Η Chevrolet έδωσε τις πρώτες πληροφορίες και φωτογραφίες του κινητήριου συνόλου της επόμενης γενιάς του Volt, το οποίο θα παρουσιαστεί τελικά στην έκθεση του Detroit τον Γενάρη του 2015.
Το νέο Volt θα φοράει ένα ολοκαίνουριο Voltec σύνολο, το οποίο αποτελείται από την μπαταρία, το σύστημα μετάδοσης, τον κινητήρα που αυξάνει την αυτονομία και τα σχετικά ηλεκτρονικά συστήματα. Η νέα μπαταρία εξελίχθηκε από κοινού με την LG Chem, και τα κελιά της διαθέτουν νέα χημικά στοιχεία που αυξάνουν την αποθήκευση ενέργειας κατά 20%, όταν συγκρίνονται με τα σημερινά. Επίσης, είναι κατά 13 κιλά ελαφρύτερη και θα τοποθετηθεί χαμηλότερα στο αυτοκίνητο, ώστε να βελτιωθεί το κέντρο βάρους του Volt.
H Chevrolet θα ανακοινώσει την εκτιμώμενη αυτονομία του μοντέλου κατά την διάρκεια της παρουσίασης του στην αμερικάνικη έκθεση, αλλά ο Larry Nitz, διευθυντής της ομάδας μηχανολογίας των ηλεκτρικών κινητήρων της GM, δήλωσε:
Θα ήταν απλό για εμάς να βελτιώσουμε απλά την υπάρχουσα μπαταρία μας, ώστε να παρέχουμε ονομαστικά αυξημένη αυτονομία, αλλά δεν είναι αυτό που θέλουν οι πελάτες μας. Έτσι, η ομάδα μας δημιούργησε ένα νέο σύστημα μπαταριών που θα υπερβαίνει τις προσδοκίες για επιδόσεις των περισσοτέρων από τους ιδιοκτήτες μας.
Αυτό πρακτικά σημαίνει ότι το νέο Volt θα έχει πολύ μεγαλύτερη ηλεκτρική αυτονομία από τα μόλις 61 χλμ. που έχει το σημερινό, με την LG Chem να έχει επιβεβαιώσει ότι οι νέες μπαταρίες θα έχουν αυτονομία 322 χλμ. Η GM επιβεβαίωσε επίσης, ότι η ερχόμενη γενιά του μοντέλου θα διαθέτει μια μονάδα με δύο κινητήρες που θα ζυγίζει 45 κιλά λιγότερα, ενώ θα είναι 5 με 12% πιο αποδοτική. Η Chevrolet συνέχισε λέγοντας, θα υπάρξει μια αύξηση της απόδοσης και από τους δύο κινητήρες, που θα λειτουργούν συνδυαστικά σε περισσότερα προγράμματα οδήγησης, τόσο στην πλήρως ηλεκτρική λειτουργία, όσο και στην εκτεταμένης αυτονομίας. Αν και αυτό είναι ασαφές, η εταιρεία δήλωσε ότι η χρήση των δύο κινητήρων θα βελτιώνει την ηλεκτρική επιτάχυνση κατά 20%.
Ο κινητήρας εσωτερικής καύσης θα είναι ένας ολοκαίνουριος τετρακύλινδρος 1,5-λίτρων, που θα διαθέτει άμεσο ψεκασμό, μια αντλία λαδιού με μεταβλητή χωρητικότητα, ανακυκλοφορία ψυχόμενων καυσαερίων και υψηλή σχέση συμπίεσης, που φτάνει τα 12,5:1. Δεν απαιτεί καύσιμο 100 οκτανίων, μιας και λειτουργεί άριστα με απλή 95αρα αμόλυβδη βενζίνη.
