Chevy Volt. Launching 2010.

GM seems to be successfully walking a thin line here. The first folks who buy Volts will be the early adopters — the super-green, super-geek people who want to be surrounded by evidence of the electric drivetrain and battery power, electronic gauges, display screens, lights and so on.

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle to be produced by General Motors, expected to be launched by end of 2010 model. Sales to begin later on and in spite of GM bankruptcy filing, the automaker announced it remained committed to keeping the Volt on schedule. The Volt’s propulsion system will be based on GM’s new Voltec  platform, which differs significantly from GM’s earlier BAS Hybrid and Two-Mode Hybrid systems.

The electric power for the vehicle is sourced from its onboard lithium-ion batteries which are charged by an electrical power outlet and/or the gasoline engine. The Volt’s 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack can be fully charged  by plugging the car into a 120-240VAC residential electrical outlet using the provided SAE J1772 compliant charging cord. No external charging station will be required.

With fully charged batteries, enough stored electrical energy will power the Volt for 40 miles (64 km), a distance capable of satisfying the daily commute of 75% of Americans, which averages around 33 miles (53 km).  After 40 miles (64 km), a small 4-cylinder gasoline internal combustion engine drives a 53 kW generator effectively extending the Volt’s potential range to as much as 640 miles (1,030 km) on a single tank of gasoline.

Chevy Volt is designed to move more than 75 percent of America’s daily commuters without a single drop of gas. In the U.S market, the price of the Chevy Volt is expected to be approx US$40k. Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions. Americans want something better, so we do !

2011 Chevrolet Volt

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt has recently given a few impressions to those journalists who have been aloud twenty minutes inside one. The first impression is the silence. It is one thing to coast along doing 15-20 mpg, but to accelerate from 0-60 mph with no noise other than that of the wind and tires is incredible, and Tony Posawatz said that the sounds will be even less noticeable on the final product. Secondly, the best way to decrease speed in the Volt is by lifting off the gas pedal. When the car is shifted into low mode, the motor then charges the batteries while also slowing the car. Thirdly, acceleration is impressive, GM is aiming for the feel of a 250-hp V6 sedan, and expects to have a sub-nine second 0-60 time. The Chevrolet Volt could very well be the next big hit that GM needs.

 

Chevrolet Volt Named 2009 Green Car Vision Award Winner

The Chevrolet Volt has been named the 2009 Green Car Vision Award winner by the Green Car Journal. Competition for the award was intense, with plug in hybrid, range extended electric, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles fighting for the prize. Ron Cogan the editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal said, “The Chevy Volt offers a bold and far-reaching approach that will being an exceptionally fuel-efficient model to consumers at reasonable cost, besides being a great design, the Volt promises exactly what many consumers are asking for – a car capable of driving on zero emission battery power most of the time at pennies per mil, with over 100 mpg possible on longer journeys when electric power from its range extender engine-generator is needed.” The Green Car Vision Award recognizes the most important vehicle in a year that visualizes the road ahead, but is not yet on sale.

Chevrolet Volt Named 2009 Green Car Vision Award Winner

The Chevrolet Volt has been named the 2009 Green Car Vision Award winner by the Green Car Journal. Competition for the award was intense, with plug in hybrid, range extended electric, battery electric, and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles fighting for the prize. Ron Cogan the editor and publisher of the Green Car Journal said, “The Chevy Volt offers a bold and far-reaching approach that will being an exceptionally fuel-efficient model to consumers at reasonable cost, besides being a great design, the Volt promises exactly what many consumers are asking for – a car capable of driving on zero emission battery power most of the time at pennies per mil, with over 100 mpg possible on longer journeys when electric power from its range extender engine-generator is needed.” The Green Car Vision Award recognizes the most important vehicle in a year that visualizes the road ahead, but is not yet on sale.

Chevy Volt Visits Inside Line

Local traffic slowed outside Inside Line’s headquarters on Monday morning as the Chevrolet Volt came out of a closed car carrier and parked along the curb for Inside Line. Although the Volt runs on electric power, a 1.4 liter four cylinder engine provides electric power for longer trips. The Volt’s lithium ion battery is expected to give an average of forty miles of driving range, and fully recharge is less than three hours using a 220-volt outlet and under eight hours using a 110-household outlet.

Chevy Volt Visits Inside Line

Local traffic slowed outside Inside Line’s headquarters on Monday morning as the Chevrolet Volt came out of a closed car carrier and parked along the curb for Inside Line. Although the Volt runs on electric power, a 1.4 liter four cylinder engine provides electric power for longer trips. The Volt’s lithium ion battery is expected to give an average of forty miles of driving range, and fully recharge is less than three hours using a 220-volt outlet and under eight hours using a 110-household outlet.

Saturn Vue Plug-In Hybrid on the Road to Reality

GM’s executive director oh hybrid powertrain engineering, Larrry Nitz released a statement saying that they are currently testing eleven Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid vehicles at the GM Proving Grounds. The Vue plug-in is due out in late 2010, around the same time as the Chevrolet Volt will be arriving in showrooms. When testing initially started nickel-metal hydride batteries were used, but now they are currently using lithium-ion batteries. At this stage the plug-in charge is fully operational and undergoing refinement. The Vue plug-in may not be ready for production but GM continues to make progress.

Saturn Vue Plug-In Hybrid on the Road to Reality

GM’s executive director oh hybrid powertrain engineering, Larrry Nitz released a statement saying that they are currently testing eleven Saturn Vue plug-in hybrid vehicles at the GM Proving Grounds. The Vue plug-in is due out in late 2010, around the same time as the Chevrolet Volt will be arriving in showrooms. When testing initially started nickel-metal hydride batteries were used, but now they are currently using lithium-ion batteries. At this stage the plug-in charge is fully operational and undergoing refinement. The Vue plug-in may not be ready for production but GM continues to make progress.

 

GM’s Lutz Confident Chevy Volt Will Arrive for 2010

The Chevrolet Volt is probably one of GM’s most highly anticipated vehicle launches. The Volt promises to revolutionize the way people commute. Development of the vehicle is progressing nicely and GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz stated that he is confident that the Volt will show up on schedule.

The vehicle uses a powerful lithium-ion battery back to power the vehicle for 40 miles. Once the battery pack exhaust its stored energy, a 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine cranks up to recharge the battery pack and keeps the volt moving along. The Volt can also be recharged from a standard household outlet.

One thing that Lutz said needs to be worked on before arriving on dealer lots in the tiny internal combustion engine (ICE). In its current form, its not quite refined enough for the public.

“it all works real well, it’s just that the transition from battery power to the internal combustion,” stated Lutz. “They said it’s still noisy and it’s a little rough. But heck, we’ve got a little more than a year a half to work on that.”

GM’s Lutz Confident Chevy Volt Will Arrive for 2010

 The Chevrolet Volt is probably one of GM’s most highly anticipated vehicle launches. The Volt promises to revolutionize the way people commute. Development of the vehicle is progressing nicely and GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz stated that he is confident that the Volt will show up on schedule.

 

The vehicle uses a powerful lithium-ion battery back to power the vehicle for 40 miles. Once the battery pack exhaust its stored energy, a 1.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine cranks up to recharge the battery pack and keeps the volt moving along. The Volt can also be recharged from a standard household outlet.

One thing that Lutz said needs to be worked on before arriving on dealer lots in the tiny internal combustion engine (ICE). In its current form, its not quite refined enough for the public.

 

“it all works real well, it’s just that the transition from battery power to the internal combustion,” stated Lutz. “They said it’s still noisy and it’s a little rough. But heck, we’ve got a little more than a year a half to work on that.”