2011 Chevrolet Volt –New Electric car

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt? Here’s the long and short of it: The Volt is a four-seat, four-door “series plug-in hybrid” hatchback with a plug-in battery pack that can power the car’s 149-horsepower (111-kilowatt) electric motor by itself for up to 40 miles.

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is a midsize five-door hatchback sedan with seating for four.The front-wheel-drive 2011 Volt is powered by an electric motor rated at 149 hp (111 kilowatts) and 273 pound-feet of torque.

This motor draws power from a lithium-ion battery pack until the battery charge is 70 percent depleted. At that point, the Volt’s 1.4-liter four-cylinder internal combustion engine, which runs on either gasoline or E85, comes to life as a replacement power source for the electric motor. The battery can only be completely recharged through either a 120-volt or 240-volt outlet, but regenerative braking and the engine generator can replenish it slightly. There is no transmission in the traditional sense; rather, the Volt employs a single reduction gear to send the electric motor’s power to the front wheels.

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.

Safety features on the 2011 Chevy Volt include antilock brakes, stability control, front side airbags and full-length side curtain airbags.

FAQ About Chevrolet Volt

Source : Chevrolet.com

Why electricity? Electricity runs clean in a vehicle — that means zero tailpipe emissions. And if the electricity is generated using wind, hydro, solar or biofuels, there is the potential to significantly reduce the emissions associated with personal transportation. So advancements in electricity production along with reduction in emissions from electric-powered driving could help make our world a cleaner place.

Who will get the most benefit from driving Volt? If you plug in frequently, you’ll experience the greatest gas savings and reduced emissions. Per mile, electricity is less expensive to use than gas, so if you can plug in before or shortly after the electric charge runs out, you’ll get the maximum benefit out of Volt.

How much will Volt cost? The purchase price is yet to be determined, but the Volt will qualify for the maximum federal tax credit for plug-in electric vehicles  $7,500. Check back with us for updates on other potential energy incentives.

How much does Volt cost to charge? Electricity is an extremely affordable way to power a car the average American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. If the average American drives less than 40 miles, it will cost about a dollar a day for electricity. That’s about the same annual cost as running a common household appliance. To save even more, some utility companies recommend charging overnight for off-peak rates and may even offer incentives to customers who do so.

Will I always get 40 miles on an electric charge? No. Like any electric vehicle, Volt’s electric miles per charge will vary. Like all vehicles, electric vehicles are less efficient in extremely hot or cold temperatures. In addition to outside temperatures, use of features like air conditioning and heat, personal driving style, additional cargo in the vehicle and the age of the battery will affect the electric range.

What happens if I travel more than 40 miles? Once the initial electric charge is depleted, the range-extending gas engine will kick in to seamlessly generate enough energy to continue to power the car for hundreds of additional miles.

Is it easy to use? Yes. While Volt has been designed to be the most efficient when it’s plugged in daily (like a typical electric vehicle), it will run efficiently without being plugged in for days, weeks or even months. With Volt, you don’t have to be tied to plugging-in every day if it doesn’t accommodate your schedule.

Is a special outlet required to charge the Volt? No, you can plug it into any standard 120V household outlet. Or you could have a 240V charging station installed in your garage — it would require a dedicated electrical circuit similar to what is used for your clothes dryer.

What is it like to drive Volt? Those who’ve had an opportunity to test-drive Volt have noticed how easy it is to use. Steve Parker, blogging on Huffington Post, commented on what it’s like to drive Volt: “Push the ‘start’ button and Volt springs into life… All in all, it’s an intuitive area for the driver…The car is quiet, smooth and fast off the line (electric motors have all their torque at start-up, unlike gas engines which need time to build power).” On top of that, Volt can also accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about nine seconds.

How long does Volt take to charge? In about ten hours, you’ll have a fully charged Volt waiting for you, ready to go. You can also install a 240V outlet, which can charge Volt in as little as four hours.

What happens if the battery is not fully charged? You won’t have to worry about having enough time to fully charge Volt. A partially charged battery will work until it runs out, then the gas-powered electric generator will seamlessly kick in to provide electricity and extend your range up to 300 miles until you can plug in again or you can refuel.

What happens if I never charge the battery? You’ll probably spend more money on gas than you need to, but Volt will run just fine. Just remember that you’ll only get the full benefits of owning a Volt if you charge it routinely.

What kind of battery will Volt use? The Volt will be powered by a Lithium-ion battery pack. While there are many different kinds of lithium batteries like the ones used in computers and cell phones, the Volt cells are specifically made for vehicles. The Li-ion battery holds its charge efficiently and has no memory effect, which means you don’t have to run it down completely before recharging.

What makes the Volt battery unique? The Volt battery is designed for long life and to be reliable. Each battery pack is made up of more than 200 rectangular cells arranged in a series-parallel configuration. Computer systems monitor the battery cells to make sure everything is working correctly.

How much interior room does Volt have? Volt will carry four adults comfortably. The hatchback design provides surprising flexibility for larger cargo.

Read other article : Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Tahoe, Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Hybrid Electric Car, Car Insurance

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 7:45 am and is filed under Car, Hybrid Car, Hybrid Vehicle, New hybrid Car, auto electric. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.