Chevy Volt

“One small step for man and one giant leap for mankind.”  Well, the Chevy Volt isn’t really a giant leap but it is a small step in the right direction.  The Volt is a car that can change the way Hybrids are looked at, operate, and change the mindset of the general public.

What makes the Volt Different from other Hybrids?

What makes the Volt unique is its power train; the engine, electric motor, and transmission.  The Volt truly is an electric vehicle first and a gasoline vehicle second.  This idea goes against the grain of all other Hybrids out there.  The 1.4 L gasoline engine is essentially a generator for the batteries not unlike a Honda generator someone might use for camping.  The engine does not supply horsepower or torque directly to the drive wheels, that is all supplied solely by the electric motor.  Traditional hybrids can supply power to the drive wheels by either the gasoline engine or the electric motor.  The operation of the Volt’s gasoline engine can save on fuel economy by operating at the most efficient RPM range while producing optimal power for the batteries to recharge.

So why is it taking so long?

I really wish GM would just start selling the Volt right now but thorough testing of the batteries are required.  GM is hoping to get 10 year of battery operation out of the Volt and to ensure they can achieve that testing must be rigorously performed.  The Lithium-ion batteries of the Volt are unique because they can allow the Volt to travel for 40 miles without having the gasoline motor start to recharge them.  In addition the Volt will have a plug-in capability that will allow you to charge it at your house or work.  You could potentially drive this car without ever having to stop at a gas station ever again.

My beef with GM:

What bother’s me most about the Volt is the fact that GM has been publicizing it for two years.  Don’t advertise it until it is almost ready to purchase.  It feels like a bad idea to me on GM’s part.  This car needs to be out now.  It will boost the economy in the U.S. and make sure GM doesn’t go out of business.  The longer GM takes to produce this car the more likely a competitor will come along and take the idea.  The U.S. needs this car.  The world needs this car.  Don’t let Toyota or Honda take this away by allowing them to build a hybrid that is better than the Volt.  Please GM, I don’t want to lose a great car like the Corvette because you went out of business.

Why I like the Volt:

The Volt is a great idea, a car that can save precious resources so I can take my car to the track or allow full gasoline vehicles to only be used for pleasure.  The volt will allow me to travel back and forth from work without using a single drop of gasoline and save my gasoline sports cars for the pleasure drive on the weekend.  Not to mention it doesn’t look like every other hybrid out there (Ahem! Prius, *Cough* Insight) it looks like a car wouldn’t mind being seen in.  Maintenance will be less on an vehicle who barely utilizes a gasoline engine.  Instead of 3,000 mile oil changes it will be 1,000 hours of operation of the gasoline engine or something along those lines.  Electric motors and batteries have no maintenance (unless GM decides to put a cooling system in for the electric motor or have some kind of oil that has to be changed regularly for the bearings in the motor).  Either way the potential is great and GM needs to put more effort into this car and produce it earlier than the 2011 date that they are currently predicting.  GM you’ve taken the step now take the leap and get us the Volt.

Pictures © GM Corp.