A new kind of Hybrid

By Jim Taddei - May 20th 2010

First generation:




Coming soon:

The next generation of "plug-in" hybrid is on the way in the form of the Chevrolet Volt, which GM is calling an "Extended-range electric vehicle" (or E-REV). The Volt breaks new ground in the fact that it is basically and electric vehicle with an internal combustion engine as the "helper" (Parallel Hybrid). There is no mechanical link between the combustion engine and the drive wheels. The Volt is always propelled by the electric motor; the combustion engine is used only to charge the high voltage battery via a generator. The Volt is designed to travel approximately 40 miles on electric power only, after which the operation of the gas engine is necessary to begin recharging the high voltage battery. In its current form the Volt uses a gasoline engine to power the generator which can provide enough electricity to keep the volt running with no need to stop for a recharge. Future Volt models could use a diesel engine or hydrogen fuel cell to power the generator.

The 40 mile range for electric operation only was chosen because more than two-thirds of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day. If those people plugged in their car to recharge it every night, they might never use any gasoline. And depending on local electric rates, that 40-mile recharge could cost less than a dollar.

The Chevrolet Volt has been 3 to 4 years in the making and is projected to be on sale by the end of 2010 (California only to start) with an estimated price in the $40K range. Look for production of about 10,000 vehicles the first year and 60,000 per year following.

2 User Comments

Sign in to comment
Currently in todays advanced world and also lets not forget the energy crisis in the advanced world, all the major automobile manufacturers are looking forward to he hybrid technology for the betterment of making highly fuel efficient and low CO2 emission vehicles, but even if we have a electric vehicle, still we cannot call it a zero emission vehicle as we sill need fossil fuel to run our generators and produce electricity......... Kevin for &lt;A http://www.bigliftedtrucks.net&quot;&gt;big lifted trucks&lt;/A&gt;