The upcoming Chevy Volt is going to have the ability to communicate with you via an Iphone App.  The application will sync with the Volt’s OnStar system, allowing its owner to monitor everything from the charging schedule to pre-set temperature settings inside the car (!).  A list of the functionalities can be seen below:

• * Display the car’s charging status and schedule charging. There is also an immediate ”charge now” override option
• * Display of the car’ state of charge, as well as electric and total ranges
• * Allow the driver to program grid-friendly charging times, so as to charge only when rates are low
• * Give the driver text or email notifications if the car wasn’t plugged in
• * Let the driver remotely precondition the vehicle’s cabin temperature using grid electricity when plugged in, operates both heating and air conditioning
• * Notify the driver if charging is for some reason interrupted, and when its fully charged
• * Display the car’s historic fuel economy performance data in mpg, electric only miles, and odometer reading

Sourced from here.

Other features such as remotely locking and unlocking your vehicle, and sending a request for it to blare its horn loudly to ease location in a crowded parking lot might become available soon, too.    Can anyone think of other possibilities that exist?

In addition to the Iphone, apps will be available for the BlackBerry and the Droid, Google’s open-sourced operating system.

The 2011 Volt is scheduled for release in mid-November.

Hitachi, Japan’s largest industrial electronics manufacturer, is devoting significant resources to capture the global car battery market.   Already, they are able to boast of the 100,000 hybrid car order that GM has placed for its lithium-ion batteries.  But, of course, that is not enough.   The Tokyo-based corporation is ramping up its capacity in order to accommodate the needs of 700,000 electric vehicles a year, a gain of 600%.

The Nikkei Business Daily has estimated the expansion costs at between $200 and $300 million.   The completion date would be somewhere around 2015, a time when many more plug-in models are set to hit the road.  The announcement is probably designed to instill confidence in electric-car manufacturers that Hitachi is taking its battery division seriously and will be ready and able to meet future demand.

The company plans on producing two new types of lithium-ion batteries for “next-generation” hybrid vehicles.   The design changes will reflect the industry goal of increased power storage with a reduction in weight and size.   And with many adept battery manufacturers all clamoring for the reputation of providing high quality at a discounted price, the increased production is sure to provide Hitachi with the logistical and engineering experience necessary to emerge as a leader.

Hitachi’s other clients for lithium-ion batteries include Isuzu Motors and Mitsubishi.   They are targeting sales of $1.04 billion by the year 2015 — when global sales of electric-car batteries are expected to surpass $6 billion, according to Nikkei.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

G

• The new Global Battery Systems Lab is located at the Warren Technical Center campus on the outskirts of Detroit. According to information coming from the company, it cost GM $25 million to construct, takes up 33,000 square feet, and employs over 1,000 engineers. The facility will operate 42 thermal chambers and 160 test channels that will expose batteries to real-world driving conditions and test the limits of their design and capacity. Included in the testing are 32 battery “cyclers” that will continuously charge and deplete battery cells for further efficiency studies. The battery headquarters will most likely be utilized by GM and its suppliers, LG Chem and Compact Power, to perfect the sort of lithium-ion batteries in the upcoming Volt and its successors.

While this new facility sounds like a definite step in the right direction to improve the technology and compete with Chinese battery heavyweights, some of the numbers don’t seem to add up. Firstly, $25 million is a very small number for a state-of-the art lab. To put it in perspective, Apple recently announced that it would be spending $1 billion on a server farm. Second, employing a thousand engineers would be very expensive – certainly exceeding the price tag that was given – and appears to be an excessive concentration in one facility. Additionally, the start date of construction was only last August and there is no word yet if more money is needed to operate and expand the center.

In the meantime, GM has plans to create a battery-focused engineering curriculum at the University of Michigan, around which they plan to construct another battery lab.

Amidst these developments, the speculation that the Volt program might be discontinued is probably going to quiet down, perhaps for good.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

There have been several prominent speculations over whether GM will abandon its plug-in program.   Keith Johnson, writing for the Wall Street Journal, has come out saying he believes the Volt will be an unpopular choice for consumers and the new government ownership.   He argues that with taxpayers now about to own 70% of the company, management will be trimming costs and focusing on models that are affordable and have a high certainty to sell well.   They can either cut the Volt line, or continue it in the hope that “either costs come down or consumers suddenly change their habits and run out to buy a $40,000 compact sedan.”

