CHEVROLET INTRODUCES ALL-NEW 2016 VOLT

 

By General Motors - Chevrolet today unveiled the all-new 2016 Volt electric car with extended range, showcasing a sleeker, sportier design that offers up to 80 kilometres of EV range, greater efficiency and stronger acceleration.  The Volt's new propulsion system will offer a significantly increased total driving range.

"The 2016 Chevrolet Volt provides our owners with a no-compromise electric driving experience," said Alan Batey, president of GM North America.  "We believe our engineering prowess combined with data from thousands of customers allows us to deliver the most capable plug-in vehicle in the industry."

The 2016  Chevrolet Volt's technology and range advancements are complemented by a design that blends sculpted, muscular proportions with aerodynamic efficiency, and an all-new interior with seating for five and improved functionality.

Everything from charging the battery and checking the charge status, to the intuitiveness of instrument panel controls were designed for easier use.

"According to independent surveyors, Volt owners are the most satisfied in the industry and they were our compass for developing the next-generation model," said Batey.

2016 Volt highlights:

• New two-motor drive unit is up to 12 percent more efficient and 45 kg (100 pounds) lighter than the first-generation drive unit
• Two-motor design enables 19 percent stronger zero-to-48 km/h acceleration
• Battery capacity has increased to 18.4 kWh using 192 cells (96 fewer than current generation) with weight reduced by more than 9 kg (20 pounds)
• Regen on Demand feature enables driver control of energy regeneration via a convenient paddle on the back of the steering wheel
• New 1.5L range extender, designed to use regular unleaded fuel, offers a GM estimated combined fuel consumption rating of 5.7 L/100km
• Stronger body structure and quieter ride
• New braking system with improved capability and blended Regen feel
• New, five-passenger seating with available rear heated seats
• Location-based charging capability
• 120V portable cord set has a simpler, compact design with more convenient storage location
• Available illuminated charge port

 

The 2016 Volt goes on sale in the second half of 2015.

Sleeker, sportier design

The 2016 Volt has an all-new, muscular design that incorporates Chevrolet performance vehicle DNA inspired cues refined in the wind tunnel.

New features, including active grille shutters, help balance design with efficiency.

Volt's flowing, dynamic shape is inspired by the toned physiques of athletes and even the natural shapes of wind-swept sands, with carved body sides and fenders that blend into the hood.  The front-end appearance retains the iconic Volt identity, with bright upper and lower grille pads.

Greater attention to detail in the design cues, materials and colours also lends a more premium, contemporary aura to its appearance.  It also retains the distinctive Volt signature on the upper front doors, carrying over one of the first-generation model's identifiers.

Inside the new Volt includes seating for five.  Fresh colours exude an inviting upscale aura - complemented by blue ambient lighting - while the controls are more intuitively placed and simpler to operate.

The Volt retains its signature dual digital colour displays with an eight-inch-diagonal reconfigurable screen in the instrument cluster to relay driver information.  An additional eight-inch-diagonal touch screen in the centre of the instrument panel controls the Chevrolet MyLink system.

Fewer icons on the centre dash make it easier to operate.  Separate climate control knobs and buttons below the centre display offer clear, convenient operation.

New Voltec propulsion system

An all-new, second-generation Voltec extended rang electric vehicle (EREV) propulsion systm is the power behind the 2016 Volt's increased all-electric driving range, greater efficiency and stronger acceleration.  It was engineered based on the driving behaviors of first-gen Volt owners.

"Volt owners complete more than 80 percent of their trips without using a drop of gasoline and they tell us they love the electric driving experience.  Putting that experience at the centre of the new Voltec system's development helped us improve range, while also making the new Volt more fun to drive," said Andrew Farah, vehicle chief engineer.  "We established a precedent when the original Voltec propulsion system debuted and this newest iteration sets the EV technology bar even higher."

The Voltec system includes the battery, drive unit, range-extending engine and power electronics.

GM's industry-leading battery technology has been reengineered for the next-generation Volt.  The 2016 Volt will use an 18.4 kWh battery system featuring revised cell chemistry developed in conjunction with LG Chem.  While overall system storage capacity has increased, the number of cells have decreased from 288 to 192 as the result of a revised chemistry.  The cells are positioned lower in the pack for an improved (lower) centre of gravity and the overall mass of the pack is 9.8 kg (21 pounds) lighter.

Like the battery system, the next-generation Volt's two-motor drive unit delivers increased efficiency and performance along with reduced noise and vibration.  The drive unit operates up to 12 percent more efficiently and weighs 45 kg (100 pounds) less than the current system.

Both motors operate together in more driving scenarios, in both EV and extended-range operation.  The ability to use both motors helps deliver a 19 percent improvement in electric acceleration from zero to 48 km/h (30 mph) in 2.6 seconds and a 7 percent improvement from zero to 96 km/h (60 mph) in 8.4 seconds.  GM engineers designed the Voltec electric motors to use significantly less rare earth materials.  One motor uses no rare earth-type magnets.

More convenient location-based charging

Using real-world experiences of today's Volt owners, Chevrolet made the charging system in the next-generation Volt more convenient for customers to recharge the battery - and to check the charge status.

