17 Sep
Gear for the Motorhead/Alternate Vehicles, TreeHugger/Eco Friendly, Visionary/Technology
Yesterday (September 16th, 2008), GM unveiled the production model Volt.
The Volt is an extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV), not a hybrid. Hybrids have small electric motors that move the car at slow speeds while a gas engine kicks in on the Autobahn. The Volt however, utilizes an all-electric 161-horsepower 45KW (100 KW peak) motor capable of moving the car from 0 to 60 in 8.5 seconds with a top speed of at least 100 mph.
The Volt’s high-voltage battery pack will get you about 40 miles after a full charge from your homes wall outlet. I know, I know, it’s still electricity so somewhere fuel is being burned or hydrogen is being split, but it’s still cleaner than igniting that Middle Eastern octane and your electricity costs will amount to a gas equivalent of about 50 cents per gallon, so it’s a whole lot cheaper to boot.