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>> 13/August/2008
- Holden Volt: Plug-In Electric Car
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Electric Cars "Important""We have devoted
significant resources to this project: Over 200 engineers and 50
designers are working on the Volt alone, and another 400 are working on
related subsystems and electric components. That’s how important
we think this is, and that’s how much stock we place in the
future of extended-range electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt." - Tony Posawatz (Vehicle Line Director – E-Flex Systems and the Chevy Volt, General Motors Corp)
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GM Holden could be one of the first car companies in Australia to bring an electric car to market. In a recent presentation, General Motors vice president of research
and development and strategic planning, Larry Burns, indicated that the
Volt plug-in electric car could be sold globally and not just in North
America. While Burns said that GM's "immediate focus is to get
this car developed and get it in the market in the United States," he
also added that a global version of the Volt electric car has not been
ruled out. "We're keeping our options open with what we do with the Volt on a worldwide basis," said Mr Burns. With
more than 90% of the worlds transportation currently reliant on
petroleum products for fuel, General Motors is eager to deliver
products that aren't completely reliant on oil. GM
Holden's chairman and managing director, Mark Reuss, indicated
that Holden would be very keen on selling the Volt in Australia: "There's a really nice, open-minded culture here." Mr
Reuss told the media the Volt, "...would be something that would
be readily accepted by a lot of people here [in Australia]". At
present GM is hoping to have the Chevrolet Volt on the road by late
2010 or early 2011. In the best case scenario, it could arrive in
Australia in 2012. The Volt plug-in electric car can be charged
in around three hours according to General Motors, and has a range of
around 65 kilometres. GM said that its studies showed 3 out of 4 drivers travelled less than 65 kilometres a day. General
Motors new Volt electric car is one of the front-runners to be the
first publicly available electric cars. It features a 45 kilowatt
electric motor that can propel the car to speeds of more than 150km/h,
and also has a backup petrol/biofuel generator. However the
Volt is not a hybrid car because the electric motor always provides
power to the wheels. The small petrol generator only charges the
batteries. <Back
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