Volt is an electric car that uses gas to create its own electricity. Plug it in, let it charge overnight, and it’s ready to run on a pure electric charge for up to 40 miles(3) — gas and emissions free. After that, Volt keeps going, even if you can’t plug it in. Volt uses a range-extending gas generator that produces enough energy to power it for hundreds of miles on a single tank of gas.

Features:
7″ LCD touch screen and 7″ digital reconfigurable LCD instrument cluster.
Remote vehicle starter system preconditions the cabin.
Bose® Energy Efficient sound system with six speakers and a subwoofer.
30 GB Hard Disk Drive for digital music storage.
High feature Navigation includes voice recognition.
XM Radio(11) with XM NavTraffic®(16)/Weather with three trial months.
OnStar®(12) with Directions and Connections Plan®(13) standard for five years.
Industry-first “mobile apps” capabilities via a smartphone device or web.
8 standard air bags(14):
Dual-stage front air bags for driver and front passenger, knee air bags, side-impact air bags and roof-rail air bags.
Three-point seatbelts in front seating positions.
LATCH (Lower Anchors and Top tethers for Children) system - rear seats.
8-year/100,000 mile(15) battery warranty.
Available leather-appointed seats.

Technology:
Volt is an electric vehicle with a range extender. Well, what does that mean? It means Volt runs on electricity from its battery, and then it runs on electricity it creates from gas.  Let’s assume you have a fully charged battery. Now, depending on the weather, the electrical features that are turned on and how you drive, you can drive up to 40 miles on the electricity stored in the battery — totally gas and emissions free. After that, its gas-powered, range-extending generator automatically kicks in to provide electrical power. So Volt can go for several hundred additional miles, until you can plug it in or fill it up again.

Mobile:
With the new OnStar mobile app, Volt owners can use a smartphone to access their vehicle’s current electric range and fuel efficiency. Plus, managing the Volt charging functions is easy with this application. You can look up the battery’s charge level, check on what time your Volt will be fully charged and ready to go, or even change charging priorities remotely with just a couple of taps. You can perform other commands remotely too — like unlocking doors or activating the remote start. The OnStar mobile app will be available when the Volt launches later this year.

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Engineers at GM’s battery test facilities have developed a new computer algorithm to accelerate durability testing of the advanced lithium-ion batteries needed to power the Chevrolet Volt for up to 40 miles (64 km) of electric-only driving.

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The extended-range electric vehicle is no longer just a rumor. We have put tremendous design and engineering resources in place to make this vehicle a reality. Read the rest of this entry »

The Chevrolet Volt concept sedan, powered by the E-flex System- GM’s next-generation electric propulsion system- and sporting an aggressive, athletic design, could nearly eliminate trips to the gas station.

The Chevrolet Volt is a battery-powered, four passenger electric vehicle that uses a gas engine to create additional electricity to extend its range.  The Volt draws from GM’s previous experience in starting the modern electric vehicle market when it launched the EV1 in 1996, according to GM Vice Chairman Robert A. Lutz.

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