2011 Chevrolet Volt: An unexpected success
When Chevrolet unveiled the Volt concept car at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, most of the people present were sufficiently incredulous. Everyone knew that this manufacturer was facing serious financial trouble (a situation which degenerated into bankruptcy in 2009), and chances seemed fairly slim that this electrically powered vehicle would actually go into production. And yet, last week I had the opportunity to take a production model of the Volt for a 250 km drive. Not only has this project seen the light of day, but this one-of-a-kind Chevy will soon be for sale in the U.S. Meanwhile, Canadians are expected to get the Volt in fall 2011.
What sceptics didn’t know three years ago is that the research and development behind this vehicle had already begun several months prior. The car Chevrolet unveiled in Detroit was more than just a simple concept, it was a project well underway, for which the budgets were already approved by upper management. This is what spared the vehicle from being abandoned during the development phase due to a lack of funds. In fact, the only thing that has really changed since then is the silhouette. Once avant-garde, it’s now contemporary, but nothing more than that. But before getting into the design and road handling, I will attempt to explain in simple terms how this vehicle is powered.
A real electric vehicle
A number of different controversies arose when this vehicle was first presented, but one thing is for sure: the front powered wheels are propelled by electric engines. Indeed, a main electric engine producing 149 hp and 273 lbs-ft of torque is integrated with the transmission and does the bulk of the work. There’s also another electric engine that can act as a generator and is linked to a 1.4-litre 84-hp thermal engine. In fact, this is the same engine used in the Chevrolet Cruze, but it’s not turbocharged and some adjustments have been made to suit the Volt’s specific needs.
When you first start the Volt, it’s all-electric. It is propelled by a T-shaped battery that sits in the centre of the vehicle, with the cross section under the rear seat. This configuration helps lower the car’s centre of gravity, while making the platform more rigid and the battery more accessible. The Volt’s lithium-ion battery was developed by GM engineering and LG Chem, and is produced in Brownstown Township, just outside of Detroit. Weighing 198.1 kg, it powers the main electric engine. It’s also important to note that the engineers who developed this car chose not go for a continuously variable transmission. Based on the lessons learned when developing the Tahoe and Yukon Hybrid, they incorporated the main electric engine into the transmission, which runs very smoothly and efficiently.
In order to propel the vehicle, the Volt’s battery must be recharged. Users are given two options: 120 volts (household current) or 240 volts. With the first, recharging takes 10 to 12 hours. However, with a special 240-volt outlet, it only takes 4 hours. You can even program the time that you want the charging to occur. For example, you can set it to start in the middle of the night to take advantage of lower electricity rates. Plugging the car in is a synch. Located in the front-left part of the vehicle, the charge port allows you to plug in safely. Another interesting detail is that a special application for your smartphone allows you to manage charge functions and monitor the vehicle’s various parameters. To ensure its longevity, the battery has been designed to never run lower than 35% of its total charge and never go above 85%.
Once the battery is charged, you have a range of 50 to 80 km in pure electric driving, the distance depending on the battery’s condition and your driving style. After that, the thermal engine kicks in and activates the second engine, which becomes a generator and provides electricity to the battery to activate the main engine. There you have it, in a nutshell. Canadians may wonder how outside temperatures might affect the battery. We know that lithium-ion batteries are allergic to cold, and hot temperatures are even more damaging. But the engineers who developed the Voltec System – that’s what the drivetrain is called – thought of everything. Whether the vehicle is in charge mode or out on the road, the system always keeps the battery at an optimal temperature. When the car is at a charging station, an internal thermostat (linked to inside tubes containing heating or cooling liquid) prevents negative effects from temperature variations. Yes, they really thought of everything on this car.
Anonymous appearance, great interior
The first version of the Volt was a concept car that seduced the crowds at the Detroit Auto Show three years ago. But that sweet silhouette was not designed for production. Too many windows compromised its rigidity and safety. For the production model, the stylists put their heads together to create a relatively conservative body – at least it seems conservative nowadays. In fact, were it not for the rear section, the contrasting bands under the side windows, and the rear hatch, you might confuse it with the new Cruze. In short, it offers reserved elegance and the same grille found on most other Chevys, with the horizontal bar featuring the classic bowtie. Since the Volt is a hatchback, the rear section has been well designed. It’s raised for added cargo space and more effective aerodynamics. It’s worth mentioning that the fit, trim and paint is of good quality (at least it was on the models we tested in Michigan. The Volt is assembled at the GM Hamtramck plant in Detroit.
Inside, this car’s design is definitely more dynamic in. The dashboard features two seven-inch LCD screens. The first faces the driver and offers all kinds of information about the vehicle’s speed, fuel consumption, range, and so on. A button on the lower left side of the dashboard is used to change the display. The second screen sits in the centre of the dash, in the central vertical console, which is available in various colours. Plus, the buttons are now capacitive sensing (touch-activated). Traditionalists may grumble, but it’s clear progress. This screen displays navigation information, the power flow of the current between the battery and the thermal engine, as well as information about the efficiency of your driving. For example, in some parts of our test drive, our driving was 92% efficient, whereas the air conditioning was only 58%. This screen is also linked to the OnStar system and XM satellite radio. You can also view traffic, weather and other information.
The front seats and the rear bench are comfortable, with plenty of space for your knees and head. However, a maximum of two passengers can sit in back, as the rear bench is split by battery. You should also know that the assembly and quality of the materials are first class.
A good road vehicle
Until now (and aside from the Ford Fusion Hybrid) “green” cars have generally not blown us away with their driving pleasure and road capabilities. But in this regard, the Volt impressed us. The steering could be a little less numb, but it’s precise nonetheless. The suspension is well calibrated, even though the 17-inch Goodyear Fuel Max tires sometimes had a hard time absorbing road imperfections. But that’s a minor detail. On the road, this car is pleasant to drive and takes corners with confidence. That said, if you drive too enthusiastically, the tires can be slippery and noisy. The centred positioning of the battery makes for great balance, and the car is neutral in turns.
When you’re in all-electric mode, you automatically start to drive defensively. Hit the button to display your driving style and you’ll find yourself accelerating more gently and respecting the speed limit. I was able to cover 67 km before the thermal engine kicked in. And when it did, it was very discreet and totally silent. You really have to listen to hear the gas engine running. Regardless of whether you’re in all-electric mode or using the generator, the 0-100 km/hr sprint takes 9.2 seconds, and the Volt’s maximum speed is 160 km/h. These capacities mean that you can navigate traffic without any trouble and obtain some decent performances – if you decided to ignore your eco-friendly side and use more fuel or drain the battery more quickly, that is.
The Volt offers three modes: Normal, Sport and Mountain. The latter allows you to manage electricity usage, saving stored energy on mountain drives.
The Chevrolet Volt is an exceptional vehicle from many standpoints, and it doesn’t penalize the driver with sub-standard driving pleasure, safety or road handling. This vehicle offers the complete package. It’s pleasant to drive and definitely consumes less fuel. And, to reassure buyers, Chevrolet is offering an eight-year (160,000 km) warranty on the battery, as well as a three-year (60,000 km) warranty on the vehicle as a whole. The drivetrain is guaranteed for five years (160,000 miles).
In conclusion, it looks as though didn’t rush through the Volt project. This pleasant car is available at a reasonable price of $41,000 USD, which can be tempered by a $6,000 subsidy from the U.S. government. Retail prices for Canada have not been released yet, as the Volt will not be available here for another year or so.