The range extender assures owners
We will have to wait until we get closer to the kick off the Detroit Auto Show to see all of the improvements in store for the 2016 Volt, but GM has announced that the Volt’s current four-cylinder engine will be replaced. The 2016 Volt is getting an all-new 1.5L four-cylinder range extender engine with a direct injection fuel system, a high-compression ratio of 12.5:1, cooled exhaust gas recirculation and a variable displacement oil pump.
Related: Chevrolet Expected to Launch Cheaper Chevy Volt Plug-In Hybrid Next Year
“Using the 1.5L engine as the range extender assures owners they can go anywhere, anytime without having to worry about whether they have enough power to go through the Rocky Mountains or on a spontaneous weekend getaway,” said Larry Nitz, executive director of GM‘s powertrain electrification engineering team. “It’s all about keeping the promise that the Volt is a no-compromise electric vehicle.”
Even though the 2016 Volt will have a new four-cylinder engine, drivers will be less reliant on gas thanks to a new, more efficient electric drive system. GM says that the new system will be more efficient and offer greater EV range and fuel economy compared to the current generation. The battery features revised cell chemistry that increases storage capacity by 20 percent, while the overall battery pack is now 30 pounds lighter. GM also says that the two-motor drive unit operates approximately 5 to 12 percent more efficiently and weighs 100 pounds less than the current system. GM says that EV range estimates will be revealed in January at the Detroit Auto Show.
“Our Volt owners truly love the EV driving experience, with more than 80 percent of all trips being completed without using any gasoline. We’ve used their real-world experiences to define the next generation Chevrolet Volt,” said Alan Batey, head of global Chevrolet. “By putting our Volt owners at the center of what we do and leveraging our electrification engineering leadership, we’ve been able to raise the bar and will exceed their expectations with the new Volt.”