2011 Chevy Volt - electric car, hybrid or what?

That's not entirely true electric car - and what it really used

An ongoing debate has erupted about the electric drive Chevrolet Volt. GM has even been accused of lying to full-bodied marketing promises about the wonders electric car, which rolled out next month at U.S. retailers in the sale.
The internal combustion engine drives Chevy Volt with at

Of course it was always clear that Chevy Volt is no electric vehicle that is powered from a battery.The internal combustion engine should not, and never drive the car directly, but provide only a smooth and effective running generator with the battery power for their onward journey. That was a prerequisite for the use of a battery with lower capacity, but with a full load is still suitable for a distance of 80 km and so the usual route of a professional commuter. But this is just in case not final, but to provide the gasoline engine to extend a reach of over 500 km.

Before the first launch vehicles were to car testers. It fell on some of what General Motors had not been previously communicated. In fact, the Chevy Volt, the engine also drives a small part directly to - because it is obviously more efficient. at least at speeds of over 110km / h is the case, the testers discovered, and then met but the definition of a hybrid car.

GM had previously emphasized, the engine always care only for sufficient battery charge. It would probably have been an issue, would the manufacturer but some hybrid drive can not be concealed for so long. In fact, he had promised in the press a "purely electric drive." A necessary omission GM said this today - I can not reveal the details of construction of the competitors do, especially since these were not secured by patent.
What an electric car consumes 100 km?

Even more confusion should arise when it comes to consumers. After an EU formula is to come the European counterpart Opel Ampera a consumption of 1.6 liters per 100 km, which is of course a very theoretical calculation. Ultimately, the added value depends purely on what electrical components with electrical energy can be driven from the power grid. The certification of the consumption value by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is still pending.

One thing is already that GM's full-bodied expectancy of 230 mpg (1.02 l/100 km) do not come true - clearly another promise that can not be maintained. But even critics give according to initial tests, that the values to be achieved are bad.

1.87 liters Amount of Motor Trend in mixed traffic (the driver did so according to the U.S. consumption accounts with a gallon of 127 miles wide). At higher speeds and mountain range it was 3.13 liter (75 miles a gallon). The New York Times noted in 4.5 liters daily average during particularly aggressive driving.

bearing in mind that the pure electric drive for each of the first 25 - 50 miles and caused the average consumption with the current producing gasoline engine is correspondingly higher. But expects the bottom line, so we motor from trend, uses Chevrolet Volt / Opel Ampera about 80 percent less than comparable vehicles.

It is interesting to see what enters to further test results. If they are to justify the relatively high selling price of 41,000 U.S. dollars, they must be really good.