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E.TexasTesla

Wed Feb 08 2012, 03:53AM

Registered Member #4362 Joined: Sat Jan 21 2012, 03:44AM
Location: Texas
Posts: 98

Im taking a class on the chevy volt battery and powertrain this week. Some really nice stuff.
If you have any volt questions I may be able to answer them for you.

Battery specs.

288 lithium cells
355v total
weight 450 pounds
17 kw
Liquid cooled

355 dc is inverted with liquid cooled IGBTs
to 3 phase ac to power two electric motors.

The battery cost 4,000 U.S. with exchange. 14k if you dont have one to turn in.

radiotech

Wed Feb 08 2012, 07:45AM

Registered Member #2463 Joined: Wed Nov 11 2009, 03:49AM
Location:
Posts: 1546

I am interested in the car charging systems, design of chargers, and
electrical and data interface to the cars during charging.

The time of charge seems limited by the type of charger you get installed
and the size of the electrical service available at the location of the charger.

Patrick

Wed Feb 08 2012, 02:27PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

What type of "class" is this? whats it called?

watch out for GM propaganda...

and are you missing a time dimension on your 17kW spec?

E.TexasTesla wrote ...

Battery specs.

288 lithium cells
355v total
weight 450 pounds
17 kw
Liquid cooled

My understanding is that only 10kWh is actually usuable.

Steve Conner

Wed Feb 08 2012, 04:12PM

Registered Member #30 Joined: Fri Feb 03 2006, 10:52AM
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Posts: 6706

What's the little black box with the five knobs? Some kind of secret GM programming tool?

Harry

Wed Feb 08 2012, 06:41PM

Registered Member #4081 Joined: Wed Aug 31 2011, 06:40PM
Location: UK
Posts: 139

What kind of IGBT's does it use and and what frequency?

haxor5354

Wed Feb 08 2012, 07:36PM

Registered Member #2063 Joined: Sat Apr 04 2009, 03:16PM
Location: Toronto
Posts: 352

how much current can be safely drawn continuously?
is it lithium ion cells or lithium polymer cells?

Conundrum

Wed Feb 08 2012, 08:07PM

Registered Member #96 Joined: Thu Feb 09 2006, 05:37PM
Location: CI, Earth
Posts: 4061

I'd expect that they are lithium ion, possibly current in the 3-4C range.
Even with liquid cooling the cells still heat up when discharging at high current.

-A

E.TexasTesla

Wed Feb 08 2012, 10:54PM

Registered Member #4362 Joined: Sat Jan 21 2012, 03:44AM
Location: Texas
Posts: 98

Radiotech- The vehicle can be programed by the customer to charge during low kw rate times. It comes with a 110v charging adapter which takes aprox. 8 hrs. to fully charge. You can buy a 220 unit which has to be wired into your house and it will fully charge in 4 hours. You can set the car for 12 amp or 8 amp charging if your house doesnt have a dedicated circuit.

Patrick- The class is GM hands on training specific for the volt battery and electric motors.KW Hr. rating.
They dont let the battery drop below 20 percent so yes only 10 kw usable unless it has a charging fault , then it will run all the way down. If it gets low the engine starts to turn generator and recharge battery. It also recharges the battery during braking. You dont really need brake pads.;)

Steve- The black box connects to the top of each battery so we can check voltage of each cell. They wont let us service each cell but they will let us replace sections of it as a unit. The batteries are in series and a computer monitors each one to balance out the voltage.

Harry- Not sure what igbts they use but they switch a lot of current. The inverter cost 2500!
When the vehicle is on but not running it sounds like a switch mode power supply. Nice freq. ;) Not sure what it changes to while driving.

Haxor- It has a current clamp in the battery pack but they dont give me any specs yet.
It is total electric for aprox. 40-50 miles and the power drives two motors rated at 80 hp. and 120 hp.
Im sure it could be converted into KW based on max horse power rating.

E.TexasTesla

Wed Feb 08 2012, 11:02PM

Registered Member #4362 Joined: Sat Jan 21 2012, 03:44AM
Location: Texas
Posts: 98

Here are pics of the current clamp/ small 80 hp. motor / power inverter with the three phase cables going into trans. to the left.

Patrick

Wed Feb 08 2012, 11:13PM

Registered Member #2431 Joined: Tue Oct 13 2009, 09:47PM
Location: Chico, CA. USA
Posts: 5639

I doubt very much the chevy volt will be a long term product, but have fun. Ive also been hearing from several volt owners whom i personally know, who tell me there getting about 25-30 miles per charge, with wise driving practices. At 10kWh that does sound about right, given approximate loses, though fast and numerous accelerations would decrease that further.

4,000 USD per decade (if thats a legal agreement at the time of purchase) for battery replacement does sound resonable.

i still think solid oxide fuel cells--fueled with natural gas are far more practical then this electric hybrid crap.

EDIT: i think they're offering an 8 year warranty on the battery.

its quite possible that the volt will be/is the new Trabant.

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