EV2? Well, the story goes that when the EV1 was in gestation (during the early 1990s), GM secured several subsequent EV number names -- which, as we all know by now -- never quite had to be employed. So, while the official handle for Chevy's highly-anticipated extended range hybrid is "Volt," I like to think of it as what might have eventually followed the EV1...with that small detail of a missing decade before automotive battery technology finally discovered the lithium-ion chemistry that's been long used by laptops and cell phones.
The EV2, er, Volt, we had the opportunity to drive today at Dodger Stadium represents a significant step toward the car's eventual production, slated for late 2010 as a 2011 model. And what are the big takeaways from today's limited, parking lot driving experience? One is that its engine/generator's startup experience (which occurs after its EV-mode's battery charge has depleted to about 30 percent) is far more seamless than I ever would have expected. Two is that despite its other-worldly powertrain, the Volt drives remarkably like any normal car (Mom would never know the difference). And three, those Volt skeptics out there are going to be badly embarrassed if they keep doubting the seriousness of this vehicle.
Unlike some of the other extended range (plugs-in) hybrids being developed, the Volt is entirely driven by its 149-horsepower electric motor. The gas engine itself contributes power exclusively through its generator's output (which is 71 horses after power conversion losses, the 1.4-liter engine's actual power hasn't been released). And this has led many people to make some incorrect assumptions about how powerful the Volt will be once its battery reaches that minimum 30 percent level. What happens is -- well, nothing much happens at all. No, the Volt isn't suddenly diminished to a wimpy 71 horsepower automobile, because the engine-generator (which operates between 1000 and 4000 rpm, and is always under load) is continuously replenishing the battery. In other words, unless you're endlessly climbing Everest, there are plenty of opportunities for the generator to keep that approximately 30-percent state-of-charge maintained. So let's dispense with that erroneous assumption.
