GM confirms plans to sell ER-EVs in Europe in 2011, 50 Volt prototypes this fall
click for a gallery of images of the production Chevy Volt
GM Europe president Carl-Peter Forster said again this week that the company would launch E-Flex-based extended range EVs on the European market in 2011, about a year behind the Volt launch in North America. In his remarks, Forster referred to both petrol- and diesel-powered ER-EVs, although the last time we checked with GM they said they had no plans yet to produce diesel-powered E-Flex vehicles. The Opel/Saturn Flextreme concept that the company displayed at the 2007 Frankfurt motor show used a diesel engine in place of the gas/E85 engine from the Volt. GM Europe plans to offer both Chevrolet and Opel branded E-Flex cars. Forster also told reporters that GM wil start building actual prototype Volts with production intent hardware this month and hopes to have 50 cars completed by the end of the year.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: Reuters]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
diffrunt 9:54AM (9/11/2008)
I want a running feed to my screen of the 50 prototype construction or, at least daily hi lights.
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rg 10:37AM (9/11/2008)
I've never understood why people are skeptical of this car becoming reality when it's 100% fact that at the very least this is the platform of the car of the future whether it be the actual Volt or not. The other funny thing is how people love the abomination that is the craptastic Toyota Prius. It's the biggest waste of time and money on the planet and it's uglier than a Pontiac Aztek. I'd rather pollute and waste gas than drive that pos. Then again I have also purposely taken the cat off of both of my cars just so I could get a small efficiency gain. They have them installed 1 day a year though.
This is the FIRST gasoline/electric design that is actually being done properly and it's going to completely obsolete the parallel hybrid in the next 10 years. That's absolute certainty. You people need to get your green heads out of your asses and embrace technology that's actually doable rather than hoping for crap like hydrogen or some other miracle energy that will never happen. This is your reality. Chevy got something right for once and that should make everyone happy.
tankd0g 11:14AM (9/11/2008)
rg: I you think a serial gasoline hybrid is the future then please, PLEASE don't pursue a career with a major auto maker.
gorr 11:52AM (9/11/2008)
Rg is right, parallel hybrid is a nonsense. Serial hybrid cost less to make and to run. You can save 100% on gasoline cost if you drive not to far and save 20% or more if you drive long trip because the ice is working in optimal mode at steady speed in hcci mode very easilly, so on, many other benifit too like real regenerative breaking capabillity. No transmission and differential that eat engine power and add to the price of manufacturing the car.
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Turbofrog 11:58AM (9/11/2008)
While I don't think series hybrids are the long-term future, they're definitely a far better transitional step than parallel hybrids, since at least this way the engine can operate in a narrow range of efficiency for powering the generator.
That, and you eliminate all the hardware involved with coupling the gas engine to the wheels. It just makes sense.
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Sean 12:12PM (9/11/2008)
So what do you think IS the future? Personally, I think series hybrids (RE-EV or whatever) like the Volt are the immediate future, with fast-charging, effciently designed (e.g. Aptera,) >400-mile range EVs as the ultimate future (for ground transport, at least.)
I can't ever see hydrogen as being in the future at all. Unless someone finds a hydrogen spring somewhere. ;)
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Bob Seeley 2:15PM (9/11/2008)
Ugly, ugly, ugly (just voicing what I know a lot of you are thinking).
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ryan 4:04PM (9/11/2008)
yeah... it's a serious bummer all the good design elements disappeared between the concept and the production model.
Fre 6:57PM (9/11/2008)
Is there any place where we can sign up for one of those 50pcs.
Probably not, but it's worth asking i think.
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John Bäckstrand 8:46PM (10/10/2008)
Argh, I actually though the series hybrid would be coming the EU way. I am so depressed now.
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