On the other side, Michael G. Richard writing for Treehugger.com,  believes in a more long-term approach.   Comparing the Volt to the Prius (back when oil was $20-$30/barrel), he argues that GM management will look towards a future where electric cars are in high-demand and oil prices are closer to the peak they hit in 2008.   Without introducing the Volt, they will not be able to learn about electric vehicle-technology and will thus “miss the boat” when its competitors are releasing 2nd and 3rd generation plug-in vehicles.

Is There an Internal Debate?

GM spokesman Tom Stephens proclaimed  earlier in the week that the Chevrolet Volt program has not been altered due to GM’s current financial woes.  According to Stephens, plans are still on track to bring  it to market by late 2010 — Additionally, they are even deciding on which other brand should get a vehicle based on the Volt’s Voltec technology.

Besides the optimistic statements from management,  Compact Power, GM’s battery supplier, recently offered their perspective that the Volt is GM’s highest priority program.  For now, at least, there does not seem to be any loss of commitment to the EV program.

Uncertain Future

There are dynamic forces at work affecting the supply and demand side of the electric vehicle equation.  The global recession has made consumers less apt to spend on a car with a $40,000 price tag that offers some green prestige.  Lower oil prices make the switch even less appealling.  On the other hand however, government subsidies and infrastructure spending by companies such as Better Place are providing  incentives that are hard to ignore.  If companies can plan for a future where charging stations are adequately dispersed, battery technology is improving, and competitors are cranking out newer and better models, it will be unwise to completely buck the trend.   Statements from the Saudi Arabian Oil Minister predicting  nearly $200/barrel oil within 2 years further that view.

With the flux in consumer spending habits and public/private expenditures, there is probably no real consensus within GM whether the Volt will be a success.  This is precisly why I believe they will continue the program.    Their survival will depend on diversification and an ability to respond to the market.   Keeping all their eggs in the combustion-engine basket could deliver a knockout blow should oil spike back up or a revolution in electric battery technology tags them as “behind the curve”.   As Mr. Richard argues, they need to have their first generation plug-in vehicle hit the market, not because it will be an instant success, but so they have the expertise and infrastructure in place to produce a best-seller years down the line.

Update (6/1/2009): Michael Moore, who has often spoken about GM and its problems, has blogged about his thoughts on the GM Bankruptcy affair.   Moore  offers his advice on how to save the entire  industrial complex built around automakers,  largely by advocating the development of an electric vehicle and light rail infrastructure.

Usually outspoken on issues of corporate incompetence, Moore takes on a more conciliatory and  foreward-looking tone.  It is an interesting read for anyone familiar with his historically “controversial” calls for action.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Called “The Business of Plugging In”, the conference will be held from October 19-21 at the MotorCity Hotel and Conference Center.  It will bring together various interest groups to discuss the future of plug-in electric vehicles.

“This conference will foster the dialogue among utilities, automakers, regulators, universities and other stakeholders to assess the environmental impacts of PEVs and to assist with the understanding of how widespread adoption of electric vehicles will impact the electric system,” said Al Fields of DTE, an energy company.

An executive from GM said before the conference said that the industry needed “customer-pleasing vehicles, a mature supply base, a capable/green grid, plug-in ready communities, and plug-in ready car buyers… the key stakeholders must work together to deliver great cars, outstanding batteries, convenient charging outlets, and real value for the money.”

It should come as no surprise that Detroit will start playing host to annual meetings around the topic of PEVs.  You could argue that they are a couple years behind in the game.  It’s hard to tell from the news release, however, how many high-powered corporations and investors will be attending; and once they get through discussing the major hurdles, will everyone still be as enthusiastic about the sector?

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts

Despite the financial troubles of the U.S. automaker, Patil says that he has not noticed any loss of commitment, claiming that “From GM’s side, it’s their highest priority program.”  Compact Power is a subsidiary of  LG Chem, Ltd., a South Korean battery supplier.

This statement, coming from a close supplier with supposed knowledge of GM’s future goals, provides insight that perhaps the automaker’s credibility, or even its future, is resting on the Volt.   Upper management will be pouring its resources and advertising dollars (courtesy of emergency government funds) into the car, which is scheduled to go into production at the end of 2010.

It is unclear how much success the P.U.M.A will bring GM.   However,  don’t be surprised to hear of further electric vehicle announcements  based on the design of the Volt.

Join the forum discussion on this post - (1) Posts