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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.
Chevrolet set to debut GogoLink navigation on Spark and Sonic rides (video)
Cruising around town in a gas-saving Chevrolet Sonic? Or perhaps you've got your name written all over the 2013 Spark's waiting list? Well, GM has some good news to share. Starting in the fall, those of you with a MyLink system on either of these rides will be able to add GogoLink navigation for around $50. The service's features include live traffic, emergency info, 3D maps, Google local search and native maps storage on smartphones to use for turn-by-turn directions when you can't get a signal. GM's saying that since GogoLink won't be out until the Spark's electrifying release, you'll have to make a quick pit stop by the dealer to get the app installed on your 7-inch infotainment slab. What's a few extra bucks to save you from getting lost, right?
Chevrolet replacing 120-volt power cords on most Volt automobiles
If you're one of the 10,000 or so folks who pay insurance on a Chevrolet Volt, you may have a new cable coming your way. According to The Detroit News and Yahoo! Autos, General Motors will soon be sending out replacement 120-volt charging cords for Volt automobiles, which are said to "offer some more consistency in charging," while also making it more durable. We're told that some of the newfangled chargers have shipped with recent Volts, but the majority of customers were sent home with the older model. Of note, GM won't be swapping out any of those optional 240-volt cords, and the company won't consider this a recall or safety issue. As for getting your replacement? Owners are slated to be notified directly in the "next few weeks."
Inhabitat's Week in Green: cloning a woolly mammoth, mesmerizing kinetic facade and LED-suited break dancers
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 Inhabitat reported on several breaking technological controversies as South Korean scientists announced plans to clone a woolly mammoth and a group of researchers suggested bioengineering the human body to combat climate change. Printing tech also got a green upgrade as researchers developed a laser "unprinter" capable of erasing pages with a quick zap, and scientists used a 3D printer to create the world's smallest F1 car. Speaking of print, the University of Texas in Austin just developed a revolutionary paper sensor that can detect HIV and malaria for less than 10 cents and a group of aerospace engineers created a pacemaker that's powered by the human heart.In alternative energy news, this week we showcased a solar-powered shipping container office that produces twice as much energy as it consumes, and Arup unveiled its striking net-zero arena for the 2022 world cup. We also highlighted 6 brilliant sun-powered art installations, a pair of massive oil pumps sprang up in Midtown Manhattan, and we brought you a mesmerizing kinetic facade that changes with the wind. President Obama also delivered a speech where he slammed opponents for their single-minded views on energy and a team of researchers developed a ultra thin battery that could power displays on credit cards.Several groundbreaking green transportation projects launched this week as the first 2012 Coda all-electric sedan hit the streets, and scientists proposed a crazy maglev "Startram" train that could make space travel cheaper and more efficient. We also brought you the latest on the Chevy Volt saga as Bob Lutz went on the defensive for the Volt, Bill O'Reilly got caught red-handed as he flip-flopped his position on eco vehicles, and we got the scoop from Chevy's Rob Peterson about the Volt production shutdown. Last but not least, we published you several dispatches from the field of wearable technology - including a dazzling "Aurora" dress made from 10,000 LEDs, a line of space-age fashions inspired by Hubble photography, and a team of pop-locking LED-suited break dancers.
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.
Chevy Volt safe from fire hazard after all, says government
The Chevy Volt isn't prone to catching fire after all, says the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. The all-electric car came under scrutiny last year after one caught fire following a side-impact crash test. GM offered a buyback program for Volt owners concerned their cars might suddenly immolate, then the company made "enhancements" to the Volt's battery coolant system. That set things right, as far as the NHTSA is concerned: it says "no discernable defect trend exists" in the Volt, and that GM's revisions "reduce the potential for battery intrusion resulting from side impacts." Chevy dropped the Volt's price by $1,000 for 2012, too. So what do you think? Is a $39,000 starting price and less of a chance of burning to death enough to make you go electric?
Chevy Volt sees best sales yet in December, Nissan Leaf still outpaces it for the year
It looks like GM had some good news and some bad news for the Chevy Volt to end 2011 with. As Autoblog Green reports, the plug-in vehicle saw its best ever month in December with 1,529 cars sold, bringing its total sales for the year to 7,671. That still wasn't enough to pull ahead of the Leaf electric vehicle in sales for the year, however, as Nissan managed to move a total of 9,674 units despite falling a bit short in December with just 954 cars sold. Both of those numbers are off the automakers' targets for their respective vehicles, though, with Nissan just a bit short of its 10,000-unit goal, and GM well off its original aim of 10,000-12,000 units sold. Unfortunately for GM, 2012 got off to a start with a few new headaches for the Volt.
