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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, December 9, 2009 · 28 Chevrolet at the Los Angeles Auto Show Story by Rob Beintema Metroland Newspapers Carguide Magazine General Motors' Chevrolet Division debuted two new compact car models at the Los Angeles Auto Show in early December ­ the 2011 Cruze and the 2011 Volt. Both of these front-wheel-drive cars are based on GM's latest Delta II platform underpinnings but, though they share some parts and other similarities in style, shape and their almost mid-size dimensions, they fill different niches in the Chevy lineup, spanning a fuel efficiency range from "gas-friendly to gas-free". The 2011 Chevrolet Volt: Let's start with the potentially "gas-free" end of the spectrum and let's also try to keep things as simple as possible. The Chevrolet Volt is an electric car. A Voltec electric propulsion system harnesses the equivalent of 150 hp/273 lb/ft of torque from its electric drive motor. Power is sourced from 16-kWh battery pack consisting of more than 200 Lithium-ion cells and weighing in at just under 181 kg (400 lbs). This pack is formed into a T-shaped bundle that fits into what we normally think of as "the transmission tunnel" and under the rear seat. GM engineers estimate that this battery pack, bolstered by regenerative braking, will enable up to 65 km (40 miles) of gas- and tailpipe emissions-free electric driving, which works o ut to about the average maximum daily commute for more than three-quarters of all drivers. And that's a pretty conservative estimate, taking into consideration varying driving conditions, like for example, our Canadian winters. Under optimum conditions, those same engineers tell us that the Volt could probably double that distance, up to about 130km. Okay, great. But what happens then? "Well, that's where we've come up with an elegant solution to the classic electric car stumbling block of `range anxiety'," according to Bob Lutz, GM's Vice Chairman of Marketing Communications. The Chevy Volt also carries a 1.4-litre, fourcylinder gasoline-powered motor on board. Unlike in hybrid applications, this gas engine does not send any power to the wheels. It acts The 2011 Chevrolet Volt, seen here in a preview before the Los Angeles Auto Show in early December. The Volt, dubbed "the electric car that goes farther", can travel up to 40 miles (65 km) on battery power alone before a gasoline-powered on-board generator kicks in to recharge the battery and provide electric power for a total range of 300 miles (almost 500 km) before re-fueling or re-charging. Initially on sale in California before expanding to other markets, a 2012 Volt will come to Canada by late 2011. solely as a generator, recharging the battery enough for continued normal electricallypowered driving and extending the range to around 300 miles (or about 500 km). So, in theory, you could drive the Volt like a normal gas-powered car, for as far and as long as you want to, occasionally refilling the gas tank for the generator when needed and earning roughly 6L/100km. But here's a better theory. If you're one of those less-than-65km commuters, simply plug the Volt in for about 3 hours with a 240V outlet or for about 8 hours overnight with the standard household 110V outlet, and you might be able to do your daily driving without using any gasoline at all. A lot will depend on your driving style and the geography of your commute but the fact remains that these two modes of operation ­ Electric (battery only) and Extended-Range (with the generator running) combine to provide worry-free electric power for the first time, while fulfilling the goal of major reductions in fuel usage and emissions. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that Volt recharging will cost about the same as your daily cup of coffee. All this technology is wrapped in a handsome enough package, although I did whine a little about the generic departure from the original show car. "Show cars are an idealized projection of where we want to go," Bob Boniface, design lead on the Volt told me. "But we just couldn't achieve the 40 mile (65 km) goal with that shape. It had to be rounder and smoother." Continued on page 30 BUY LOCALLY SERVICE LOCALLY SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY Phone: (905) 825-8088 www.volvoofoakville.com SERVICE DEPARTMENT OPEN SATURDAYS