The new and enhanced features include:

GPS location-based charging:  "Owners will now be able to set their charging preferences exclusively for "home" charging and the vehicle will automatically adjust to that setting when it is at "home" based on GPS date," said Farah, the chief engineer.  "The new Volt will give owners greater flexibility for charging on their terms and make public charging easier."

This will allow owners to pre-set their 120V charging level (eight amps or 12 amps) and whether they wish to charge immediately, set a departure time for each day of the week, or set a departure time and a utility rate schedule to charge only at off-peak rates.  These settings will only have to be programmed once and the Volt will default to them when the vehicle returns to its home location.

New, more intuitive charge status indicators:  The next-generation Volt makes it easier for owners to confirm their Volt is charging and gauge charge status.  The new status system features a specially designed tone that indicates when charging has begun, with additional tones for delayed charging.  It will even indicate if the charge port door was left open after unplugging but before entering the vehicle.

With a glance through the windshield, an updated charge status indicator light on top of the instrument panel will show the approximate charge level through a series of flashes.  An available illuminated charge port makes it easier to plug in after dark.

Portable cord set enhancements:  A new 120V portable cord set has a simpler, compact design with more convenient storage location.  The storage bin for the cord is now located on the left side of the Volt's rear cargo area, above the load floor, for improved accessibility.

Safety features:  The new Chevrolet Volt offers new standard and available safety features that work with an all-new body structure to provide crash-avoidance and passenger protection capability.  Highlights include:

• Standard rear-vision camera
• Ten standard air bags, including driver and front-passenger knee air bags
• Available active safety features offering lane keep assist with lane departure warning, side blind zone alert with lane change alert, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision alert with following distance indicator, front automatic braking, and advanced park assist with front and rear park assist (semi-automatic parallel parking)
• Expanded use of high-strength steel throughout the body structure improves strength and reduces weight
• More effective structural load paths in the frame, along with reinforced rocker panel structures and side structure reinforcements.

 

The new, active safety technologies and structural enhancements build on the Volt's legacy of top safety performance, which include a 5-Star overall New Car Assessment Program rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the current model.

Manufacturing

GM is investing $435 million in the production of the next-generation Chevrolet Volt at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant and at the Brownstown, (Mich.) Battery Assembly Plant, where its lithium-ion battery pack is produced.

The new drive unit will be manufactured at GM's Powertrain plant in Warren, Mich., and the 1.5L engine will be manufactured at GM's Toluca, Mexico engine plant for the first year of production, then shift to the Flint, Mich. engine plant.

Since its introduction in late 2010, the Volt has established southeast Michigan as the hub of vehicle electrification development and manufacturing.  The next-generation Volt will feature approximately 70 percent U.S. and Canadian components within its first year of production, a nearly 20-percent increase from the first generation.

NEXT-GEN CHEVY VOLT GETS CORVETTE LOOKS, ADJUSTABLE REGEN LEVELS

 

By Danny King, Autoblog.com - The hood may say "full speed ahead".  The regenerative braking system says "slow down a bit".  One person's automotive improvements is another's identity crisis, all in a day's work analyzing the new Chevrolet Volt.

The next-generation version of General Motors' first extended-range plug in will include design touches taken from the new Chevrolet Corvette, GM's iconic sports car.  Hexagonal taillights and a "taut" hood will be part of the new package, Automotive News says, citing General Motors design chief Ed Wilbur.

But does that mean the Volt is shedding any of its green-car cred?  Not at all, if one considers that the Volt will also let the driver adjust the degree of regenerative braking using steering-wheel paddles to dial up and recapture as much energy as possible and engage in "one-pedal" driving or turn it down for easier coasting.

GM will have more details for us when it unveils the 2016 Chevy Volt at the North American Auto Show in Detroit next month.  The new version is said to have a larger battery, a longer all-electric driving range and more power, but Chevy's been fairly mum on those sorts of performance details so far.

VOLT'S BATTERY OF UPGRADES

Battery and drivetrain improvements could make
next Volt cruise further and more efficiently than ever

 

By Glen Woodcock, Autonet - A new Chevy Volt is coming for 2016 which will incorporate improvements dictated by the car's nearly 70,000 owners since 2010.

The all-new version of Chevrolet's extended range electric vehicle will make its debut in January at Detroit's North American International Auto Show.  It is expected to be on sale by the second half of next year.

In a press conference in Warren, Mich. last week, General Motors revealed details of the new Voltec propulsion system which includes improvements to the battery, drive unit and range-extending gasoline engine.  The new Voltec system will be more efficient and offer greater EV range and fuel economy compared to the current generation.

Owners say they want more than the 70-km range from the existing Volt's electric drive.  So GM is working on improving that, but says we'll have to wait till the Detroit show to find out by how much.

For operating in extended range gasoline mode, the 2016 Volt is getting an all-new, high-efficiency 1.5L 4-cylinder engine.  It features a direct injection fuel system that burns regular gas, a 12.5:1 compression ratio, cooled exhaust gas recirculation and a variable displacement oil pump.

GM says the new car will have 20% greater acceleration at low speeds, partially due to technology that will enable both electric motors to drive the front wheels, rather than just one of them.

