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GM cuts workers and plants as it shifts focus to electric vehicles
General Motors announced today that is planning to lay off 15 percent of its contract workers, shutter five plants in North America, and discontinue production on six vehicle models next year. The move comes as part of a major restructuring of the car manufacturer that has been suffering from lagging sales. Going forward, GM intends to focus on electric and autonomous vehicle programs, just like basically every other car maker.
ICYMI: Watching plants grow and playing 'Mario Kart' with an actual car
Today on In Case You Missed It: The thought of watching a plant grow seems, well, boring. But researchers from the Institute of Science and Technology in Austria used lasers, fluorescent lights and a microscope to track the growth of a flowering weed's roots. The end result is a close-up 3D video that looks more like a glowing burrowing worm than a plant. The researchers also twisted the plate the plants are growing on to see how the roots adjust to changes in gravity, which could be helpful when we need to grow food in space.
The Chevy Volt is a fun hybrid that tiptoes into the future
I have to drive 40 miles and the 2016 Chevy Volt says I only have about 23 miles of charge left in the battery. No biggie: I have three quarters of a tank of gas. I hit the accelerator and the car's two electric motors push me onto the highway. Plug-in hybrids like the Volt are nothing new. But what makes this stand out from other EV/petroleum vehicles is that it doesn't look different from the rest of the cars on the road.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: Elon Musk's solar energy plan
It's been a good week for environmental news. For starters, world leaders sealed the deal on a historic climate agreement in Paris, President Obama announced the largest energy efficiency rule in US history and congress extended solar and wind tax credits for another five years. Elon Musk found a way to power the entire United States with solar energy, and Bernie Sanders declared war on global warming in his ambitious climate plan. Google expanded its free online solar power calculator to nine more states, while SolarPod launched an innovative line of photovoltaic panels that can be installed on any roof without drilling a single hole.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: The new Prius and a two-legged puppy
2016 is shaping up to be a tremendous year for green transportation. This week Honda announced plans to launch its Clarity Fuel Cell car next year in the US, while Gogoro is getting ready to roll out its battery-swapping Smartscooters in Europe. Chevrolet scored a grand slam as the 2016 Volt won the Green Car of the Year award, and we jumped behind the wheel of the completely redesigned 2016 Toyota Prius to give you the scoop. We also showcased two wild pedal-powered vehicles: a folding bike that weighs less than a watermelon and the world's longest bicycle, which stretches an absurd 117 feet.
GM and LG are working together on the Chevy Bolt electric car
In an unexpected, but interesting partnership, General Motors and LG today revealed they're working together on the development of the Chevy Bolt. This electric vehicle, which will reportedly launch in 2017 for $30,000, is expected to last over 200 miles on a single charge -- a lot more than the 2016 Volt hybrid. GM says LG's expertise in battery technology was a key factor to deem it a worthy associate, having previously worked with the South Korean company on the original Chevy Volt. As a result, LG is going to provide a number of components for the upcoming Bolt, including the onboard charger, battery cells and pack, battery heater and infotainment system.
GM powers data center with used Chevy Volt batteries
General Motors believes old Chevy Volt (and eventually, Bolt) batteries have a future as backup power sources for houses and buildings that use renewable energy. In fact, the company has repurposed five old Volt batteries to help power its data center in Milford, Michigan. They store energy generated by the center's 74-kilowatt solar array and wind turbines, and then feed the surplus back to the Milford campus grid. GM senior manager Pablo Valencia said that's possible, because the batteries retain 80 percent of their storage capacity, even after they're no longer ideal for cars.
Chevy previews next-gen Volt with location-based charging system
We'll be seeing the next-generation Chevy Volt in less than two months when GM launches it at the North American International Auto Show in January. But, for the sake of those who can't wait, the company has shown off a bit more of the 2016 hybrid model at an event in Los Angeles. While the first photo that came out in August only displayed the vehicle's logo, this series of images (there are more after the break) shows almost the whole front end with its redesigned silver grille and angular headlights. We still don't know if it's going to be significantly cheaper than its predecessor, but General Motors has at least revealed that the car will boast GPS location-based charging.
What you need to know about hybrid and electric cars
Nearly a hundred years ago, a deal between Henry Ford and Thomas Edison to make electric cars fell apart because 1914 battery technology wasn't up to the job. From then on, cars ran almost exclusively on gas, driving us straight into our current global warming mess. Now, Ford has joined companies like Tesla and Chevrolet to finally build electric vehicles en masse. Toyota started the craze with its gas-electric hybrid Prius, while Tesla's Elon Musk ditched hydrocarbons altogether with the all-electric Model S. Plug-in hybrids, meanwhile, are a shotgun marriage between the two -- but Toyota's plug-in Prius hybrid is drastically differently than Chevy's Volt. So why all the different technology? Let's go for a tour of the latest in electric and hybrid car tech.
