Electric
Chevrolet Volt Concept Debut at NAIAS
Text edited by Frank de Leeuw van Weenen
Photography by Brian Potter
Source: General Motors
01-08-2007
Click
here to see the original blog entry (will open a new window).
Spirited
design proves environmentally friendly
While
the technologically advanced Chevrolet Volt has the capability
to travel 40 miles on electricity alone, at first glance, the
concept could easily be mistaken as simply a design statement.
The
Volt conveys an immediate message of agility and sophistication,
with exterior proportions more commonly associated with classic
sports cars. Twenty-one-inch wheels and sheer, taut surface relationships
reiterate the statement. The Chevrolet Volt’s athletic design
challenges the notion that an environmentally conscious vehicle
can’t be beautiful and possess an aesthetic spirit that
matches its driving characteristics.
“We’ve
leveraged our resources around the globe to develop the design
aesthetic for the Volt,” said Ed Welburn, vice president,
GM Global Design. “It was important that the design capture
the face of Chevrolet as it’s recognized around the world.”
Design and engineering collaboration between GM designers and
GE Plastics, using unique material technology and design engineering
support, helped achieve the Volt’s distinctive appearance.
True to the heritage of its Chevrolet bowtie, the Volt’s
exterior design suggests spirited performance and is wrapped in
a stylish package, with classic Chevrolet performance cues that
hint at both Camaro and Corvette.
Inside,
a host of current or near-term technologies and materials, combined
with ingenious use of ambient light, creates an interior environment
that’s light, airy and thoughtful.
“First and foremost, this is an advanced technology vehicle
that uses little or no fuel at all. But we didn’t see any
reason why that should compromise its design,” said Anne
Asensio, executive director, GM Design. Asensio led the design
team that created the Volt concept, with designs solicited from
GM’s studios around the world.
“We wanted a size that connected with everyone, so we designed
a small car,” said Asensio. “In the end, the interior
design team from England inspired the final interior execution,
and the exterior was the work of the Michigan advanced design
team.
“Our job was to design a vehicle people could easily imagine
seeing on the road,” said Asensio. “It couldn’t
be a ‘science project,’ because that’s not what
this car is all about. It had to be realistic, executable and
carry the essence of the Chevrolet brand.”
Athletic,
bold exterior
Sized for an urban-centric lifestyle, the Volt concept sedan carries
dimensions similar to a Chevrolet Cobalt, with an overall length
of approximately 170 inches (4,318 mm), a height of 52.6 inches
(1,336 mm) and a width of 70.5 inches (1,791 mm). However, the
Volt’s proportions, dictated by the layout of its electrically
driven powertrain system, make it distinctly different from its
mainstream Cobalt sibling.
“The configuration of the drive and energy components dictated
we push the front wheels forward and outward to the corners,”
said Bob Boniface, design director, GM Design, and lead exterior
designer. “We wanted to keep the overall dimensions relatively
small. This is an urban-centric car, so it needs to fit into small
areas.”
The
Volt’s proportions, combined with large wheels, wide front
and rear tracks (64 inches / 163 mm, front and rear) and a tight
wheel-to-body relationship, enable a sporty, confident stance.
Other key proportional highlights include a dash-to-axle length
that positions the driver far rearward of the front wheels; large
21-inch by 7.5-inch wheels; short front and rear overhangs and
departure angles that deliver a sense of taut, compact energy.
Also, the offsets between the upper glass elements and tire planes
(the glass is inboard of the face of the tires) contribute to
the sedan’s balanced stance and enhance the vehicle’s
dynamic static image, resulting in pure, athletic proportions.
“What’s
beautiful about the proportions is that when you think about some
of the competitors out there, you tend to think of those vehicles
as ‘the sensible shoe,’ “said Boniface. “People
buy environmentally friendly cars because they feel it’s
the right thing to do, not necessarily because of their looks
or to make a fashion statement. But the Volt is different. It’s
something one would buy because it is so compelling to look at,
and the fact that it has the potential to never burn any gasoline
– that’s just a bonus.”
Transparent roof and beltline
The Volt’s roof, side glass and beltline are constructed
of GE Plastics transparent, glazed polycarbonate material that
delivers the scratch resistance and gloss surface appearance of
glass, combined with the formability of a plastic composite.
As
a result, the Volt provides the driver and occupants with exceptional
visibility, enabling a “city lights” theme in which
the outside world passes through to the interior of the vehicle.
Also contributing to the visibility is a shouldered, tinted side
glass – constructed of the same GE polycarbonate material
– that enables a dual beltline.
