The 2011 Chevrolet Volt Preview

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The Chevrolet Volt concept was first unveiled at the January 2007 Detroit Auto Show, and it was first rolled out in Europe at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.  What makes the 2011 Volt different is it is not a plug-in hybrid, but rather it is an extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV).   The Volt uses a series hybrid system, using an electric motor to drive the wheels with a gas engine to generate more electricity once the car's lithium ion battery pack is depleted.  The Volt is likely to make a big splash and generate much attention as it will be one of the first retail-market vehicles to use state-of-the-art lithium-ion (LI) batteries instead of the older and more common nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) type.

Volt Design

Besides its unique powertrain, the 2011 Volt will have an external footprint like that of Chevrolet's conventional cars.  Actually, as an attempt to offset the high cost of batteries and related systems, GM is reportedly trying to use as many off-the-shelf components as possible.   The 2011 Chevrolet Volt will be a compact 5-door sedan with front-wheel drive, and four-passenger seating. The Volt will most resemble the midsize Chevrolet Malibu and the Chevy Cobalt.  The Volt will have a very aerodynamic front end and high rear decklid. There are some futuristic design elements too, including the LED fog lights, black expanse beneath the windows and Volt badging attached to the sideview mirrors.  The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille are functional, enabling air to move easily around the car. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler allow the air to flow off and away quickly. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass help reduce turbulence and drag.

2011 Cabin Features

Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features that customers expect in a four-passenger sedan, and it delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any offered before on a Chevrolet sedan. Modern controls and attractive materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive infotainment center with integrated shifter distinguish the Volt's interior from other vehicles in the market. Inside the car has a very high tech look including a user configurable LCD display. This will allow drivers to select the gauges he or she wants to see including state of charge, distance to flat battery and more. There is also roomy seating for four on either side of the battery filled center tunnel, while the tunnel itself is surprisingly compact.  

Driving the Volt

The Chevrolet Volt offers spirited driving performance in a remarkably quiet interior.  Again, the Volt may have a very different powertrain, but GM wanted to make it like any ot her Chevrolet, and this includes the handling and driving. Although there's no transmission per se, the Volt will have an ordinary mechanical shift lever on the center console, which GM says was chosen to help conserve power versus an electrically operated selector. Also to conserve power windshield wipers, air conditioning, stereo, and other accessories have been redesigned so they will drain less juice than those in conventional cars.

Volt Price and Availability

GM is aiming for a self-imposed November 2010 deadline with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.  If you know you want a Volt, it may not be that easy to get at first.  First-year assemblies will be capped at around 10,000 units, a fairly slow pace presumably chosen to allow for any needed debugging of the car and/or its production processes. That means only select Chevy dealers will have Volts to sell in the 2011 model year, And how much will the Volt cost? The initial estimate has recently been upped to the $35,000 range.  Considering the high price of technology such as high-tech batteries and other Volt-specific components, the Volt may be more like $40,000.  Apparently because GM underestimated the cost of the Volt there are questions as to whether the company is willing to take a loss by subsidizing the price down to the original $30K target--and if so, for how long.  After the initial production year, the Volt will become more widely available, however, possibly with production around 100,000 a year; or more considering the market and success of the Volt.  

How the Volt Will Run

LI batteries store more energy in less space than other battery types.  They're also faster to recharge. These advantages are naturally attractive for an electric car, however devising suitable cells has been the major challenge in bringing the Volt to market. Although the  batteries in the 2011 Chevrolet Volt are expected to be quite safe, they must be kept within a specific temperature range. The Volt has a separate liquid-cooling system for that purpose. For convenience, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will include an 'intelligent' control module that allows plugging in to either 120- or 240-volt household circuits. GM estimates the Volt's battery can be charged in less than three hours via a 240-volt outlet, or in about eight hours with a 120-volt outlet.  Under electric power alone, the car has a 40-mile range and can be recharged at any AC outlet.  It will use GM's new 'Delta 2' global small-car platform, but will have unique styling and GM's much-touted 'E-Flex' powertrain architecture. E-Flex differs from existing hybrid systems that use a battery-powered electric motor as an adjunct to an internal combustion engine. Instead, the gas-fueled engine serves as an electricity generator and battery charger and is not connected to the drive wheels. Technically speaking, the Volt is an electric vehicle (EV) as well as a 'serial hybrid.' The Toyota Prius and similar vehicles are termed 'parallel hybrids.'   Chevy Volt is designed to move more than 75 percent of America's daily commuters without a single drop of gas.  Electronic controls in the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will fire up the gas engine once the battery pack runs down to 30-percent power, then keep cycling the engine to maintain power within a specified band. GM estimates the Volt's total driving range at 640 miles, which is about double that of most conventional hybrids.

Will the Volt Succeed?

Yes, the Chevy Volt will have a unique powertrain technology, but despite this, it will face a growing number of 'clean-tech' vehicles selling for the same or less money, including not just hybrids but also the ever popular diesel-engine models. The redesigned Toyota Prius expected in January 2009 will certainly be a competitor as Toyota has promised some big improvements over the current Prius, which is likely to switch to LI batteries around 2010, and then add plug-in capability as early as 2011.  The current state of the economy is also something to think about, as consumers may begin to select 'green cars' based not on the environmental impact, but initial cost.  Read Edmunds.com First Drive to get another look at the Volt.

 

The Volt is not just the first E-REV vehicle to go to production; it is symbolic of GM's strong commitment to the future. An interesting fact is that the E-Flex architecture on the Volt is designed so that the gas engine can be replaced by a hydrogen fuel cell, once those are ready. Chevy is definitely thinking into the future. Read the unveiling of the 2011 Volt in a Popular Science article.