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GM's Exec. Chief Engineer For Electric Vehicles Pam Fletcher Answers Your Question
Pam Fletcher was propulsion system chief engineer on the first Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and is now executive chief engineer for electrified vehicles at GM, overseeing electrified vehicles company-wide. A while ago you had a chance to ask about her work and the future of electric cars. Below you'll find her answers to your questions.
Long range outlook: batteries or fuel cells?
by berchca
Right now, based on current technology, American companies are developing battery-powered electric cars, while Japanese are introducing those based on fuel cells. Over the long range, say in ten or twenty years, do you see one technology overtaking the other?
Fletcher: There isn’t going to be a single technology solution that will be the silver bullet when it comes alternative propulsion. GM has teams working on various solutions from extended-range electric vehicles like the current and next-generation Chevrolet Volt, as well as hybrids such as the recently announced Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. We’re also developing pure electrics like the Chevrolet Spark EV and the 200 mile Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept that we plan to bring a to market in the coming years. We also continue to work on hydrogen fuel cells and have a partnership with Honda to help commercialize that technology in the near future.
We are committed to delivering the appropriate relevant and beneficial technologies to our customers around the world and that will depend on a number of factors: affordability and infrastructure to name a few.
Charging at every Gas Station
by jzarling
Has GM looked into developing a partnership with any of the major gas station chains (Exxon/Mobil/BP) to provide recharging services? If a quick charger was as ubiquitous as a gas pump I think it would go along way to defeating range anxiety when traveling long distances.
Fletcher: We’re working with a number of different partners, including major utilities, to help develop an infrastructure to increase the adoption of electric vehicles. But it’s important to note that studies show there are two places where vehicles spend the most time: at home and the workplace. That’s why we’ve joined forces with the Department of Energy on their workplace charging challenge to encourage businesses to install charging that can be used by employees during the workday. We’re also working with various groups on developing simplified permitting for the installation of level 2 charging at home and encouraging the adoption of policies that will encourage developers to install appropriate infrastructure in new construction to support EV charging. Public charging is important, especially when it comes to DC Fast Charging, and we’re partnering with other automakers and utilities to expanding the rollout of DC Fast Charging across the U.S..
GM skateboard
by sichbo
Whatever happened to that rockin' skateboard concept which had a swappable body. The Volt has been a bit of a disappointment in terms of design aesthetics and forward thinking, compared to GM's early electric/hydrogen concept. Do you think the skateboard idea will ever see the light of day, perhaps as a Ni-Cd battery car?
Fletcher: The Hy-Wire concept was an exciting vehicle and we continue to work of fuel cell technology. Will a vehicle and structure like the Hy-Wire come to market? That’s something I can’t speculate on.
In terms of the Volt, I think our more than 70,000 owners would disagree with you. In fact, they are among the most satisfied vehicle owners of any on the planet. The 2016 Chevrolet Volt, which will go on sale this fall, will raise the bar again when it comes to design and EV functionality – with 50 miles of EV range.
What's the deal with the Spark EV?
by danbert8
Pardon the Seinfeld title... The Spark seems like a good candidate for an electric car. Small, lightweight, city car. Indeed there is an electric version! But only for sale in CA and OR... What's up with that? I am in the market for a tiny city car and I am already considering a Spark. I would totally get the EV version if it was for sale in GA. There are electric cars coming out the wazoo in the area I am in, but no Spark EV for me? Seems like a missed opportunity especially considering the marketing potential of the Sparky Spark.
Fletcher: Thanks for your enthusiasm about the Spark EV. We recently announced that we will begin selling the Spark EV in Maryland starting this summer. We continue to study other potential markets for the Spark EV and are excited about the potential for the next all-electric vehicle that will be based off the Bolt EV Concept, which we said was targeted for sale in all 50 states.
Putting the Voltec system into other vehicles...
by Mysticalfruit
I'm an extremely happy Volt owner! It is by far the best car I've ever owned.
