Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Chevrolet Volt


The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. It is also sold as the Holden Volt in Australia, as well as the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera in Europe. Volt sales in selected U.S. markets began in mid-December 2010 and in international markets since September 2011. Customer deliveries of the Opel Ampera in Europe began in February 2012.
The Volt is the most fuel-efficient compact car with a gasoline engine sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Volt operates as a pure battery electric vehicle until its plug-in battery capacity drops to a predetermined threshold from full charge, at which point its gasoline engine powers an electric generator to extend the vehicle's range. The Volt's regenerative braking also contributes to the on-board electricity generation. In order to improve performance, the internal combustion engine may at times be engaged mechanically to assist both electric motors to propel the Volt.


Class      Compact car Body
style      5-door hatchback
Layout      Front engine, front-wheel drive
Platform       Delta II / Voltec
Combustion engine    1.4 L 4-cylinder
Electric motor      One 111 kW (149 hp): One 55 kW
                           (74 hp) permanent magnet motor/generators
Transmission     Single gear
Drivetrain      4ET50 electric drive unit
Battery      16 kWh lithium-ion
battery Range    379 miles (610 km) (EPA) Electric Range
                         35 miles (56 km) (EPA)
                          25 to 50 miles (40 to 80 km) (GM)
Wheelbase       105.7 in (2,680 mm)[1] Length 177.1 in (4,500 mm)
Width      70.4 in (1,790 mm)
Height       56.6 in (1,440 mm)
Curb weight      3,781 lb (1,715 kg)


Concept 
The Chevrolet Volt concept car was unveiled at the January 2007 North American International Auto Show, becoming the first-ever series plug-in hybrid concept car shown by a major manufacturer.The Volt concept vehicle had four doors with a rear liftgate and seating for four passengers. This was a significant change in design when compared to the General Motors EV1 of the 1990s, which only seated two to reduce weight and to make the necessary room for the lead-acid battery pack. The top speed was also increased on the Volt, from the electronically limited 80 miles per hour (130 km/h) to 100 miles per hour (160 km/h). The battery pack size was reduced, from about 10.6 cu ft (300 L) in volume in the EV1, to just 3.5 cu ft (100 L) in the Volt.


Connectivity
The Volt features OnStar Mobile application for owners to access vehicle information without being in or near the car. This smartphone application features the ability to check fuel efficiency as well as the vehicle's current electric range. It also helps monitor the charging, giving owners key information about the current charge level and the amount of time it will take until it is fully charged. The application also is able to control features such as locking/unlocking doors, and acts as a remote starter. A five-year OnStar Directions and Connections service was bundled into the 2011 Volt's base price, which was reduced to three years for the 2012 model year.

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