Chevy Volt chief engineer takes drive in first pre-production prototype [w/VIDEO]
Chevrolet Volt Integration prototype - Click above for high-res image gallery
The technicians and engineers at General Motors' Pre-Production operations center at the Warren, MI Tech Center have been hard at work for the last several weeks finishing up the first of about 75 integration prototypes of the Chevy Volt. They worked so hard, in fact, that the first car was completed a week ahead of schedule. These are the first actual running prototypes and include pretty much all of the production-intent hardware in a production body shell. As is typical of these integration prototypes, items like the light clusters aren't quite done yet. The intended bulbs are included in a flat black plastic cluster with the proper arrangement but the covers and internal sculpting are missing.
Chief engineer Andrew Farah took IVER #1 (that's Integration Vehicle Engineering Release #1) out for a brief drive after it was completed and checked out and, according to the video after the jump, everything worked smoothly. While the car looks pretty much like the Volt that was unveiled last September, if you look carefully you will notice one difference. From the original concept to the styling buck we have seen for the last nine months, the charge port was always hidden under the trim piece just ahead of the driver's side mirror. There is now a flap looking much like a gas cover just below that on the fender. The charge port sits behind that flap. According to Volt spokesman David Darovitz, this is the production intent configuration. Dave, we're ready for our test drive anytime, you have our number. Check out the video with Andrew Farah after the jump.
[Source: General Motors]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Shipey 1:02PM (6/25/2009)
Why the hell would you put a charge port on the driver's side and not on the left side, which is the side facing the curb?!
Seems like a glaring error for on-street charging, when and if it becomes available.
(If they have one port on each side they are forgiven.
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ShaunneyCakes 4:22PM (6/25/2009)
You know... I NEVER thought of that. May they are assuming drivers will pull into a garage and the left side would face the bulk of the house and powersource. But other than that... who knows. There is only one chargin port on the Volt models right now, but who knows what will be added to the absolute final for next year.
FThorn 5:33PM (6/25/2009)
There are no basements in California???????
You gotta be kidding me!
DKB_SATX 6:09PM (6/25/2009)
Shore-power connections should always be readily apparent from the operator's entry point... so for the Volt, on the driver's side since someone will always be getting in at that door and should hopefully see the connector. I would hope that the car's software would be aware that the charge connector is plugged in and wouldn't let you pull away, but one never knows.
Rick 10:10AM (6/26/2009)
I park on the right side of my garage. So I'd have to run the cord around the car to get to the right side.
If I bought this car, I'd have to wrap some black vinyl tape around that retarded chrome high belt line under the windows, or get it painted to match the body color. That is the stupidest thing I've ever seen and completely ruins the car's lines.
Shipey 1:02PM (6/25/2009)
Why the hell would you put a charge port on the driver's side and not on the left side, which is the side facing the curb?!
Seems like a glaring error for on-street charging, when and if it becomes available.
(If they have one port on each side they are forgiven.)
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:11PM (6/25/2009)
I would think because it'll make in-garage charging easier. I don't want to have to walk all the way around to the passenger side to plug my car in every night.
I don't know that curbside charging is viewed a main application for the Volt. "GM encouraged me to run an extension cord across my lawn and then (insert bad here)"
One on each side would be great, I don't expect to see that any more than we see two fillers on gas cars for convenience, and for the same reason, it would add noticeable cost.
kballs 1:42PM (6/25/2009)
Your other left... but you are correct. Any public on-street or parking spot charging systems will be either on the passenger side or at the front of the car, meaning you'd need a really long cable to reach the driver side charge port. This is why EVs need ports on both sides. Parking spots are not gas stations, you can't always just turn around and park the other direction (parallel parking, head-in only rules, etc.).
Aki 1:51PM (6/25/2009)
You have to seriously be fat/lazy to think walking a whopping 7 feet to the passenger side is a hassle.
I'd rather walk a couple feet and not have a cord hanging on the street to recharge than to save 0.2 calories by not walking a couple feet.
why not the LS2LS7? 2:20PM (6/25/2009)
Aki:
And your point is?
Here in California, some people can't even get out of the passenger side doors of their cars in their garages because they are the only storage space they have for junk (no basements here).
Other people (like in San Francisco) have less than 6" of room on the passenger side to the wall because their garages are so narrow. But you can be sure all these people found a way to access the driver's door.
