2011 Chevrolet Volt Pre-Production Test Drive | Popular Mechanics

Written by Popular Mechanics

Published on November 30th, 2009

3 Comments

Posted in Plug-in hybrid EVs

Popular Mechanics gets behind the wheel of the pre-production Chevy Volt and first experiences the car in pure-electric and sustained-charge modes.

This post is an excerpt of an article from Popular Mechanics. You can read the full post (with video) on their website. Written by Barry Winfield.

LOS ANGELES—We’ve been following the Chevy Volt as it has progressed through many milestones before it became a development mule based on the 2011 Chevy Cruze last May. That test drive was completed entirely in electric-only mode. Today, we had a chance to slide behind the wheel of a Volt that looks and feels much closer to production. We experienced the car in both pure-electric and sustained-charge modes, when the conventional gas engine powers an on-board alternator to supply the needs of the electric motor when the batteries reach an elected state of discharge.

• » See also: Diesel-Electric Supercar Has 80 Mile Battery Range, Gets 44 MPG After That
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The Volt is still about a year away from production, with an intended launch date of November 2010. But for chief engineer Andrew Farah, the process has been remarkably condensed.

The prototype Volt we drove in the parking lot of the Dodgers Stadium in downtown Los Angeles is what Farah calls a 65-percent write-off vehicle, meaning it’s about 65-percent of the way to full production standards. As such, it had a few technical bugs already identified and rectified for future cars. Still, this prototype is a fully representative vehicle in terms of structure and drivetrain.

Electric propulsion systems are well known for their smooth and quiet operation. So the unobtrusive cycling of a gasoline engine is considered a crucial aspect of this kind of hybrid system. Consumers simply won’t tolerate a system that doesn’t operate seamlessly. Here is how the Volt performed.

The Specs

The Volt uses a three-phase AC induction motor rated at 120 kilowatts, or 160-horsepower, powered by a six-foot long, 375-pound array of lithium-ion cells mounted low along the Volt’s floorpan. Though Farah wouldn’t say precisely how much the Volt weighs at this point (we suspect it will tip the scales at around 3500 pounds), he did mention that much work has been done to keep the center-of-gravity as low as possible, to help diminish a driver’s perception of mass. Of course weight mounted higher in the chassis would result in more noticeable roll.

The engine is a normally aspirated 1.4-liter inline four-cylinder unit from GM’s global Family Zero range, manufactured in Flint, Michigan, and it is hooked to a 53-kilowatt alternator to provide current for the Volt’s electric motor once the battery pack has discharged about half way. To prolong battery life the cells are never allowed to recharge higher than about 80-percent of maximum, and they are never permitted to discharge more than about 50-percent unless an emergency occurs, and “limp home mode” is triggered.

Careful cell management is key to efficient utilization, not to mention the safe operation of lithium-ion cells, some of which have been known to fail in spectacular pyrotechnic fashion unless stringent temperature controls are in place. The Volt has dedicated cooling and heating systems in place for the battery pack, along with elaborate cell-condition monitoring mechanisms for optimal efficiency.

The chassis is based on GM’s Delta architecture, similar to that underpinning the new Cruze model, which promises contemporary ride and handling performance.

When the Chevrolet Volt launches it will be capable of 230 miles per gallon according to General Motors. The results are based on an all-new test developed by the EPA for the fuel economy of ultra efficient plug-in electric vehicles.

The announcement of Chevrolet Volt’s expected EPA fuel rating comes amid sweeping changes at GM. The automaker made a series of announcements recently, including the addition of new small Cadillac models to be slotted below the CTS says Cadillac dealers in Philadelphia. Additionally, GM will also be diving into a promotion with eBay Motors to sell Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick, and GMC vehicles online.

As one Ohio Chevrolet dealer points out, coming up with a fuel mileage rating for an electric car is not an easy task. GM has been working closely with the Environmental Protection Agency for years to determine how to attribute values to such vehicles. That being said, the Chevy Volt is still a ways off from showrooms, and the EPA has yet to officially test the Volt to confirm its expected 230 mpg.

