Hybrid Cars, Hybrid Trucks, Hybrid Vans and Hybrid Motorcycles

This article is about the Chevrolet Volt. First, I discuss the development of the Chevy Volt. Second, I talk about hybrid vehicles in general then I focus on the Volt specifically. Third, I discuss the technology of the Volt. Lastly, I talk about availability of this car.

Since the fuel prices have continued to rise in the last few years, people all across the world have began to do something about it. Top auto manufactures have come up with hybrid vehicles as well as electrical cars .

The Chevrolet Company has developed the Chevrolet Volt as its plug in hybrid car of the future. It was first introduced as a concept car; however, with the demand for gasoline-free, or an automobile that uses less gas, it will be on the market by 2010. The Volt’s extended range gasoline engine is expected to range approximately from 50 miles per gallon to as much as 150 miles per gallon

Many people may wonder what is meant by hybrid vehicles . Hybrid vehicles are vehicles that have at least two, but usually more types of energy sources, which provide propulsion, either shared or individually. Chevrolet Company intentionally avoids using the term “hybrid” on the “Volt”. They prefer to use the term “Electric Vehicle” , which is equipped with a range extending gasoline-powered motor with a 1.4 L, 4-cylinder engine, which is used for powering the 53-kilowatt generator. However, it is more commonly referred to as a “Series Hybrid”.

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GM plans to call the Volt an “E-REV” , (extended range electric vehicle ). However, the 4-cylinder engine will not have any mechanical linkage to the wheels, like the regular hybrid vehicles. It will be run at necessary speeds that will optimize fuel consumption, and charge rate efficiency, and it will reduce emissions. The only emissions that the Volt might produce from its tailpipes, may be a small amount of Carbon Dioxide, and that is in a very safe amount, if it emits any at all, and that is not expected to happen.

The “Volt “ is designed to run entirely on electric power (read: hybrid car batteries ), with a plug in located just in front of the left side mirror, by the fender well. The average commute for many people is usually around 33 miles (53 km). With the Lithium Ion batteries at full charge the car will travel for 40 miles before the gasoline engine even turns on, using the 111 kilowatt, 150 horse power motor, long enough to recharge the batteries, via a 53 kilowatt generator. This can increase the range of the Volt from 40 miles to as much as 640 miles (1,030 km). If you have access to a regular 120/240 volt AC residential outlet, you can also recharge the batteries with an extension cord, which also comes with the new vehicle. A full charge will take 8 hours, which is a normal workday. Therefore, there is no need for an external charging station.

Chevrolet wanted to change the drive train, in order to make it easier to standardize the new electrical components for the Volt and its future electrically propelled vehicles. So a new drive train called the “E-Flex” will be introduced at the showroom, in 2010.

If the EPA tests were run for the Volt the same way they are for other hybrid vehicles , the Volt’s ability to use stored energy from the batteries would result in the first vehicle to reach a fuel economy rating of over 100 mpg . This would make it the very first vehicle to be mass-produced that acquired such a high rating.

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