Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Hybrid, GM
Chevy Volt design lead Bob Boniface to lead new E-Flex studio in GM
IBob Boniface on the left reviewing the Volt design in the studio
It's being reported that the director of GM's Advanced Design Studio Bob Boniface has been tasked with heading up a new design unit within GM that will focus on developing new vehicles that use the new E-Flex powertrain. Bob led the team that created the exterior design of the Volt concept.
The fact that General Motors is creating a new design studio just to create vehicles that take advantage of the new electrically driven powertrain is another sign that the company is fully committed to producing vehicles like the Volt. ABG talked to Bob back in January at the Detroit Auto Show following the Volt introduction. If Bob's new team can bring the same flair to other vehicles that they demonstrated in the Volt, we can look forward to some very exciting environmentally friendly cars in the coming years.
Gallery: Chevy Volt Concept
[Source: AutoWeek]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mikeinBuilding7 4:40PM (6/01/2007)
Any models of what it's really going to look like?
Reply
susan.kraemer 7:53PM (6/01/2007)
Ha! He must be taking my advice:
I told Lutz that in the clothing biz, we show at least 5 designs for any new technology we come up with, (of course nothing in the fashion world is as gamechangingly new as the "all electric + a little gas safetynet" idea !) and I would not believe they are serious with the Volt unless they offered the technology in a range of styles!
Great news!
Reply
GreyFlcn 10:13PM (6/01/2007)
Volt is a great concept.
But considering the Volt won't be on the market in any number until 2011.
http://www.greyfalcon.net/volt
It basically worthless from an innovation standpoint.
By the time they get this thing out, manufacturers like Phoenix Motors and Tesla Motors will already have had multiple similar product lines out.
As usually they are forfieting the cutting edge.
Reply
mikeinBuilding7 8:45AM (6/02/2007)
- Looks like it's a "Compact" sized car or Chevy Malibu size.
- Will there be a smaler version?
Reply
Tim 9:17AM (6/02/2007)
GreyFlcn- Please help me understand your comment. The Volt (e-flex) is the first and ONLY series-electric PHEV in serious development on the planet. It is the ONLY electric car that can recharge itself. It is the ONLY electric car for those who are traveling more than 150 miles per trip. It is the only electric car for those who wouldn’t buy an electric car because they are afraid of what may happen if they should simply forget to plug it in. It is the ONLY electric car that can use electricity produced from a multitude of fuels. It is the ONLY electric car that can function as a standby generator. It is the ONLY electric car that will function like a highway capable IC vehicle that will be priced within the budget of the average consumer or around $30K.
Where exactly is the lack of innovation?
Reply
Rob 10:50AM (6/02/2007)
Tim - not the only one. The Ford Hy-Series Edge, actually working in the real world and not just a concept, is a very similar platform. Yeah, they have stated it will not see production, but hopefully they will wise up ( and utilize the flexibility of the design with options of ICE, fuel cell, etc ). But the Volt "concept" is certainly not the only series-electric PHEV.
Reply
GreyFlcn 2:45PM (6/02/2007)
A Series-PHEV isn't such a big leap once you already have a fully electric car.
All you are doing is attaching a small gasoline generator, and then doing an extra crash test.
Phoenix Motors, will have a Series-PHEV out years sooner than General Motors.
Perhaps as early as late 2008.
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/04/phoenix-motorcars-plugin.php
http://www.greyfalcon.net/electriccars.png
http://www.greyfalcon.net/phoenixsuv.png
http://www.greyfalcon.net/truck3
http://www.greyfalcon.net/truck
http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=377
_
Frankly, I just don't trust GM.
And a 4 year time horizon isn't much to gain any trust.
Add that even more to the fact that they keep saying that "the battery technology isn't here".
Even though that is patently false.
For instance, this his how GM advertised their last batch of electric cars:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOV3zDdKRqQ
There was a whole documentrary which focused mainly on GM's killing of their electric car program. (Although they we're alone)
http://www.greyfalcon.net/evmovie3
http://www.greyfalcon.net/evmovie
I just don't trust GM to self incriminate their current business model.
http://www.greyfalcon.net/evmovie2
Reply
Tim 5:23PM (6/02/2007)
Rob- The Ford Hy-Series Edge a non-starter. Why? I’m glad you asked…
(1) The Hy stands for Hydrogen. Ford has said nothing about using anything but fuel cells to produce electricity. (2) The US will never spend the $Trillions for an all new hydrogen infrastructure. (3) Hydrogen is an extremely inefficient energy carrier. (4) Fuel cells use precious metals and are therefore very expensive. (5) Fuel cells have a short lifespan. (6) Electric cars are 4 TIMES more efficient than even the best Hydrogen fuel cell cars http://www.physorg.com/news85074285.html (7) Altair just had 3rd party verification that their 35kw Nanosafe battery pack can be quick-charged in under 10 minutes.
Question: Is it cheaper to build an all new Hydrogen infrastructure and have tankers of the most explosive and lightest element running through town leaking H2 into the stratosphere, or should we just add transformers and quick charge stations to existing gas stations??? Take your time to think about it…
Anyway, nobody but Star Trek’s “Q” can simply ignore the laws of physics and everyone who is NOT receiving huge gov’t grants are beginning to understand that “The Hydrogen Economy” us just a scam and a ruse to stall our transition off oil. http://www.oilcrash.com/articles/h_scam.htm
These facts make e-Flex the ONLY serious series PHEV in development today. Even GM would not be wasting time & money on “hydrogen” fuel cells without Gov’t grants. Do I really trust GM? NO! Are they run by humans who make mistakes? Yes. Do I trust their greed and desire to survive? YES. The bottom line is that time will tell and if GM doesn’t build “e-flex”, someone else will.
Reply
Rob 11:07AM (6/03/2007)
Tim-
From previous articles --
"While a hydrogen Hy-Series for consumers might be a long way off, Ford says it could swap in a small gasoline or diesel engine for the hydrogen fuel cell and have a marketable vehicle in a couple years, provided the cost of lithium-ion battery packs comes down."
Basically, it is a very similar platform to the e-Flex/Volt.
Reply
alex 5:59PM (6/04/2007)
@greyflcn
the battery technology doesn't exist? why don't you tell that to toyota: http://espal.autoblog.com/2007/05/31/toyota-delays-introduction-of-li-ion-batteries-for-prius/
yes, prototypes of very large lithium ion batteries exist. that doesn't mean that the technology has been perfected to the point where the safety, durability and reliability of the batteries is so great that companies like GM and Toyota are ready to risk their brand image on them. and even once the technology does get to that point, they have to find ways to make it economically feasible to mass produce.
Reply
Erik 6:35PM (6/04/2007)
Yes there are many companies like Tesla and Phoenix that will have similar techonolgies. But at what cost? What is their capabilities for mass producing a vehicle for the average consumer? Even if these other companies beat GM to market by a couple of years it will not matter. GM is the only company that is working on such technology that has the production capacity and dealer network to make these vehicles cheap enough to sell to the average consumer and appeal to the mass market.
I don't understand the hatred for GM. The are the Only major auto manufacterer that is working on this level of technology. Do people actually belive that GM killed the electric car. Or are they upset that now the Volt has proved them wrong?
Reply