Question #1. What is Chevy's plans to extend the Voltec system into other models such as the Trax and/or the Equinox? I ask because my wife's current vehicle is an AWD SUV and I'd like to replace it with a like vehicle that's a EREV but is still AWD and has cargo room. I know the 2016 Volt has a square battery pack and thus a 5th seat, I can only assume that's to make it fit better in other chassis?
Fletcher: Thanks for your support. I love hearing from Volt owners. While I can’t comment on potential future vehicles and technologies, I can tell you we are studying ways we can use various systems from the Volt on our vehicles across our portfolio. The Malibu Hybrid, for example, uses a number of components from the Volt. It has a drive unit that’s very similar to the one used in the next-generation Volt, as well as the same regenerative braking system.
Again, I can’t say much on the possibility of a EREV SUV other than we know it’s something Volt fans would love to have in their garage.
Question #2. Why does Chevy not promote the Volt?!? You never see a Chevy commercial that has the Volt in it. They had the "low battery" commercial a couple of years ago and then nothing. When I go places I have people constantly coming up and asking "A volt? What kind of car is this? Chevy? Wow, this thing's awesome! I had no idea..." My wife's joked I should become some sort of Chevy Volt Ambassador!
Fletcher: The next-generation Volt provides us with something we didn’t have when we launched the original: real-world data and feedback from owners like you. We have learned a lot about how we need to refine our communication about the benefits of the Volt and you will see that reflected in our approach to marketing when we launch the 2016 Volt this fall. In fact, we announced that the next-generation Volt will appear in the new Disney film Tomorrowland, which debuts on May 22.
Battery tech on 2500 and 3500 pickups?
by mlts
GM has tried a decent hybrid system on their 1500 Silverados. Where a hybrid system would be very usable, would be on the heavier duty pickups like the 3/4 and one ton models: First, electric motors provide their best torque at near 0 RPM, which is quite useful. Second, on a rural jobsite, if a PSW inverter is available, this would allow the truck to completely replace a generator in the field. Just plug the welder, saw, or other tools into that and use the onboard battery for that, perhaps running the IC engine to keep everything topped off. Third, for farms, it might be economical to have the trucks charge and run on batteries, as it saves on fuel. My question: Will we see this technology being used on the heavier duty series of pickups?
Fletcher: As you mentioned, we offered hybrid technology on our full-size trucks and SUVs in the 2008 and 2009 model years and we continue to study the development of sensible technologies that will help to improve the fuel economy of our trucks.
Tesla's open patents
by istartedi
Has Tesla's decision to open its patents had any impact on your work?
Fletcher: No, but I appreciate the fact that other companies are helping to foster adoption of electric vehicle technology across the industry - the more competition the better. Did you know that GM has the most green patents filed of any carmaker?
Our focus is to cooperate with other manufacturers when it comes to commonality of things that matter most to the customer: charging, for instance. We have worked with the Society of Automotive Engineers and other carmakers to develop a common charging connector for 120V, 240V and DC Fast Charging. We can’t advance adoption if consumers have to find a different charger whether they drive one EV or another. Likewise, we work with our suppliers and university partners to develop battery, motor and control technologies that can be the foundation for a variety of EVs.
Ultracapacitors for Storage?
by paratek
Ms. Fletcher, Does GM have any plans to leverage ultracapacitors for primary energy storage in place of batteries? Thank you!
Fletcher: Our research and development teams are working on various solutions when it comes to energy storage but I can’t provide specifics as to what exactly we’re focused on for the future.
Charger Size
by Ted Cabeen
To date, all GM Electric cars have only supported 3.3kW Level 2 charging. Do you think 3.3kW charging plus CCS quick charging is sufficient for longer-range vehicles that might be used for road trips, like the forthcoming Bolt?
