GE Plastics Helps Make Volt Possible

January 8, 2007

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General Motors and General Electric unvieled GM’s newest concept vehicle, the Chevrolet Volt, at the North American International Auto Show. The Volt’s E-Flex flexible propulsion system offers a global blended range of transportation energy solutions to regional energy issues and driving behavior.

GE Plastics played the role of a strategic partner in enabling the design and development of the Chevrolet Volt, by contributing the key materials technology to reduce part weight up to 50 percent.

In the U.S. alone, almost half the households have a daily mileage of less than 30 miles per day. The Chevrolet Volt concept vehicle is capable of 40 miles of pure electrical vehicle driving, which according to the Environmental Protection Agency, means that, for most city drivers, the Chevrolet Volt will use little or no gasoline.

“GM’s commitment to improving fuel economy, reducing vehicle emissions, and developing electrically-driven vehicles is facilitated with GE Plastics’ weight-reduction technologies on the Chevrolet Volt concept car. We were able to take mass out of the Volt in order to optimize its overall efficiency,” said General Motors’ vice president of Global Program Management, Jon Lauckner. “Through the independent auditor, GreenOrder, we were also able to see clear positive environmental results from working with GE Plastics,” said Lauckner.

GE’s fuel saving technologies showcased on the Chevy Volt include:

Roof made with Lexan GLX resins and Exatec coating technology
Rear deck lid and fixed side glazing made with Lexan GLX resins and Exatec coating technology
Doors and hood made with Xenoy iQ high performance thermoplastic composites (HPPC)
Global energy absorber and hybrid rear energy absorbers with Xenoy iQ resins
Steering wheel and instrument panel with integrated airbag chute made with Lexan EXL resins
Front fenders made with Noryl GTX resins
Wire coating made with Flexible Noryl resins

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