GM to add 'enhancements' to Chevy Volt's battery coolant system, will call back 8,000 cars
In the wake of an NHSTA "formal safety investigation," GM today announced plans to add enhancements to the Chevy Volt's battery coolant system, in the hopes of preventing any post-crash electrical fires. As a result, some 8,000 Volt drivers will have to bring their cars back to their dealerships, as part of a move that's one notch below a formal recall. GM made the decision following federal investigation that saw three batteries erupt in flames after side-impact crash tests. Regulators blamed the irregularity on a coolant leak though thus far, no similar incidents have been reported among any Volt owners. The manufacturer plans to remedy the situation by adding extra support to protect the battery during side collisions, adding an extra sensor to keep an eye on coolant levels, and by incorporating an extra bracket atop the coolant reservoir to guard against potential overflows. Vehicles with these enhancements, GM said, passed the tests without any leakage or battery pack damage. Head past the break for the full PR. Update: Chevrolet has just reached out to us to clarify that adding these enhancements is voluntary, and not mandatory for Volt owners: "These modifications are part of a voluntary customer satisfaction effort. While we will encourage customers to return to a dealership to have their Volt's modified, it is voluntary for them as well."
GM considers new battery for Volt, offers to buy back hybrids from pyrophobic customers
Still freaked out about that whole Volt catching fire thing? Well, GM wants you to know it's taking your concerns very seriously. The company is considering a redesign of the battery in the hybrid, possibly delaying the release of the Opel-branded version in Europe. What's more, for those not satisfied with being able to pick up a loaner, the company will buy the vehicle back from you. That is if you're too much of a pansy to keep your combustible car.
GM assures owners Volt is safe, offers loaners for good measure
Reports of the NHTSA's Volt catching fire post crash-tests still got you down? Well, unless you're the type who lingers for several weeks in the vicinity of your wrecked auto, there probably isn't much to worry about. GM apparently feels the same way, as it's began contacting all 5,329 owners to "reassure them" their gasoline-electric whips are safe to drive. Those who remain unconvinced can bug the General for a presumably non-electric loaner while the whole investigation sorts itself. Or if your name is Jay Leno, you could just choose one of the other hundred in your garage.
Inhabitat's Week in Green: holiday gift guide, 155 MPH biofuel truck and a solar-powered buckyball
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 Inhabitat got set for the holiday season as we officially launched our Green Gift Guide, which is chock full of 21 categories and over 300 presents - including a great set of DIY projects you can make yourself and a round-up of our favorite gifts for gadget geeks. Speaking of high-tech gizmos, we also showcased several amazing examples of cutting-edge robotics as researchers developed a new breed of disaster detecting cyborg insects and Otherlab created a line of lightweight inflatable robots that can walk on water. Scientists also successfully completed the first round of trials on a new type of contact lens that could one day send emails directly to your eyes, and NASA announced that the new Mars Curiosity Science Laboratory will be powered by nuclear energy instead of solar.
Chevy Volt under 'formal safety investigation' by NHTSA due to post-crash fire concerns
The Chevy Volt's lithium-ion battery may be great for a lot of things -- like low gasoline-dependency, for instance -- but when it comes to government regulated crash tests, it's proving to be a fiery problem. As the story goes, back in May, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration put a Volt through standard side-impact crash testing, and in doing so, "the vehicle's battery was damaged and the coolant line was ruptured." The big issue? The car went up in flames multiple weeks later, seemingly as direct result. That event prompted the NHTSA to further study the safety of the batts in the period after a crash, which culminated in more tests performed just over a week ago to find out if they would prove volatile again -- simply put, they did. The group recently explained that it's "concerned that damage to the Volt's batteries as part of three tests that are explicitly designed to replicate real-world crash scenarios have resulted in fire." Because of this development, the NHTSA (with assistance from the Department of Defense, Department of Energy and General Motors itself) has officially launched a formal investigation into the Volt to ensure that its current battery implementation isn't a safety defect. Despite the announcement, the agency notes that of all the Volts currently zipping along the streets, there has yet to be a to be a similar incident out on the open road. The NHTSA further clarified that there's not yet any reason for current owners to worry, so long as they haven't been in an accident with their vehicle. Overall, GM describes the whole investigation as "procedural" at this point, stating that both GM has been working with the NHTSA for over six months on a "broader program designed to induce battery failure after extreme situations." Seems a bit late at this point, but in any event, you'll find full details in the press releases from both parties just past the break.
Jay Leno's Chevy Volt still has original tank of gas, 11,000 miles later
What daily driver do you pick when you're rockin' a warehouse with over a hundred enviable whips? Well, if you happen to be a famous comedian named Jay Leno, apparently it's the Chevy Volt. Since procuring the plug-in chariot last year, the late night star has "yet to put gas in it," despite accumulating over 11,000 miles driving to and from what we'll assume is The Tonight Show. Not all of that has been gasoline-free automotive bliss, as Leno's exceeded the car's electric 40-ish mile range more than a few times, burning through around half of the vehicle's original tank. At that rate, the Volt will need refueling by this time next year -- or not, barring any further timeslot kerfuffles.
