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GM Shows Fuel-Cell Version of Volt at Shanghai
On first glimpse, there isn't anything particularly spectacular about theChevrolet Volt concept vehicle, but this compact, four-door sedan is by far the most important concept vehicle this year. Under this shell is what General Motors calls, “E-Flex”, a flexible powertrain system which is changing the way people think about propulsion systems. In the case of the Volt, E-Flex is a plug-in hybrid, and though it features a conventional gasoline internal combustion engine (ICE), it does not power the wheels directly. Instead, the engine acts as a generator to charge the battery. The car accelerates via electric motors, which are powered by the on-board battery.
 | | An overhead look of the fuel-cell E-Flex chassis. (Photo: General Motors) | | /> Since its debut back at Detroit in January, General Motors has kept current running through the Volt project. It's now traveling around the globe, a four-wheeled message to the world about the wonders of the E-Flexpowertain. At the Shanghai Motor Show, its latest stop, General Motors brought along a mockup of a new variation on the E-Flex chassis that does away with the gasoline engine for a full hydrogen fuel cell.
GM's dedication to developing hydrogen technology | | Instead of that turbocharged inline-three cylinder ICE, the E-Flex shown at Shanghai has GM's fifth-generation fuel cell, plus all-wheel drive. (Photo: General Motors) |
resulted in a real breakthrough in its fifth-generation fuel cell. Compared to the fourth-generation unit featured in the GM Sequel concept (remember the “Skateboard Chassis”?), the new unit fitted to the E-Flex is half as large and uses half the volume of hydrogen, but is capable of traveling the same distance, approximately 300 miles. In addition, at 80 kW (107.2 horsepower), the fuel cell is more powerful and has a greater power density than any previous GM fuel cell, not to mention Honda's FCX fuel cell vehicle.
Other improvements to the E-Flex chassis, over the one shown in Detroit, include the adaptation of all-wheel drive. In | | The Chevrolet Volt might be a sporty looking compact sedan on the outside, but it's the future of transportation underneath. (Photo: General Motors) |
addition to the 70 kW (93.8 horsepower) electric motor that powers the front wheels, the Volt has two 25 kW (33.5 horsepower) in-wheel electric motors that move the rear wheels. These in-wheel motors are lighter and more efficient than the ones featured in the Sequel Concept and the Fuel Cell Equinox.
The E-Flex chassis is based upon the next-generation Delta architecture, which we reported on just a few days ago. This allows components such as chassis rails, suspension and brakes to be shared between this ultra-green vehicle and more regular compacts like the Cobalt and Astra, driving the development costs down, and therefore allowing General Motors to focus its research on the powertrain.
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