-
Home
- TV Shows
- TV Schedule
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
New Models
GREEN: Driving The New Chevy Volt
Ground-breaking extended-range electric car proves relatively 'normal' in test drive.
The 2011 Chevy Volt cruises on battery power with a gasoline motor on board for recharging and some torque assist. (Photo: Chevrolet)
In one light, it was nothing more than a drive in a new car on a sunny autumn afternoon.
But in another, it meant taking the wheel of the most radical new car since the 1997 Toyota Prius, perhaps more significant yet, and driving it on public roads for the first time.
After almost four years, we drove a production version of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car. We’d waited for this drive a long time.
We're not big fans of hypermiling, but our Chevrolet hosts had set up a competition among journalists to cover the 43.2 miles from the Detroit Airport to suburban Rochester Hills entirely on electric power and see who would have the most range left over.
The Volt's official range, using roughly eight of the 16 kilowatt-hours of energy stored in its lithium-ion battery pack, is 25 to 50 miles. The competition clearly intended to underline that in fact 40 or more miles of electric range is possible in the 2011 Volt.
The route included no freeways, however, and few speeds above 45 miles per hour. That's not necessarily representative of how the Volt will be used in real life.
A few journalists ignored the challenge altogether, but after grumbling, we agreed to compete. We placed solidly in the middle of the pack, arriving with three miles of electric range left, for a total of 46-plus miles. The winner managed more than 50 miles of electric range.
The last step was to plug in the Volt to recharge overnight using a 240-Volt charging station set up in the hotel parking garage. That was simple: Press the button to open the charging door, unhook the charging plug, and plug it into the socket.
Once you learn which way the plugs mate, it's as simple as refueling, but plugging in takes all of 10 seconds. An orange light on the Volt's dash turns to green when the car begins charging, and that's that.
So what’s it like? The Voltec electric drive unit in the 2011 Volt provides a smooth, quiet, and peppy driving experience. It’s fun behind the wheel and remarkably “normal,” to the point that after 10 minutes, you could easily forget it’s electric.
The Volt is also heavy, somewhat cramped in the rear and visually not as distinctive a design as we think it should be for such a ground-breaking car.
These impressions of the production Volt largely mapped closely to our assessments from a drive last January in a development car.
The Volt engineering team has spent the intervening months refining, tuning, and tweaking the car’s driving characteristics. Overall, the final Volt feels somewhat smoother in electric mode than the development car.
Since we had the windows open during our electric run to avoid the power-sapping climate-control system, we can’t comment on cabin quietness. That'll come with our next drive, which will run well over 100 miles.
Finally, a word about the styling. The 2007 Volt concept car was a striking design, “an electric Camaro,” but turned out to be woefully non-aerodynamic.
The laws of physics are a harsh mistress, and the Volt largely follows the recipe set down by the second-generation 2004 Toyota Prius: a hatchback with a smooth front and a high and abruptly
vertical tail.
After two years' familiarity, we think the Volt is less distinctive than that 2004 Prius, not to mention the 2011 Nissan Leaf all-electric car. All three are five-door hatchbacks, but the Prius is easily spotted at 100 yards, and the Leaf is far more space age and noticeable than the Volt.
Whether that’s good or bad in the eyes of the market is debatable. Detroit, where it’s well-known and closely watched, is hardly an unbiased test market. But GM staff assert the Chevy Volt attracts attention everywhere; we look forward to testing that out.
But in another, it meant taking the wheel of the most radical new car since the 1997 Toyota Prius, perhaps more significant yet, and driving it on public roads for the first time.
After almost four years, we drove a production version of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car. We’d waited for this drive a long time.
We're not big fans of hypermiling, but our Chevrolet hosts had set up a competition among journalists to cover the 43.2 miles from the Detroit Airport to suburban Rochester Hills entirely on electric power and see who would have the most range left over.
The Volt's official range, using roughly eight of the 16 kilowatt-hours of energy stored in its lithium-ion battery pack, is 25 to 50 miles. The competition clearly intended to underline that in fact 40 or more miles of electric range is possible in the 2011 Volt.
The route included no freeways, however, and few speeds above 45 miles per hour. That's not necessarily representative of how the Volt will be used in real life.
A few journalists ignored the challenge altogether, but after grumbling, we agreed to compete. We placed solidly in the middle of the pack, arriving with three miles of electric range left, for a total of 46-plus miles. The winner managed more than 50 miles of electric range.
The last step was to plug in the Volt to recharge overnight using a 240-Volt charging station set up in the hotel parking garage. That was simple: Press the button to open the charging door, unhook the charging plug, and plug it into the socket.
Once you learn which way the plugs mate, it's as simple as refueling, but plugging in takes all of 10 seconds. An orange light on the Volt's dash turns to green when the car begins charging, and that's that.
So what’s it like? The Voltec electric drive unit in the 2011 Volt provides a smooth, quiet, and peppy driving experience. It’s fun behind the wheel and remarkably “normal,” to the point that after 10 minutes, you could easily forget it’s electric.
The Volt is also heavy, somewhat cramped in the rear and visually not as distinctive a design as we think it should be for such a ground-breaking car.
These impressions of the production Volt largely mapped closely to our assessments from a drive last January in a development car.
The Volt engineering team has spent the intervening months refining, tuning, and tweaking the car’s driving characteristics. Overall, the final Volt feels somewhat smoother in electric mode than the development car.
Since we had the windows open during our electric run to avoid the power-sapping climate-control system, we can’t comment on cabin quietness. That'll come with our next drive, which will run well over 100 miles.
Finally, a word about the styling. The 2007 Volt concept car was a striking design, “an electric Camaro,” but turned out to be woefully non-aerodynamic.
The laws of physics are a harsh mistress, and the Volt largely follows the recipe set down by the second-generation 2004 Toyota Prius: a hatchback with a smooth front and a high and abruptly
vertical tail.
After two years' familiarity, we think the Volt is less distinctive than that 2004 Prius, not to mention the 2011 Nissan Leaf all-electric car. All three are five-door hatchbacks, but the Prius is easily spotted at 100 yards, and the Leaf is far more space age and noticeable than the Volt.
Whether that’s good or bad in the eyes of the market is debatable. Detroit, where it’s well-known and closely watched, is hardly an unbiased test market. But GM staff assert the Chevy Volt attracts attention everywhere; we look forward to testing that out.
The Lyonheart K
LATEST HEADLINES: AUTOMOTIVE
-
GREEN: Porsche Adding All-Model Hybrids
Gas/electric plug-versions of its entire lineup – including… -
AUTOS: Porsche Boosts 918 Spyder Power
The upcoming supercar will produce 887 horsepower from its gas/electric… -
AUTOS: Acura NSX Details Revealed
The rebirth of the mid-engine sports car – now an all-wheel-drive… -
DRIVEN: Jaguar’s Many-Splendored XJ
The British luxury sedan comes in 10 different flavors, with plenty… -
AUTOS: Lamborghini Egoista Launched
The wild single-seat concept car is unveiled at the end of the epic… -
AUTOS: Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Hot Pontiac G8
NASCAR team owner Rick Hendrick helped his driver modify the 2009… -
VINTAGE: A Fast Historic Tour Of France
Vintage race and touring cars compete in the 22nd annual Tour de… - More News
