GM Releases Final Production Images of Chevy Volt

As a teaser to followers of its upcoming Chevy Volt hybrid coupe, General Motors has released images of the Volt, giving enthusiasts a glimpse at what has the potential to become a highly popular car.

Two Photographs Offer a Sneak Peek

Shown to the public were two photographs - the first one depicting the front left portion of the grill and headlights, the second one the rear end of the car, particularly its distinct Chevrolet bow design and Volt model insignia. Most notable among the changes were:

The headlights wrap around from the front to the side as do the fog lamps. The same grille design made popular with the 2008 Malibu and 2009 Traverse will be used in the 2011 Volt.

The rear panel of the car has been streamlined with the Chevy bow design placed directly above the Volt name; the "V" in Volt receives an electric charge symbol to represent that this is, indeed, an electric car.

Production Progresses

Likely, the first Volts won't be available in dealer showrooms before Fall 2010. GM is still working on perfecting the lithium-ion technology, a battery that is expected to give the car its 40 mile electric range. When not operating, a small gasoline engine will kick in which will extend the Volt's range and help to recharge the battery. However, the car will have to be plugged in regularly in order for the battery to be completely recharge.

The final design version is expected to be completed in September 2008, just as the company marks its centennial anniversary. By November 2008, the production ready model will be on display at the L.A. Auto Show as it kicks off the auto show circuit. Expect that the car will be on display at shows in Detroit in January 2009 followed by Chicago in February and New York in April.

GM has asked the federal government for tax credits to help build the Volt, but that scenario isn't likely to be addressed until after this year's presidential elections. Both political parties have expressed interest in helping GM, but that help could be extended to buyers of the car in the form of a rebate or tax credit.

Chevy Volt Moves Closer To Production

The auto industry has been investing heavily on the development of alternative fuel vehicles as the demand for these vehicles increases. The increasing prices of gasoline and global warming awareness have led car manufacturers to dedicate efforts in exploring the different technologies which can be used on cars of the future. These technologies are aimed at reducing petroleum fuel consumption and thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

One of the car manufacturers aiming to build a zero-emission vehicle is the Detroit-based car manufacturing giant General Motors. In the company's drive towards the development of the cars of the future, they have introduced a propulsion system for the much-awaited Chevrolet Volt at the Shanghai Auto Show. The said propulsion system is in support of the company's E-Flex electric car architecture.

The propulsion system unveiled by General Motors is the fifth generation fuel cell technology and comes using an advanced lithium-ion battery pack. The combination of the two is expected to power a Chevrolet Volt for 300 miles or 483 kilometers. That distance can be covered with no petroleum fuel ever being burned and thus no greenhouse gases are produced.

The fuel cell configuration allows the Chevrolet Volt to run on the electricity produced by the fusion of hydrogen fuel and oxygen that it gets from the surrounding air. The only by-product of this reaction is water. The Volt is also a plug-in vehicle which means its lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged via a common household electrical outlet. The battery pack is capable of powering the car for 34 kilometers or 20 miles on a full charge.

This plug-in capability means that the Volt can be used on shorter trips without consuming hydrogen fuel. Since electricity is cheaper than hydrogen fuel, the plug-in capacity of the vehicle adds to the convenience of the car for consumers. Scarcity of hydrogen refueling stations is a problem for cars such as the Chevrolet Volt but with its plug-in capability, consumers can make use of grid electricity for short trips.

The E-Flex system used by the Chevy Volt is engineered to be powered by different means as long as it uses electricity. Another propulsion system to be used on the Chevrolet Volt is the use of a small bio-fuel internal combustion engine. This engine is paired with a generator which provides power to the battery pack of the vehicle. The power is then used to drive the electric motor used by the car just like in a hybrid electric vehicle.

Larry Burns, General Motors' Vice-President of Research and Development and Strategic Planning, has this to say about the E-Flex system: "The beauty of our E-Flex strategy is that it allows us to package various propulsion systems into the same space depending on what energy is available locally. It also provides flexibility in the sources of energy. We can obtain hydrogen or electricity from a myriad of renewable sources - wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biofuels - or from traditional sources such as natural gas, clean coal, nuclear or even gasoline." Burns explained further that: "E-Flex provides flexibility in two ways: in the propulsion systems that can be used, and in the sources of energy that can be commercialized to compete with oil and meet global transportation growth in a sustainable way."

