- GM continues to test the 2011 Chevrolet Volt at Pikes Peak.
- A long line of Volt test cars was caught by an amateur videographer.
- The automaker says the Volt has run thousands of miles in places like Death Valley and Pikes Peak.
PIKES PEAK, Colorado — General Motors continues to use Pikes Peak as a regular proving ground for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt as development engineers put the highly anticipated vehicle through its final paces before it arrives in showrooms later this year.
The Volt's appearances along the 38-mile round trip to the 14,110-foot summit are delighting ordinary motorists who are able to chronicle the vehicle's journeys this August via amateur videos.
GM spokesman Rob Peterson told Inside Line in a phone conversation and via e-mail messages that Volts have been tested on Pikes Peak a number of times this year — as well as in late 2009 — and said that all of the testing, including hot weather, mountain mode and high-altitude testing is going well. "It is probably around 800 miles on Pikes Peak" for Volt, he said in a text message on Tuesday.
"At this point, our development engineers are focusing on real-world miles, putting the vehicles through their final paces," Peterson said.
Peterson said during one drive down Pikes Peak, the ranger on duty at the mandatory brake checkpoint seven miles from the top checked the temperature of the Volt's regenerative brake discs twice with his laser gun because the temperatures were so low. "By the time the Volts made it off the hill, they had recaptured double-digit miles of energy," Peterson said.
Since late 2009, GM has conducted thousands of miles of testing on the Volt in such grueling settings as Death Valley and Pikes Peak.
Pikes Peak has been heavy with symbolism for path-breakers going back to the 1859 gold rush to Colorado. "Pikes Peak or Bust" became the slogan for those seeking to get rich quick back then. Later, the Pikes Peak toll road became a favorite testing and marketing ground for GM, including legendary engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov. "After helping to introduce the small-block V8 engine to the Corvette in 1955, providing the car with much-needed power, he (Duntov) set about showcasing the engine by ascending Pikes Peak in 1956 in a pre-production prototype Chevy," according to Wikipedia.
A GM TV commercial 44 years ago featured NASA's John "Shorty" Powers in a helicopter tracking Bobby Unser driving a 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado up Pikes Peak to hype the handling of the "only full-size car with front-wheel drive."
Inside Line says: It wouldn't be surprising to see a similar TV ad for the Chevrolet Volt this fall, given that Pikes Peak appears to be its playground. — Peter Lafford, Correspondent
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ziggerman says:
05:50 AM, 08/19/2010
I, for one, hope that the Volt comes out on time, sells (leases) well and has minimal first model issues. We could then see the Voltec platform really take off in 2012+ with actual profits pouring in. Go, GM!
tbone85 says:
09:15 PM, 08/18/2010
Is there a statement syaing they're not testing the gas generator?
subafly says:
10:29 AM, 08/18/2010
"What makes it more difficult and more challenging is that tested Volts can't run everywhere, but limited to where it can be plugged in."
Volts are limited to testing to where they can be plugged in because they aren't trying to test the generator engine but are still trying to test with the car being plugged in for hours or at night. If you're goal is to charge the batteries back up you need an outlet.
They're not saying they can't run the car on the gas engine alone. They're saying that's not the purpose of the test.
madmallard says:
10:12 AM, 08/18/2010
" What makes it more difficult and more challenging is that tested Volts cann't run everywhere, but limited to where it can be pluged in. "
Wait, I'm sorry, what? QDP you seem to be lacking some serious information.
The Volts can run everywhere. They are not limited to electrical charge from being plugged in, they have a gasoline engine for a generator on board too for when the battery runs low.
viss1 says:
09:55 AM, 08/18/2010
qdp, Volts have done many more thousands of test miles in locations other than Pike's Peak. Also, due to their on-board gas engine, testing isn't limited to "where they can be plugged in." I wouldn't make any assumptions about the car's readiness for market based on this one very brief article.
qdp says:
08:26 AM, 08/18/2010
Yes, read carefully. Here is Quote from the article: "'At this point, our development engineers are focusing on real-world miles, putting the vehicles through their final paces,' Peterson said."
From this quote, very obviously GM hasn't completed Real-World-Miles test,which is last and most critical step before commercial launch. Otherwise GM will very likely revise Volt design or even specifications, or even worse, simply billed it as failed project.
There are two types of test, lab test and field test(real world miles test). Other auto makers such as BMW, Nissan or Volvo have had their E-cars tested by clients before launch, while GM seems skipping this by doing its own field test.
For this type of novel cars, 30,000 real-world-miles is minimal. If running 40mile per day, it takes 750 working days to finish the milage, literaly at least 3 to 5 years of road test(during the test, there will be discontinuance due to need for design or engineering changes). What makes it more difficult and more challenging is that tested Volts cann't run everywhere, but limited to where it can be pluged in.
redgeminipa says:
05:28 AM, 08/18/2010
"qdp says:
03:18 PM, 08/17/2010
So far, full tests haven't been completed yet, still in development stage. Then there is no full guarantee for this year's launch. Boing 787 has been in this kind of situaton for years and still no ready for launch. Though cars' is alot simple, it still takes time and faces the uncertainty."
I'd say the bulk of the testing is done, and something like this is more of a final check and maybe some fun.
Read this part again: "Volts have been tested on Pikes Peak a number of times this year - as well as in late 2009 - and said that all of the testing, including hot weather, mountain mode and high-altitude testing is going well."
qdp says:
03:18 PM, 08/17/2010
So far, full tests haven't been completed yet, still in development stage. Then there is no full guarantee for this year's launch. Boing 787 has been in this kind of situaton for years and still no ready for launch. Though cars' is alot simple, it still takes time and faces the uncertainty.