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http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/2/AmericanFlag.jpg What separates the Volt technology from every other electric car being designed is what happens after its battery runs out of free electrons. (http://www.canada.com/leads+with+remarkable+Volt+hybrid/1590747/story.html)

http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2011_Chevrolet_Volt1.jpgDavid Booth - CanWest (http://www.canada.com) - May 13, 2009

Great tech that will hopefully make it to customer hands by early 2011. --Ed.

DETROIT -For the uninitiated, the new Chevrolet Volt that everyone is making such a fuss about is just another hybrid. After all, it has both a gasoline and an electric engine and one huge mother of a battery; just like a Toyota Prius or a Ford Escape hybrid, right?

Well, the ingredients may be the same but the recipe is far different for the Chevrolet Volt is, first and foremost, an electric car. The only thing that powers its front wheels, for instance, is an electric motor.

Most of the time - at least for the first 64 kilometres, says General Motors - that electric motor is powered by a huge 16 kWh lithium-ion located in the tunnel that normally houses the transmission. For those first 64 klicks, or whenever the battery runs down to about 30 per cent of its maximum capacity, the Volt is as silent and smooth as any electric car. Idling, you're never really aware that the engine is on and even when you hit the gas there's precious little noise; no gear whine or herky jerky accompanies the mashing of your right foot.

Like all electric motors, the Volt's 111-kW affair makes most of its power at low rpm. Chevrolet claims a zero to 100 km/h time of nine seconds for the Chevrolet Cruze based prototype, and there's no reason to doubt that claim. Indeed, other than the complete lack of engine noise, the prototype performs like a torquey V6 at speeds up to 100 km/h. Things taper off above 100 km/h, but performance will not... http://www.canada.com/leads+with+remarkable+Volt+hybrid/1590747/story.html

I wish GM all the success in the world with the Volt, but it is a serious uphill struggle. Given the general financial state of GM, cheap gas, American love of the 0-60 MPH numbers, the roar of the engine, and the required price, it is a tough climb.

It is an interesting car and an interesting approach. The drivetrain design is a high point for FE strategy in my opinion. It's too large and too heavy, IMO, but I suppose they have done about as well with the design as they could, given American tastes in size and carrying capacity. And the FE numbers are decent, given the size.

I kinda wonder what the cruising speed and hill climbing ability are going to be when the car starts cruising just on that little 4 cylinder???

Given the general financial state of GM, cheap gas, American love of the 0-60 MPH numbers, the roar of the engine, and the required price, it is a tough climb.

What cheap gas? While americans were feeling pretty relaxed around the $2 mark, I don't think they were thinking it was all that cheap. People are still interested in higher MPG vehicles. And haven't you heard....silence is the new roar? ;)

I just hate the title of the article "GM leads..." How can you lead with a product you aren't even selling yet? Who knows what other companies may do between now and the Volt's release. GM might lead, but its far from certain. Frankly, of the American companies, I'd say Ford is the leader. Its possition isn't nearly as weak. Its producing more cars I'd want than GM is. That could certainly change, and I too hope GM all good luck.

BYDs EREV car is already out and available. Unfortunately its available only in China. It will be interesting to see who actually brings EREV to market here in the US first, BYD or GM.

Toyota and Honda put out their first hybrids because the EV1 scared the living daylights out of them. GM is regretting their decision to shelve the EV1, thinking they could live off of Suburban sales indefinitely.

...thinking they could live off of Suburban sales indefinitely.

I was talking to a co-worker some time back about the concept that whatever you believe, no matter your political leanings, and regardless of what kind of car you drive, someday we at a planetary community will run out of oil. It's just a matter of when. He looked at me with this odd dumbfounded look and said, "but more is being made right now under the ground, right?". I wanted to ask him what he learned about fossil fuels in 3rd grade science, but simply responded, "No it's not."