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Wagoner: Chevrolet Volt could use Cruze engine

Wagoner: Chevrolet Volt could use Cruze engine

Nelson Ireson July 22nd, 2008 Nelson Ireson By Nelson Ireson Author July 22nd, 2008
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December 31st, 1969 General Motors' Volt plug-in hybrid will have an onboard engine to recharge its batteries for long-range travel. Until now, it was only known that GM was working on a small and efficient engine for the car, with the concept designed with a 1L three-cylinder flexfuel engine that does not exist in the North American market. Now word from CEO Rick Wagoner indicates that the Volt could get a version of the engine going into the Chevrolet Cruze as its onboard generator. The engine is tentatively scheduled to be built at the company's Flint plant for Cruze production, though the Volt is expected to hit the streets in the U.S. before the Cruze, which won't come until the Cobalt has lived out its current generation. Nevertheless, Wagoner made it clear that the engine is being considered for the Volt. "[W]e are looking at other potential vehicle applications (for the engine), including an application as the range-extender engine in the Chevy Volt," said Wagoner in an interview with The Flint Journal. European buyers will have the Cruze available from 2009. Putting an engine large enough to power a car by itself may appear to be overkill when it's supposed function in the Volt application is as an onboard generator to recharge the batteries. The choice of a 1.4L engine for the Volt could indicate that it will be called on to perform more than battery topping-up duties, instead acting as an online electricity supplier directly to the electric motors. Whether that's a realistic possibility or the engine choice is merely one of convenience is yet unknown, however. Given the company's current economic difficulties, it may simply be less expensive to use a less-than-ideal engine for the task than to find a way to source a smaller one.
Wagoner: Chevrolet Volt could use Cruze engine

Wagoner: Chevrolet Volt could use Cruze engine

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General Motors' Volt plug-in hybrid will have an onboard engine to recharge its batteries for long-range travel. Until now, it was only known that GM was working on a small and efficient engine for the car, with the concept designed with a 1L three-cylinder flexfuel engine that does not exist in the North American market. Now word from CEO Rick Wagoner indicates that the Volt could get a version of the engine going into the Chevrolet Cruze as its onboard generator.

The engine is tentatively scheduled to be built at the company's Flint plant for Cruze production, though the Volt is expected to hit the streets in the U.S. before the Cruze, which won't come until the Cobalt has lived out its current generation. Nevertheless, Wagoner made it clear that the engine is being considered for the Volt. "[W]e are looking at other potential vehicle applications (for the engine), including an application as the range-extender engine in the Chevy Volt," said Wagoner in an interview with The Flint Journal. European buyers will have the Cruze available from 2009.

Putting an engine large enough to power a car by itself may appear to be overkill when it's supposed function in the Volt application is as an onboard generator to recharge the batteries. The choice of a 1.4L engine for the Volt could indicate that it will be called on to perform more than battery topping-up duties, instead acting as an online electricity supplier directly to the electric motors.

Whether that's a realistic possibility or the engine choice is merely one of convenience is yet unknown, however. Given the company's current economic difficulties, it may simply be less expensive to use a less-than-ideal engine for the task than to find a way to source a smaller one.

Tags: General Motors, Technical

Posted in: Chevrolet, News, Hybrid


Comments (5 total)

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  1. By Andrew #1, Posted: 7/22/2008

    I am part of a campaign aimed at General Motors to become Green Motors and become a hybrid/electric car manufacturer. Check it out here: http://Green Motors Campaign

    General Motors is falling apart, losing billions, and in jeopardy of going out of business. If we can convince them that there is a viable market for them taking drastic action to convert their cars and trucks to being the most environmentally efficient in the world, they have nothing to lose by unconditionally embracing the green movement.

  2. By Andrew #2, Posted: 7/22/2008

    http://www.thepoint.com/campaigns/save-general-motors-and-the-planet-at-the-same-time

    Sorry, here is the link

  3. By brian #3, Posted: 7/22/2008

    wtf, save the planet? How pompous of people to think the planet needs to be "saved". The planet has been around for 4+ billion years, it will survive mankind like a back case of rashes.

    Preserve mankind's current way of life or not mess everything up for the next generations is more to the point.

    Anyways, how can a HUGE company like GM put so much attention on 1 damn car. Look at all the other car companies who have new products coming out all the time, ie Audi, Merc, BMW, and VW. Dumbass GM managers need to plan ahead instead of lining their wallets with $$.

  4. By NoNameDenton #4, Posted: 7/22/2008

    I say use the resources and when we run out, start mining the rest of the solar system

  5. By Tokugawa #5, Posted: 7/23/2008

    I say let them do what they want. They'll meet market demand if it is there, if not the product will disappear.

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