General Motors has just released its Super Bowl XLVI commercial for the Chevrolet Volt for the big game on Sunday.

Titled ‘Aliens’, the 30-second spot shows the curiosity about the Volt and its electric powertrain extends to extraterrestrial beings from galaxies far, far away.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

Sales of the Chevrolet Volt dropped sharply in January with GM only selling 603 units. Blame for the drop in sales goes to the negative publicity the Volt has received from a government safety investigation.

January 2012 turned out to be the worst month for the Volt since August, where it was only delivered to 302 customers. During the fourth quarter of 2011, GM averaged monthly sales of 1,259 units.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

GM executives say that they are unable to gauge the demand for the Chevrolet Volt until May or June due to the availability being tight and some dealers still receiving their first batch.

In 2011, a total of 7,671 Volts were sold, way short of GM’s 10,000 goal.

Refresher: The 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

The Chevrolet Volt has been under a lot of scrutiny after a crashed Volt’s battery shorted by coolant caught on fire three weeks after a test by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Ever since, the Volt has become a top-topic for right wingers.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Bob Lutz, who conceived the Volt with a team of advanced engineers, has now written an article asking right wingers to stop attacking the Volt.

Some of the points Lutz points out:

1. Not one Chevrolet Volt has ever caught fire in normal use or in accidents. Not a single one.
2. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, even after the highly artificial crash test (placing the car on its back, even though it did not roll over in the test) nevertheless awarded the Volt NHTSA’s highest crash-safety rating: 5 stars. Volt is supremely safe.
3. The crashed Volt, its battery shorted by coolant from the period unjustifiably spent “feet up,” caught fire three weeks after said test. (I submit that this would provide adequate time for surviving passengers to exit the vehicle.).

Check out Lutz’s article on Forbes here.

- By: Omar Rana

GM North America President Mark Reuss has admitted that the Chevrolet Volt sales numbers have significantly dropped for the month of January due to the bad publicity currently surrounding the model.

Reuss sites the government investigation of the Volt crash test fire is “definitely a component” that contributes to this month’s dip in sales. In contrast, December was the model’s best month, with roughly 1,530 unit sold out of the entire year’s 7,700 total.

Currently, GM is changing courses with its marketing for the Volt to attempt to build the model’s reputation back up. Airing a new commercial dubbed “Morning in Hamtramck” is one of the first steps, which is an ad that emphasizes the car’s Detroit roots that will run for a month.

Another approach GM has taken is the “open letter to America” thanking those that stand by the car, written by CEO Dan Akerson, along with his testimony Wednesday during the Volt fire hearing. Akerson still claims the Volt is a safe vehicle, and Ray LaHood, Transportation Secretary, agrees. LaHood also denies any government interference in the investigation of the Volt fire and believes the releasing the information on the investigation was premature.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: DetroitNews

New technology is in the works via OnStar and PJM Interconnection that will allow Chevrolet Volt owners to use renewable energy to charge up their EV’s.

PJM Interconnection’s role in the system is to collect data on the percentage of renewable energy that is available on the grid, and then transfer it on to the OnStar cloud, dubbed the Advanced Telematics Operating Management System. The ATOMS system would then manage the charging from there.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Google’s ‘Gfleet’ is being used by OnStar and Google to test the technology on 17 Volts. “This demonstration shows that in the near future customers will have a real signal of demand for renewable energy,” said Nick Pudar, OnStar vice president of planning and business development. “As customers configure their Volts to favor renewable energy for their charging cycle, this real demand signal will influence utilities to tap into renewable sources.”

Refresher: The 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

In order to tap in to a niche market, GM has decided to try and grab buyer’s attention with a modified version of the Chevrolet Volt model.

In certain regions throughout the U.S., car-pool stickers are offered up on some models, such as the Toyota Prius. To try and grab a bigger piece of the market, the Volt will now be released modified to be able to drive in carpool lanes with only one driver, something very few models qualify to do.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

The new model will probably come badged as a special edition, only for release in California. Given the states proclivity to all things ‘green’ and the 30% of sales that went to the state last year, it’s probable that the new Volt variant will be a success.

