General Motors Announces Aproval For Electric Chevy Volt For 2010

The Chevy Volt took a major step toward the public showroom when General Motors officials recently announcement the manufacture of the extended-range electric vehicle has been approved.

The funding for production development and tooling, indicates GM believes the technology for the Volt, including its lithium-ion batteries, will be ready for volume production on schedule.

“The Chevy Volt is a go,” said CEO Rick Wagoner. “We believe this is the biggest step yet in our industry’s move away from our historic, virtually complete reliance on petroleum to power vehicles.”

“We intend to show a production version of the Chevy Volt]]> publicly in the very near future, and we remain focused on our target of getting the Volt into Chevrolet showrooms by the end of 2010,” Wagoner said.

Preliminary plans are to produce the Volt at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center, subject to successful discussions with state and local governments.

As such, the Volt is no longer just a rumor.

According to GM, will be different than any previous electric vehicle because it will use a lithium-ion battery with a variety of range-extending onboard power sources, including gas and, in some vehicles, E85 ethanol to recharge the battery while driving.

The Volt will be designed to use a common 110–volt household plug. For someone who drives less than 40 miles a day, Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions.

For longer trips, Chevy Volt’s range-extending power source kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack as required and with a predicted range of 640 miles.