Το νέο υβριδικό αυτοκίνητο θα διαθέτει έντονα κεκλιμένο παρμπρίζ και πρώτη κολόνα, ενώ και το καπό θα είναι πιο φουσκωμένο, δίνοντας έτσι στο μοντέλο πιο δυναμικό προφίλ. Επίσης, θα διαθέτει νέα πιο λεπτά φωτιστικά σώματα, μικρότερους προβολείς ομίχλης και νέα επιθετική μάσκα. Θα κατασκευάζεται στο Μίσιγκαν, με τον σχεδιασμό του να αποτελεί την εξέλιξη της τωρινής γενιάς έχοντας πιο καμπυλωτό αμάξωμα, και το 70% των μερών του θα προέρχονται από τις Η.Π.Α. ή τον Καναδά.
Η Chevrolet θα επενδύσει 449 εκατ. δολάρια για τη νέα γενιά των ηλεκτρικών αυτοκινήτων της, με την GM να θέλει τη δεύτερη γενιά του Volt να είναι φθηνότερη από την τωρινή. Για να το πετύχει αυτό, θα προσφέρει μια entry-level έκδοση του, η οποία θα εξοπλίζεται με λιγότερο εξοπλισμό, μικρότερη μπαταρία, έχοντας έτσι μικρότερη αυτονομία κάνοντας έτσι το Volt το φθηνότερο plug-in υβριδικό αυτοκίνητο στις Η.Π.Α., ξεκινώντας από τα 30.000 δολάρια.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6R5JOoYT_s
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Next-Generation Chevrolet Volt Features All-New Voltec Propulsion System for More Efficiency
Debuting in 2015, new model will have increased EV range
WARREN, Mich. – When the next-generation Chevrolet Volt debuts at the North American International Auto Show in January, it will feature an all-new Voltec extended range electric vehicle (EREV) propulsion system substantially developed from Volt owners including data collected on their driving behaviors.
The Voltec system includes the battery, drive unit, range-extending engine and power electronics. The new system will be more efficient and offer greater EV range and fuel economy compared to the current generation.
“Our Volt owners truly love the EV driving experience, with more than 80 percent of all trips being completed without using any gasoline. We’ve used their real-world experiences to define the next generation Chevrolet Volt,” said Alan Batey, head of global Chevrolet. “By putting our Volt owners at the center of what we do and leveraging our electrification engineering leadership, we’ve been able to raise the bar and will exceed their expectations with the new Volt.”
Enhanced Battery System Capability
General Motors’ industry-leading battery technology has been improved for the next-generation Volt. Revised cell chemistry, developed in conjunction with LG Chem, increases storage capacity by 20 percent on a volume basis when compared to the original cell, while the number of cells decreases from 288 to 192. The cells are positioned lower in the pack for improved (lower) center of gravity and the overall mass of the pack has decreased by almost 30 pounds (13 kg).
Approximately 20 million battery cells have been produced for the more than 69,000 Chevrolet Volts on the road today with industry-leading quality levels of less than two problems per million cells produced.
The battery system continues to use the Volt’s industry-leading active thermal control system that maintains electric range over the Volt’s life.
“The current generation Volt’s battery has proven to provide our owners exceptional performance when it comes to quality and reliability,” said Larry Nitz, executive director of GM Powertrain’s electrification engineering team.
Based on a GM study of more than 300 model year 2011 and 2012 Volts in service in California for more than 30 months, many owners are exceeding the EPA-rated label of 35 miles of EV range per full charge, with about 15 percent surpassing 40 miles of range. Current generation Volt owners have accumulated more than 600 million EV miles.
“It would have been simple for us to tweak our existing battery to provide nominally increased range, but that’s not what our customers want,” said Nitz. “So our team created a new battery system that will exceed the performance expectations of most of our owners.”
EV range estimates will be revealed in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
GM will manufacture the Volt battery pack at its battery assembly plant in Brownstown, Mich.
Drive Unit Focused On Improved Efficiency
Like the battery system, the next-generation Volt’s drive unit was reengineered with a focus on increased efficiency and performance, improved packaging and reduced noise and vibration characteristics. The two-motor drive unit operates approximately 5 to 12 percent more efficiently and weighs 100 pounds (45 kg) less than the current system.
The Traction Power Inverter Module, which manages power flow between the battery and the electric drive motors, has been directly built into the drive unit to reduce mass, size and build complexity while further improving efficiency.