Additional
exterior design elements
In addition to the upper daylight opening and roof, key exterior
panels are made with a GE Plastics composite, and each –
in and of itself – is designed as an artful shape that could
be displayed on its own. As a result, the exterior panels fit
together like a well-crafted puzzle, with flowing surface-to-surface
cut lines that bring a sophisticated composition and overall harmony
to the Volt’s exterior appearance.
The front door hinges enable enhanced entry/egress to the vehicle,
as well as a graceful, forward-leaning door cut line. Milled from
billets of stainless steel, the hinges serve as design elements,
extending into the front quarter fenders and incorporating a plug-in
recharging port access on both sides of the vehicle.
The vehicle face – designed to carry a serious, confident
appearance – is clearly Chevrolet, with a twin-port front
grille, center-positioned bowtie and lower air intake. Horizontal
headlamps with aluminum bezels deliver a jeweled appearance, leading
to translucent light-emitting diode (LED) forward illumination
elements.
The underside of the vehicle consists of a flat, composite molded
belly pan that is integrated with the fascias and rockers for
a clean, uncluttered and finished appearance. The belly pan –
which contributes significantly to the Volt’s 0.30 coefficient
of drag – contributes to the sedan’s overall impression
of refinement and demonstrates the design of the underbody was
just as important as the upper body.
Thoughtful
interior
The interior environment of the Volt was designed to appeal to
an urban dweller who desires a smart, daily-use vehicle, according
to Wade Bryant, design director, GM Design.
“On
the interior of the Volt, you’ll find technologies, materials
and an environment that enable the car to help make life simpler
for a person who’s environmentally conscious and leads a
city-centered lifestyle,” said Bryant. “It’s
ergonomically correct, provides connectivity to the world, and
demonstrates smart responsibility through the use of lightweight,
recyclable materials.” Two such examples are the instrument
panel topper and steering wheel made with GE Plastics.
Bryant
said the interior environment of the four-passenger Volt is defined
by a host of current or near-term technologies and materials combined
with the ingenious use of ambient light. “It’s definitely
based in reality. All the things you see on the interior are within
reach in the next few years.”
According
to Bryant, the interior team and the exterior designers worked
closely together to make the Volt look like one vehicle. Two examples
of their collaboration are the dual beltline and the door hinge
that’s visible outside of the car. “We designed this
as one element that comes inside the door and becomes the interior
pull handle,” said Bryant. “It’s all about integration,
refinement and thoughtfulness.”
Super
Imaging instrument cluster
Super Imaging is an innovative, dual-mode technology display that
provides two visual levels of vehicle information to the driver
in the instrument cluster. It is a design innovation developed
to provide a primary interface between the driver and the vehicle’s
key feature: the next-generation, electrically driven propulsion
system.
“The
dual-mode instrument cluster was developed to highlight the car’s
plug-in capability,” said Bryant. “The powertrain
technology is the key feature, so we wanted to make sure the interior
communicated that, and the driver would have a sophisticated,
fun and useful interaction with the electric-drive system.”
The first level of information – configured similarly to
a conventional instrument cluster – provides traditional
data in the form of analog, three-dimensional (3D) LED displays,
including three gauges for fuel level, speedometer, odometer,
battery level and the transmission “PRNDL” indicator.
The second level of information – a transparent screen positioned
in front of the 3D LED displays – delivers color, animated
data related to the Volt’s advanced propulsion system with
a holographic-like appearance.
Super Imaging works by using invisible, fluorescent inks that
are printed on the transparent screen. When illuminated by an
ultraviolet (UV) laser projector located behind the instrument
cluster (from the driver’s perspective), the inks become
excited, and provide four-color illumination and animation.
Foam/fabric
surfaces
Compression-molded foam with a textile-patterned surface layer
is applied on the entire lower instrument panel, lower door trim
panels and rear quarter trim areas. The material enables soft,
tactile, low-gloss surfaces throughout the interior cabin that
appear hand-crafted and specifically tailored to the car.
This material, used in some of the latest luggage designs, enables
zippered access to traditional storage areas such as the glove
box, doors, etc. The material is very inexpensive, wears well
and enables flexibility in design.
Composite
panels
Molded GE plastic panels provide thin, structural interior surfaces
that can be cantilevered in space. The material is applied on
the upper instrument panel, seat backs, center console sides and
door inserts.
Light, strong, affordable and recyclable, the panels are sheathed
in reconstructed scrap leather to achieve a soft, hand-crafted
surface.
