Chevy Volt headed to the production floor

GM is more than desperate to leave a lasting impression as far as its contribution towards developing eco-friendly cars is concerned. Back in January this year, Chevrolet unveiled the Volt concept with a gas-electric powertrain and three months down the line, it was showcased with a hydrogen fuel cell.

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Following these sequence of events we should have realized what was coming which we didn't, partly because it would have been a startling disclosure and partly because no one anticipated it coming.

However, almost consequently, keeping in view the development of the events, Chevrolet has gone ahead and announced the Chevrolet Volt Concept will make it to production somewhere around 2010.

If you people are still anxious, just like me and doubt the information, this is what Larry Burns, Vice President for GM R&D quoted:

the engineering work is underway, and Delta II has been selected as the platform to carry the new E-Flex system. GM has also decided to offer two different versions of the system: one powered by a gasoline engine and the other powered by a fuel cell.

The E-Flex system defines GM's creation of electric cars that gives them a range of 40 miles per hour on a single charge with the ability to charge in a few hours from standard household unit.

However, this does not make these electric cars unique from the rest and isn't good enough a reason for GM to move them into production. What does the trick though; is the highly efficient secondary power source on board to help charge the batteries and produce electricity for times when the primary source runs out of charge.

The fact that Volt was the first implementation of GM's E-Flex concept should have been enough a clue to forecast this decision, but then full marks to GM for obscuring their intentions. The response to the announcement may be little dismal at the moment but the real test begins in three years time when these unconventional cars will hit the tarmac.

Image : Leftlanenews

Credit : Autoobsessed