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Chevy Volt. Volt Overview. Extended-Range Electric Vehicle Available for mass purchase in 2010 as a 2011 model year Designed to meet the needs of 75% of America's daily commuters Advanced lithium-ion battery pack means no gasoline and zero emissions for up to 40 miles.
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Volt Overview • Extended-Range Electric Vehicle • Available for mass purchase in 2010 as a 2011 model year • Designed to meet the needs of 75% of America's daily commuters • Advanced lithium-ion battery pack means no gasoline and zero emissions for up to 40 miles
400 miles on 6 or 7 gallons of gas • Charges in 6.5 hours • No external charging station required • 4 seats • $30,000 although the first models might be more expensive ($40,000) • 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds • a top speed of at least 100 mph • Regenerative braking
E-REV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) • a plug-in range-extended electric vehicle with an on-board gasoline generator. • large battery charged from home electric outlet and connected to an electric motor. • electric motor directly propels the car • battery lasts for the first 40 miles, then the on-board gasoline/E85 generator will power up • Recharges battery which continues to directly propel car
Isn’t this a hybrid? • Most hybrids today are parallel hybrids • small electric motor for low speed driving • regular gas engine for acceleration and faster speed driving • both engines work side by side or in parallel • The Volt is a series vehicle • the electric motor powers the car at all times • the gas engine is just a generator, making electric to keep the batteries in a steady state of charge.
E-Flex Drive System http://movementbureau.blogs.com/projects/2007/01/the_chevrolet_v.html
E-Flex Drive System • 161-horsepower 45KW (100 KW peak) compact AC electric motor • 16kW 220-cell lithium ion battery pack • 1.0L turbocharged three cylinder international combustion engine • flex-fuel capable • The 53 kW engine combined with the 53 kW generator can maintain and charge the battery pack. • 12 gallon fuel tank
Battery • Technology is still in the works • 220-cell 345 lb. lithium ion battery pack • GM is • evaluating products from a A123 • working with Continental • working with CPI • working with LG Chem
Fuel Efficiency • A bit complicated, the EPA doesn’t know what to do • When the battery has been discharged to its lower limit set-point, the gas engine kicks in to recharge the battery (at approx. 40 miles) • The gas engine is rated at 55 mpg • When the battery is recharged to an upper limit set-point the gas engine turns off again
To calculate the fuel efficiency for drives longer than 40 miles use the following formula: Total MPG = 55*M/(M-40) • Volt has a potential range of 640 miles on a single tank of fuel • Range can be increased by refueling without the need to recharge • 0.65 cents per kW = $0.85 to recharge
Emissions • Zero emissions for trips under 40 miles • Above 40 miles emissions will be similar to other 4-cyl low displacement gasoline powered automobile. • General Motors apparently claims that operating the Volt for a year, results in the reduction of about 4.4 tonnes (4.3 LT/4.9 ST) in CO2 emissions as compared to a typical U.S. car • Battery charging emissions • American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) • a typical plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is expected to achieve about a 15% reduction in net CO2 emissions compared to the driver of a regular hybrid, • in areas where less than 80% of grid-power comes from coal-burning power plants, local net CO2 emissions will decrease • Potential for charge with green energy sources
Concerns about the Volt • Battery • “Industry sources tell us the claims about the Volt’s batteries are wildly optimistic when weight, cost, capacity, and longevity are considered.” • Battery supplier still not decided • Technology is still too-expensive, $10,000 vs. $5,000 • With anticipated release date of 2010, this technology should be solidified • Safety? Toyota was saying that safety was a big issue with the volt, but are now embracing similar technology.
Cost • $30,000 not realistic • Even at $50,000 GM wouldn’t see much profit • Government incentives a big wildcard • Gas at or near $3.60 per gallon= $1500 of savings annually. • Volt costs extra $20,000 compared with conventional compacts. • Recouping the investment likely to take 10 years, which point the battery must be replaced
The Future of GM • Viability Plan presented to congress TODAY • New administration in favor of green energy and green jobs • ???
Bibliography • http://www.gm-volt.com/ • http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/ • http://movementbureau.blogs.com/projects/2007/01/chevrolet_volt.html • http://media.gm.com/servlet/GatewayServlet?target=http://image.emerald.gm.com/gmnews/viewmonthlyreleasedetail.do?domain=3&docid=31656 • http://www.aceee.org/store/proddetail.cfm?CFID=1941952&CFTOKEN=35186425&ItemID=418&CategoryID=7 • http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/01/07/detroit-auto-show-full-specifications-on-the-chevy-volt/ • http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/car_shopping/green_machines/running_on_empty_is_the_2011_chevrolet_volt_hype_or_hope_car_news+t-technology:_%E2%80%9Ce-rev,%E2%80%9D_not_%E2%80%9Cplug-in%E2%80%9D+page-2.html