GM Confidence Plan Details

For more information about the GM Confidence Program:

http://www.gm.com/total-confidence/?brandId=gm&src=van&evar27=vanity_gm_c

Ohio Awards Grants to Aid Laid Off Auto Workers

The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded more than $8 million in grants to assist laid-off auto workers in Ohio.
These grants will help 2,500 workers that were laid off at the GM truck plant in Moraine, Chrysler north assembly plant in Toledo and the GM Lordstown plant near Youngstown. It will also aid up to 12 suppliers for the industry.


The grants are to be used for job seaches, counseling and any follow-up service.



Source: AP Press Online

Ford, GM launch ‘customer protection’ plans

Following the lead of Hyundai Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have unveiled plans that will aid new vehicle buyers who lose their jobs.
Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford announced Tuesday that it will pay auto loan payments of as much as $700 a month for up to a year on new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicles.
Ford also announced that it will offer zero-percent financing through its Ford Motor Credit subsidiary on select Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
“Consumers remain anxious about the economy and their own outlook for the future,” Ken Czubay, vice president of sales and marketing for Ford, said in a news release. “We at Ford want to do our part to rebuild faith in the marketplace.”
Detroit-based General Motors (NYSE: GM) announced Tuesday that it will offer a ‘GM Total Confidence” package for new vehicles purchased between April 1 and April 30.
As a part of the package, GM will make nine auto loan payments of as much as $500 each if owners of new GM vehicles lose their jobs within the first 24 months of the loan.
GM also will provide “negative equity assistance” to assist GM owners if the outstanding principal loan balance at trade-in is more than the National Automobile Dealers Association clean retail value.
The plan also includes a one-year subscription to its OnStar “Safety and Security” package and a five-year or 100,000-mile, fully transferable limited powertrain warranty with roadside assistance and courtesy transportation.
“By protecting a customer’s payment, investment, vehicle and family, we are reinventing the customer experience,” GM vice president of North America vehicle sales, service and marketing Mark LaNeve said in a news release.

Article copied from : Portland Business Journal Tuesday, March 31, 2009

New CEO for General Motors

A 25-year General Motors veteran, Fritz Henderson, will take over as the new CEO after Rick Wagoner was asked to resign by the WhiteHouse.

Obama stated:
"What we are interested in is giving GM an opportunity to finally make those much-needed changes that will let them emerge from this crisis a stronger and more competitive company."

I guess we will find out....

Electrathon Weekly Instructor Update

Post by: EDDLC -Instructor

3-29-09

The students calculated the dimensions required for the front axle assembly. They produced a full scale drawing of the new assembly, which lowered the car 1" to reduce drag. The new front end will consist of heim joints and 1/2" steel bolts. They will purchase the components from McMaster-Carr on Monday. When the components arrive they will trim to size and design a welding fixture. The welding will be completed by an outside source.

Next step is to "condition" or exercise the batteries to maximize power output. We are trying to design a method to load the batteries for a 1-hour draw down to 11 volts. Ceramic wheel bearing were ordered.

Gone..Baby...GONE!

GM CEO Rick Wagoner is stepping down !

Stay tuned....

26 Models by 2014

General Motors company executives pledge to increase the number of gasoline-electric hybrids in their lineup from 8 models, currently, to 26 models by the year 2014. The worry is, will there be part shortages? If the parts become a problem than they may not be able to meet the goal...

GM News

Today GM annouced that about 7,500 General Motors Corp. workers have signed up to take buyout and early retirement incentives to leave the company. WOW

$20,000 cash and a $25,000 voucher to buy a car was offered to all of its hourly U.S. employees This was done to help further trim its blue-collar work force.

Resources

Electrathon
Post from: EDDNG -Student Blogger

3-25-09

As of today we are using batteryuniversity.com to help us improve our overall efficiency with the new changes done to car.We've also been researching the ideas of other competing teams by reviewing pictures of their cars and adapting them intoa workable design that could work with car's frame and steering type. Also there's been research done on misc. websites thathas allowed us to properly mount a bicycle disc brake rotor without having to heavily modify the axles design in a general overview.

Axle

Electrathon
Post from: EDDSB - Student Blogger

3-25-09

Today in class, we are designing a new front axle. We are discussing ways we could go about doing this in groups of two.By correctly designing this, we hope to increase aerodynamics by lowering the axle close to the ground. We hope to increasethe efficiency to add the extra few laps that will let us win the race.