The boost in performance comes from both motors operating together in more driving scenarios, in both EV and extended-range operation. The ability to use both motors helps deliver more than 20 percent improvement in electric acceleration. GM engineers designed the Voltec electric motors to use significantly less rare earth materials. One motor uses no rare earth-type magnets at all.
The new drive unit will be manufactured at GM’s Powertrain plant in Warren, Mich.
New 1.5L Range Extender
Energy for extended-range operation comes from an all-new, high-efficiency 1.5L 4-cylinder engine. The engine features a direct injection fuel system, high-compression ratio of 12.5:1, cooled exhaust gas recirculation and a variable displacement oil pump. The Voltec range extender runs on regular unleaded fuel.
“Using the 1.5L engine as the range extender assures owners they can go anywhere, anytime without having to worry about whether they have enough power to go through the Rocky Mountains or on a spontaneous weekend getaway,” Nitz said. “It’s all about keeping the promise that the Volt is a no-compromise electric vehicle.”
The 1.5L engine will be manufactured at GM’s Toluca, Mexico engine plant for the first year of production, then shift to the Flint, Mich. engine plant.
U.S./Canadian Content Increases
Since its introduction in late 2010, the Volt has established southeast Michigan as the hub of vehicle electrification development and manufacturing. The next-generation Volt will feature approximately 70 percent U.S. and Canadian components within its first year of production, a nearly 20 percent increase from the first-generation, Nitz said.
GM to Announce New Michigan Investments at Detroit Economic Club
- Chevrolet Volt electric drive unit to be built in Warren, Mich.
- Michigan established as GM’s global center of excellence for vehicle electrification
DETROIT –Today at the Detroit Economic Club, General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) CEO Mary Barra will confirm that the company’s Warren Transmission Plant will build the electric drive unit for the second-generation Chevrolet Volt. That means most major Volt powertrain components – from its battery cells to its range-extender – will be made in Michigan, establishing the state as the company’s global engineering center of excellence for vehicle electrification.
At the same time, Barra will announce capital investments of nearly $300 million in Michigan between now and the end of the year. Details will be announced later.
“We must provide the breakthrough technology that our customers want,” said Barra. “Our investments in the Chevy Volt and Michigan signify our commitment to lead the industry in technology and innovation.”
Since 2009, GM has announced more than $11 billion in investments in the United States, with almost half of that investment committed to Michigan.
In addition, GM has worked with its UAW partners to develop initiatives that will lead to more than 22,600 jobs in the United States. This hiring has begun and will continue over the next few years, and many of these jobs will be based in Michigan.
Approximately $1.82 billion in capital has been invested in projects dedicated specifically to vehicle electrification.
GM’s Brownstown Township facility is the country’s first high-volume lithium-ion battery pack manufacturing site operated by a major automaker.
The Chevrolet Volt and Cadillac ELR are assembled at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant.
GM’s Flint Engine Operations will build the 1.5-liter, four-cylinder range extender for the Volt. The unit is part of an all-new engine family.
Warren Transmission will build the GM Voltec Multi-Mode Electric Drive Unit, which allows the Volt to drive in pure electric or extended range electric mode.
Battery cells for the Volt and ELR are produced by LG Chem in Holland, Mich., and the Volt’s vehicle’s electric motors will also be made in the United States.
Within the first year of production, about 70 percent of the Volt’s parts will be made in the United States or Canada, which GM believes is the most for a plug-in or conventional hybrid.
Volt Facts
- Since the Volt was launched in 2010, owners driving in pure electric mode have helped reduce gasoline consumption by more than 25 million gallons.
- Based on a GM study of more than 300 2011-2012 model year Volts in service in California, many owners exceed the EPA-rated label of 35 miles of EV range per full charge, with about 15 percent surpassing 40 miles of range.
- Volt owners who charge regularly typically drive more than 970 miles between fill-ups and refuel less than once a month. The 2014 Volt provides owners with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 98 MPGe (electric) and 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway on gasoline power.
- Nearly 70 percent of Volt buyers are new to GM. The Toyota Prius is the most frequently traded-in vehicle for a Volt.
- Volt is the most successful plug-in electric vehicle in the United States, with cumulative sales of more than 69,000 vehicles.
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