsion system by 2010 that is competitive with current combustion systems on durability and performance, and that ultimately can be built at scale affordability.
How quickly we see significant volumes of exciting, safe and affordable fuel cell vehicles on the market depends on many factors, including: cost-effective and conveniently-available hydrogen refueling for our customers; uniform codes & standards for hydrogen and hydrogen-fueled vehicles; and supportive government policies to help overcome the initial vehicle and refueling infrastructure investment hurdles. No one industry can go it alone. We are working these issues with governments, energy companies and other interested parties around the world.
The key to this technology is to be able to sell it in high volumes. We have to get the key parts of this technology perfected first. That means making it affordable, durable and with the same performance that customers already expect.
How much is each vehicle costing GM?
For competitive reasons, we do not disclose the costs of our vehicle development programs. I can tell you that GM has invested more than $1Billion dollars to date in its development of fuel cell technology.
How did GM make the decision to introduce hydrogen fuel cells in a Chevrolet Equinox?
For any meaningful impact relative to environment and energy, alternative propulsion system vehicles must be sold in high volumes. With Chevrolet being GM’s global volume brand it makes sense that Chevy would lead GM’s fuel cell charge.
What are the advantages of the Equinox Fuel Cell?
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