| The auto industry has been investing heavily on the | | | | long as it uses electricity. Another propulsion system |
| development of alternative fuel vehicles as the | | | | to be used on the Chevrolet Volt is the use of a |
| demand for these vehicles increases. The increasing | | | | small bio-fuel internal combustion engine. This engine is |
| prices of gasoline and global warming awareness have | | | | paired with a generator which provides power to the |
| led car manufacturers to dedicate efforts in exploring | | | | battery pack of the vehicle. The power is then used |
| the different technologies which can be used on cars | | | | to drive the electric motor used by the car just like in |
| of the future. These technologies are aimed at | | | | a hybrid electric vehicle. |
| reducing petroleum fuel consumption and thus | | | | Larry Burns, General Motors’ Vice-President of |
| reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. | | | | Research and Development and Strategic Planning, |
| One of the car manufacturers aiming to build a | | | | has this to say about the E-Flex system: “The |
| zero-emission vehicle is the Detroit-based car | | | | beauty of our E-Flex strategy is that it allows us to |
| manufacturing giant General Motors. In the | | | | package various propulsion systems into the same |
| company’s drive towards the development of | | | | space depending on what energy is available locally. It |
| the cars of the future, they have introduced a | | | | also provides flexibility in the sources of energy. We |
| propulsion system for the much-awaited Chevrolet | | | | can obtain hydrogen or electricity from a myriad of |
| Volt at the Shanghai Auto Show. The said propulsion | | | | renewable sources - wind, solar, geothermal, |
| system is in support of the company’s E-Flex | | | | hydroelectric and biofuels - or from traditional sources |
| electric car architecture. | | | | such as natural gas, clean coal, nuclear or even |
| The propulsion system unveiled by General Motors is | | | | gasoline.” Burns explained further that: “E-Flex |
| the fifth generation fuel cell technology and comes | | | | provides flexibility in two ways: in the propulsion |
| using an advanced lithium-ion battery pack. The | | | | systems that can be used, and in the sources of |
| combination of the two is expected to power a | | | | energy that can be commercialized to compete with |
| Chevrolet Volt for 300 miles or 483 kilometers. That | | | | oil and meet global transportation growth in a |
| distance can be covered with no petroleum fuel ever | | | | sustainable way.” |
| being burned and thus no greenhouse gases are | | | | The new propulsion system unveiled by General |
| produced. | | | | Motors is made smaller than its predecessor but at |
| The fuel cell configuration allows the Chevrolet Volt | | | | the same time packs as much power. Its |
| to run on the electricity produced by the fusion of | | | | predecessor, the fourth-generation propulsion system |
| hydrogen fuel and oxygen that it gets from the | | | | is currently being used on the concept vehicle |
| surrounding air. The only by-product of this reaction is | | | | Chevrolet Sequel. The Sequel and the Volt may still |
| water. The Volt is also a plug-in vehicle which means | | | | be in their developing stages but the time is drawing |
| its lithium-ion battery pack can be recharged via a | | | | nearer that these two vehicles will join Chevy pickups |
| common household electrical outlet. The battery pack | | | | with Chevrolet pickup grill inserts in Chevy’s |
| is capable of powering the car for 34 kilometers or | | | | lineup. |
| 20 miles on a full charge. | | | | In closing, Burns concluded that: “Our progress |
| This plug-in capability means that the Volt can be | | | | has made us increasingly confident that our fuel cell |
| used on shorter trips without consuming hydrogen | | | | propulsion system will be automotive-competitive. But |
| fuel. Since electricity is cheaper than hydrogen fuel, | | | | before this technology can be made widely available, |
| the plug-in capacity of the vehicle adds to the | | | | governments, energy suppliers and infrastructure |
| convenience of the car for consumers. Scarcity of | | | | companies around the world need to collaborate with |
| hydrogen refueling stations is a problem for cars such | | | | GM and the auto industry to develop a market for |
| as the Chevrolet Volt but with its plug-in capability, | | | | fuel cell vehicles and hydrogen fuel.” With that in |
| consumers can make use of grid electricity for short | | | | mind, consumers will have to wait until such time that |
| trips. | | | | General Motors see it fit that the Chevrolet Volt is |
| The E-Flex system used by the Chevy Volt is | | | | ready for production and ready for the market. |
| engineered to be powered by different means as | | | | |