The First Pre-Production 2011 Chevy Volt Built at Detroit-Hamtramck Drives Off the Assembly Line

Pre-production Chevrolet Volts are being built at the Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant to test the assembly process. Watch as the very first Volt build at Detroit-Hamtramck rolls off the line, driven by plant manager Teri Quigley.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Chevy
• Chevrolet
• Volt
• VoltAge
• Voltec
• electric car
• electric vehicle
• extended range
• Detroit
• Hamtramck
• DHAM

[palmz4u]

@zoticus1 I guess if you hate the idea of getting an EPA estimated 200+ mpg, carry five people and their stuff in comfort and safety, and drive a car with zippy performance and good handling, then you can call it junk. Otherwise, this car is a undeniable breakthrough clear and simple.

[deathbecomesu187]

cool, i will own one of these. Not because i will help the planet and crap , cause i will just save money in gas.

[denisrenelara]

@palmz4u ... the volt on have space for 4 people

[BearFlight]

@palmz4u Personally I have no problem with people buying and driving electric/hybrid and electric cars, but even if the projection by our politicans of 1,000,000 plug-ins by 2015, that still means that only 0.3% of the US gasoline powered vehicle fleet will have been replaced. Hardly anything to jump for joy about. As a society, the world has no choice but to find a viable replacement for "gasoline", if we don't, the world will run out of oil by 2100-2120.

[BearFlight]

@palmz4u The really interesting thing, for example, is that the Ford Mondeo (Taurus), running EUD fuel with Ford's 2.0 TDCi engine, has a smaller carbon footprint than the Chevrolet Volt (when up-stream and down-stream emissions are factored in). Because EUD powered vehicles already exsist everywhere (Europe and Asia), they are the perfect bridge to Liquid Hydrogen and its estimated that 90% USA fleet conversion to Liquid Hydrogen could be accomplished in 30-40 years.

[BearFlight]

@palmz4u I certainly don't doubt what you say, I am only reporting what GM is saying in their monthly report, nothing else (I'm just the messager, so don't shoot me, LOL). Exxon/Mobil claims they should get the price of the battery pack down by half, if sales of Hybrids and the plug-ins develop as hoped, but that's to be seen. What needs to be done in the next few months is to get the EPA and CARB to revamp their motor fuel regulations so we can get EUD fuel here in the USA.

[palmz4u]

@BearFlight CNN reports that GM has announced 2011 production to increase to 25,000 units and 120,000 units in 2012 which will reduce the Volt's cost of production by more than $7,000.00 and GM predicts with the federal tax credit, the MSRP will drop into the mid $20s and possibly low $20's with continued cost savings, especially with the current $10,000 battery pack. I happen to know several people who are patiently awaiting delivery of their Volts. The Volt is VERY HOT here in CA!!!!

[BearFlight]

@palmz4u Your statement about GM increasing production to 120,000 units in 2012 is not wrong, just dated. GM made that announcement in December of 2010, when they had over 55,000 pre-orders for the Volt, as it entered production, but as the Volt started hitting the showroom floors in the pre-selected sales areas, the pre-orders fell away. According to the report GM released Thursday (3/3/11), they have an inventory of 1,100 unsold Volts as of 2/15/11.

[BearFlight]

@palmz4u GM's announcement about their reducing their projection of 2011 sales (down to 10,000 for the 2011 calender year) that I quoted is from GM themselves and is in their monthly report released on Thursday (3/3/11). For further information, refer to Motor City Times (a Detroit industry news magazine). Consumers are pulling their pre-orders for the Volt, but its anyone's guess as to why! Most likely its the cost, but there may also be some dealer packing involved as well.

[BearFlight]

@palmz4u Hydrogen is costly to produce, but only under the current technology. Hydrogen is currently produced by a process called "reverse osmosis" from Natural Gas, but future production will by a similar process from water. Liquid Hydrogen has 2.76 times the energy per pound as gasoline and is the ONLY viable replacement fuel for gasoline that can be produced in the volume required. June of 2008 the US daily use of gasoline hit 397MGPD, but that dropped to 362MGPD in 2010 average.

[palmz4u]

@BearFlight Wrong again. GM has announced increased production at 120,000 units for 2012. The 10,000 for 2011 is actually an increase from the original 7,500 gradual start-up production. Supply is way shorter that increasing demand.

[palmz4u]

@BearFlight Revised. Chevy has upped production estimates for 2012 to 120,000 Volts because demand has risen substantially since its release. GM is purposely trickling out new Volts to make sure quality is at its peak before increasing production in a month or two. Demand WAY outstrips supply. You mention one measly dealer amongst hundreds selling Volts as proof of waining demand??? Not a good way to get real numbers.