Be the first to have a Chevrolet Volt!
At the very moment one of the new Chevrolet Volt Hybrids become available on eBay, you'll be able to find, admire and buy it here! To inform you during the times that none is up for sale (yet), we provide an introductory GM/Chevrolet video "underneath" the Chevrolet Volt logo. Enjoy!
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Previewing the Chevrolet Volt Hybrid:
Click Chevrolet Volt for a high quality preview.
The Chevy Volt is cutting edge in many areas. Engineers at GM’s battery test facilities use a new computer algorithm for durability testing of the batteries that power the Chevrolet Volt for up to 40 miles (64 km) of electric-only driving. This computer program faithfully duplicates real-life conditions. Test results will help predict the long-term durability of the battery.
“Production timing of the Volt is directly related to our ability to predict how this battery will perform over the life of the vehicle. The challenge is predicting 10 years of battery life with just over two years of testing time,” said Frank Weber, global vehicle chief engineer, Chevrolet Volt and E-Flex systems.
Vehicle engineering
Engineering an electric vehicle with a battery roughly 6 feet long (1.8 m) and weighing more than 375 pounds (170 kg) requires innovation. The T-shaped battery will be located down the center tunnel of the vehicle and under the rear seats. This requires the battery to be treated as part of the vehicle structure. “The battery is a structural component that affects many other aspects of the vehicle,” said Weber. “It interacts with the vehicle’s thermal and safety systems and chassis components.”
Engineering innovations are also required to maximize the Volt’s 40-mile electric-only range and minimize the use of its range-extending internal combustion engine. To reduce mass, the Volt is being engineered with a relatively small fuel tank. This reduces weight, but still provides a driving range in excess of 400 miles between fill-ups.
Designing the interior
The battery placement created several interior design opportunities. The battery pushed the occupants outboard, or to the sides of the vehicle, so the design team had to get creative with sections of the roof structure to enable aerodynamics and provide adequate head room. “By having the battery in the middle, we were able to move the occupants apart and give them more space,” said Tim Greig, interior design manager for the Chevrolet Volt. “We also shrink-wrapped the interior, particularly the doors, for comfort and spaciousness. There is no wasted space.”
Reducing drag
Aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) accounts for about 20 percent of the energy consumed by an average vehicle, directly reducing fuel efficiency.
Aerodynamics development begins with a 1/3-scale model with a detailed underbody and engine compartment. Radiator and under-hood cooling flow are developed with computational fluid dynamic models. Simultaneously, computers determine the aerodynamic drag of design alternatives. Development continues with full-scale models, where shape is refined and optimized for low wind noise.
After extensive aerodynamic testing of the Volt, the vehicle now has a coefficient of drag that is 30 percent lower than the original concept. The development of the Volt is part of GM’s commitment to displace petroleum use in the auto industry with a range of alternatives.
