It was a bold move for GM, one that essentially tapped the auto conglomerate into a new market of buyers that would have perhaps previously overlooked the brand altogether. According to GM, in its first years on the market, the Chevy Volt received the highest satisfaction ratings among all GM cars.
After an eight-year run that earned it the title of best-selling electric car in the United States, in GM retired the Chevy Volt altogether to make way for its would-be successor, the more compact but fully electric Chevy Bolt , which can squeeze out an impressive miles on a single charge. First-generation Chevy Volts — models manufactured between and — are able to travel miles powered solely by the liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery tucked under the central tunnel and back seats.
Afterward, it dips into the gasoline reserve, allowing the journey to continue for up to another miles. Second-generation Chevy Volts, those made between and , received a slightly more potent battery that powers the car for a full 53 miles before needing to switch to gas.
From there, it can run an additional miles. Two package options exist for the Chevy Volt. The LT base model includes push-button and remote start options, a rearview camera and a teen driver monitoring system. The upgraded Premier version of the Volt features leather heated seats, a heated steering wheel, automated parking assist, parking sensors and an eight-speaker Bose sound system. Despite being able to hold only a short-lived charge — by today's standards at least — GM reports that the majority of distances traveled in Chevy Volts are entirely electrically powered.
That's to say, the engine rarely needs to tap into the gas tank, given that the average American's typical daily commute is less than 40 miles.
Despite the lithium battery's low mileage limit, the gasoline reserve allows it to recharge itself when needed, keeping the Chevy Volt running for up to four to five hours of freeway driving. Actually, when compared to other plug-in hybrids, the Chevy Volt's resale value is significantly higher than that of its competitors.
As is the case with any lithium battery, whether it's powering a cell phone or a car, the length of its lifespan is directly affected by how cool it's kept over time. Unlike other electric-powered cars, most of which are designed to be cooled by air, the Volt's battery utilizes liquid-cooling technology. This is a significant feature in prolonging battery life in general that also proves to be extremely beneficial in hotter climates such as Southern California, where electric cars are often more popular to begin with.
Word has it that many first-generation Volt owners wind up enjoying the car so much that they trade it in for a second-generation model, which, according to the reviews, they wind up enjoying even more.
Common praises for the Chevy Volt hail it for being a solid car that's more fun to drive than a Toyota Prius , sleeker than a Hyundai Sonata hybrid and for most in-town trips is able to run completely on electricity. And the perks of the Volt's fuel efficiency seem to make up for any snags in other departments. Coincidentally, most negative reviews of the Chevy Volt are related to electrical issues. Some owners of early models complained of the charging cables overheating, the instrument cluster flickering or blacking out altogether and faulty fuses causing the backup camera and reverse lights to fail.
Related Coverage. They requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of their auto industry ties. Parks declined to comment on specific costs related to the Volt. GM said it allocates development costs across the lifetime volume of the program. Reuters calculated the per-vehicle development costs based on the number of Volts sold through the end of August.
For the full GM statement: link. That figure will, of course, come down as more Volts are sold. Production costs typically include such items as parts, material, labor and the cost to run the factory, according to manufacturing expert Ron Harbour, who heads the North American Automotive Practice at Michigan-based consultant Oliver Wyman. The Volt also has a number of unique parts, including the battery pack, the electric motor and the power electronics.
Still, as the company wrestles with how to drive down costs and increase showroom traffic, Parks said the Volt is an important car for GM in other respects. The same risky strategy — gambling on relatively untested technology — drove massive investments by Toyota Motor Corp in the Prius hybrid and Nissan Motor Co in the Leaf electric car.
The latest generation of the Volt is a manifestation of this 21st-century mega-trend. It is a technology so pioneering and valuable that GM may license the technology to other car manufacturers. American made. Luxury feel. Enjoyable performance. A hundred miles per gallon in city driving. The Chevy Volt proves that sustainability can deliver triple-bottom-line results in terms of economic competitiveness, job creation, and human health and environmental benefits.
Bill Roth is a cleantech business pioneer having led teams that developed the first hydrogen fueled Prius and a utility scale, non-thermal solar power plant. Using his CEO and senior officer experiences, Roth has coached hundreds of CEOs and business owners on how to develop and implement projects that win customers and cut costs while reducing environmental impacts.
As a professional economist, Roth has written numerous books including his best selling The Secret Green Sauce available on Amazon that profiles proven sustainable best practices in pricing, marketing and operations. His most recent book, The Boomer Generation Diet available on Amazon profiles his humorous personal story on how he used sustainable best practices to lose 40 pounds and still enjoy Happy Hour!
Read more stories by Bill Roth. Words by Bill Roth. Volt challenges luxury cars at half the price Tesla is the No. Reflect on that for a moment. Sustainability is now cool!
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