1965 Chevy El Camino Ls1 on 2040-cars

Auto blog

GM is training more first responders for EV emergencies in the U.S. and Canada

GM is training more first responders to be able to handle emergencies involving electric vehicles. The automaker is "significantly expanding" its EV First Responder Training program in the United States and Canada as electric vehicle sales continue to grow. Its initiative will primarily focus on training firefighters and equipping them with the necessary knowledge about full electric vehicle technologies. GM says it's hoping to dispel misconceptions when it comes to handling EVs in emergency situations. One of those misconceptions is that water is dangerous around EV batteries — turns out the recommended way to put out lithium-ion battery fires is by using copious amounts of water.  Andrew Klock, a senior manager of education and development at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), said: "The best way for the public and private vehicle fleet owners to rapidly adopt EVs is to train firefighters and emergency responders on how to handle incidents involving battery powered vehicles. The fire service has had more than 100 years to gain the knowledge needed to respond to internal combustion engine fires, and it is critical that they are now educated on EV safety." The NFPA held trainings of its own that had benefited 300,000 first responders, but it believes more than 800,000 members of the community still need further training.   GM previously piloted the program in southeast Michigan, but now it's conducting training events across Michigan and in Fort Worth, Texas, as well. Later this summer, it's bringing the program to metro New York City and Southern California. Participants will have to attend four-hour sessions, with up to two per day, held in various venues, such as fire houses and dealerships. Interested first and second responders can register through the program's dedicated website and earn a certificate from the Illinois Fire Service Institute if they score higher than 70 percent on the learning assessment by the end of their training.  The automaker already has a few EV models on the market, including the Chevy Bolts, the GMC Hummer EV and the Cadillac Lyriq. It has huge electrification plans for the future, though, and training responders could help make potential customers more receptive to the idea of switching to electric vehicles. GM aims to launch 30 EV models by 2025 and to exclusively sell EVs ten years after that. Related video: Green Cadillac Chevrolet GM GMC Safety Electric

Driving the C8 Corvette, and previewing GM's electric future | Autoblog Podcast #617

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by West Coast Editor James Riswick and Road Test Editor Zac Palmer. First they dive right in to the experience of driving the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette, followed by their review of the Mercedes-Benz GLE 350. Then they talk about the week's news, beginning with the whole slew of electric vehicles General Motors surprised us with at its EV Day. Next, they discuss the possibility of Porsche building a hybrid 911, as well as news about Ford's electric Transit van making its way to the U.S.. Last, but not least, they take to the mailbag to help a listener pick his next car in the "Spend My Money" segment. Autoblog Podcast #617 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Driving the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Driving the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE 350 GM EV Day: Cadillac Celestiq and Lyriq, GMC Hummers and more A hybrid Porsche 911? Ford Transit electric commercial vans coming to U.S. Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

2015 Callaway Corvette Z06 gets new supercharger, adds $17K to starting price

Callaway's proud tradition of modifying Chevrolets is about to add a very significant chapter this weekend, as the company prepares to unveil a modified version of the 2015 Corvette Z06. The engine mods are simple, though we expect them to be very potent. That's because Chevy has replaced the factory supercharger with a new "GenThree" unit that's nearly a third larger than what's bolted on in Bowling Green. A new intercooler is also added, along with a new high-flow intake system. Beyond that, the changes are exclusively of the subtle cosmetic variety. There's new badging inside and out, as well as new engine covers, floormats and an underhood plaque. Naturally, there's documentation to verify the Callaway Z06's authenticity, and the comfort that comes with a three-year, 36,000-mile warranty. Callaway has priced the upgrade package at $16,995, in addition to the price of the stock Z06. While we're still waiting to hear official power figures, that seems like a reasonable asking price for what were wagering will be a major increase in power. The Callaway Z06 will debut this weekend at the National Corvette Museum's C7 Bash in Bowling Green, KY. Expect more details following the debut. Scroll down for the official press release. Related Video: 2015 Callaway Corvette Z06 to Debut at National Corvette Museum The 2015 Callaway Corvette Z06 will debut at the National Corvette Museum C7 Bash in Bowling Green, Kentucky, April 23 through April 25. Here's a sneak peek at the new package. Based on Chevrolet's track-proven Z06, Callaway engineers' no-compromise approach takes this Corvette to an astounding power level. While advertised Callaway horsepower and torque are pending final validation, the Callaway package adds Callaway's new GenThree supercharger system with 32% more displacement than the stock Z06 supercharger, improved manifold design and unique triple-element intercooling system. Callaway engineers recognize that a key contributor to maximizing power is reduction of inlet air temperature. By exposing the supercharger's large plenum area to outside ambient airflow, the design takes advantage of the significant charge air temperature reduction provided by convective cooling. The completely redesigned intercooling system also helps maintain nearly ambient charge air temperature with exceptionally low air restriction.