2012 Chevrolet Volt - Ready to Change the World
A Charge in the Right Direction
The 2012 Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range is designed for everyday city drivers. For Canadians who typically drive 64 kilometres per day or less, this rechargeable, plug-in electric vehicle will use zero tailpipe emissions. And when the range is more than 64 kilometres, the 2012 Volt's small gasoline-powered engine generator kicks in to extend its range for hundreds of kilometres1. It's time to do more than just think about the future. It's time to start shaping it.
1Assumes fully charged battery. Actual range may vary depending on driving habits and conditions. Vehicle features and performance capabilities subject to change.
Introducing 2012 Chevrolet Volt
Volt is an electric car that uses gas to create its own electricity. Plug it in, let it charge overnight, and it's ready to run on a pure electric charge for up to 65 kilometres - gas and emissions free. After that, Volt keeps going, even if you can't plug it in. Chevrolet Volt uses a range-extending gas generator that produces enough energy to power it for hundreds of kilometres on a single tank of gas.
Chevrolet Volt Aerodynamics
When the Volt first appeared as a concept car, it featured an aggressive design. But to fulfill the promise of travelling up to 65 kilometres before using a drop of gas in the production car1 our engineers and designers worked hand-in-hand to reduce aerodynamic drag while keeping its striking look.
Hundreds of hours were spent in the wind tunnel examining and adjusting things like the front and rear corner panels, the rear spoiler, the rocker panels and side mirrors to make sure 2012 Chevrolet Volt slices through the air as easily as possible.
This produced a rounder appearance that resulted in a coefficient of drag (a measure of how well a moving vehicle resists friction caused by air) that is a 30% improvement over the concept car.
"You can tell Volt is ready
to change the world just by looking at it."
The Benefits of Electricity
Will plug-in vehicles lead us to an improved environment and a reduction in gasoline (fossil fuel) use?
Yes. Every kilometre powered by electricity is one less driven by gasoline. Canada has a majority of its electricity produced from hydro electric and nuclear sources that have low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Because of this, when driving the 2012 Chevrolet Volt up to 65 km in Battery Electric mode, the Volt's GHG emissions will be significantly lower than any hybrid vehicle on the market today, even if you include the emissions of the electricity used to charge the Volt. And electricity production in Canada is becoming even "greener" with more renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