Use
of ambient light
The aspect of light – from outside and within the vehicle
– is played throughout the interior environment. Highlights
include a transparent upper roof that provides large quantities
of natural light and is enhanced with thinner pillars and rail
sections; Gelcore® LED indirect lighting around the roof periphery
that illuminates during evening hour entry/egress and can be seen
from outside the vehicle; LED functional storage lighting that
passes through transparent zippers and provides ambient light
during evening hours; and conductive ink controls situated on
the interior surface of the glass roof that provide touch access
to lights, OnStar buttons and more.
“All
the storage areas are lighted internally, and the light escapes
through the clear zippers, so you’ll always be able to find
your storage at night,” Bryant said. “It all adds
a nice little ambient effect, and the illumination will be color-keyed
to the instrumentation lighting color. It’s functional and
cool, and when you open it, light from the interior storage area
spills out.
“A
big enabler is the transparent upper roof. It provides the Volt
with more natural light than most other vehicles. It’s very
distinctive and appealing."
GM's
E-Flex system moves the automobile toward new electric age
General
Motors Corp. will introduce multiple propulsion systems that fit
into a common chassis, using electric drive to help the world
diversify energy sources and establish electricity from the grid
as one of those sources.
GM
refers to this family of propulsion systems as the “E-flex
System.”
“The
DNA of the automobile has not changed in more than 100 years,”
said Larry Burns, GM vice president of research and development
and strategic planning. “Vehicles still operate in pretty
much the same fashion as when Karl Benz introduced the ‘horseless
carriage’ in 1886.
“While
mechanical propulsion will be with us for many decades to come,
GM sees a market for various forms of electric vehicles, including
fuel cells and electric vehicles using gas and diesel engines
to extend the range. With our new E-flex concept, we can produce
electricity from gasoline, ethanol, bio-diesel or hydrogen.
“We
can tailor the propulsion to meet the specific needs and infrastructure
of a given market. For example, somebody in Brazil might use 100-percent
ethanol to power an engine generator and battery. A customer in
Shanghai might get hydrogen from the sun and create electricity
in a fuel cell. Meanwhile, a customer in Sweden might use wood
to create bio-diesel.”
The
Chevrolet Volt, introduced at the North American International
Auto Show in Detroit , is just the first variant of the E-flex
System. The Volt uses a large battery and a small, 1L turbo gasoline
engine to produce enough electricity to go up to 640 miles and
provide triple-digit fuel economy. GM will show other variations
of the propulsion systems at future auto shows.
• “GM is building a fuel cell variant that mirrors
the propulsion system in the Chevrolet Sequel (fuel cell vehicle),”
Burns said. “Instead of a big battery and a small engine
generator used in the Volt, we would use a fuel cell propulsion
system with a small battery to capture energy when the vehicle
brakes. Because the Volt is so small and lightweight, we would
need only about half of the hydrogen storage as the Sequel to
get 300 miles of range.”
Future concepts
might incorporate diesel generators, bio-diesel and pure ethanol
(E-100).
Electric
vehicle concept vehicle could nearly eliminate trips to the gas
station
General
Motors Corp. unveiled a new electric vehicle concept that could
nearly eliminate going to the gas station altogether.
The
concept car, called the Chevrolet Volt, is a battery-powered electric
vehicle that uses a gas engine to create additional electricity,
thereby extending its range. The Chevy Volt draws from GM’s
previous experience in starting the modern electric vehicle market
when it launched the EV1 in 1996, according to GM Vice Chairman
Robert A. Lutz.
“The
EV1 ‘died’ because it had limited range, limited room
for passengers or luggage, couldn’t climb a hill or run
the air conditioning without depleting the battery and no device
to get you home when your battery charge ran low,” Lutz
said. “The Chevrolet Volt is a new type of electric vehicle.
It addresses the range problem and has room for four to five passengers
and their stuff. You can climb a hill or turn on the air conditioning
and not worry about it.”
The
Chevrolet Volt can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt
outlet for approximately six hours each day. When the lithium-ion
battery is fully charged, the Volt can deliver 40 city miles of
pure electric vehicle range. When the battery is depleted, a 1-liter,
three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed,
or revolutions per minute (rpm), to create electricity and replenish
the battery. According to Lutz, this increases the fuel economy
and range.
“If
you lived within 30 miles from work (60 miles round trip) and
charged your vehicle every night when you came home or during
the day at work, you would get 150 miles per gallon,” Lutz
said. “More than half of all Americans live within 20 miles
of where they work (40 miles round trip). In that case, you might
never burn a drop of gas in the life of the car.”
