18 Apr 07 15:01
The Chevrolet Volt, an electric vehicle concept first seen at the Detroit Motor Show in January, has evolved into a fuel cell car.
Designed to support a range of alternative-fuel and alternative-propulsion powertrains, the Volt also previews the next-generation Astra/GM compact car platform.
This latest iteration of the Volt has a hydrogen fuel cell positioned under the bonnet in place of the small auxiliary ethanol-compatible engine of the original - a unit that helped back up the battery power rather than drive the wheels. Two high-pressure tanks to store hydrogen gas replace the petrol tank and some of the batteries.
The fuel cell allows for the fitment of a battery pack half the size of that in the EV, which gives a range of 20 miles in fully-electric mode before the fuel cell kicks in. Stored hydrogen is then converted to produce electric power and recharge the batteries, sending electricity directly to the front axle and the rear in-wheel motors. This Volt retains the plug-in recharging facility to boost battery life, and has a total range of 300 miles.
After this fuel cell Volt and the EV (technically a hybrid, given its little motor, but still a model with all-electric drive to the wheels) comes a biodiesel version. This will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, badged as an Opel.
Motor Show: Chevrolet Volt