Fletcher: We think that 3.3 kW is ideal for today’s electrified vehicles, like the Volt and Spark EV. We have made a slight upgrade to the charging system on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt to 3.6 kW. What our plans are for the next-generation all-electric vehicle based off the Bolt EV Concept is something we’ll discuss in the future. But our focus is to provide an opportunity for a full recharge overnight.
Economics of the Chevy Bolt
by organgtool
How is the upcoming Chevy Bolt going to get 200 miles per charge with a base price of $30,000? I ask because one of the biggest costs of the car is the batteries and not even Tesla will be able to reach that price point until they have their GigaPlant up and running?
Fletcher: By using GM’s global scale and volume, along with the latest in battery cell and system technology, we’ll deliver on the promise we made for the Bolt EV: 200 miles of range at approximately $30,000 after Federal tax incentives. We’ll have more details to share on the technology that will be used on this vehicle as we get closer to production launch.
by berchca
Right now, based on current technology, American companies are developing battery-powered electric cars, while Japanese are introducing those based on fuel cells. Over the long range, say in ten or twenty years, do you see one technology overtaking the other?
Fletcher: There isn’t going to be a single technology solution that will be the silver bullet when it comes alternative propulsion. GM has teams working on various solutions from extended-range electric vehicles like the current and next-generation Chevrolet Volt, as well as hybrids such as the recently announced Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. We’re also developing pure electrics like the Chevrolet Spark EV and the 200 mile Chevrolet Bolt EV Concept that we plan to bring a to market in the coming years. We also continue to work on hydrogen fuel cells and have a partnership with Honda to help commercialize that technology in the near future.
We are committed to delivering the appropriate relevant and beneficial technologies to our customers around the world and that will depend on a number of factors: affordability and infrastructure to name a few.
Charging at every Gas Station
by jzarling
Has GM looked into developing a partnership with any of the major gas station chains (Exxon/Mobil/BP) to provide recharging services? If a quick charger was as ubiquitous as a gas pump I think it would go along way to defeating range anxiety when traveling long distances.
Fletcher: We’re working with a number of different partners, including major utilities, to help develop an infrastructure to increase the adoption of electric vehicles. But it’s important to note that studies show there are two places where vehicles spend the most time: at home and the workplace. That’s why we’ve joined forces with the Department of Energy on their workplace charging challenge to encourage businesses to install charging that can be used by employees during the workday. We’re also working with various groups on developing simplified permitting for the installation of level 2 charging at home and encouraging the adoption of policies that will encourage developers to install appropriate infrastructure in new construction to support EV charging. Public charging is important, especially when it comes to DC Fast Charging, and we’re partnering with other automakers and utilities to expanding the rollout of DC Fast Charging across the U.S..
GM skateboard
by sichbo
Whatever happened to that rockin' skateboard concept which had a swappable body. The Volt has been a bit of a disappointment in terms of design aesthetics and forward thinking, compared to GM's early electric/hydrogen concept. Do you think the skateboard idea will ever see the light of day, perhaps as a Ni-Cd battery car?
Fletcher: The Hy-Wire concept was an exciting vehicle and we continue to work of fuel cell technology. Will a vehicle and structure like the Hy-Wire come to market? That’s something I can’t speculate on.
In terms of the Volt, I think our more than 70,000 owners would disagree with you. In fact, they are among the most satisfied vehicle owners of any on the planet. The 2016 Chevrolet Volt, which will go on sale this fall, will raise the bar again when it comes to design and EV functionality – with 50 miles of EV range.
What's the deal with the Spark EV?
by danbert8
Pardon the Seinfeld title... The Spark seems like a good candidate for an electric car. Small, lightweight, city car. Indeed there is an electric version! But only for sale in CA and OR... What's up with that? I am in the market for a tiny city car and I am already considering a Spark. I would totally get the EV version if it was for sale in GA. There are electric cars coming out the wazoo in the area I am in, but no Spark EV for me? Seems like a missed opportunity especially considering the marketing potential of the Sparky Spark.
