2010: Chevrolet Volt Technology Testing

2010 Chevy Volt
General Motors is working hard to meet its goal of having the Chevy Volt, its first plug-in electric hybrid, ready for the road in 2010 — a short three years after the concept was revealed at the North American International Auto Show.
While it's not unusual for the industry to develop an all-new car in 36 months, the Volt represents a special challenge because of its plug-in hybrid powerplant. Conceived as part of GM's new E-Flex architecture, the Volt will be the first of a new generation of vehicles that are electrically and not mechanically driven.
The heart of the Volt is a 160-horsepower electric motor that is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack that has an electric-only range of 40 miles. That means for short hops, the Volt, which can take a plug-in overnight charging, can be driven without using its turbocharged 1.0-liter 3-cylinder gasoline engine. Once the pure electric range has been exhausted, the engine kicks in to recharge the batteries and drive the car through its electric motor.
Chevrolet Volt E-Flex Platform Test Mule

The Volt is claimed to deliver 0–60 mph acceleration of 8 to 8.5 seconds while delivering an equivalent of 100 mpg in its hybrid mode over an 80-mile daily-use cycle. The car will also feature a metal space-frame chassis covered with composite body panels. GM has initially set a target base price of around $30,000.

2010 Chevy Volt
The Volt is not a pure electric in the sense that it relies on its gas/electric hybrid powertrain once the plug-in charge range of 40 miles is exhausted. Over that initial range, the Volt delivers zero emissions of an electric car (other than the remote ones of the electric utility source), something that conventional hybrids like Toyota’s Prius can’t claim. The Volt will also be one of the first plug-in hybrids offered from a major manufacturer. But it won’t be alone long; others including Toyota and Honda are working on plug-in hybrids, while Nissan is promising a pure electric in the same 2010-2011 time frame as the Volt launch.
The company is current testing the Volt's hybrid system in development mules built from its mid-size Malibu family sedan (the photos here show it with an Opel Vectra grille). GM reports that the system has reached its goal of providing a range of at least 40 miles in the pure electric mode. As the car moves closer to production, look to see future spy photos of the Volt in a 4-door hatchback body style similar to that seen on the concept.