GM puts Spark EV all-electric vehicle into production, begins development of next-gen EN-V concept
GM has already done a fair bit of talking about electric vehicles this year, but it's not done just yet. The company announced this week that it will be producing an all-electric version of its Spark mini-car -- to be dubbed the Spark EV -- into production, with the first vehicles set to roll out sometime in 2013 (including "limited quantities" in the US). Complete details on the vehicle are otherwise still a bit light, but GM says it will use nanophosphate lithium-ion battery provided by A123 Systems. What's more, while there's no word on it going into production, GM has also confirmed that it's begun development of its next-generation EN-V concept vehicle, and that it will sport a Chevrolet badge this time around. As you may recall from our test ride, the existing EN-V is already plenty futuristic, so it'll be interesting to see what the automaker comes up with next. Head on past the break for a video of the Spark.
Spotify teams up with Chevy to announce invites, not integration
Still waiting for that Spotify invite? If you're hip on getting some Chevy Sonic-colored spam, you can snag another ticket in the invitation raffle: the carmaker recently declared itself Spotify's "exclusive automotive advertising partner." What's this mean to you? Chevrolet is doling out Spotify invites to the first 150,000 folks to request info about the upcoming Chevy Sonic. The automotive firm goes on to toot its own horn, bragging that the mere mention of its automobiles in countless country and rock songs qualify it for the partnership. Could this be the start of a beautiful, music streaming, friendship? We certainly wouldn't scoff at a generation of Spotify-enabled Chevys. Hit the break for the official press release, and conjure up some conjecture of your own.
Chevy Volts invade NYC police fleet, give cops all new ways to taze bros
New York's boys in blue will soon be able to creep up on evildoers with even more subtlety, thanks to some new electrified vehicles the city unveiled yesterday. As part of Mayor Michael Bloomberg's environmentally-friendly PlaNYC initiative, 70 new EVs have been added to the city's fleet of public cars, in the hopes of lowering emissions and creating a "greener, greater New York City." Joining the force are ten Ford Transit Connect cargo vans, ten Navi-star E-star trucks and a full 50 Chevy Volts -- some of which will be used as NYPD squad cars. These newcomers will be shared among nine different departments, joining 360 other city plug-ins already purring their way across the five boroughs. Bloomberg is also working toward adding EVs to New York's army of 13,000 taxis -- which we're totally cool with, as long as they're not minivans. Zip past the break for a rather Homeric press release.
Leaf sales outpacing the Volt, winning the fight for American garage space
According to Automobile, Nissan is winning the race to put the most electric cars in American driveways, selling 3,875 Leafs in the first six months of 2011, while Chevy only managed to put 2,754 Volt keys in the hands of consumers. This is despite Nissan suffering a month long manufacturing setback following the tsunami that struck in March. Chevy has had its own delays, having closed the Volt plant five weeks ago for upgrades that will allow it to pump out more vehicles. Lets not forget though, the Leaf starts at about $8,000 less than its American made competitor and, when it comes to weaning us off gas and putting us behind the wheel of tech-packed cars -- there's no shame in being number two. Perhaps GM will have better luck with that cheaper, shorter range version it's been contemplating.
Chevy drops Volt base price by $1,000 for 2012, makes saving the world slightly more affordable
Chevy wants to know what it can do to get you into one of its plug-in hybrids today. A $1,000 price drop? You got it. The carmaker announced this week that the 2012 Volt base price will come in a grand lower than its predecessor, thanks to the sorts of additional configurations that come with increased availability. The 2011 version was available in seven states and the District of Columbia and came in three configurations -- 2012's Volt is available nationwide in seven different packages, ranging from $39,995 to $46,265. And keep in mind that those prices don't factor in potential tax credits. The latest version of the plug-in vehicle is available now for order and offers up features like MyLink media streaming, OnStar driving directions, and passive locking (though the new base model does strip away a couple of features found in its predecessor). Also there's the whole lessening your dependence on gasoline, if you're into that sort of thing.
GM extends OnStar smartphone control to 14 more vehicles
Once solely slated for the Chevy Volt, the OnStar MyLink smartphone app has gained considerable ground -- last July, GM expanded the iPhone and Android remote domination over your horn, door locks, and real-time data to every 2011 automobile, and now it's reaching back through time to activate fourteen vehicles from 2010. As you'd expect, that's mostly a smattering of SUVs and crossovers like the Cadillac Escalade, Buick Enclave, GMC Yukon and Chevy Avalanche, though the Impala will also get the goods, and if you live in the lap of low-end luxury, you may be able to listen to Facebook updates on your 2010 Cadillac DTS or Buick Lucerne. Find the full list of compatible vehicles at our source link.
GM looking to offer lower-cost, shorter-range Volt?
We've certainly had some complaints about the Chevrolet Volt, including mediocre highway mileage, but far and away it's that $41,000 MSRP keeping it from being a real contender for mass adoption. Now we're hearing rumors that GM is thinking about down-sizing the car's batteries in an attempt to drop that price as well. The battery pack is far and away the most expensive single component in the car and the thought is that a reduction of the pure EV range to just 20 miles (down from its current 30 - 50) could have a whopping $10,000 reduction in cost. That would mean buyers would dip into the gas tank a little sooner but be a lighter on their bank accounts -- at least in the beginning.
