Next-Generation Chevrolet Volt Features All-New Voltec Powertrain [Video]

When the next-generation Chevrolet Volt debuts at the North American International Auto Show inwards January, it volition characteristic an all-new Voltec extended gain electrical vehicle (EREV) propulsion arrangement substantially developed from Volt owners including information collected on their driving behaviors.

The Voltec arrangement includes the battery, movement unit, range-extending engine as well as mightiness electronics. The novel arrangement volition last to a greater extent than efficient as well as offering greater EV gain as well as fuel economic scheme compared to the electrical flow generation.

"Our Volt owners real honey the EV driving experience, alongside to a greater extent than than fourscore per centum of all trips existence completed without using whatever gasoline. We've used their real-world experiences to define the adjacent generation Chevrolet Volt," said Alan Batey, caput of global Chevrolet. "By putting our Volt owners at the middle of what nosotros make as well as leveraging our electrification engineering leadership, we've been able to enhance the bar as well as volition overstep their expectations alongside the novel Volt."

Enhanced Battery System Capability

General Motors' industry-leading battery engineering has been improved for the next-generation Volt. Revised jail mobile telephone chemistry, developed inwards conjunction alongside LG Chem, increases storage capacity past times twenty per centum on a book set down when compared to the master copy cell, spell the position out of cells decreases from 288 to 192. The cells are positioned lower inwards the pack for improved (lower) middle of gravity as well as the overall volume of the pack has decreased past times almost xxx pounds (13 kg).

Approximately twenty 1 one one thousand thousand battery cells bring been produced for the to a greater extent than than 69,000 Chevrolet Volts on the route today alongside industry-leading character levels of less than 2 problems per 1 one one thousand thousand cells produced.

The battery arrangement continues to utilisation the Volt's industry-leading active thermal command arrangement that maintains electrical gain over the Volt's life.

"The electrical flow generation Volt's battery has proven to render our owners special performance when it comes to character as well as reliability," said Larry Nitz, executive manager of GM Powertrain's electrification engineering team.

Based on a GM written report of to a greater extent than than 300 model twelvemonth 2011 as well as 2012 Volts inwards service inwards California for to a greater extent than than xxx months, many owners are exceeding the EPA-rated label of 35 miles of EV gain per amount charge, alongside nearly fifteen per centum surpassing xl miles of range. Current generation Volt owners bring accumulated to a greater extent than than 600 1 one one thousand thousand EV miles.

"It would bring been elementary for us to tweak our existing battery to render nominally increased range, but that's non what our customers want," said Nitz. "So our squad created a novel battery arrangement that volition overstep the performance expectations of most of our owners."

EV gain estimates volition last revealed inwards Jan at the North American International Auto Show inwards Detroit.

GM volition manufacture the Volt battery pack at its battery assembly establish inwards Brownstown, Mich.

Drive Unit Focused On Improved Efficiency

Like the battery system, the next-generation Volt's movement unit of measurement was reengineered alongside a focus on increased efficiency as well as performance, improved packaging as well as reduced noise as well as vibration characteristics. The two-motor movement unit of measurement operates only about five to 12 per centum to a greater extent than efficiently as well as weighs 100 pounds (45 kg) less than the electrical flow system.

The Traction Power Inverter Module, which manages mightiness catamenia betwixt the battery as well as the electrical movement motors, has been straight built into the movement unit of measurement to cut mass, size as well as construct complexity spell farther improving efficiency.

The boost inwards performance comes from both motors operating together inwards to a greater extent than driving scenarios, inwards both EV as well as extended-range operation. The mightiness to utilisation both motors helps deliver to a greater extent than than twenty per centum improvement inwards electrical acceleration. GM engineers designed the Voltec electrical motors to utilisation significantly less rare globe materials. One motor uses no rare earth-type magnets at all.

The novel movement unit of measurement volition last manufactured at GM's Powertrain establish inwards Warren, Mich.

New 1.5L Range Extender

Energy for extended-range performance comes from an all-new, high-efficiency 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. The engine features a direct injection fuel system, high-compression ratio of 12.5:1, cooled exhaust gas recirculation as well as a variable displacement fossil oil pump. The Voltec gain extender runs on regular unleaded fuel.

"Using the 1.5L engine equally the gain extender assures owners they tin larn anywhere, anytime without having to worry nearly whether they bring plenty mightiness to larn through the Rocky Mountains or on a spontaneous weekend getaway," Nitz said. "It's all nearly keeping the hope that the Volt is a no-compromise electrical vehicle."

The 1.5L engine volition last manufactured at GM's Toluca, United Mexican U.S. engine establish for the showtime twelvemonth of production, as well as then shift to the Flint, Mich. engine plant.