The Vauxhall Ampera / Chevy Volt fails to perform
It’s being reported that GM are re-engineering the Volt/Ampera to be driven by the engine as it’s range extender technology fails in the real world.
That’s quite a headline. The technology that’s supposed to be the saviour of GM doesn’t work. Or at least not well enough.
It seems that GM are about to re-engineer the Chevy Volt / Vauxhall Ampera to provide power from its engine directly to the wheels instead of using the engine as a range extender to provide power to the batteries once the initial plug-in charge has been used up. Which was exactly what was being trumpeted last week with the Vauxhall Ampera supposedly doing the longest journey ever by an electric car.
This looks like those who said GM’s plans were ‘Vapourware’ may have been right after all (actually, it was a Toyota engineer). GM has already increased the size of the range extender from 1.0 litre to 1.4 litres in an effort to make it workable, but it seems even that is not enough.
As things stand with the Ampera, once the battery charge has been depleted the engine cuts in to power the generator and to partially recharge the battery. But in the real world it seems the electric motor starts to run out of torque over 50mph, making the Volt/Ampera of little use – at least outside local use in congested areas.
GM haven’t decied what to do yet, but it looks likely that the engine will end up driving the wheels directly and the 40 mile electric only range will be compromised.
We’re not fans of the electric car, that’s no secret. But we do like in principal the idea of a range extender if we have to go this route. Seems even this isn’t a realistic alternative, at least not in the Volt/Ampera.
Source: Telegraph
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