volt

For all their differences under the hood, the electric cars coming to market do a pretty good job of disguising their electric identities. That will make these vehicles more attractive to potential buyers, but don't expect auto sales to flip electric like a light switch.

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to drive a number of electric vehicles at the Business of Plugging In auto industry conference in Detroit. I can report what many car reviewers will tell you: these are real cars. You really can forget that old notion of rickety golf carts.

Step into a … Read more

The Chevy Volt is as much a software engineering accomplishment as it was a mechanical engineering challenge, according to General Motors.

General Motors today plans to bring the Chevy Volt to IBM's Raleigh, N.C., offices to show off the electric car and celebrate its partnership with IBM's software business in making the Volt.

With the Volt, GM aimed to not only break new ground in electric powertrains but it also decided to make a demonstrably high-tech car, complete with an Internet connection and smartphone-inspired in-car controls. To make that happen, software engineers took on one of the … Read more

General Motors plans to produce as many as 60,000 Chevy Volt cars in 2012.

While not an official announcement, Doug Parks, GM's global vehicle line executive, told The Detroit News his company expects to produce 10,000 to 15,000 Volt electric cars in 2011, but that in 2012 GM may ramp up its production of the hybrid-electric car to as much as 60,000 cars.

"Starting in '12, we'll be in this max rate of 60,000....We have the ability to increase volume and crank that up, We don't have any firm plans … Read more

Getting to the bottom of the Chevy Volt fiasco, beaming your iPod screen on your dash, the littlest Aston Martin gets a green light, and the world's most advanced driving simulator.

• Is the Chevy Volt a fraud, or just unfairly parsed?

• iPhone as radar detector

• The Prius will get a bigger sibling

• 10 concept cars that got lost in translation

• Pioneer shows laser-based HUD

DETROIT--General Motors' OnStar subsidiary today unveiled a Web site that lets Chevy Volt drivers manage charge times and track their mileage.

The MyVolt.com site, which can be accessed from a PC or smartphone, lets Volt drivers schedule Volt charging much the way they would program a thermostat. Over time, OnStar will let people automate more features, such as radio station settings, from the Web, said OnStar president Chris Preuss here today.

The application includes a wizard that walks the driver through battery charge scheduling. A person could choose to have the Volt charge as soon as it's plugged … Read more

In an article being echoed around the Web, Motor Trend reporter Frank Markus lays out in detail how the Chevy Volt transmits power to its wheels. And unlike GM's press releases claim for the car, the power does not solely come from the electric motors.

According to GM's materials on the Volt, "When the battery energy is depleted, the Volt seamlessly transitions to extended-range mode. Power is inverted from a technically advanced, 1.4L 63-kW (84-hp) gasoline-powered onboard engine to the electric drive unit to provide up to 310 additional miles of range."

But GM left … Read more

GM debuted its Level 2 in-home charger for its soon-to-be released Chevrolet Volt, which will be priced at $490. That doesn't sound bad, considering the average price of gas is $2.73 (as of Oct. 4) and a full battery can get you 40 miles before the engine turns on. But factor in the installation costs for the in-home charging unit and you may face sticker shock at the plug.

The Voltec is expected to cost around $1,500 to install, depending on the region and amount of electrical work required to install the 240-volt charger. The upside on … Read more

General Motors today announced "Volt Unplugged," a 3,400-mile, cross-country tour to promote the launch of the $41,000 electric vehicle.

The tour kicks off October 9, 2010, in Seattle, Wash., and wraps up in Chicago, Illinois, on November 20. The Volt will be available next year in select markets.

"The Volt Unplugged tour will give people a chance to get behind the wheel of the Volt and find out for themselves what makes this vehicle so special," said Tony DiSalle, Chevrolet Volt product and marketing director. "This drive will demonstrate the one-of-a-kind capabilities of … Read more

In recent years, a few companies have taken a stab at creating consumer-friendly networked video systems that allow you to monitor your home remotely over the Web or on your mobile phone. With time, these systems, which people use to check in on their pets, property, nannies--or whatever--have improved in terms of reliability and ease of setup, but all too often there are some shortcomings.

Enter the Dropcam, a network-enabled Webcam produced by 88Volts, and using hardware made by a company called Axis. Two models are currently available: the standard Dropcam ($200), which just captures video, and the Dropcam Echo ($… Read more