Chevrolet Volt

This past week, General Motors (GM herein) officially introduced the production 2011 Chevrolet Volt. As the press release linked above mentions, this model is the first mass-produced range-extended electric-vehicle (EV) brought to the market (by the worst offender of the SUV craze). While there is some discussion over how revolutionary the car's drive system truly is, it cannot be said that this model represents a new, green future for transit, especially in this country.

In their press release, GM discusses the technical details of their product. As a range-extended EV, the primary propulsion system of the car is an electric motor. With a full charge, the battery can provide between 25 and 50 miles of driving. When the battery is depleted, an on-board gasoline motor is used to turn a generator and provide power to the electric motor. It is this system that earns the Volt the range-extended designation. The gasoline-powered system gives the vehicle of range of approximately 300 miles and can also provide supplemental power to the wheels in cases of battery depletion and hard acceleration.

It is from these technical details that the potential for the Volt to seriously affect the environmental impact of our driving comes from. Electrically-powered vehicles have been hampered by battery technology as they require large, heavy battery packs, limiting range, and upon depletion require extensive charging cycles. This creates what is known as "range-anxiety," fears of being stranded. Thus, EV have been generally considered to be useful as a commuter car or a second car but not as the primary automobile for American families.

The addition of the gasoline motor, however, makes range-anxiety inconsequential. Hence, the Volt can be used as a primary car, suitable for both short and long trips. For the short commutes and errand-running that typifies American habits, the Volt can be operated in EV mode and provide emissions-free driving. And for the long trips unique to American driving and that drivers romantically hold in too-high esteem, the Volt is just as useful as any other small cars. Throughout all of this, the Volt is expected to require as little fuel as the best parallel hybrid systems do (EPA ratings have not yet been released).

The Volt also appears to shatter other conceptions about EV held by the American public. In the Automobile Magazine review of the production model, it was noted that the car provides acceleration on par with other similarly-sized cars. If one takes a look at engine options offered by European manufacturers in this country and compare them to those in other markets, it is obvious that Americans love power in their automobiles. The car has also been praised for providing upmarket driving dynamics and featuring good ride characteristics. Finally, the review notes that the car's interior is on par in the entry-level luxury market and offers upmarket features. While no one will mistake this car for a BMW 335is, the Volt does not conform to the general idea of EV being spartan economy cars with a poor ride and lousy dynamic qualities. Instead, the Volt is simply like a conventional automobile.

Overall, it is clear that the Volt has the potential to be widely accepted by the American automobile market. It offers an excellent way to bridge the gap between conventional gasoline cars and the EV future that likely awaits us. Though it should be noted that American consumer preferences in the automobile market must change in the near future and favor smaller cars over SUVs, the Volt is an EV that is able to conform to widely-held notions of the automobile.

Looking at the Volt, however, there are improvements that must and I believe will be made for EV and range-extended vehicles to significantly curtail our impact on the environment. Firstly, is the issue of price. The Volt is rather expensive, with an MSRP of $37,000, though with tax credits that price drops to about $32,000. To have a true impact on the market, this will have to be reduced into the $25,000 range. A reduction of this scale can possibly be attained through economies-of-scale and advances in batter and electric motor technology. At least initially, GM will produce the Volt in relatively modest quantities. With a smaller price tag and improved technology, though, it can be expected that the Volt will be met with greater demand. Finally, the nation's utility infrastructure must be upgraded to handle the additional stress of charging EV and produce energy in a cleaner manner using alternatives to fossil fuels.