In my house, only one side of the garage is electrified, the passenger side has no power (which sucks for other reasons, let me tell you). Although in houses on the other side of the street, the driver's side is the one where there is no power and they have to walk around their cars just to get into the house, so I guess they'd like it on the other side.
Danimal 2:22PM (6/25/2009)
If you look at any cutaway model of the Volt it clearly shows outlets on both sides.
http://www.alternative4energy.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/chevrolet-volt-concept-cutaway-1-lg.jpg
It took me 15 seconds to find this.
Judy Zik 2:23PM (6/25/2009)
Here in Canada we are quite used to plugging our vehicles in at night during the winter (block heaters). They generally just use a standard plug at the front of the vehicle so you can run the cord from either side. The best designs integrate this into a flip open door somewhere in the grill or front bumper. A simple extension cord is all you need so you can do it where ever you are. Why on earth wouldn't they use this tried and true design?
I am personally still curious about this plug that GM wants to make the new "standard" for cars. Don't we have enough plugs already on the market? The next question becomes what kind of power is this going to need? Are you going to have to going to have to pay an electrician to set up a Volt charging station in your garage for you? If they wanted to go with something that is higher Voltage than a regular plug why not use the typical high Voltage Stove/Dryer plug we all have in our homes already? Using a proprietary plug makes it far less likely that you are going to be able to find somewhere to charge away from home. Kind of rules out the family vacation unless there is some sort of wall-wart you can pack in your bag and opens you to the hassles of replacement plugs and interoperability we already have with laptops and cellphones.
Erik 2:24PM (6/25/2009)
It should be behind the rear license plate like the old school Caprice!
Willem B 2:53PM (6/25/2009)
@ Judy Zik
I'd imagine it would be a standard 110V plug on the "wall end" of the cord, and a special "Volt" plug on the other end, to ensure that you always use proper power to charge your Volt.
This way you can take your cable with you wherever you go and even plug it in on your electrically-serviced campsite!
Jimbo 3:04PM (6/25/2009)
I love how Californians think the rest of the country is just like them. Around here, 95% of the houses have basements and while garages are used for storage, most have room on both sides of the car. if curbside charging is to become the norm, the port will need to be on the passenger side or on the front or rear.
Danimal: That photo is of the concept, which still has the charge ports behind the A-pillar trim pieces. The presence of charge ports on both sides of the production model has not been confirmed.
why not the LS2LS7? 4:26PM (6/25/2009)
Jimbo:
It is not thinking everyone is like them to mention the specific issues of California. In order for the car to be viable, it has to be viable in California as well as in other places. So my comments are relevant. You trying to turn it into someone saying everyone is like Californians is ridiculous.
bvz 5:10PM (6/25/2009)
@Judy
I think the idea behind the new plug is several fold:
a) it has no exposed contact points (on either side of the connection), unlike the standard 220 dryer style outlet (of which there are several varieties as well I might add). When people are going to be plugging in and then unplugging several times per day, then you need to make sure there is no chance of an accidental electrocution.
b) it is more rugged than a standard plug (same reasons as stated above: the frequency of plugging and unplugging the thing.)
c) I can't remember, but I *think* it also carries data. That may be a feature of a competing design though. The idea behind that is that you can plug into a "public" outlet, and your car will pay for the electricity it consumes via some sort of automated payment.
MoonRover 5:36PM (6/25/2009)
All the charge plugs will be on the drivers side, it will be universal...
Sam Abuelsamid 9:11PM (6/25/2009)
Judy, the new plug is not a GM standard. The standard is being developed by a task force of the Society of Automotive Engineers, the same way most standards for motor vehicles are done. There are many reasons why none of the existing standard plugs like dryer or stove plugs are being used. Those plugs are not exposed to the elements and they are unplugged very infrequently. A socket for an electric vehicle has to withstand temperatures from -40 to 120+ degrees and all kinds of weather. It will also be connected and disconnected on a daily basis.
The J1772 standard defines a plug that can withstand at least 10,000 connection disconnection cycles. It also supports charging at 240V and 70A. It also supports communications between the vehicle and grid for billing purposes. Almost every automaker has committed to supporting this plug including Tesla. Read more about it here
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2009/04/21/sae-2009-sae-j1772-plug-standard-could-be-finalized-by-this-fal/
Shipey 1:03PM (6/25/2009)
Boo for double post. Sorry!
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