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General Motors has unveiled the much anticipated production version of the Volt - a vehicle that delivers up to 64 kilometres of petrol and emissions free electric driving, with the extended-range capability of hundreds of additional kilometres.
The Volt is leading a new era of electric automobiles by creating this new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric Vehicle, or E-REV.
The 2011 Volt is a front-wheel-drive, four-passenger Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) that uses electricity as its primary power source and petrol as its secondary power source to propel the vehicle.
The Volt offers an impressive range of benefits including energy diversification, reduced oil consumption and reduced emissions.
According to a Society of Automotive Engineers study published by GM in April of 2008, an E-REV will consume on average, less than half of the petrol compared to a plug-in hybrid, as well as substantially reducing initial trip start emissions.
GM estimates that the Volt will save about 1,892 litres of petrol based on 64 kilometres of daily driving and 24,000 kilometres annually.
The design of the Volt production car has evolved from the original concept that was unveiled at the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Recognising that aerodynamics play a key role in maximising driving range, GM designers created an aerodynamically efficient design for the production vehicle.
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Energy is stored on board the Volt 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
64 km (based on EPA city cycle) without using a drop of petrol.
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 petrol/E85 Ethanol, is able to generate additional electricity
to power the car for hundreds of miles.
This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several hundred additional kilometres,
until the vehicle's battery is once again charged. Unlike a conventional battery-electric vehicle,
the Volt gives the driver the confidence and peace of mind that they will not be stranded by a depleted battery.
In practice, 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 manoeuvres like off-line starts and freeway cruising.
A plug-in hybrid operates in the same way, but can be recharged by 'plugging in'.
Even with energy remaining in the battery, the engine will often be operating to
achieve vehicle peak loads. An E-REV like the Volt is different to a hybrid or plug-in
hybrid, due to the fact that the vehicle's wheels are always driven electrically by
an electric drive unit.
