Beneath the skin lies a new propulsion system from which GM expects big things.
The Chevy Volt concept is significant on two fronts - the car itself is a preview of what the next generation Cobalt may look like, but more important, beneath the skin lies a new propulsion system from which GM expects big things. The styling of the Volt can best be described as Camaro meets econobox. This hatchback has a squished down greenhouse, high belt line and Chevrolet's signature two-tier grille. The drive system underneath is a forward looking as the exterior. The Volt is designed to showcase GM's new E-Flex drive system, which consists of a generator and an electric motor turning the front wheels. GM believes in the future all cars may be driven electrically and not mechanically as they are now with conventional transmissions and is developing powerful generators and motors to do just that.
How these electric drive systems will be powered is the "Flex" part of the equation. It could be by a lithium/ion battery pack that can be plugged in and recharged overnight. The battery pack would provide a basic 40-mile range for daily commuting. A 1.0-liter internal combustion engine to drive the generator when the battery charge falls below 30 percent would supplement this system. The engine's 12-gallon tank would provide as much as a 640-mile range between fill-ups. Another E-Flex alternative would be using a fuel cell stack to power the generator. It too, would be supplemented by a smaller lithium/ion battery pack with plug-in recharging capability. This auxiliary power would allow the Volt to be driven short distances as the fuel cell builds its charge, a handy add-on especially in cold climates where fuel cells take longer to reach maximum output. Running on compressed hydrogen, GM estimates that a fuel cell powered Volt would have a range of about 300 miles.
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