Chevy Volt - the electric car

Will the Chevy Volt be the first fully functional electric car?

GM (Chevy) just announced that they are going to be producing fewer SUV’s and begin production on the Volt. The Volt was a concept car back in January of 2007 that looks like it has made it to the big leagues.

The car, “will be powered by a lithium-ion battery that can be recharged either via a regular electrical socket when parked or by an onboard generator while driving. The standard Volt generator will be configured to run on E85 fuel (85 percent ethanol, 15 percent gasoline), but other fuel sources, such as diesel, gasoline or even fuel cells are possible.”

Plug your car in just like your cell phone

I am excited to see that the car industry is taking chances on cars like these. Our inability to advance beyond the internal combustion engine is almost laughable in light of all of the other technological advancements of the last century. Electric cars have failed in the past, but that is no reason to stop trying to find a solution. Way to go to Chevy for taking a chance on something like this. Hopefully other car companies will follow with other innovations.

Here are a few pics of the Chevy Volt for your viewing pleasure…

Here are a few of the frequently asked questions about it from the Volt website.

Q: How is the Chevy Volt different than other cars on the road?
A: The car is a plug-in range-extended electric vehicle with an on-board gasoline generator. It will have a large battery that stores power from your home electric outlet and which is connected to an electric motor. The electric motor directly propels the car. The battery can last for the first 40 miles. After that, should one continue to need to drive, the on-board gasoline/E85 generator will power up to keep the battery from running out.

Q: How is the Chevy Volt different than today’s hybrids, like the Prius?
A: Today’s hybrids are called parallel hybrids. They use a small electric motor for low speed driving, but switch to a regular gas engine for acceleration and faster speed driving, hence both engines work side by side or in parallel. The Volt is a series vehicle meaning only the electric motor power the car at all times, the gas engine is just a generator, making electric to keep the batteries in a steady state of charge.

Q: What is the driving range of the Chevy Volt?
A: The car is being designed to drive at least 40 miles on pure electricity stored in the battery from overnight home charging. After that the gas engine will kick in and allow the car to be driven up to 400 miles on a full tank (6-7 gallons) of gas.

Q: How many miles per gallon will the Chevy Volt get?
A: A bit of a trick question. For the first 40 miles it will get infinite mpg, because no gas will be burned. When the generator starts, the car will get an equivalent of 50 mpg thereafter. One can calculate the average mpg per for any length drive starting with a full battery: Total MPG = 50xM/(M-40)

Q: When will the car be available?
A: As per GM Vice-Chairman Bob Lutz the plan is to have the car available for mass purchase in late 2010 (probably as a 2011 model year). As of 3/08 he was 94.5% confident of making that deadline.

Q: What type of batteries will the Chevy Volt use?
A: The car is being designed around an advanced battery pack which uses lithium-ion chemistry. This chemistry appears in cell phones and laptops. For automotive use the packs and cells will be more powerful and safe.

Q: How much will the car cost?
A: Goal is to be less than $30,000, but first versions might be closer to $40,000.

Q: What is the cost of operation of the car
A: With current average U.S. electric rates of ~10 cents/kwh it should cost 80 cents to drive for the first 40 miles, and then get 50 mpg thereafter using gasoline (market rate).

Q: Why is the car taking so long to make?
A: GM reports that the battery packs are not ready yet. They have to be thoroughly tested to ensure safety and reliability.

Q: Does the car use regenerative braking?
A: Yes. This means when the car is slowed, the kinetic or motion-based energy will be recaptured as electricity stored in the battery.

Q: How long will it take to recharge the Volt?
A: 6.5 hours using a 110 volt (standard home) outlet, and about 3 hours if you have a 220 volt supply.

Q: Is there a waiting list for the car?
A: No official waiting list, but we have an unofficial waiting list here on GM-Volt.com; the names will be given to GM when the time is right.

My thoughts on the Volt

Personally, I am a little shocked that it is going to be 2011 before the things are available - and that is assuming that everything goes according to plans. But regardless, the whole electric car idea excites me.

The price tag is a bit steep as well - gas prices would have to be very high to see some financial benefit from purchasing a car that will probably cost $35,000 when you can buy a new small 4 cylinder for a little over $10,000.

But what do you think about the Volt? Would you be willing to change your habits to plug your car in every night? And would you pay $35,000 to almost not have to go to the gas station?

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