Chevy Volt - How's it work?

[BobM3]

Chevy says it can go about 40 miles on batteries alone but can go another 200 or so miles using a small IC engine that recharges the batteries. So, in effect, the "small" IC engine is moving the car. I'm assuming that performance (acceleration and top speed) are drastically reduced when running on the engine. Or am I missing something?

 

[dgallup]

rmw : With an inverter & a little ingenuity you could use the Volt as your generator.

bvanhiel : I'm pretty sure the tow rating on the Volt will be zero.

Here in SC 50% of our electricity already comes from nuke plants and they are getting geared up to build more.

 

[SomptingGuy]

I read that the engine in that vehicle is rated at 120 kW and the generator generator is rated at 53 kW. Sounds like some bad matching to me. Anyway, 53 kW should be enough for the cooker, hot water and A/C.

- Steve

 

[ivymike]

53kW should keep you and your neighbors on both sides humming along as though the power never failed.

 

[bvanhiel]

"bvanhiel : I'm pretty sure the tow rating on the Volt will be zero."

I guarantee someone will try.

-b

 

[ivymike]

dunno.. priuses seem to come with a trailer hitch.

 

[carnage1]

The generator in the volt should be less than its peak HP. The generator just needs to provide the average power plus a bit extra to recharge the batteries. the smaller ic engine will weigh less and will not suffer throttling losses.

Luck is a difficult thing to verify and therefore should be tested often. - Me

 

[Surestick]

"I read that the engine in that vehicle is rated at 120 kW and the generator generator is rated at 53 kW. Sounds like some bad matching to me."

Try using 120 kW continuously on any road with the possible exception of the autobahn and the Nürburgring and your license won't last long. If anything, given the attention given to the Volt's aerodynamics 53 kW should get you (un)comfortably over the speed limit on a flat road.

 

[SomptingGuy]

If your generator is only rated at 53kW, the engine is too big. Behind all the marketing poop, this is just a series hybrid. An overly powerful engine is pointless (unless figures look good in adverts).

- Steve

 

[bvanhiel]

...with a big battery. That's the whole point. People are spending $10k to convert their Prius's to something similar. I'd love to have one here in Atlanta right now.

-b

 

[bvanhiel]

It's the electric motor that's rated at 120kW. The IC engine and generator output is 53kW.

-b

 

[SomptingGuy]

I stand corrected.

53kW is fairly piddly for a 1L IC engine though. At least it is in the civilised world...

- Steve

 

[dgallup]

A little higher specific output than the 430 HP 6.2 l Corvette. And I'm sure it is tuned primarily for optimum BSFC.

 

[GregLocock]

It's a 1.4 litre engine, non turbo, 4I, now.

As you say it'll be tuned for optimum bsfc, for a very limited number of operating points, and will then use the electric drive as a CVT.

So if they've got their heads screwed on they should manage >30% thermodynamic efficiency across the entire operating range.





Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[GregLocock]

Latest news is that the engine will run at just 5 setpoints.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[SomptingGuy]

Reminds me of spending a few hours on a diesel-electric (a.k.a. Intercity 125) listening to the engine, trying to work out which point it's operating at. A bit sad really.

- Steve

 

[SomptingGuy]

Greg, where does your "latest news" come from? Or can't you say?

- Steve

 

[vims]

Why no turbo? Then they could have reduced the size even more. 0.6 liters would not be unrealistic, right?

 

[BrianPetersen]

... but would raise the cost of an already expensive vehicle even further.

GM already has a small-engine family of 1.0, 1.2, and 1.4 litres which are all the same basic design, and this is one of them. The Cruze will use the same basic engine, but with a turbo.

"why not the 1.0" - probably market acceptability, probably noise level during highway driving, etc.

A smaller engine isn't necessarily the most efficient. The RIGHT-sized engine is the most efficient.

 

[GregLocock]

How many setpoints did a 125 have? do you know how they choose them?

Apparently that info is available somewhere on this website

http://media.gm.com/volt/#

, I was told about it rather than finding it.

Cheers

Greg Locock

SIGlease see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[SomptingGuy]

I would love to know more about the 125's engine control systems. Given my age and where I grew up, that train was the epitome of technology. Paddington <-> Plymouth journeys were and still are a pleasure.

All the

http://WWW mentions

of the Paxman Valenta engine state that it develops 2250 BHP at 1500 rev/min. But if you listen, you can clearly hear different engine speeds and loads in different situations. From (vague, beery) memory the engines seem to run at two distinct speeds. I suppose one is best BSFC (flat running), the other, rated power (acceleration & hill climbing).


- Steve