Check out the vehicle’s mentioned in this article:

• Toyota Prius V
• Chevrolet Volt

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: USAToday

In just 10 short weeks, the Toyota Prius v managed to outsell the Chevrolet Volt that was available for all of 2011.

GM sold 7,671 units in 2011, and 7,997 in its first 13 months, while the Prius v hit dealers in October 2011, and by the last week in December 8,399 had rolled off Toyota’s lots.

With a 220,000 unit sales goal for all Prius variants, Toyota is looking to boost its sales by 60% from last year. Missing its goal by 10,000 units last year, GM struggled with production and availability, along with crash fire investigations. In addition to these issues, the Prius starts at $26,400, while the Volt has a price tag of $39,145, another contributing factor to the quick success of the Prius.

Overall, Hybrid sales make up just 2.2% last year’s auto sales, down from the previous year’s 2.4%. While Nissan missed its sales goal of 10,000 units for last year, 9,674 Leaf models were still sold.

Check out the vehicle’s mentioned in this article:

• Toyota Prius V
• Chevrolet Volt

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: Free Press

General Motors CEO Dan Akerson agreed yesterday to testify in front of a U.S. House panel next week regarding how safety regulators handled the investigation into Chevrolet Volt crash fire risks.

“Dan has agreed to testify at the hearing, and he looks forward to doing it,” GM spokesman Greg Martin told The Detroit News. This will be Akerson’s first testimony on Capitol Hill since he took over as CEO of GM in September 2010.

Check out more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is also expected to hear from David Strickland, administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The hearing is scheduled for Jan. 25 and will be titled “Volt Vehicle Fire: What did NHTSA know and when did they know it?”

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

It seems that the great brouhaha over the Chevy Volt fires may be coming to a close as there is a soft recall out for all 3,800 Volts out there. The meat and potatoes of the fix involves reinforcement of the battery enclosure and a sensor to monitor coolant leaks.

The nature of the recall is one of cost cutting; given that GM is offering a few paltry dealer incentives for Saab owners, it makes sense that they only chose to offer the fix as a voluntary action. The free fix will also be offered to the European equivalent: the Opel Ampera.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has approved of the recall. Administrator David Strickland said he is “comfortable” with the recall, but the investigation produced by the crash test fires is far from over.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

The NHTSA is not finished investigating whether or not the recall, which involves a reinforced protection cell for the batteries in addition to a coolant leakage sensor will completely negate the risk of fire.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

2011 was a pretty outstanding year for new product launches in the electronics and automotive industry. However, what were the worst product flops of 2011?

Publication 24/7 Wall St. looked at the biggest product launches of 2011 in order to identify the worst top seven worst and guess what cars made the list? The Fiat 500 and the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

Read more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Obviously both products are fairly new to the U.S. market – the Fiat 500 being the only car that the brand came back to the U.S. with and the Chevrolet Volt being the first plug-in hybrid sedan on the road.

Click here for more news on the Fiat 500.

Your thoughts on these two failures? Let us know in the comments section after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Yahoo Finance

Following the Chevrolet Volt’s lithium-ion battery become the subject of a major NHTSA safety probe, GM said that it is moving to a less volatile battery chemistry for its upcoming Chevrolet Spark Electric that will go on sale in 2013.

GM said that it will be using phosphate-based lithium ion batteries from A123 Systems that are less likely to burn than other lithium chemistry.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Spark.

Obviously this shows how quickly the technology in electric and hybrid vehicles are changing. The Detroit automaker and other EV companies have started engineering future models with lithium-phosphate technology because the batteries cane be safer and can also last longer, said James Hall, principal of consulting firm 2953 Analytics Inc.

Details on Chevrolet Spark’s specific markets, range, quantities and pricing will be announced later.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

House Republicans have sent a letter over to General Motors CEO Dan Akerson asking him for a ‘detailed narrative’ on how the automaker learned about a fire risk involving the Chevrolet Volt’s lithium-ion battery. They have also asked why GM didn’t let the public know of the issue sooner.

