Gizmodo: Chevy

Key to Cheaper Lithium Ion Batteries Could Be Inside the Microwave

John Mahoney — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 11:42:44 EDT

Researchers at UT Austin have devised a new way to create lithium iron phosphate—the compound inside high-density Li-ion batteries being developed for cars and power tools—that uses microwaves to cut costs. The new method requires lower temperatures (300° C rather than 700°) and less time to fabricate the phosphate via the nuking process—just like throwing that Tombstone in the m-wave rather than the oven. The tech probably won't trickle down into laptop batteries, which use a lithium cobalt oxide that isn't capable of the quick bursts of current needed to get something like the Chevy Volt rolling. All the better to crash your Tesla with. [Technology Review]

McCain Proposes $300 Million Prize to Develop Next-Gen Battery for Cars, Cybernetic Cryo-Suits

matt buchanan — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 19:30:00 EDT

It's well known that the biggest bump in the road to developing an awesome all-electric car is the battery. The only ones juicy enough are a) big b) expensive and c) not so durable. Not easy. But science is no match for the American spirit! If elected, John McCain is promising $300 million to whoever develops a next-gen battery that "has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars." Totally coincidentally, that same battery will also power the next generation of life-extending cybernetic cryo-suits. [Detroit News via Jalopnik]

First Shots Under The Hood of the Chevy Volt Hydrogen

Mark Wilson — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 14:44:59 EST

GM may have announced their Chevy Volt Hydrogen concept months ago, but attendees at CES are getting the world's first look under the hood of the eco-friendly beast. More than just a random rendering, one can see Chevy's direction with eco-cars in some very clear side-by-side trends when compared with the original Chevy Volt.

Our notes:

Noticeable Differences Between Volt Hydrogen and Volt:

1. Volt Hydrogen features two hydrogen tanks near the rear of the vehicle.
2. Hydrogen still features a battery stack (we were told for electric-only option), but it's about 20% smaller than what you see in the Volt classic. (Specs say that it can go 40 miles on electric alone.)

Noticeable Similarities Between Volt Hydrogen and Volt:

1. That chassis looked identical—it's truly the Volt in hydrogen form.
2. It's called a Volt.

When can we expect to see it on the market? There's no official timeline out there, as GM is waiting for the hydrogen refueling infrastructure problems to be solved before launching a hydrogen car. In addition, GM isn't finalizing the design until they see how the Volt performs for the masses.

And as for that infrastructure problem, "we're working on a solution," a GM spokesperson said.

LEAKED, Electric Meets Diesel in Opel E-Flex

Mark Wilson — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 10:30:41 EDT

We shouldn't know about the cars of the future yet, and let me be the first to say, I'm sorry they don't fly. But the Opel E-Flex is a European concept of the Chevy Volt unleaded/electric hybrid. Other than its propensity to drink more wine and go "on holiday," the Opel will use a 1.3lt turbo diesel engine to recharge the car's lithium ion batteries when they run out.

Like the Volt's unleaded offerings, the Opel E-Flex diesel engine is not a motor at all, but a backup power generator for the electricity-driven car. Let's just swap out that diesel engine for a nuclear reactor, and we're in business. Hit up Jalopnik for more photos. [jalopnik and carscoop]

Google Streetview Camera Vehicles Spotted All Over US

Charlie White — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 08:54:28 EDT

Google has its eye on us with its fleet of camera vehicles shooting pictures for its Streetview mapping service, so we decided to turn the tables and put our eyes on Google. Responding to our request for pictures of the Google camera cars and vans, eagle-eyed Giz readers have been spotting the Chevy Cobalts, VW Beetles and vans with cameras up top, all over the United States.

Looks like a nifty little new red camera mounted on top of some of them. Check out our gallery for shots from Boise, Idaho; Chicago; Whitemarsh, Maryland; Southern California; Evanston, Illinois; and Redwood City, California. This is an ongoing project, so go ahead, spot the Google Streetview vehicles and send in your pics!

Many thanks to the following spotters for sending in their outstanding photos: Jared Weeks, Derrek Smith, Mark Bagley, William Stone, Ryan Slagle and Matt Dunphy.