GM’s Battery Operated Wonder
As trends go, they don’t get bigger than this. In a mad dash to be the most eco-friendly of them all, most car manufacturers are pushing the envelope and stretching their imaginations to come out with the next big thing. General Motors sure have their priorities in place to ensure a nice and secure future when this mega-trend kicks off and have a no-holds-bar approach in order to get their ambitious Chevrolet Volt up, ready and perfect.
Already acknowledged as the Top Project at GM with no budget limitations, the progress of the Volt is charging along well. The engineers working on this project have come up with a very handy algorithm to figure out just how well these battery operated cars are going to last in the long run. This algorithm can effectively simulate an incredible 10 years of use, roughly about 150,000 miles, within just two years of testing.
Though the algorithm tests are already on in full swing, another testing of the car’s E-Flex system is set to commence this summer, using the bodies of the previous generation Chevrolet Malibu to ascertain how the car will endure normal road conditions. This will give a more realistic idea about how the car’s engine and battery pack deals with swift changes in temperature, moisture and shaking, that are bound to occur on everyday roads and environment.
The Volt’s design will largely be governed by the battery pack, which will be positioned in the center tunnel, beneath the rear seat. This four-seater will therefore have rear seats which will be pushed outwards and as a happy fallout of the battery placement, have more personal space for each of the rear seats. The Volt’s electric and motor engines are paired together, making it look like a normal front-wheel-drive car.
GM’s Volt is scheduled to be out in 2010 and is accelerating towards completion.
Other Aspects:
Discussion Area - Leave a Comment