The Chevrolet Volt is capable of driving 40 miles without using any gasoline. According to a Chevy dealer specializing in used cars Cleveland, it is only when that distance is reached that the gas engine is activated to charge the onboard batteries. For those driving under 40 miles, gas mileage is essentially unlimited. It’s estimated that once the gasoline engine is engaged, the Volt could earn a 50 mpg mileage rating, but that figure will not be included in the overall rating since the car would have to already have covered the first 40 miles before gasoline was needed.

For more information, see the full press release from GM below. Continue reading ‘Chevrolet Volt Gets 230 MPG’

Chevy Volt Based 'Jolt' Transformer Autobot

 - First Official Photos

Along with the all-new Corvette Stingray Sideswipe character, visitors to Chevrolet's display at this year's Chicago Auto Show that opens its gates to the public on Friday, February 13, will also have the chance to see yet another new Chevy-based model that will star on Paramount's upcoming release, "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen." Jolt is a new Autobot character that appears in the production form of the 2011 Volt extended-range electric vehicle.

Leaving aside from the fact that in the movie Jolt will turn into a human-like robot, the only visible differences between the production Volt and the Chicago Show Transformers film model, seem to be limited to the silver-colored exterior mirrors and the trim surrounding the lower part of the windows.

"Chevrolet is thrilled to again be part of one of the most anticipated movies in years," said Ed Peper, GM North America vice president, Chevrolet. "'Transformers' gives us a great opportunity to connect with young people on their terms, with a dynamic, environmentally friendly image. The new characters represent the change going on in Chevy showrooms. From the exciting Camaro, the 21st century sports car, to the game-changing Volt, there's more than meets the eye at Chevrolet today.

^ MOPAR MAGNUM'S - "STREET VOLT" CUSTOM COUPE VERSION !!

YOU JUST HAVE TO WONDER WHAT CHEVY CAN DO WITH THE VOLT NEXT

Lutz: High-performance Chevy Volt SS a "possibility"

by ArtRiX on Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:08 pm

No technology is perfect and critics of electric cars gleefully point out the disadvantages electric car drivers will likely encounter on the open road. The biggest knock is that an electric car’s range is more limited than a conventional gas-powered vehicle. That’s an undisputed fact. And many observers still question the life of the battery.

At this point, the electric car simply won’t work for all drivers. While we don’t expect to convert electric car critics into fans, we do believe that electric cars offer real, tangible advantages worth considering—particularly for urban drivers who drive less than 50 miles each day.

Here then is our list of electric car advantages. We’re also looking at the issue objectively and have explored the “Disadvantages of Electric Cars” as a counterpoint. And if you're brand new to the electric car scene, you'll want to read "Electric Cars: A Brief Overview."

1. No tailpipe emissions

No internal combustion means no exhaust. A car doesn't get much greener than that. Of course, the juice in the electrical outlets you plug your electric car into is most likely created, at least in part, by burning coal, which creates a whole lot of pollution. But in theory, as alternative power sources like wind, solar and even nuclear become more plentiful, the more green electric vehicles will become and the more realistic a “true” zero emissions vehicle will become.

2. No more refueling

Pull your electric vehicle into your garage or charging station-equipped parking spot, plug 'er in and walk away. No pumps, no cashiers, no mess. Return three to eight hours later to a fully charged vehicle, or wait as little as 15 minutes for an 80 percent charge using a “quick charger.”

By some estimates, a daily commuter can expect to see as little as a $13 increase in their monthly electric bill. Figured another way, driving an average sedan will cost up to four times as much in fuel costs as you'd pay for the electricity to charge a Tesla Roadster every night (read: 2010 Tesla Roadster Review).

An upgraded electrical grid and developing technologies like using new ultra-capacitors in place of conventional batteries could allow for a future generation of vehicles that can be fully re-charged in as little as 5 minutes. That’s the future calling; for now, we’ll settle for no longer adding gas to a vehicle.