Revisions to the battery pack will mean fewer cells, but more storage capacity and lighter weight.

"The current generation Volt's battery has proven to provide our owners exceptional performance when it comes to quality and reliability," said Larry Nitz, executive director of GM Powertrain's electrification engineering team.

"It would have been simple for us to tweak our existing battery to provide nominally increased range, but that's not what our customers want," said Nitz.  "So our team created a new battery system that will exceed the performance expectations of most of our owners."

Nitz also said the 2016 Volt, built in Michigan, will feature approximately 70% U.S. and Canadian components within its first year of production, a nearly 20% increase from the first-generation.  The new 1.5L engine will be manufactured at GM's Toluca, Mexico engine plant for the first year of production, then shift to the Flint, Mich. engine plant.

CITY OF OTTAWA REVVED UP FOR ELECTRIC CAR STATION

An electric car sits plugged in at the new
electric charging station at City Hall in Ottawa

By Kelly Roche, Ottawa Sun - A red car was plugged in at City Hall Friday, less than 24 hours after an electric vehicle charging station was unveiled.

"I couldn't believe it," said environment committee chairwoman and River Ward Coun. Maria McRae, who posted a photo on Twitter.  "I though, 'this is cool.'"

Owners can recharge their EV batteries for free.

Hydro Ottawa and the city are splitting the $25,000 installation tab as part of a six month pilot project to "understand demand and real cost for these services," said McRae.

Hydro Ottawa estimates the cost would be less than $600 per year, even if the charging station is used 24/7. 

The central location is ideal given residents access municipal and provincial services, and the courthouse is next door.  The maximum charge time is two consecutive hours.

"We'll be measuring the whole entire time," said McRae.  If there is demand, "it could be a halfway point for people to commute," she said.  And the city will then determine how much the charge will cost users.

Roughly 200 electric vehicles are in the Ottawa-Gatineau region, said the president of the Electric Vehicle Council of Ottawa.  The electric vehicle scene isn't Ottawa's forte, but "the potential is there for us to catch up quickly," said Darryl McMahon.  "Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal are all probably the leaders."

Ricardo Borba, the first Canadian to drive away in the Nissan Leaf SL when it launched last fall, likes the Lisgar St. location.  "I look back one year ago - there was absolutely nothing in Ottawa," said Borba.  Since then, a handful have popped up.

Last month, a free Level 2 charger was installed at the Canada Science and Technology Museum.  In August, Place d'Orleans unveiled the first public charging station for shoppers, a joint project with Myers Orleans Chevrolet Buick GMC.

As of late October, the Ministry of Transportation has issued 708 green plates for electric vehicles in Ontario.  Ontario residents are eligible for an incentive ranging from $5,000 to $8,500 when they buy or lease a new plug-in hybrid electric or battery electric vehicle.

Since the program began in 2010, "we've seen a steady increase in the number of electric vehicles being registered as more and more electric vehicle models come on the market," ministry spokesman Bob Nichols wrote in an e-mail.

"The number of electric vehicles available is expected to continue to increase over the coming years."

THE ELECTRIC CAR UNPLUGGED

By Joe Duarte, Autonet.ca - During the Vancouver Olympics, General Motors took the time to schedule groups to test drive its Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric car, cycling thousands of people from high-school students to special-interest-group representatives through the car, one hour at a time.

Then came the announcement in the Toronto area that the Atmospheric Fund's Fleetwise program was launching a 300-electric-vehicle fleet in the GTA. There are probably more electric vehicles ready for the road than most people might know and more are driving into the stream every day - we already have the Mitsubishi, iMiEV, Mini E, Smart and Zenn, with the Prius Plug-in, Nissan Leaf and Volt not too far away. And I won't even touch on all the electric versions of European and Japanese cars that have been available for years.

Yet it will still be years, if not decades, before we see the widespread use of electric cars, despite what "visionaries" such as Al Gore, David Suzuki and Carlos Ghosn would have us believe.

The problem is not the vehicles - those can be built and distributed quite quickly and effectively, probably in the standard auto-industry six-week cycle.

The problem is the infrastructure. We just don't have anybody stepping up to build enough charging stations for electric vehicles to replace the internal combustion engine, mainly because nobody knows what the charge for electricity at the retail level.

Think about it - if you had a source of gasoline at home whereby you could top up your car whenever you needed it, at a fraction of the cost at the retail pump, would you still visit Esso or Petrocan? So what would lead service stations to believe it would be a viable business venture to install quick-chargers that would require consumers to pay considerably more than they would by plugging in at home overnight?

And even the trickle-charge capabilities of parking venues that are becoming popular in Germany and Israel are meeting with apathy here.

There are too many questions left unanswered for the viability of electric vehicles in Canada, primarily when it comes to wintry climates - nobody really knows what impact the cold temperatures and necessary accessories will have on the electric car.

Even GM's Bob Lutz, a big supporter of the Chevy Volt, admits that in the dead of winter in the prairies, Volt will likely be no more economical than a compact car with a 1.4-litre engine ... and frankly, we have a lot of those already at a cost far more reasonable than any electric variation.