High Wire: New Chevrolet Volt combines good looks, surprising power with top ...

Before I sink my teeth into the meat of the matter, an explanation is needed first. Traditional hybrids like the Ford Fusion hybrid or the Toyota Prius are assisted by electric motors. These electric motors will propel the car from 0 up to a certain limit, whether that limit be speed or distance. Typically this distance limit is around 34 miles or so. Once this limit is reached, the gasoline engine kicks in and propels the car.

The Chevrolet Volt is similar but different. It is similar in that it has a gasoline engine too, but it is also a plug model. It is different because this gasoline engine is only used as an electric generator. This engine-generator does not propel the car but only generates more electricity, which in turn moves the car.

Unlike electric models such as the Nissan Leaf, which has a tested range just more than 100 miles, the Chevrolet Volt can continue far beyond that. When using a standard 110v outlet to charge the Volt as I did, it will take between 12 to 14 hours for a full charge. A 220v power conversion kit will no doubt cut this charge time to six to eight hours, or the amount of time the typical car sits overnight before the next work day.

When it comes to models like the Chevy Volt, the most demanded and most important information is one of efficiency. The fact that the Volt has the low-slung stance and style of a sports car is secondary. Even the Volt’s near luxury ride and four supportive, but comfortable sport seats are secondary. The Volt’s good trunk space is secondary.

As you would expect, the Volt is quiet, but it is very smooth as well. Even in the most luxurious models, vibrations from internal-combustion engines and traditional transmissions are all but imperceptible. However, when you drive an electric model like the Volt, the absence of these vibrations is magnified. But again that too is secondary.

Now let us get down to it. The Chevrolet Volt achieved a combined city-highway average between 66 and 68 “mpg” during my week long test. My shortest range in assisted-electric mode was 27 miles on one gallon of gasoline-generated electricity. This was impressive because this was achieved in the mountains where the elevation put the most strain on the generator. The fact that I had two adult passengers with me on this trip made this even more impressive.

My longest non-assisted electric charge was 62 miles. By my estimation, the Volt’s range could be extended far beyond the 622 total miles that I achieved. These 622 miles were covered on neighborhood streets, busy roads, highways, mountains and speeds up to 101 mph.

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Www.eazyev.com – This is my personal project for a new electric vehicle site I am starting. I can only work on it after hours, but it is still a lot of fun. This is actually as easy as it sounds in the video. Everyone should be doing this because it practically drives for free and is 100% pollution free. All of the components needed are dirt cheap and you can find them used very easily. I hope this inspires you to build your own and there will be a lot more videos to come.

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