The following article has excerpts from an article written by Bradley Berman, Editor, HybridCars.com.

“General Motors rocked the green car world when it unveiled the Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid concept car, at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. The Volt concept promises all-electric gas-free driving for 40-mile stretches, and extended driving range up to 600 miles—and would use a so-called “eflex” system to allow a full range of fuel sources, including gasoline, hydrogen, and bio-fuels. The Volt would put much greater emphasis on the electric part of the gas-electric combination than today’s hybrid offerings.”

The foresight in placing more emphasis on the eclectic side of the equation is a direction that is welcomed by many. Less emphasis on the fuel side is of course a direction on the positive side, the Volt utilizes the “e-flex” system as well which creates fuel options for the consumer.

The significant reliance on lithium ion batteries is the greatest challenge facing the Volt… it may take a few years to perfect – it is by no means unattainable!

With fuel prices so unpredictable and the economy influx having GM working to accommodate the consumer by manufacturing an automobile with such versatility is just what the consumer and GM need!

GM provided a few points of clarity at the 2008 New York Auto Show in March:

* The Volt will be a small, four-door hatchback based on GM’s global small-car architecture and built on an existing assembly line.
* The Volt will initially be sold only in certain states or cities, before it rolls out nationwide.
* The car will low-slung and narrow to achieve the best possible aerodynamics.
* The Chevy Volt’s lithium-ion battery pack will have 16 kilowatt hours of capacity, enough for 40 miles of electric drive.
* The Volt will have an on-board battery charger that can work with any type of typical household electric current.
* The battery pack will consist of 250 individual cells, wired in series, so that if any one of them fails, the whole pack will be dead. The pack will be liquid-cooled.
* GM is targeting an acceleration time from 0 to 60 mph of between 7 and 9 seconds, similar to the range of most family sedans today.

“GM has scored a big victory by putting the company back into the national conversation about auto technology, energy and the environment.”

We are all looking forward to getting behind the wheel of a VOLT!