2016 Chevy Volt - Powertrain detail revealed

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

GM revealed some general information about the next generation Voltec powertrain.

http://green.autoblog.com/2014/10/29/2016-chevy-volt-will-not-need-premium-gas/

The photos section has PowerPoint slides of the individual improvements. No concrete numbers just yet. Lots of small improvements.

http://green.autoblog.com/photos/next-gen-chevy-volt-powertrain/#photo-3059404/

* 20% improvement in cell storage by volume
* Battery system 30lbs lighter
* New 1.5L range extender more fuel efficient and no longer needs premium
* Electric motors 33lbs lighter, and 4% more powerful
* 70% reduction in rare-earth metals for electric motors
* 100lb lighter "drive unit", and 12% more powerful overall


Edit 11/20/2014

A couple teaser shots clearly showing the facia.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/11/20/2016-chevy-volt-teaser-gps-charging/

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2016-chevrolet-volt-teaser-images/

 

[TridenT]

Some of those numbers you listed aren't "small". 20% is quite sizable.

However, what worries me is that they decided to go with the same electrical capacity but lower the volume of the battery pack. That means there won't be performance improvements...

100lbs is a great weight reduction but it's not sizable enough to make up for 20% potentially larger load battery pack.


Edit: reading the slides I might have misinterpreted what you listed. Maybe they kept the same volume for the pack and now have a 20% larger range with the car. Unknown.

 

[PricklyPete]

All is great, but to really knock this one out of the park, provide a normal back seat (I realize the technical challenge due to battery design), and provide an option for a wagon. I realize wagons are not huge across the general populous, but I think they are with the alt fuel crowd.

 

[bigi]

I like the Volt but I did expect more. Especially after seeing what Tesla has been doing lately.

The new Leaf should be announced soon. I guess we'll have to wait what Nissan will bring to the table.

 

[Kaido]

All is great, but to really knock this one out of the park, provide a normal back seat (I realize the technical challenge due to battery design), and provide an option for a wagon. I realize wagons are not huge across the general populous, but I think they are with the alt fuel crowd.

I would absolutely buy a Volt wagon :thumbsup:

Awesome that it uses regular gas now instead of premium! Curious to see what the updated electric range is. I think the Volt is the best hybrid design on the market because you can drive it like a regular car after the battery runs out of juice.

 

[Zargon]

Some of those numbers you listed aren't "small". 20% is quite sizable.

However, what worries me is that they decided to go with the same electrical capacity but lower the volume of the battery pack. That means there won't be performance improvements...

100lbs is a great weight reduction but it's not sizable enough to make up for 20% potentially larger load battery pack.


Edit: reading the slides I might have misinterpreted what you listed. Maybe they kept the same volume for the pack and now have a 20% larger range with the car. Unknown.

either way, even if they have the same battery capacity

the car is lighter and the electric drive is more efficient, which should increase range,

based on lighter batteries, lighter motor, lighter drive unit

also:

The battery system will provide improved range while weighing 30 lbs. less than the previous battery system.

 

[ansarali2h]

2016 Chevy Volt will have more EV range, bigger battery Buried in the new technical details of the 2016 Chevy Volt released a throwaway line about a small but important change that's due to the new 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine. The first-gen Volt has always required premium gas but the new power-plant will be happy burning plain old regular.

 

[Jimzz]

I like the Volt but I did expect more. Especially after seeing what Tesla has been doing lately.

The new Leaf should be announced soon. I guess we'll have to wait what Nissan will bring to the table.

Tesla sells for close to 100k and they have not turned a profit yet. Don't get me wrong I think the current model is great and would take one any day, but the Volt and its price vs the Tesla and its price is very different.

The new Volt sounds good... now how much does it cost.

 

[PricklyPete]

I would absolutely buy a Volt wagon :thumbsup:



Awesome that it uses regular gas now instead of premium! Curious to see what the updated electric range is. I think the Volt is the best hybrid design on the market because you can drive it like a regular car after the battery runs out of juice.

I'm with you on this. While I still think they have a generation or two before the economy of the vehicle catches up to the Prius, I like the overall system design better. Will be very interesting to see how much of an improvement this model brings.

 

[cbrsurfr]

I'm hoping the new one is better enough to drive used prices down even further. Although I'd probably have to get rid of a car, I'm up to 3 now and they all are under 15MPG. Hmm

 

[fleshconsumed]

I'm excited to see the new volt and I'm not even in the market for a hybrid. My ideal vehicle would be Subaru Outback, but I'm still curious what Chevy is going to do with Volt. As others have mentioned, the current volt has a few drawbacks such as battery pack protruding through the back seat, too little storage being a compact car, and less than stellar 37mpg gasoline engine mileage. However, I do think Chevy got the general idea right with the Volt. The Volt got enough EV power for your typical work commute so most people will never use a drop of gas commuting to work, but it still got engine backup for when you go on a road trip. IMO it's the perfect commuter vehicle. If Chevy could solve the backseat problem, improve the gasoline mileage, and increase cargo space by making it more wagon like, then it would be a really great car. I think the official unveiling is in January at Detroit Auto Show, hopefully Chevy addresses all of these concerns.

 

[RU482]

regular vs premium....is this really an issue? I mean really?

 

[RU482]

I'm hoping the new one is better enough to drive used prices down even further. Although I'd probably have to get rid of a car, I'm up to 3 now and they all are under 15MPG. Hmm

short of a catastrophic event in your life, or a major mind shift on your part, I'd wager heavily that you'll never, ever, ever buy a Volt

 

[Kaido]

regular vs premium....is this really an issue? I mean really?

