VIDEO: GM puts the Volt through its paces to test durability
Posted Nov 6th 2009 4:09PM by Jeremy Korzeniewski
Chevy Volt durability testing - Click above to watch the video after the break
These days, we hardly give any thought at all to driving our precious cars and trucks over rough, potholed pavement. Sure, it's uncomfortable and we avoid the nastiest stretches when possible, but the worst thing that we expect might happen is a blown tire or bent wheel. In the grand scheme of things, not that big a deal.
Electric cars, though, are different animals entirely. Back when the automobile was in its infancy and the internal combustion engine first staked its claim as the powerplant of choice, it was sometimes possible to practically ruin a car when traveling over harsh terrain. That just won't do in today's modern society. For proof that electric vehicles need just as much care as other cars, look no further than Lyle Dennis from GM-Volt.com, who's own Mini E broke down after hitting a nasty pothole.
So, what is General Motors doing to ensure that the Volt doesn't rattle its delicate electrical bits to pieces over the course of its life? Glad you asked. Click past the break for a video showing the rigorous durability testing that GM is currently inflicting on its fleet of pre-production Volts.
[Source: GM-Volt.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Theresa J Swaw 4:37PM (11/06/2009)
love it nice looking car looks like a sifi type car ,always been a chey person need a person to drive it for it ! try me I talk a lot and brag a lot on my cars, now I'm driving a 2007 Equniox ,love the car but very disapointed in the milage. TJ Swaw
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Nixon 4:44PM (11/06/2009)
I'm glad they are doing this testing.
But really, worrying about electronics in cars going bad? Is somebody wrongly under the impression that cars are still using carbs and point ignitions? Roll-up windows, vacuum advance windshield wipers, mechanical fuel pumps, evaporative window coolers, etc?
Modern cars are so packed with electronics already that I don't think car buyers would be justified in loosing sleep at night because they are afraid a pothole will ruin their electric car. I think most car makers have figured out how to build automotive electronics to handle potholes well enough already. There isn't any point in fear-mongering the issue.
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ufgrat 5:48AM (11/07/2009)
I'm guessing you missed the bit about the GM-Volt webmaster losing forward gear from his Electric Mini he has on loan due to hitting a pothole?
You say that "I think most car makers have figured out how to build automotive electronics to handle potholes well enough already."-- Strangely, the method employed by most car manufacturers (from lowly Tata Nanos right up to F1 cars) is to shake it and see what breaks.
Kinda like what GM is doing here, in fact.
biznut 5:40PM (11/06/2009)
What GM are doing is typical durability testing to which all automobiles are subjected to by all OEMs in more or less the same fashion, so that they can expose the car to 99.xx percentile of operating conditions and iron out any design bugs before they hit customers' hands. Given the complexity of today's automobiles, it's this type of testing that keeps the recalls and warranty costs under control.
Nothing unusual here at all.
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Tony Belding 7:52AM (11/07/2009)
As biznut noted, there's nothing unusual about this testing. It's the same sort of testing all their cars undergo. What's interesting, from a marketing or PR perspective, is that GM felt a need to release this video.
A lot of people (especially them who don't follow ABG and keep abreast of this stuff) are very wary of EVs or PHEVs, they consider it a "weirdmobile", and they see it as unfamiliar and unproven technology. If you look at some of the blog comments on general-interest sites, you'll notice when you mention an electric car, then folks' imagination sometimes runs wild and they dream up all kinds of flaws and shortcomings that they think it must have.
So, this video is all about reassuring people that the Volt will be a "real world" car, not something half-baked. Good move, GM.
Monica Dickey 6:08PM (11/06/2009)
Yeah although this testing is pretty standard I'll be interested to know how it does. I am really interested in getting a Volt or an electric someday, but I don't think I'd want to buy the first generation. I would want to let them iron out any problems first.
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Dave 8:01PM (11/06/2009)
It will do the same as anything. A couple things will break and have to be reengineered. The next time through it will be ok.
But you are right - buying an EV is an unwise idea at this time.
Dan 10:18PM (11/06/2009)
re: Dave: "...buying an EV is an unwise idea at this time"
Thats what they kept saying about the Prius and hybrids in general.
I ordered a 2004 Prius in Oct 2003. Have NEVER had a problem with it.
Not even the couple of things that have been mentioned to go wrong with it.
GM is SOOO over designing/testing (Technically... I'm very happy about) this that there really shouldnt be anything of significance wrong with it.
I'd check the floormats....! ...just joking.
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nrb 12:02AM (11/07/2009)
Those aren't potholes. Those are dips.
A real MN pothole doesn't ramp up on the back side. A real pothole is going to be much more destructive than what they're showing in that test.
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Mark Kiernan 5:11AM (11/07/2009)
Don't know what people are worrying about the car is 90% the same as a regular ICE.
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Jack 4:24PM (11/07/2009)
whose, not who's
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Leo 6:32PM (11/07/2009)
to be honest, i don't see the point of all these GM volt videos. just about every other car that comes on the market goes through exactly the same testing. the nice thing about a new car coming on the market is the anticipation, the curosity. that's all but gone with the volt, due to these, let's be honest, boring PC videos... it's gonna be the biggest anti-climax ever when this thing comes out. period.
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