The ‘Chevy Volt’ hits the road

This rather abused-looking 2007 Chevrolet Malibu is the next best hope for General Motors and for the automotive world in general. Because it’s a test mule for all the hardware that will go into the new, electric-powered Chevrolet Volt.

Yes, the Volt has gone from nice idea to working model and GM’s vice chairman, Bob Lutz, has driven 20 miles in this development model -- dubbed the Mali-Volt -- at the company’s proving facility. “The thing that’s eerie is the silence,” says Lutz. “There’s no mechanical noise whatsoever.” Even when Lutz hit speeds of up to 80 mph, the car never once actuated its 1.0-liter, three-cylinder internal combustion engine (on board to generate electricity that is then stored in a pack of lithium-ion batteries).

This type of battery (as found in laptops and cell phones) has so far proved somewhat problematic for such a large-scale application, but Lutz says the Volt’s batteries are “exceeding expectations.” It seems that any problems have been mechanical rather than electro-chemical, so conventional engineering can iron out the wrinkles. The only other significant downside is that they’re still expensive, but as production ramps up, GM expects their cost to drop dramatically.

Lutz describes the powerplant’s acceleration as “great.” He also found the car’s handling to be good because the location of the batteries keeps the car’s center of gravity nice and low. GM predicts that ‘real’ prototypes wearing the actual Volt bodywork will be running around by next spring. Production models should be available just over a year after that. “We’re good for November 2010,” says Lutz.

For the full interview, click onto Green Fuels Forecast’s website.

-- Colin Ryan

Photos: GFF and General Motors

Comments

[benmlee]

GM can't get off the SUV profit addiction soon enough eventhough it was killing the planet.
Little late to the party now. The General should have opened the wallet a little sooner and developed this car like 10 years ago maybe. Lithium ion battery and plug in are nothing new that Prius hackers have not tried. Toyota tried that too, and they are not as durable as NiMh. People are already afraid of the life of NiMh in Toyota. Now we have Li Ion battery that is already know to be less durable and more expensive.

[Chevy Volt Fan]

I have to agree with what benmiee is saying here, even though the Volt is speculated to deliver 640 miles on a full tank, it is way late to the party and other cars rolling out in 2008 will no doubt be able to beat those numbers.