Chevrolet Futuristic Electric Car

2023 Author: Eric Donovan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 09:36

In the search for alternative drives, General Motors is working flat out on an electric car. In Detroit, the world's largest automaker presents the study of the Chevrolet Volt.

In view of the finite nature of fossil fuels, alternative drives are becoming increasingly important. That is why the world's largest automaker General Motors is currently working intensively on an electric car. The company has now presented the current state of development with the Chevrolet Volt study at the Detroit Motorshow (January 13-21).

Generate electrical power yourself

According to the manufacturer, the futuristic four-seater has an electric drive called "E-Flex", which puts an end to many of the disadvantages of previous electric vehicles. The car not only draws its electricity from the socket, but can also refill its energy supply itself with a small petrol engine on board, according to product director Bob Lutz.

In contrast to a hybrid vehicle, this one-liter three-cylinder turbo, which runs constantly in the optimal operating range and is also designed for an admixture of 85 percent bio-ethanol, is not used for propulsion, but exclusively for generating electricity.

Charging time six hours

At home in the garage, the battery should be charged in six hours. Then the Volt can travel around 40 miles (around 64 kilometers) in city traffic without emitting pollutants, according to Lutz. According to General Motors, the heart of the vehicle should be a high-performance lithium-ion battery, although this is not yet available. Experts reckon that this technology will be ready for series production from 2010 to 2012, so that the Volt could then also be realized.

As an alternative to the gasoline engine, Chevrolet is planning other ways of generating energy and is therefore also showing the Volt with a hydrogen-powered fuel cell. In addition, a compression-ignition engine with biodiesel or an internal combustion engine for 100% ethanol are also conceivable as a generator.