While gas-electric hybrids have been deployed by almost every major automotive manufacturer, a pure electric car has yet to make it into showrooms. This is the type of car that most people think of when they think of alternative power – an automobile which can be plugged into the wall when it needs a recharge, and which does not have any type of standard internal-combustion drive train whatsoever. While it may seem that such a vehicle is still far off in the distant future, General Motors has taken a major step forward in order to convince the public that a version of such technology is viable today.
The 2007
Chevrolet Volt Concept is the company’s first real attempt to create an almost all-electric car that may actually make it into the driveways of consumers. The ‘almost’ refers to the fact that while yes, the Volt does have a small gasoline engine, this engine actually has no connection at all to the wheels, transmission or throttle. In fact, the one liter, 3-cylinder engine, which uses a turbo to generate 71 horsepower, is used exclusively to power an electric generator. This rather novel approach to the electric car means that all of the juice required to move the Volt from one place to another is provided by a battery that is connected to the generator. The gasoline engine doesn’t have to be running at all in order to drive around town, as the Volt has a 40 mile range on battery alone. The battery is also capable of charging itself via a standard 110 volt connection, meaning that once home from doing the shopping or picking up the groceries, all a driver has to do is plug the car into the wall and let it charge until the next trip. It only takes a maximum of six and a half hours to completely charge.
In theory, this means that if the Volt is used primarily for city driving, owners may never actually even have to fill the tank with gas. Interestingly, it is city driving which frequently uses the most gasoline in a standard car, due to the constant stopping and starting - so while the limited battery range might seem like a negative at first, the extra savings of not driving a normal car on these short but costly trips quickly adds up. On top of that, if you do decide to fill the tank with up to 12 gallons of fuel, the range of the Volt jumps significantly to 640 miles. This is because the battery can be constantly charged by the small generator. The 161 horsepower of the electric motor may seem weak, but this is very close to the same power produced by the
BMW 3-series up until the early 1990’s, which proves that it is more than sufficient for navigating modern highways. Performance-wise, the 2007
Chevrolet Volt Concept is no slouch, reaching sixty miles per hour from a standing start in just 8.5 seconds.
Aesthetically, the Volt does not suffer from the typical boring, utilitarian styling that so many alternative fuel vehicles find themselves saddled with. The chopped top and high belt-line help give the concept a sleek and aggressive stance. The wheels are positioned at the very edge of the platform, with short overhangs complimenting the modern design. The Volt is a 4 door, but the way the greenhouse is designed in combination with the somewhat hidden door handles gives the impression of a coupe.
GM has stated that they fully intend to build this vehicle, but that they are currently waiting for lithium ion battery technology to mature to the point where the batteries will be usable for a reasonable interval before they require replacement.
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June 25, 2008, 8:57 am
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