Chevrolet Volt MPV5 Hybrid Electric Car Announced
Written by Rob Nichols on April 28, 2010 · Filed under Tech
Before now, the only truly electric powered cars have either been small hatchbacks or ludicrously expensive sports cars such as the Tesla Roadster or the recently announced Porsche 918 Spyder Hybrid Concept Car. However, Chevrolet are looking to put an end to that by bringing electric power to the family orientated vehicle. At the Beijing Motor Show they have shown off an intriguing electrically powered people carrier vehicle. The company already have plans laid out for an electric saloon under the same name, Volt, to be released at some point next year. Hence the reason it seems likely that this concept will actually make it to market.
At the heart of the Chevy Volt MPV5, as this is so aptly named, you will find a 16kWh Lithium-Ion battery that is good for 32 miles. Ideal for the school run or just popping to the shops. However, the twist to this tale is the on-board 1.4-litre petrol charger which is dedicated only to charging the electric engine whilst on the go rather than driving the car itself. Using this method the car will go for nigh on 300 miles. Unfortunately, due to the extra weight this thing carries around, it sacrifices 8 miles when compared to the standard Volt saloon.
Many of the other details are very sketchy at this point, in that there aren’t any. However, we are told that the boot storage is 864 litres, which is a fair amount in itself, but when you consider that the car’s ‘flip and fold’ rear seats, that is expandable to a whopping 1,764 litres. I’m sure that’s plenty for the majority of trips you’ll be making in a car like this.
One of the defining features of the car though, in my opinion, is how it looks. Although largely due to its primary purpose as a people carrier, the car actually looks quite sleek and in a way, quite cool. The front end has a split grill separated by the traditional Chevrolet logo and the headlights are almost squinting which provides an attractive, aerodynamic sense. The rest of the car continues in this tradition by remaining for the most part slender, from certain angles, but for the height, it could almost be mistaken for an estate sport car.
So at this point it certainly does look an attractive proposition. Particularly those who either have a large family or carry a huge amount of luggage. I for one hope that this is the future of family run-around motoring as it’s not only good for the environment, but it’s so much of an improvement aesthetically over so many of the traditional ‘big cars’.
Obviously, with it being an American car, I have my doubts over some other qualities such as build and ride quality, which are traditionally poor with cars coming out of the States. However, the prices are generally modest so the prediction so far is that it will have its up’s and down’s. But then again so do most cars so at this point, which I may add is far too early to judge, it seems a perfectly good contender in the mass people carrier market not just on the electric side of things.
Via – CNET
Chevy, take out the filthy gasoline and you might have something good.
Nice, Glad GM is dedicating themselves to more electric cars. 31 miles though is 50km which is pretty much a days use.
Rent this car instead of buying it since it will refresh often…I assume anyways.