The House’s Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has asked GM and NHTSA why they waited until November to tell owners, dealers and emergency personnel about a post-crash fire in June involving a crash test performed on the Volt. The test-Volt caught fire in a storage facility three weeks after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tested the vehicle for side-impact safety.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

However, GM and NHTSA didn’t announce the the fire had occurred until November.

“In light of the public outrage over Toyota’s delayed disclosure, why did GM fail to disclose safety deficiencies with the Volt for five months?” the letter asks Akerson.

Better have a good answer Akerson.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive news

General Motors engineers are close to finalizing proposed fixes for the Chevrolet Volt battery pack that engineers believe would get rid of the risk of fire being triggered days after a crash, according to sources that spoke with Reuters today.

The Volt has been under fire since the NHTSA opened a formal probe into the plug-in hybrid electric-car this past weekend following test results that caused electrical fires up to three weeks after crash test.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Sources say that the proposed repair would involve laminating the circuitry in the Volt’s battery pack, reinforcing the case surrounding the lithium-ion battery. The solution would better protect the coolant system from leaks in a severe crash.

GM engineers are expected to provide an update senior management by the end of the week. The fix is expected to be of relatively low-cost.

Refresher: The 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

GM CEO Dan Akerson has said that the company may redesign the battery of the Chevrolet Volt to address issues raised after the NHTSA opened a safety probe into the plug-in electric car.

“We want to assure the safety of our customers, of our buyers, and so we’re just going to take a time out, if you will, in terms of redesigning the battery possibly,” Akerson told Reuters in an interview.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher on Chevrolet Volt Lithium-ion Battery Problem:

• Report: Lithium-ion battery packs being investigated after Chevy Volt catches fire
• NHTSA opens formal safety investigation for Chevy Volts and its lithium-ion batteries
• GM to offer Chevy Volt owners a free loaner until NHTSA probe is complete
• Report: GM to buy back Volts if owners are worried about NHTSA investigation

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Automotive News

Earlier this week, General Motor said that it will allow any Chevrolet Volt owner concerned about safety a free GM vehicle loan until the NHTSA completes its investigation into the plug-in hybrid’s lithium-ion battery.

The NHTSA opened a formal probe into the Chevrolet Volt this past weekend following test results that caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle New Car Assessment Program side pole crash test.

In an effort to keep Volt customers satisfied, General Motor CEO Dan Akerson said that it is willing to buy back Volts from owners concerned about the government’s investigation and their safety.

“We’re considering it,” he said of the buyback. “What we’re finding is that we have an intensely loyal group of Volt owners.”

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Spokesman Greg Martin said that of the 6,400 Volt owners, only 33 have requested a loaner.

Personally, if I owned a Volt, I would just request a Chevrolet Corvette or a Cadillac CTS-V Coupe until NHTSA figured things out – but that’s just me.

Refresher: The 2012 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 2012 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 2012 Chevrolet Volt start at $39,995 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $32,495.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: Free Press

While the Chevrolet Volt may be in an awkward spotlight as The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration conducts a safety investigation on its batteries that can catch fire after being crash tested, the plug-in hybrid took the top spot in the Consumer Reports annual owner-satisfaction survey.

93 percent of the respondents who own GM’s Volt said they would definitely buy it again, making it the highest rated car in the survey. The only cars that came close were the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and the Porsche 911 – each earning a score of 91 percent.

“These models reflect a larger trend we’ve seen in recent years: Sporty cars and fuel efficient cars with alternative drivetrains tend to generate more enthusiasm and loyalty than most other types of vehicles,” said Rik Paul, Consumer Reports automotive editor.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Consumer Reports said that for each 27 models at least 80 percent of the respondents said that they would definitely buy the car again – 12 were sports cars or convertibles and nine were hybrids or diesels.