GM reportedly working on a lower-cost Chevy Volt
When it comes to electric vehicles, the Chevrolet Volt is as mainstream a brand as it gets. But despite GM's efforts to make the Volt a top choice among EV buyers, demand for it hasn't been what the company expected since it began production in 2010. To turn this situation around, General Motors is said to be planning the release of a more affordable model of its Chevrolet Volt. According to a recent report from Reuters, the automaker has only sold 58,158 Volts to date, which is a staggering number when you consider that the Nissan Leaf has more than 80,000 total sales and counting.
IRL: BlackBerry Q10 and the Chevy Volt
Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment. Fun fact: IRL was inspired by long-term car reviews -- the sort of detailed write-ups you can't expect after just a week of testing. Appropriately enough, then, we've got some impressions of the Chevy Volt from Engadget Spanish editor Jose Andrade, who's already on his second model. Meanwhile, you'll also find some thoughts on the BlackBerry Q10 from who else but Canadian editor Jon Fingas.
GM and ABB repurpose used Chevy Volt batteries to provide home backup power
We've heard previously about GM's and others' plans to recycle and reuse electric vehicle batteries after they've outlived their automotive usefulness, and it looks like one of those possible solutions is making some considerable headway. GM and ABB, a company focused on power and automation technologies, have announced that they've successfully demonstrated an energy storage system built from five used Chevy Volt batteries, which would be capable of providing two hours of backup power for three to five average homes. As the companies note, while they're no longer suitable for use in an electric vehicle, the average end-of-life battery has only used up about 30 percent of its charge, the rest of which can go a long way in other applications (especially when a few of them are paired together). Of course, this is all still just at the demonstration stage, but ABB's Allen Burchett says this demo is an example of "how fast this research concept is turning into reality," and that the next step is to test out how the system will actually work on the power grid.
Chevy Volt EcoHub app tells drivers how little they pay to charge, goads them into staying green (video)
GM's OnStar team would really like us to stay on the electric side of the Chevy Volt's powertrain as much as possible. That's the selling point, after all. Rather than simply preach green driving and hope for the best, the division is testing a new EcoHub app that reminds Volt drivers just how miserly their plug-in hybrids can be. Qualifying owners who opt in or subscribe to OnStar have the Volt's energy usage costs compared to their home's total electricity bill, showing how much cheaper it can be to avoid the gas pump. There's more if money isn't enough of a motivator -- the app also builds in a counter that estimates how much gas Volt drivers are saving nationwide. The eco-friendly ego boost is currently limited to Android users participating in Pecan Street's smart grid project in Austin, but long-term plans have the app reaching iOS and all Volt fans eager to justify their ride.
Fisker lands former GM exec and Chevy Volt guru Tony Posawatz as CEO
Fisker hasn't had what you'd call the best year so far, but it may have found the ticket to turning its hybrid vehicle business around. Meet Tony Posawatz, Fisker's new CEO -- and, until just weeks ago, GM's Vehicle Line Director. Despite being the second new chief executive at Fisker since Tom LaSorda arrived in February, Posawatz needs little explanation for his sudden rise to power. He's an original member of the Chevy Volt leadership structure and could very well know a thing or two about developing a hybrid car from start to finish. His influence might only be keenly felt when the Atlantic wheels its way towards driveways in 2014, but there's no doubt he's onboard to right the good ship Karma and improve Fisker's reputation in the short term. We wouldn't want to be in GM's shoes as it watches one of its EV-friendly veterans so publicly jump ship, however.
OnStar seals partnership with RelayRides, makes renting out your car even easier (hands-on video)
Remember that partnership between OnStar and RelayRides we wrote about last March? Well it's finally coming to fruition today, with the peer-to-peer car sharing service launching support for remote door unlocking via OnStar's proprietary API. As a result, RelayRides members with OnStar-enabled vehicles no longer have to exchange keys in person if they so choose. Another benefit is that participants can list their automobile on RelayRides directly from their OnStar account -- renters then benefit from the added safety and security that comes with OnStar. We had the chance to test an early version of the functionality on a Chevy Volt at SXSW a few months ago and it worked pretty much as advertised. There was a bit of a delay between the time we sent the unlock command from RelayRides' website on the demo iPad and the moment the doors actually unlocked on the car, but we're told this has been significantly improved since our hands-on. Of course, RelayRides also supports remote unlocking via text message. Take a look at the galleries below then hit the break for our hands-on video, RelayRides' video and OnStar's PR.%Gallery-160469% %Gallery-160496%
2013 Chevy Volt stretches out the electric miles, works harder for the money
Every car gets a mid-life refresh to keep the customers flocking in, but a hybrid poses its own unique challenges: it has to give yet another reason to skip buying an (often cheaper) gas-only ride. Chevrolet's solution for the 2013 Volt is to keep drivers on electric power for longer. A slightly larger battery capacity with more real-world room lets the new Volt run for up to 38 miles (up from 37) solely on its electric motor, 98MPGe (up from 94) if you have to draw on the fuel tank and 380 miles of range before you're looking for a plug or a gas station. If gas looks to be the only option for a long drive, an EV Hold Mode borrowed from the Volt's Opel Ampera cousin will keep the electricity in reserve until you're closer to a charging location. Hypermilers have some entertainment through a new center stack that merges GPS, satellite radio and USB media playback into a seven-inch touchscreen unit. They likewise get a lane departure warning system as well as uniform roof and trunk colors -- that signature, two-tone Volt look is going away. We're still waiting to see if prices have changed, but you can get the current scoop after the jump.
