"Lutz Says GM Will Have Production-Version Volts in Large Test Fleets Next Year" Green Car Advisor

Lutz Says GM Will Have Production-Version Volts in Large Test Fleets Next Year

By Scott Doggett, Contributor

General Motors Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Thursday that GM will have production versions of the Chevrolet Volt working in a large test fleet by late 2009.

Until now the General -- the automaker, not "Maximum Bob" -- has stated that the Volt would not enter production until 2010.

It's possible GM announced its accelerated Volt production schedule in response to Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe's statement earlier Thursday that Toyota will advance delivery of its plug-in hybrid to fourth quarter 2009 from 2010. The Volt is due in showrooms in late 2010.

But Lutz, speaking at an event in Illinois, told reporters he expects Toyota's plug-in will debut in controlled fleets only and in small numbers. He said GM will have production versions of the Volt working in a large test fleet before the end of next year.

Lutz said the Volt's lithium-ion batteries can take it 40 to 50 miles on a single charge. If a driver stays within that range, the car would never use gasoline. To go farther, the gas engine would come on to recharge the batteries.

Toyota has not released an electric-only range for its plug-in hybrid, which operates similar to its current Prius model by using both gasoline and electricity to propel the vehicle.

Lutz said such hybrids generally have a short electric-only range.

"After eight or 11 miles it reverts to being a completely normal gasoline-electric hybrid, which means you get about a 25-30 percent fuel savings, but the point is they do burn fuel," he said.

Lutz played down the fact that the Volt will also be dependent on gasoline once its batteries have been discharged. Although Chevy and Toyota's plug-ins have distinctly different architectures, it will be possible to compare the amount of gasoline displaced by electricity in each vehicle once Toyota provides mileage data for its plug-in.

Also, there is huge image value for whichever automaker can come out with a rechargeable car first, regardless of their other differences.

Justin Ward, manager of the Toyota's advanced powertrain program in the U.S., told the Associated Press recently that Toyota's design of blending gasoline and electric propulsion will be less costly than the Volt's design.

He said series hybrids like the Volt have larger, heavier battery packs and bigger electronic components to go with them, making them more costly.

Ward would not reveal the target price for Toyota's new version, but GM has said it will price the Volt between $35,000 and $40,000. The current Prius, which cannot be plugged in for recharging but runs on both gasoline and electric power, has a base price of $21,500.

Volt Battery Supplier Selected

In other news, Lutz said GM has chosen one of two competing battery suppliers for the Volt, but he wouldn't say which one.

Compact Power Inc. of Troy, Michigan, which is working with parent LG Chem of Korea, and Frankfurt, Germany-based Continental Automotive Systems, which is working with GM and A123 Systems Inc. of Watertown, Massachusetts, are competing to win the Volt battery contract.