Other fuel-efficient models that earned Consumer Reports top ratings include a number of  hybrids, such as the Ford Fusion Hybrid, Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Lexus CT 200h and  RX 450h, and Toyota Prius, as well as diesel versions of the BMW X5 xDrive and  Volkswagen Golf and Jetta SportWagen. Sporty models that score well include the supercharged Audi S4, Audi A5 and S5, Chevrolet Camaro and Corvette, Ford Mustang GT, Mazda MX-5 Miata, and Mini Cooper Convertible.

- By: Omar Rana

Following the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s announcement that it will open a formal probe into the Chevrolet Volt this past weekend, General Motors today announced its plans for customer satisfaction and battery safety research to ensure confidence in Volt.

“The agency advised GM on Friday that it would open a preliminary evaluation of Volt battery assemblies after NHTSA test results caused electrical fires up to three weeks after an initial vehicle New Car Assessment Program side pole crash test,” GM said in a statement.

Mark Reuss, president, GM North America, said the company would take every step to assure the driving public of GM’s commitment to the safety of the Volt.

“The Volt is a five-star safety car. Even though no customer has experienced in the real world what was identified in this latest testing of post-crash situations, we’re taking critical steps to ensure customer satisfaction and safety,” Reuss said.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

Reuss reminds us that the question at hand is about dealing with the battery pack days and weeks after a severe crash, making it a matter of interest not just for the Volt but for every electric-car out there.

In the mean time, to keep customers satisfied GM will allow any Volt owner concerned about safety can contact his or her advisor to arrange for a free GM vehicle loan until resolution of the issue.

“A vehicle loan program of this nature is well beyond the norm for a preliminary investigation, and it underlines our commitment to the vehicle and its owners,” he said. “These steps are the right ones to take regardless of any immediate impact on our operations.”

- By: Omar Rana

Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that a test Chevrolet Volt vehicle used in its NCAP crash test in May caught fire three weeks later, causing the agency to question the safety of lithium-ion battery powered electric-cars.

The NHTSA now says that it has opened a formal safety defect investigation to assess the risk of fire in Volts that have been involved in a serious crash.

“Since that fire incident, NHTSA has taken a number of steps to gather additional information about the potential for fire in electric vehicles involved in a crash, including working with the Department of Energy and the Department of Defense-in close coordination with experts from General Motors-to complete rigorous tests of the Volt’s lithium-ion batteries,” NHTSA said in a statement.

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

A snippet from NHTSA’s statement:

In an effort to recreate the May test, NHTSA conducted three tests last week on the Volt’s lithium-ion battery packs that intentionally damaged the battery compartment and ruptured the vehicle’s coolant line. Following a test on November 16 that did not result in a fire, a temporary increase in temperature was recorded in a test on November 17. During the test conducted on November 18 using similar protocols, the battery pack was rotated within hours after it was impacted and began to smoke and emit sparks shortly after rotation to 180 degrees. NHTSA’s forensic analysis of the November 18 fire incident is continuing this week. Yesterday, the battery pack that was tested on November 17 and that had been continually monitored since the test caught fire at the testing facility. The agency is currently working with DOE, DOD, and GM to assess the cause and implications of yesterday’s fire. In each of the battery tests conducted in the past two weeks, the Volt’s battery was impacted and rotated to simulate a real-world, side-impact collision into a narrow object such as a tree or a pole followed by a rollover.

NHTSA is not aware of any roadway crashes that have resulted in battery-related fires in Chevy Volts or other vehicles powered by lithium-ion batteries. However, the agency is concerned that damage to the Volt’s batteries as part of three tests that are explicitly designed to replicate real-world crash scenarios have resulted in fire. NHTSA is therefore opening a safety defect investigation of Chevy Volts, which could experience a battery-related fire following a crash. Chevy Volt owners whose vehicles have not been in a serious crash do not have reason for concern.

While it is too soon to tell whether the investigation will lead to a recall of any vehicles or parts, if NHTSA identifies an unreasonable risk to safety, the agency will take immediate action to notify consumers and ensure that GM communicates with current vehicle owners.

- By: Omar Rana