E-REV

Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV)

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is a front-wheel-drive, four-passenger Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) that uses electricity as its primary power source and gasoline as its secondary power source to propel the vehicle.

Energy is stored on board in a 16-kWh, "T"-shaped lithium-ion battery pack. The battery pack powers the electric drive unit, which is capable of meeting full vehicle speed and acceleration performance while driving the car electrically for up to 60 km without using a drop of gas.

For longer trips, the Volt's on-board range-extending engine is used to drive an electric generator when the battery's energy has been depleted. The range extender, which can be powered by gas/E85 Ethanol, is able to generate additional electricity to power the car for hundreds of kilometers.

Fuel saving & Greenhouse Gas Emission

The 60 km of 'electric-only' drive range eliminates trips to the gas station as the majority of all European commuters are estimated to travel a maximum of 60 km per day. For example, 80% of German vehicle owners drive 50 km or less daily.

GM estimates that the Volt will save annually about 1700 liters of gasoline based on 60 km of daily driving (22,000 km annual). For drivers that commute 100 km per day or 36,500 km annually, about 2200 liters of gasoline could be saved.

Charging an E-REV

The Volt can be plugged into a standard household 230v outlet for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than 3 hours. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted.

As a baseline comparison, GM estimates that the cost per km to operate an E-REV like the Volt is approximately two euro cents per km electrically versus 12 euro cents per km using gasoline priced at €1.50 per liter.

Ride & Handling

Even with all benefits, an E-REV can offer excellent ride & handling performance. For example, the Volt's electric drive unit delivers 111 kW (150 hp), 370 Nm of instant torque, and a top speed of 161 km/h. The lack of engine noise, combined with special sound-deadening materials, makes the Volt an extremely quiet vehicle to drive.

Not a Hybrid, But an E-REV

An E-REV like the Volt represents a significant departure from conventional hybrids. In a E- REV, the wheels are turned by an electric drive unit, whereas hybrid vehicles typically require both sources - engine and battery - to provide full vehicle performance capability.

In a hybrid vehicle, the combustion engine is typically the larger of the two propulsion sources, and provides most of the power during high power vehicle maneuvers like off-line starts and freeway cruising. A plug-in hybrid operates the same way, but can be recharged by plugging in. Even with useful energy in the battery, the engine will often be operating to achieve vehicle peak loads. An E-REV like the Volt is unique from a hybrid or plug-in hybrid in that the vehicle's wheels are always driven electrically by an electric drive unit.

The Volt delivers up to 60 kilometers of gasoline- and emissions-free electric driving with the extended-range capability of typical mid-size cars.

General Motors launched its next 100 years on September 16, 2008 by unveiling the much-anticipated production version of the Chevrolet Volt.