Fletcher: Thanks for your enthusiasm about the Spark EV. We recently announced that we will begin selling the Spark EV in Maryland starting this summer. We continue to study other potential markets for the Spark EV and are excited about the potential for the next all-electric vehicle that will be based off the Bolt EV Concept, which we said was targeted for sale in all 50 states.
Putting the Voltec system into other vehicles...
by Mysticalfruit
I'm an extremely happy Volt owner! It is by far the best car I've ever owned.
Question #1. What is Chevy's plans to extend the Voltec system into other models such as the Trax and/or the Equinox? I ask because my wife's current vehicle is an AWD SUV and I'd like to replace it with a like vehicle that's a EREV but is still AWD and has cargo room. I know the 2016 Volt has a square battery pack and thus a 5th seat, I can only assume that's to make it fit better in other chassis?
Fletcher: Thanks for your support. I love hearing from Volt owners. While I can’t comment on potential future vehicles and technologies, I can tell you we are studying ways we can use various systems from the Volt on our vehicles across our portfolio. The Malibu Hybrid, for example, uses a number of components from the Volt. It has a drive unit that’s very similar to the one used in the next-generation Volt, as well as the same regenerative braking system.
Again, I can’t say much on the possibility of a EREV SUV other than we know it’s something Volt fans would love to have in their garage.
Question #2. Why does Chevy not promote the Volt?!? You never see a Chevy commercial that has the Volt in it. They had the "low battery" commercial a couple of years ago and then nothing. When I go places I have people constantly coming up and asking "A volt? What kind of car is this? Chevy? Wow, this thing's awesome! I had no idea..." My wife's joked I should become some sort of Chevy Volt Ambassador!
Fletcher: The next-generation Volt provides us with something we didn’t have when we launched the original: real-world data and feedback from owners like you. We have learned a lot about how we need to refine our communication about the benefits of the Volt and you will see that reflected in our approach to marketing when we launch the 2016 Volt this fall. In fact, we announced that the next-generation Volt will appear in the new Disney film Tomorrowland, which debuts on May 22.
Battery tech on 2500 and 3500 pickups?
by mlts
GM has tried a decent hybrid system on their 1500 Silverados. Where a hybrid system would be very usable, would be on the heavier duty pickups like the 3/4 and one ton models: First, electric motors provide their best torque at near 0 RPM, which is quite useful. Second, on a rural jobsite, if a PSW inverter is available, this would allow the truck to completely replace a generator in the field. Just plug the welder, saw, or other tools into that and use the onboard battery for that, perhaps running the IC engine to keep everything topped off. Third, for farms, it might be economical to have the trucks charge and run on batteries, as it saves on fuel. My question: Will we see this technology being used on the heavier duty series of pickups?
Fletcher: As you mentioned, we offered hybrid technology on our full-size trucks and SUVs in the 2008 and 2009 model years and we continue to study the development of sensible technologies that will help to improve the fuel economy of our trucks.
Tesla's open patents
by istartedi
Has Tesla's decision to open its patents had any impact on your work?
Fletcher: No, but I appreciate the fact that other companies are helping to foster adoption of electric vehicle technology across the industry - the more competition the better. Did you know that GM has the most green patents filed of any carmaker?
Our focus is to cooperate with other manufacturers when it comes to commonality of things that matter most to the customer: charging, for instance. We have worked with the Society of Automotive Engineers and other carmakers to develop a common charging connector for 120V, 240V and DC Fast Charging. We can’t advance adoption if consumers have to find a different charger whether they drive one EV or another. Likewise, we work with our suppliers and university partners to develop battery, motor and control technologies that can be the foundation for a variety of EVs.
Ultracapacitors for Storage?
by paratek
Ms. Fletcher, Does GM have any plans to leverage ultracapacitors for primary energy storage in place of batteries? Thank you!
Fletcher: Our research and development teams are working on various solutions when it comes to energy storage but I can’t provide specifics as to what exactly we’re focused on for the future.