Tweet leaks info!

This info was leaked on Twitter! The new 2010 GMC Terrain will be unveiled April 5th and is expected to achieve a fuel economy rating of 30 MPG.

COOL!

http://www.green-gt.com/Produitsdrivs.html

Electrathon Progress Update

Post from: EDDLC- Course Instuctor

This Week 3-16-09

The vehicle is completely disassembled at this date. The PVC body was painted 3-18-09 with a black metallic paint. The class is 50% complete on the redesign of the front end. Four separate teams are completing individual designs. The class will present their ideas to each other and the teacher. They will then brainstorm on the best system or a composite of two or more designs. Some of the issues they must address:
Caster adjustment
Camber Adjustment
Toe In Adjustment
Akerman angle included
Light weight: aluminum or steel
Simple is better
Due date for final front end design is 3-25-09.


Whats next: Build front end spindles, research battery conditioning methods, ordering canopy, brakes.


Interesting Links:

Lime Rock Park Race Track
http://www.limerock.com/
Connecticut Electrathon
http://www.ctelectrathon.org/
National Electrathon
http://www.electrathonamerica.org/

Electrathon Info

Post from: EDDLC- Course Instuctor

The Old Saybrook High School Engineering and Development Team will be Competing in the May 15, 2009 Electrathon Race at Lime Rock Park Race Track in Lakeville, Connecticut.

The race is run on an approximately 1/4 mile oval track with a 12-foot elevation change. The cars are electrically powered by two 12-volt car batteries. The winner is determined by completing the most laps in one hour.

We completed in our first race in October 2008 and finished 2nd place in the Novice Division, completing 88-laps. After the race the class discussed many ways to improve the cars performance including:
Improve aerodynamic by adding canopy, 2008 car was an open cockpit.
Improve battery performance, 2008 car used new unconditioned batteries
Redesign front end, 2008 car had no adjustments
Replace wheel bearings with ceramic, 2008 used $4 ball bearings
Improve paint job, purely cosmetic put inspirational
Provide alignment adjustment for rear wheel.
Replace drum brakes with disc type.
Replace throttle lever, 2008 car had a $5 rheostat.
Provide wireless motor monitoring, 2008 had none.
Monitor tire temperatures for proper wheel alignment.
Replace tires with 120PSI heavy duty tires, 2008 car tire had blowout.
Lower roll bar height for aerodynamic improvement
Lower vehicle center of gravity for better cornering performance
Rear view camera, 2008 mirrors vibrated and aerodynamic drag.
On board instrumentation: Voltage meter , amp-hour meter, speedometer
2-way radio, wireless headsets

Welcome "Engineering Design and Development" Students!

We are so excited to have the students and their instructor blogging with us from an "Engineering Design and Development" course that they are enrolled in at our local high school.
Because these are students, we are going to be posting the blogs for them. They all have a blogger name, so when the posts go up, they will be posted by me, but will have their blogger name at the very beginning of each entry.
They will be blogging about a car that they are designing, building and competing with in a race held at a local race track in May 2009. We will hear about their progress as well as some questions they have about issues that they are trying to work through. They welcome any advice, opinions and any comments that you may want to offer. Thank you in advance for your interest and input.
We at AllAmericanHybrid.com are proud to be the sponsors of the students and their "Electrathon Vehicle" !

*Please remember....these are high school students, so let's be appropriate with all comments.

Check out the Whitehouse Blog

http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/03/19/Electric/

Hybrid Tahoe Video Blog Part 2

To see Part 2 on mileage and handling:

http://www.motordoc.com/tahoe.htm

Hybrid Tahoe Video Post

DO NOT try this at home.

Next installment of hybrid tahoe blog is video post and can be viewed at http://www.motordoc.com/tahoe.htm

Praticing What You Preach, What an Awesome Concept!

Obama joins other gov't officials by trading-in his Chrysler 300C with a Hemi and replaced it with a Ford Escape Hybrid!
Other owners include, Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, Christopher Dodd and Bill Richardson.

Obama's Task Force Gets a Tour

Last week, General Motors showed of the Chevy Volt to President Obama's auto industry task force. Curious? Me too!