To
further underscore the point, the Chevy Volt is designed to run
on E85, a blend of 15 percent gas and 85 percent ethanol. With
E85, fuel economy of 150 mpg using gasoline would translate into
more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon.
In
the event a driver forgets to charge the vehicle or goes on a
vacation far from home, the Volt would still get 50 mpg by using
the engine to convert gasoline into electricity and extend its
range up to 640 miles, more than double that of today’s
conventional vehicles.
One
technological breakthrough required to make this concept a reality
is a large lithium-ion battery. This type of electric car, which
the technical community calls an “EV range-extender,”
would require a battery pack that weighs nearly 400 pounds. Some
experts predict that such a battery – or a similar battery
– could be production-ready by 2010 to 2012.
Jon
Lauckner, GM vice president of Global Program Management, said
the Volt is uniquely built to accommodate a number of advanced
technology propulsion solutions that can give GM a competitive
advantage (Please see accompanying release on the GM E-flex System).
"Today's vehicles were designed around mechanical propulsion
systems that use petroleum as their primary source of fuel."
Lauckner said. Tomorrow's vehicles need to be developed around
a new propulsion architecture with electricity in mind. The Volt
is the first vehicle designed around GM's E-flex System.
“That’s
why we are also showing a variant of the Chevrolet Volt with a
hydrogen-powered fuel cell, instead of a gasoline engine EV range-extender,”
said Lauckner. “Or, you might have a diesel engine driving
the generator to create electricity, using bio-diesel. Finally,
a gasoline engine using 100-percent ethanol might be factored
into the mix. The point is, all of these alternatives are possible
with the E-flex System.”
The Volt concept is built on a modified future architecture, Lauckner
said, similar to the one GM uses for current small cars, such
as the Chevrolet Cobalt and HHR.
According
to Larry Burns, GM vice president for research and development
and strategic planning, the world’s growing demand for energy
and its dependence on oil for transportation is the common theme
behind today’s headlines.
“Whether
your concern is energy security, global climate change, natural
disasters, the high price of gas or the volatile pricing of a
barrel of oil and the effect that unpredictability has on Wall
Street – all these issues point to a need for energy diversity,”
Burns said.
“Today,
there are more than 800 million cars and trucks in the world.
In 15 years, that will grow to 1.1 billion vehicles. We can’t
continue to be 98-percent dependent on oil to meet our transportation
needs. Something has to give. We think the Chevy Volt helps bring
about the diversity that is needed. If electricity met only 10
percent of the world’s transportation needs, the impact
would be huge.”
GE
Ecomagination Technology to Help Drivers Skip the Pump
It’s
been nearly 100 years, but Thomas Edison’s belief in electricity
as a viable propulsion system for automobiles is one step closer
to reality due to the efforts of General Motors and General Electric.
Today, GE participated in General Motors’ unveiling of its
newest concept vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, at the North American
International Auto Show, in Detroit. The Volt’s E-Flex flexible
propulsion system offers a global blended range of transportation
energy solutions to regional energy issues and driving behavior.
GE Plastics played the role of a strategic partner in enabling
the design and development of the Chevrolet Volt, by contributing
the key materials technology and design engineering support to
help position the vehicle as a way to help the world diversify
its energy sources and to reduce the dependence on petroleum.
In
the United States alone, almost half the households have a daily
mileage of less than 30 miles per day. The Chevrolet Volt concept
vehicle is capable of 40 miles of pure electrical vehicle driving,
which according to the Environmental Protection Agency means that
for most drivers in the city, the Chevrolet Volt will use little
or no gasoline. In the spirit of ecomagination*, GE Plastics’
differentiated technologies helped reduce the Volt weight and
optimize its fuel efficiency so that drivers can now skip the
pump to extend their mileage and increase savings.
“GM’s
commitment to improving fuel economy, reducing vehicle emissions,
and developing electrically-driven vehicles is facilitated with
GE Plastics’ weight-reduction technologies on the Chevrolet
Volt concept car. We were able to take mass out of the Volt in
order to optimize its overall efficiency,” said General
Motors’ vice president of Global Program Management, Jon
Lauckner. “Through the independent auditor, GreenOrder,
we were also able to see clear positive environmental results
from working with GE Plastics,” said Lauckner.
“GE’s
history and leadership in technology innovation led to this great
opportunity to collaborate together with GM on the Volt”
said Gregory A. Adams, vice president for the Automotive business
at GE Plastics. “We were able to help GM in developing this
environmentally-responsible vehicle with outstanding performance,
strength and style. Together with GM, we assembled a joint project
team to drive forward the development of this monumental new electric
vehicle.”
