GM Reaffirms Volt's Status as an Electric Vehicle - Edmunds.com Wrong, Again

Looking to create controversy where none exists, Edmunds steps in "it" again

By Marc J. Rauch
Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher
THE AUTO CHANNEL

Ever since Edmunds.com starting raising and pissing away millions of investors' dollars in an attempt to convert itself from a car price guide to a broader automotive media outlet, such as TheAutoChannel.com for example, it seems that they have engaged in a campaign to get themselves in the public eye (perfectly understandable) by publishing almost any claptrap opinion (not so understandable or honorable) that can get them some notoriety. The latest effort concerns Edmunds attempt to cast General Motors as having lied and mislead the public about their forthcoming Chevrolet Volt.

Edmunds story, “GM Lied: Chevy Volt Is Not a True EV” was published yesterday on their InsideLine website after GM issued a press release with updated information about the Volt. You can read the Edmunds story by clicking here.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Voltec Drive Unit 4ET50

The Chevy Volt has always been portrayed as an electric vehicle; that is to say a vehicle that is propelled by an electric motor that causes the wheels to turn. It was also always portrayed that the electric motor would receive its power from on-board batteries that were charged via a plug and/or by a small on-board internal combustion generator. GM always stated that once the battery charge was depleted (or near depletion) that the generator would kick in and send power to the batteries and electric motor. By comparison, the typical hybrid vehicle uses either an electric motor or an internal combustion engine to turn the wheels. In a hybrid scenario it is possible, and most often probable that the internal combustion engine would be relied upon exclusively for any given journey. This is not the case with the Chevy Volt that can travel at up to 100 MPH and travel a defined distance without the gasoline generator ever coming online; indeed, the vehicle will operate without there being any liquid fuel in the fuel tank.

In the GM press release of October 11th, they issued no information that contradicted their previous statements, they merely provided greater details. The complete GM statement is included below.

However, Edmunds interpreted the new information so as to say that GM lied about the Volt. The Edmunds’ interpretation appears to be Edmunds’ alone, and to be wrong. As a newer statement by GM points out: “There is no direct mechanical connection between the Volt’s extended-range 1.4L engine (the gasoline generator) and the drive wheels.”

In addition, in a phone conversation that I had today with GM spokesman Randy Fox, Randy reiterated that the Chevrolet Volt is an electric car and that the only motor in the Volt that turns the drive wheels is a 100% electric motor. The gasoline generator is only used to charge the batteries and, when necessary for high speed, send additional electric power to the electric motor. Unless Randy outright lied to me, the Chevrolet Volt is an electric car. And unless Randy lied to me Edmunds has once again stepped in a great big stinky pile. Hey Jeremy, please don't come into my house wearing those shoes!

Perhaps Edmunds should raise another ten or twenty million of someone else's money and find some more empty-headed analysts to provide knuckleheaded commentary.

Chevrolet Volt Electric Drive: Engineered for Efficiency

DETROIT – October 11, 2010: As GM has started the media launch program for the Chevrolet Volt, some confusion has emerged about details of the Volt’s drive technology.

The engineering of the Voltec electric drive unit is very sophisticated. As part of the media launch, we're diving deeper into how the system works than we have in the past. We did not share all the details until now because the information was competitive and we awaited patent approvals. Following a small number of inaccurate media reports, we want to clarify a few points.

The Volt has an innovative electric drive system that can deliver power in both pure electric and extended range driving. The Voltec electric drive cannot operate without power from the electric motors. If the traction motor is disabled, the range-extending internal combustion engine cannot drive the vehicle by itself.

There is no direct mechanical connection (fixed gear ratio) between the Volt’s extended-range 1.4L engine and the drive wheels. In extended-range driving, the engine generates power that is fed through the drive unit and is balanced by the generator and traction motor. The resulting power flow provides a 10 to 15 percent improvement in highway fuel economy.

Our overriding objective in developing the Voltec electric drive was to deliver the most efficient, yet fun-to-drive experience in both pure electric and extended-range driving. We think our unique technology lives up to its most important promise: delivering our customers with the only EV that can be their primary vehicle, with EV operation for normal daily driving, and extended range driving for weekends, holidays, and longer trips – all with no range anxiety.