The Next Generation in Electric Vehicles: Introducing the Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt is a new type of vehicle that is poised to shake up the automobile industry. The Volt is a full-performance and full-speed electric vehicle with extended range. Using a combination of electric battery and gasoline generator, the Volt can be driven up to 375 miles on a single tank of gas. However, the Volt is also capable of driving up to 35 miles without using a single drop of gas, with all of the acceleration and performance one would expect from a gasoline-powered vehicle.

The Volt's battery must be recharged after this 35 mile range has been exceeded. The Volt can be plugged into ordinary household 120-Volt alternating current power sources to charge the battery after short trips. This allows the Volt to be driven short distances without ever using gasoline, which is perfect for environmentally-conscious drivers. Coupled with a solar array at home or at work, a driver could use their Volt with zero carbon emissions. The Volt also recharges the battery through the use of regenerative braking, which uses the motion of the wheels to generate a charging current during deceleration.

Typically, hybrid and electric vehicles have had disappointing performance. Heavy batteries impact the handling, braking and acceleration of these classes of vehicles. The Volt is different in that it is classified as a full-performance and full-speed electric vehicle. Through careful engineering, Chevrolet has produced an electric vehicle that performs like a gasoline-powered vehicle. The mass of the electric battery is distributed throughout the car in a T-shape, providing better weight distribution, balance and handling. Additionally, the Volt is designed to travel up to 100 miles per hour on battery power alone, something most electric and hybrid vehicles are incapable of.  This gives the driver all of the power and handling of a gasoline-powered vehicle, but with zero emissions and zero gas consumption.