Driveability and reliability
Important in the development of the Volt was the goal of keeping it comfortable and familiar in function and operation. It would’ve been a mistake to create a hi-tech vehicle that failed to follow the traditional formula of a typical passenger car.
I think Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director for the Volt summed-up it up best, saying “the Volt had to be a full-function car that could be your everyday driver, and that’s not historically what an electric vehicle has been.”
By “full function,” Tony was referring to the car’s ability to perform flawlessly irrespective of weather or environmental challenges. These can often sideline a typical electric vehicle. GM has performed extensive testing of the Volt in the heat of Death Valley, California and in the frigid weather of the far north. They have also run the vehicle at full-tilt up Pikes Peak. In all cases, the Volt has withstood the challenges.
One technology making such divergent scenarios problem-free is the ability of the battery pack to be self heated or cooled, which ensures that it remains in its most efficient temperature range. I wondered though what would occur if the vehicle were to be parked with a depleted battery for days on end without being plugged in.
No problem chirped Tony. The engine will fire-up and produce the necessary electricity. It’s also worth mentioning that the battery is never allowed to deplete itself completely – in fact far from it. As mentioned, the gas engine will spin the generator once the battery pack is diminished but not dead.
And not being dead myself, I drove the Volt
Let me say first of all, that taking a seat in the Volt is all pretty conventional, but that’s where convention ends and fun begins. A push of the button brought the car silently to life. A quick toot of the pedestrian-friendly audible warning and we were off.
Important in the development of the Volt was the goal of keeping it comfortable and familiar in function and operation. It would’ve been a mistake to create a hi-tech vehicle that failed to follow the traditional formula of a typical passenger car.
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| Important in the development of the Volt was the goal of keeping it comfortable and familiar in function and operation. |
I think Tony Posawatz, Vehicle Line Director for the Volt summed-up it up best, saying “the Volt had to be a full-function car that could be your everyday driver, and that’s not historically what an electric vehicle has been.”
By “full function,” Tony was referring to the car’s ability to perform flawlessly irrespective of weather or environmental challenges. These can often sideline a typical electric vehicle. GM has performed extensive testing of the Volt in the heat of Death Valley, California and in the frigid weather of the far north. They have also run the vehicle at full-tilt up Pikes Peak. In all cases, the Volt has withstood the challenges.
One technology making such divergent scenarios problem-free is the ability of the battery pack to be self heated or cooled, which ensures that it remains in its most efficient temperature range. I wondered though what would occur if the vehicle were to be parked with a depleted battery for days on end without being plugged in.
No problem chirped Tony. The engine will fire-up and produce the necessary electricity. It’s also worth mentioning that the battery is never allowed to deplete itself completely – in fact far from it. As mentioned, the gas engine will spin the generator once the battery pack is diminished but not dead.
And not being dead myself, I drove the Volt
Let me say first of all, that taking a seat in the Volt is all pretty conventional, but that’s where convention ends and fun begins. A push of the button brought the car silently to life. A quick toot of the pedestrian-friendly audible warning and we were off.
 |
| The gas engine will spin the generator once the battery pack is diminished but not dead. |