Considering the technological gamble that the Chevrolet Volt is, instead of tires it should roll on dice. This is GM attempting to leapfrog the competition and reposition itself as an industry leader and innovator. And beyond that, the Chevrolet Volt should give the corporation some serious green credentials.
In contrast to familiar parallel hybrids, the Chevy Volt is a plug-in inline hybrid. Yes, there is a small internal combustion engine aboard but there's no mechanical connection between it and the wheels. The Volt instead always runs as an electric car, taking juice from an onboard battery pack as long as there is juice to be taken. Only when the batteries have run down will the internal-combustion engine start and, through a generator, supply the amperage necessary to keep the electric motor going and effectively extend the Chevrolet Volt's range.
In fact, GM describes the Chevrolet Volt as an extended-range electric vehicle or E-REV.
The dream behind the Chevy Volt is that it can be charged from the electrical grid and have enough range (about 40 miles) so that it can be used for regular commuting without having to engage the internal combustion engine at all. Most of the time the Chevrolet Volt would be a wholly electric vehicle that would (at least directly) emit no waste gases at all.
Released into an eager world during 2010 as a 2011 model, the Chevrolet Volt is simply the most technologically ambitious machine General Motors has ever built. However, that doesn't mean the corporation isn't leveraging its assets in building the Chevrolet Volt.
Under the Chevrolet Volt's unique skin, the basic chassis is GM's "Delta II" platform that also underpins GM's latest compact cars. And except for the fact that an electric engine delivers its power differently, the Chevrolet Volt behaves very much like any other car.
If the Chevy Volt is successful, it could well revolutionize the car business in both obvious ways and ways difficult to imagine. And if the Chevrolet Volt isn't a success, it's an open question as to how GM will finance any future gambles.