Not overly, at least with a the smaller tank the Volt has (9.3 gallons?)...in my area that only works out to a less than $4-per-fillup difference, so even if you were to drain the tank weekly & fill up once a week, you're only saving about $200 annually, which really isn't a lot, especially considering that the Volt starts at $26k...

 

[Kaido]

I'm with you on this. While I still think they have a generation or two before the economy of the vehicle catches up to the Prius, I like the overall system design better. Will be very interesting to see how much of an improvement this model brings.

Yeah, the only other hybrid I'd seriously consider would be the Honda Accord hybrid, which gets 50 city, 45 highway, and doesn't have to be plugged in at all:

http://automobiles.honda.com/accord-hybrid/

 

[PricklyPete]

Yeah, the only other hybrid I'd seriously consider would be the Honda Accord hybrid, which gets 50 city, 45 highway, and doesn't have to be plugged in at all:



http://automobiles.honda.com/accord-hybrid/

Yes...I liked that one as well...but still no wagon.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Some of those numbers you listed aren't "small". 20% is quite sizable.

However, what worries me is that they decided to go with the same electrical capacity but lower the volume of the battery pack. That means there won't be performance improvements...

100lbs is a great weight reduction but it's not sizable enough to make up for 20% potentially larger load battery pack.


Edit: reading the slides I might have misinterpreted what you listed. Maybe they kept the same volume for the pack and now have a 20% larger range with the car. Unknown.

Your edit is correct. We don't know what GM will do with the 20% improvement in storage volume. Increase the range or decrease battery size, or both? There could be other improvements to the battery system. The current Volt battery is oversized so to allow for decreased capacity over time. Improvements in cell longevity would make a big difference as you won't need as much unused battery capacity.

An extra 5-10 miles of electric range would be significant. Considering the car will be a little lighter, cheaper, and more efficient in the process.

 

[disappoint]

I'm excited to see the new volt and I'm not even in the market for a hybrid. My ideal vehicle would be Subaru Outback, but I'm still curious what Chevy is going to do with Volt. As others have mentioned, the current volt has a few drawbacks such as battery pack protruding through the back seat, too little storage being a compact car, and less than stellar 37mpg gasoline engine mileage. However, I do think Chevy got the general idea right with the Volt. The Volt got enough EV power for your typical work commute so most people will never use a drop of gas commuting to work, but it still got engine backup for when you go on a road trip. IMO it's the perfect commuter vehicle. If Chevy could solve the backseat problem, improve the gasoline mileage, and increase cargo space by making it more wagon like, then it would be a really great car. I think the official unveiling is in January at Detroit Auto Show, hopefully Chevy addresses all of these concerns.

What happens if the fuel is left sitting in there too long?

 

[sm625]

Why cant it just have a generator that charges the batteries?

 

[disappoint]

Why cant it just have a generator that charges the batteries?

It does. Powered by a 1.5L engine. I think the older ones had a 1.4L.

 

[PricklyPete]

What happens if the fuel is left sitting in there too long?

My understanding the volt keeps track of this and makes sure you cycle the gas on a reasonable cycle.

 

[TridenT]

My understanding the volt keeps track of this and makes sure you cycle the gas on a reasonable cycle.

If you don't use the fuel over a period of time, it will automatically use it rather than EV power when driving until it's empty. You would probably be using a tank once every two months or so. Alternative is to somehow shut that off and use a fuel stabilizer.

 

[Mermaidman]

It does. Powered by a 1.5L engine. I think the older ones had a 1.4L.

The gas engine does NOT recharge the battery. Hope you're not disappoint.

 

[BUTCH1]

Yeah, the only other hybrid I'd seriously consider would be the Honda Accord hybrid, which gets 50 city, 45 highway, and doesn't have to be plugged in at all:

http://automobiles.honda.com/accord-hybrid/

Kind of a different class as the Volt can go 35 miles without the gas engine starting at all IIRC..

 

[rootaxs]

regular vs premium....is this really an issue? I mean really?

Funny thing about the Volt, once you start driving it you want to avoid using the ICE as much as possible, and when you do you want to spend as little as possible on it. We call it gas anxiety (pun on range anxiety.)

That said, i don't mind the cost difference. Every other vehicle i've ever owned ran on premium and it never bothered me.

Chevy originally asked for premium and most owners wondered if that was merely to allow for long shelf-life. Many of us, including me, have had to run the Volt on as low as 85 octane at least once (mine was on a road trip out of New Mexico where this was the only gas available.) The Volt ran without a problem, with no loss in ICE MPG.

The gas engine does NOT recharge the battery. Hope you're not disappoint.

It does. Except in very specific situations, once your initial plug-in charge is used up, power is routed from the ICE to the battery to the electric motors. You can also charge the pack up to 40% by turning on mountain mode.

Kind of a different class as the Volt can go 35 miles without the gas engine starting at all IIRC..

And 35 is a very conservative rating for most of my driving, and for a lot of Volt owners, TBH. Personally i've netted a best of 60 miles driving in 35mph back roads, typically get 49 miles in fall and spring (mix from 30-60mph over a 48 mile route) and down to 38 in summer with AC on.

In winter, it varies. On a good winter day i can get the same summer rating. On a really cold winter day, i've had it down to about 32.