The new propulsion system unveiled by General Motors is made smaller than its predecessor but at the same time packs as much power. Its predecessor, the fourth-generation propulsion system is currently being used on the concept vehicle Chevrolet Sequel. The Sequel and the Volt may still be in their developing stages but the time is drawing nearer that these two vehicles will join Chevy pickups with Chevrolet pickup grill inserts in Chevy's lineup.

In closing, Burns concluded that: "Our progress has made us increasingly confident that our fuel cell propulsion system will be automotive-competitive. But before this technology can be made widely available, governments, energy suppliers and infrastructure companies around the world need to collaborate with GM and the auto industry to develop a market for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel." With that in mind, consumers will have to wait until such time that General Motors see it fit that the Chevrolet Volt is ready for production and ready for the market.

Chevy Volt Moves Closer To Production

The auto industry has been investing heavily on the development of alternative fuel vehicles as the demand for these vehicles increases. The increasing prices of gasoline and global warming awareness have led car manufacturers to dedicate efforts in exploring the different technologies which can be used on cars of the future. These technologies are aimed at reducing petroleum fuel consumption and thus reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

One of the car manufacturers aiming to build a zero-emission vehicle is the Detroit-based car manufacturing giant General Motors. In the company's drive towards the development of the cars of the future, they have introduced a propulsion system for the much-awaited Chevrolet Volt at the Shanghai Auto Show. The said propulsion system is in support of the company's E-Flex electric car architecture.

The propulsion system unveiled by General Motors is the fifth generation fuel cell technology and comes using an advanced lithium-ion battery pack. The combination of the two is expected to power a Chevrolet Volt for 300 miles or 483 kilometers. That distance can be covered with no petroleum fuel ever being burned and thus no greenhouse gases are produced.

The fuel cell configuration allows the Chevrolet Volt to run on the electricity produced by the fusion of hydrogen fuel and oxygen that it gets from the surrounding air. The only by-product of this reaction is water. The Volt is also a plug-in vehicle which means its lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged via a common household electrical outlet. The battery pack is capable of powering the car for 34 kilometers or 20 miles on a full charge.

This plug-in capability means that the Volt can be used on shorter trips without consuming hydrogen fuel. Since electricity is cheaper than hydrogen fuel, the plug-in capacity of the vehicle adds to the convenience of the car for consumers. Scarcity of hydrogen refueling stations is a problem for cars such as the Chevrolet Volt but with its plug-in capability, consumers can make use of grid electricity for short trips.

The E-Flex system used by the Chevy Volt is engineered to be powered by different means as long as it uses electricity. Another propulsion system to be used on the Chevrolet Volt is the use of a small bio-fuel internal combustion engine. This engine is paired with a generator which provides power to the battery pack of the vehicle. The power is then used to drive the electric motor used by the car just like in a hybrid electric vehicle.

Larry Burns, General Motors' Vice-President of Research and Development and Strategic Planning, has this to say about the E-Flex system: "The beauty of our E-Flex strategy is that it allows us to package various propulsion systems into the same space depending on what energy is available locally. It also provides flexibility in the sources of energy. We can obtain hydrogen or electricity from a myriad of renewable sources - wind, solar, geothermal, hydroelectric and biofuels - or from traditional sources such as natural gas, clean coal, nuclear or even gasoline." Burns explained further that: "E-Flex provides flexibility in two ways: in the propulsion systems that can be used, and in the sources of energy that can be commercialized to compete with oil and meet global transportation growth in a sustainable way."

The new propulsion system unveiled by General Motors is made smaller than its predecessor but at the same time packs as much power. Its predecessor, the fourth-generation propulsion system is currently being used on the concept vehicle Chevrolet Sequel. The Sequel and the Volt may still be in their developing stages but the time is drawing nearer that these two vehicles will join Chevy pickups with Chevrolet pickup grill inserts in Chevy's lineup.

In closing, Burns concluded that: "Our progress has made us increasingly confident that our fuel cell propulsion system will be automotive-competitive. But before this technology can be made widely available, governments, energy suppliers and infrastructure companies around the world need to collaborate with GM and the auto industry to develop a market for fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel." With that in mind, consumers will have to wait until such time that General Motors see it fit that the Chevrolet Volt is ready for production and ready for the market.