The Chevrolet Volt — or at least its electric-gasoline hybrid powertrain — is finally being put through its paces on real roads, and GM is happy to report it’s hitting its advertised range of 40 mile on electric power alone. Earlier reports had an older Malibu body hiding Volt mechanicals, although GM denied it was running the Volt powertrain.
“Today is a big day,” said Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman, in an AutoObserver interview on Tuesday. “Today is the first day it is running on the street on battery power.”
Last week, the Volt was being tested on a dyno with simulated real-world conditions before being let loose on Milford, MI roads near GM’s facilities. GM is serious about meeting the Volt’s November, 2010 launch deadline, offering engineersa blank check for its development.
Lutz went on to say the Volt is reliably meeting the objectives that have been set for it. “Even with a rough calibration, even with the wrong drive unit, the wrong body, etc. etc., it has been hitting its 40 miles on electric power.”
He went on to say the biggest challenge will be to integrate the motor with the engine seamlessly and efficiently, as the engine will need to charge the electric motor, and not drive the wheels directly.
