GM ELECTRIC Vehicles

Chevrolet Volt

At the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, GM unveiled a new electric vehicle concept, the Chevrolet Volt, that could nearly eliminate going to the gas station altogether. The Volt is a battery-powered electric vehicle that uses a gas engine to create additional electricity, thereby extending its range. It can be fully charged by plugging it into a 110-volt outlet for approximately six hours a day. When the lithium-ion battery is fully charged, the vehicle can deliver 40 city miles of pure electric vehicle range. When the battery is depleted, a one-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed, or revolutions per minute, to create electricity and replenish the battery. This increases the vehicle’s fuel economy and range. This means that if the driver lived within 30 miles from work and she charged her vehicle every night, or during the day at work, she could achieve 150 miles per gallon.

In addition to gasoline, the Volt is designed to accommodate a number of advanced technology propulsion solutions, such as the use of alternative fuels and hydrogen fuel cells. The Volt uses GM’s E-flex system that utilizes multiple propulsion systems where the fuel may differ, but all ultimately end with an electric drive system. Examples include using an alternative fuel such as E85 ethanol, a blend of 15 percent gasoline and 85 percent ethanol. Using this fuel, a driver could achieve more than 525 miles per petroleum gallon. If the driver forgets to charge the vehicle or goes on vacation far from home, the Volt could still get 50 mpg by using the engine to convert gasoline into electricity and extend its range up to 640 miles; more than double that of today’s conventional vehicles.

With the Volt's E-flex System that the Volt uses, the propulsion of the vehicle can be tailored to meet the specific needs and infrastructure of a given market. For example, somebody in Brazil might use 100 percent ethanol to power an engine generator and battery. While a customer in Shanghai might get hydrogen from the sun and create electricity using a fuel cell.

To make this concept a reality, technology for lithium ion batteries needs to evolve to the point where it can support the operation of a motor vehicle and provide the performance characteristics that drivers are accustomed to. Some experts predict that the technology could be production ready between 2010 and 2012.