Posted on Thursday 3 April 2008
Larry Burns, VP of Research and Development at GM has confirmed the carmaker has settled on a final design for the much anticipated Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, the car GM hopes will bring it back into competition against Toyota’s Prius and a host of new hybrid and electric cars.
While the production version won’t look exactly like the stunning concept, Burns has stated the production Volt will definitely bear a “family resemblance” to it. Reportedly, drag on the production version is 30% less than the hard-edged concept Volt, suggesting it has taken on a more rounded and friendly appearance. Pictured above is an official teaser that hints at the design of the final version.
The Volt is powered by an ‘E-Flex’ plug-in hybrid system, consisting of a lithium-ion battery with an electric-only driving range of around 40 miles. It also has a small, flex-fuel engine to recharge the battery on the road. So far the biggest hurdles for GM was shoehorning the large batteries and engine into the car and still having enough room for four adults and their luggage, reports The Detroit News.
With production expected to begin in just a couple of years, GM seems well on the way to ironing out any issues the Volt may have - batteries have already been produced that satisfied safety and size requirements but long-term durability testing is currently under way to determine their life expectancy.
The Volt is shaping up to be the car that will make or break GM this decade, with Vice-Chairman of GM, Bob Lutz, recently expounding on the massive opportunity that GM missed by not developing a hybrid program earlier. But the mistake seems to have strengthened Lutz’s resolve, who stated in a blog entry that GM “are going for the brass ring” with the Volt.
Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid concept
Gee, isn’t it sad that Toyota and Honda will now have to play “catch-up” to the Americans, who will be bringing the first plug-in hybrid to market?
Hmmmmm…
“Catch Up'’ Really? GM Has had Hybrid/Electric technology since the 70’s but they never capatilized on it. Probably one of the biggest automotive blunders of the 20th century. If anything the industry as a whole should ‘ve been playing catchup to them decades ago. (think about it , it makes sense)
delby; they had the technology to make a nuclear car in the 50’s… but that didnt happen.
if you’re prepared to be cramped, you can also have a solar powered car.
lots of “what if”s.
look at hybrid technology being the same as cylinder deactivation. they had it in the 70’s, but it was mechanically controlled. it was junk, and it never worked right. sure they COULD have made a hybrid back then, but it would have been with lead acid batteries and using rediculously complex mechanical controls instead of a small microprocessor that todays hybrid controllers would use. once again… if cylinder deactivation didnt work in the 70’s… why would this have?
Because, Delby, a plug in hybrid is the only kind of hyrbid that makes any sense whatsoever…
okay a plug in hydrid is not the only type of hybrid out there but i dont mean that they should have made the damn technology but i mean develop it so they wouldt have to be playing catch up now i mean l GM was just coming off a decade of high prosperity they had the extra cash to make that possible a little bit a foresight was what was needed and what im saying is the lack of them wanting to take chances is what got them in the type of deep hole that they were in about 5 years ago but see GM is taking chances NOW and with its new design concepts i.e. cadillac,pontiac & chevy…. and its new found awareness for consumer wants and needs is whats propelled them to this point and what im saying is that they should have not waited until the euros and asians to take over their market shares before they started bringing out desireable products p.s. the future of alternative energy will be solar energy ……..FIN……