2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet introduced the all-new, 2011 Volt electric vehicle with extended range, establishing an entirely new segment in the global automotive market. The five-door, four-passenger Chevrolet Volt is designed to provide the benefits of an electric vehicle without the range limitations associated with other electric vehicles in the market.

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt makes its debut as General Motors' first plug-in gas/electric vehicle. It is slated to see limited production in calendar 2010, with launches in California, Connecticut, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington, DC. Nationwide availability is slated for late-calendar 2011. GM calls this 4-passenger, 4-door hatchback an "extended-range electric vehicle" in that it does not work like most hybrids. With many hybrids, their gasoline engines and battery-powered electric motors can provide power to the drive wheels. With Volt, the wheels are always driven by electricity, provided either by the onboard battery or gasoline engine that powers a generator. The car can plug in to a standard household outlet and charge overnight. A high-output 240-volt charging station will be available that should cut charging time roughly in half. Chevy claims a range of 40 miles solely on a fully charged battery and about 340 miles when the gasoline engine is used. The gas engine is an 80-horsepower 1.4-liter 4-cylinder. Available safety features include ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain-side airbags, front-side airbags, and driver and passenger knee airbags. Among the available features are a remote-charging and vehicle-control program that owners can download and run from Blackberry and Apple iPhone cell phones. A navigation system is standard, as is a hard drive for storing digital-music files. Leather upholstery, heated front seats, front- and rear-obstacle detection, and a rearview camera are optional. We have not yet tested the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt

2011 Chevrolet Volt Interior

The Volt comes in a single form, a five-door hatchback, similar in size to the Toyota Prius. More precisely, the Volt measure 177 inches long, making it a little shorter than the current Cobalt.

The electric drive unit (utilizing a 220-cell, 16 kWh lithium ion battery) will put out 150 horsepower and 273 lb-ft. of torque and will top out at 100 miles per hour. This powertrain allows the vehicle to travel 40 miles on electric power only, while for longer trips, the Volt's generator will kick in to provide for additional range.

The engine generator is able to generate additional electricity to power the car for about 300 miles before the need to refuel or plug-in to recharge the battery.

Chevy says the Volt is especially quiet to drive thanks to both the electric motor and extensive sound insulation.

Styling for the Volt comes from a balance of aerodynamic performance and conventional styling. The fascia features a rounded and flush style with a closed grille.

The mirrors continue with an aerodynamic design, including a spoiler designed to allow the air to stay attached and then detach quickly at the rear in order to minimize drag.

The interior of the Volt is relatively conventional, an intentional move to make the transition from gas-powered vehicles to the Volt less dramatic.

The center stack features a 7-inch touch screen that functions as both a navigation unit and a vehicle information display point.

The climate controls are are touch-sensitive, but lack (mostly) traditional push buttons or turning knobs. The Volt features an optional hard drive for added storage of music and maps, and comes standard with Bluetooth functionality that Chevrolet says can be used for phone and music use.

The Volt is available with either a base purchase price of $41,000, or a three-year lease starting at $350 per month.

When considering true cost of ownership, one should also consider the cost of the fast charger. The quick home charger will cost $490, plus a $1,475 installation charge. This will drop the average charge time from a substantial 10 hours to a much more reasonable four hours.