Charger Size
by Ted Cabeen
To date, all GM Electric cars have only supported 3.3kW Level 2 charging. Do you think 3.3kW charging plus CCS quick charging is sufficient for longer-range vehicles that might be used for road trips, like the forthcoming Bolt?
Fletcher: We think that 3.3 kW is ideal for today’s electrified vehicles, like the Volt and Spark EV. We have made a slight upgrade to the charging system on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt to 3.6 kW. What our plans are for the next-generation all-electric vehicle based off the Bolt EV Concept is something we’ll discuss in the future. But our focus is to provide an opportunity for a full recharge overnight.
Economics of the Chevy Bolt
by organgtool
How is the upcoming Chevy Bolt going to get 200 miles per charge with a base price of $30,000? I ask because one of the biggest costs of the car is the batteries and not even Tesla will be able to reach that price point until they have their GigaPlant up and running?
Fletcher: By using GM’s global scale and volume, along with the latest in battery cell and system technology, we’ll deliver on the promise we made for the Bolt EV: 200 miles of range at approximately $30,000 after Federal tax incentives. We’ll have more details to share on the technology that will be used on this vehicle as we get closer to production launch.
Wrong crowd to brag about your green patents to. Open them up to push the technology farther and for the goodwill of the community.
Coefficient of drag and cross-sectional area.
I'm with you. It was sanitized corporate-speak. I didn't learn anything from reading any of the answers...
I agree. It also just goes to show how far behind GM is compared to Tesla. I've had my Tesla Model S for over two years and I have to say that GM's response has been pathetic at best. Their Cadillac ELR was supposed to be the Tesla killer, it failed miserably. Tesla is years ahead when it comes to battery technology, having much higher energy density at much lower cost. Tesla's skateboard design is also much better when it comes to interior room and storage space.
Saying a 3.3KW charger is adequate is a joke. The only reason that it's even possible to go up to 20KW with the SAE J1772 connector is because Tesla fought hard for it. I have a 20KW charger at home and it comes in handy. Sadly few public charging stations come anywhere near that, though most I've used will handle at least 6KW (30-32A, 208/240V) and the RV hookups are often 10KW (40A, 240V). Usually I rarely bother to use the public charging units unless they're free since it's cheaper to just charge at home where I can charge at 80A, 240V which adds around 55 miles of range per hour. The one time I had to use a public charging station to reach my destination it was painful since it only added 18 miles of range per hour so I was stuck an hour waiting until I had enough range to reach the Gilroy supercharger. Fortunately it looks like by the end of the year they'll have a spot around Monterey.
GM also has no real answer to Tesla's supercharger network which is years ahead of anyone else. I just used it a few days ago to travel from the Bay Area to Reno. In every case, it took longer for me to eat lunch or dinner than it took for my car to charge. Hell, I added 40 miles of range (which I didn't even need) when I stopped in Truckee just to use the restroom and pick up a 6-pack of hard cider at Safeway. Tesla's network is building out very quickly (go to their supercharger site to see). I made the same trip to Reno last year but this year there were 4 more superchargers along the route. Last year I had to make a short jog over to Folsom to charge, this year I had my choice of places along the route. Right now there are multiple routes across the country. I can drive all the way from San Diego to Edmonton, Canada or anywhere along the East Coast. By the end of this year it looks like most of the major north/south routes in California will be covered, 5, 101 and 395 and by the end of next year 99 will also be covered. They have also been helping seed a lot of hotels around the country with 20KW chargers in a lot of the vacation spots.
As far as batteries go, Panasonic may be manufacturing Tesla's batteries, but Tesla owns much of the intellectual property of their batteries and holds numerous patents on them. The Tesla batteries are quite a bit cheaper with a higher energy density and they seem to be fairly reliable as well.
Tesla has also shown that it's possible to create a car with a very low coefficient of drag that isn't butt ugly. I say this as a former Prius owner.
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