Volt Birth Watch 12: GM Opens E-Flex Design Center
GM's one two three green light campaign to leapfrog the competition with its E-Flex plug-in electric – gas (in that order) hybrid continues apace, The General has just opened a new design studio dedicated to the Chevrolet Volt and its antecedents. According to the press release, GM's new Warren, MI-based E-Flex Systems Design Studio will house 45 designers, sculptors, design engineers, scientists and administrative staff in a greener-than-thou environment. That would be a reused space kitted-out with sustainable carpet, energy efficient florescent lighting and window shades, rugs made of 100 percent wool and Cradle to Cradle-certified furniture. While we still haven't seen the new-look Volt, The Motley Fool (of all people) tell us that GM designers have already cut 30 percent from the concept's wind drag. "The easier it is to push this vehicle through the air, the less energy you use," said Nina Tortosa, the Volt's aerodynamic development engineer and [possible] future author of Aerodynamics for Dummies. Anyway, the Volt's design director is pleased with his new digs. “There’s a lot of history in this building,” said Bob Boniface, “and I feel we’re making our own history by designing a whole new generation of vehicles that don’t require gasoline." I guess someone forget to tell Bob about the gasoline part of the Volt's propulsion system…
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I am suspicious of the Motley Fool getting a story on the Volt. I faced a competitor once who did a good job playing "stump the chump". When they were in the IT meetings, they talked all about finance and how their hardware was all good for the bottom line. They would wow IT with business jargon that impressed and confused. Then they would go into the the CFO and CEO and start talking about technology issues and play the same game. I suspect that GM's PR folks are playing that game here. Next all we need to see is some automotive source talking all about how the Volt will change GM's financial model.
they actually just released a teaser shot of the production volt just yesterday