GM Reaches Operational Milestone With Volt Prototype
May 19, 2008
According to General Motors, its Volt prototype can travel 40 miles on all-electric power. The vehicle, which entered testing just last month, has reached its target battery-powered driving range. For operational testing, the company is working with modified Chevy Malibus. GM also recently announced that it had finalized the body design of the Volt and expects to put the vehicle into production in 2010. The final design reportedly does not feature the same styling as the concept and looks more like an ordinary sedan.
In an interview with Edumuds, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz indicated that the Volt prototypes were operating on electric power and meeting the company’s range goals despite obvious mismatches in calibration, drive train components and body design.
The final design for the Volt will offer a gas-electric, diesel-electric or alternative-fuel configurations, depending upon the market in which it is being sold. The vehicle will run on Li-ion batteries, however, GM has yet to name a supplier. Products from Continental and LG Chem/CPI are being evaluated right now, and Lutz has previously said that he expects to name a battery supplier by July 2008. In an interview with Reuters earlier this month, Continental CEO Manfred Wennemer said that the company would build a US-based production plant if the contract goes to Continental.
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