BETTER PARTSundervoltage
Detroit ( USA), January 12, 2015
In recent years, US auto companies were mentally not necessarily associated with innovation. But there are exceptions: In 2010 ?? and for years before the VW Golf GTE brought Chevrolet Volt with a plug-in hybrid on the market. Although it made its appearance in this country as Opel Ampera, he remained a marginal phenomenon in Germany. Unlike in the US, so now the second generation of the part-time Stromer is at the Detroit Auto Show ( 12 to 25 January 2015) in the center.
More practical benefits
Even at first glance it is clear that the Chevrolet Volt has been smoothed formal. He loses some of its massive appearance, but looks just any at the rear. In return, the new edition is practical, the sill is located lower. The underlying trunk remains practically the same with 301 liter capacity, as wheelbase, height and width. Only in the length sets the Volt to eight centimeters to 4.58 meters on now. Unlike its predecessor, the second voltage support is available as a five-seater, because the battery pack now the interior no longer divides like a wall. Simultaneously, the cockpit was purified: Before the driver is an eight - inch screen, the same format it brings the monitor in the center console. Fewer buttons to simplify operation.
less often
Now we come to the heart of the Volt, Art: developed in collaboration with LG Chem battery system has a capacity of 18.4 kilowatt hours, the number of cells was reduced from 288 to 192. At the same time the battery pack has been almost ten kilograms lighter and is positioned lower. With 120 volts a full recharge takes 13 hours at 240 volts is approximately 4.5 hours. For 101 hp payable 1.5-liter gasoline engine (previously it was a 1.4 - liter engine with 86 PS) are joined by two electric motors that are common to 149 hp and a maximum torque of 398 provide a Newton meters. The " Drive Unit " weighs 45 kg less than the current system, a total slims the new Volt to more than 100 kilograms in weight. Interesting: The electric motors less " rare earths " are used, one of the two omitted completely even on the rare commodities.
Rich in length
Purely electrically is (48 km / h) speed up the new volts in 2.6 seconds to 30 mph and 60 miles (96 km / h) is reached after 8.4 seconds. Already been the Volt was not a sports car, it will not change: In good 158 km / h is the end, which of course is fully adequate for US roads. Alone with power the Volt is 80km, an increase of 20 kilometers. By comparison, the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid is 25 kilometers in the VW Golf GTE 50. The total range of the new Chevrolet Volt is with about 640 kilometers of, the average consumption is estimated at 5.7 liters. Not just extremely stingy, but according to the manufacturer volt current owners would cover more than 80 percent of their routes complete without gasoline.
Europe loses out
Who in this country is keen on the new Volt, to be disappointed: Chevrolet has largely withdrawn from the German market as well as Opel Ampera, the second voltage generation is not offered. Therefore, in extreme cases only helps the self-import: In the second half of 2015, the new Volt is to come into the US market. As standard, then a rearview camera and ten airbags on board. Optional many assistance systems are available, such as for automatic and semi-automatic parking brake . (rh)