GM on track to cut the costs on next-generation Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt
2011 Chevrolet Volt

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson has been pushing company engineers to reduce the cost of producing the Chevrolet Volt by around $10,000. A senior GM executive today said that the company is ‘on track’ to reduce the cost of the second and third-generation Volt.

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“We have a cost reduction plan all the way through 2020 and Generation 3,” said Alan Taub, GM vice president for global research and development. “In fact, we’ve been challenged by our new leadership team to pull those earlier in time, and we’re on track to meet our new cost reduction targets.”

When asked if the costs was a $10,000 reduction, Taub didn’t provide an exact answer. He said that the company was “on track to meet our cost reductions.”

GM has sold about 1,200 Chevrolet Volts this year.

Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379   miles. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt start at $41,000 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $33,500.

2011 Chevrolet Volt:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News