The Engadget interview: OnStar's Nick Pudar talks smart grids at CTIA 2012 (video)
While visiting the Innovation Showcase at CTIA 2012, we ran into Nick Pudar -- OnStar's VP of Business Development -- who was kind enough to give us a few minutes of his time. We sat in the LTE Skype-enabled Chevy Volt on display and discussed such topics as OnStar FMV, RelayRides and smart grids -- wherein power utilities can (with the customer's consent) send a signal to a vehicle to control when it charges. The idea is to allows utilities to maximize grid efficiency and minimize power spikes while giving customers options for when to charge the vehicle -- like when the rates are the lowest or when the power generated is coming from renewable energy, for example. Pretty neat stuff, eh? Watch our video interview for all the (pardon the pun) juicy details.
Opel Ampera popular in ye old continent, likely to meet sales goals unlike Volt
To say that Chevy's Volt hasn't had the smoothest inaugural year would be an understatement, but over on the other side of the pond, things couldn't be going more swimmingly for its badge-engineered cousin, the Opel Ampera. Sales are reportedly brisk with over 7,000 Europeans preordering the electrified hatchback, prompting the company to push its 2012 sales target from 8,000 to 10,000 units -- matching the figure Chevy had initially set, and then missed for its variant here in the US of A. That got us thinking, are Europeans the electrified forward-thinking mavericks we think they are? Or have they simply fallen prey to the Ampera's far better looks? Decide in the comments below.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: interview with Chevy, breakthrough LED light and spider silk violin strings
Each week our friends at Inhabitat recap the week's most interesting green developments and clean tech news for us -- it's the Week in Green. This week the Chevy Volt lit up the newswires after GM announced plans to temporarily halt its production -- Inhabitat brought you an interview with Chevy on the shutdown and explained why it doesn't foretell electric vehicle doomsday. We also showcased you the hottest new vehicles straight from the Geneva Motor Show -- including Infiniti's sexy Emerg-E sports car, Toyota's ultra-compact FT-Bh hybrid, and Nissan's Hi-Cross hybrid crossover. On the lighter side of things, this week a LEGO space shuttle soared into the stratosphere, we featured an insane Russian bicycle powered by a chainsaw, and DARPA's robotic cheetah broke a world land speed record. Groundbreaking green architecture projects reached for the sky as Tokyo's Sky Tree was crowned the world's second tallest building and the eVolo Skyscraper Competition unveiled its futuristic finalists -- including an energy-generating tower made entirely from trash, a spiraling water-storing spire for the Himalayas, and a spherical underwater skyscraper that recycles plastic pollution. New York City also made waves as Mayor Bloomberg called for a solid waste to energy facility, Terreform proposed plans for a self-sufficient NYC covered with vertical gardens, and a new cupcake ATM hit the streets of Manhattan.It was also a big week for consumer tech as Apple launched its brand new iPad -- however in the light of recent criticism over Apple's labor conditions we took a look at the human cost of Apple's products and we shared 5 things you should know before buying the iPad 3. Meanwhile, researchers at MIT developed a breakthrough LED light that exceeds 100 percent efficiency, and we brought you an inside look at 5 high-tech green data centers that serve the environment. Finally, scientists discovered several amazing new uses for spider silk by weaving it into violin strings that create superior symphonic sounds and insulation that conducts heat 800 times better than any other organic material.
Green Charge: an app that helps your EV talk to you (video)
The maker of PlugShare is determined to satisfy your EV needs with a new app that'll feed the data from your Leaf or Volt straight to your iOS device. GreenCharge monitors your battery data, charging speed, efficiency of recent journeys and environmental impact and keeps it to hand in handy graphical form. You can chart your price-per-mile (compared to using petrol) and monitor your environmental impact -- sending all this data to your friends over Facebook or Twitter. If you're considering dropping some cash on an EV but don't trust the salesman, sync it up to a demonstration vehicle and it'll give you the deep dish without any fluff. You'll be able to pick it up from the App store today for $10 (equal to three days gas, but then you did just save $1,000 on your new Volt) and if you're not convinced, we've got a cornucopia of treats to whet your appetite after the break.