GE
fuel saving technologies showcased on the Chevy Volt include:
• Roof made with Lexan* GLX resins and Exatec™
Coating Technology
• Rear Deck Lid and Fixed Side Glazing made with Lexan*
GLX resins and Exatec™ Coating Technology
• Doors and Hood made with Xenoy* iQ High Performance
ThermoPlastic Composites (HPPC)
• Global energy absorber and hybrid rear energy absorbers
with Xenoy iQ resins
• Steering Wheel and Instrument Panel with integrated
airbag chute made with Lexan* EXL resins
• Front Fenders made with Noryl GTX* resins
• Wire Coating made with Flexible Noryl* resins
“GE is
driving the next generation of materials: greener, lighter, with
aesthetically better properties that enable customers, such as
GM to create vehicles with a reduced environmental impact,”
said Greg Adams. "This effort builds upon each company’s
long-standing commitment to help improve the environment and we
are pleased to be working on such an visionary project.”
High-Tech
GE Plastics Pave the Way to a Greener Chevrolet Volt
GE Plastics understands the tremendous pressures its automotive
customers face with respect to developing fuel-efficient vehicles.
GE’s resins and newest composite technologies are some of
the key lightweight materials that helped GM to reduce mass on
the Volt. These materials also allow for less fuel consumption,
fewer carbon dioxide emissions, and improved overall performance.
Composites
are typically used in the aerospace industry and on racecars due
to their super lightweight structure and performance. GE Plastics,
in partnership with Azdel*, Inc., premieres its own version of
composites made with Xenoy iQ* resins on the Volt doors and hood.
The composite addresses three critical environmental concerns:
conserving energy, lowering greenhouse gas emissions, and up-cycling
or regenerating post-consumer waste such as PET plastic bottles.
Amanda
Roble, executive director for GE Plastics’ Automotive business
stated, “On the Volt, the fender, window glazings, instrument
panel and steering wheel can each offer from 30 to 50 percent
weight reduction per part. Wire running throughout the Volt is
made from non-halogenated GE plastics and reaches an approximate
25 percent weight reduction compared to traditional wire in automobiles.”
said Roble.
GreenOrder,
an environmental strategy firm based in New York, N.Y. that audited
the Volt claims, validated that if 3.2 million vehicles of 3,500
pounds were manufactured making use of GE Plastics’ weight
reducing components, greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced
by more than 194,000 tons each year - that is equivalent to the
amount of carbon dioxide absorbed by over 48,000 acres of forest.
It also is equal to more than 20 million gallons of oil that would
have been conserved each year or over 30 Olympic size swimming
pools or more than 470,000 barrels of oil.
Design
Signature Surfaces
When it comes to improving fuel economy, even the most discreet
design features can add up to significant fuel savings and improved
safety. GE’s plastics enabled GM Design custom styling cues
to differentiate the Volt from any other vehicle concept in the
world.
"The
overall solid shape, open-air roof, high beltline and powerful,
crisp fender forms of the Volt are made possible only with GE
design-enabling materials," said Bob Boniface, director of
GM’s Warren Advanced Design Studio.
The
transparent plastic window glazings instill a sense of openness,
while allowing drivers 360 degrees of clear vision and improved
safety. A scalloped hood, high shoulders, sinewy, and tight lines
are made possible through select GE Plastics resins, allowing
the GM designers to create exciting shapes and forms.
“The
distinctive styling of the Volt was the result of allowing the
GM design team to explore unique and elegant new possibilities
made possible by GE's alternative materials,” states Robert
Butterfield, global market director for Design Innovation at GE
Plastics’ Automotive business.
Leading-Edge
Preventative Occupant and Pedestrian Safety Systems
GM’s challenge in designing the Volt was to make safety
an aspirational aspect of the vehicle’s design and accordingly
two key GE technologies have been employed. The first key occupant
protection instrument panel system first premiered in the US in
2005 with GM, and its proven reliability is what makes it an integral
part of the Volt cockpit. With active occupant protection to brace
the front passenger, the automatically extending fragment free
airbag deployment is designed to keep the passenger safe prior
to an impending accident, to prepare both occupants and vehicle
for a collision.
The
second technology from GE is a global energy absorber designed
to meet pedestrian safety regulations worldwide. GE Plastics energy
absorbers allow the Volt to maintain aggressive vehicle styling
architecture, and meet both North American (FMVSS/CMVSS) and European
Union (Pedestrian Phase 2 of the Pedestrian Protection Directive)
bumper impact legislations.
To
read the specs on the 2007 Chevrolet Volt Concept, click here
to read the original article (will open a new window).
|
