The 2016 Chevy Volt is here, and it poses a serious threat to traditional cars.
The United States currently has the largest fleet of electric cars of any country in the world, with nearly 373,000 units sold since the first Tesla Roadster became available in 2008.
Electric car use is on the rise, too. According to a report from the Sierra Club, there were 10,538 electric vehicles sold in the U.S. in the month of September 2014, out of a total of 1,246,006 vehicles sold in the country that year. Electric vehicles currently make up 0.85 percent of the U.S. fleet.
The new Chevy Volt is likely to be a huge hit with American drivers. According to a review from Motor Trend, the new Volt contains a wide range of new features that will make many people think twice before purchasing a traditional vehicle.
Chevy focused on improving the car’s handling and range while slashing the cost. The old 1.4-liter engine was traded out with a new 1.5-liter I-4 engine that uses direct injection, 12.5:1 compression, exhaust gas recirculation, and cam phasing for running on the Atkinson cycle. This new engine gives the 2016 Chevy Volt a noticeable boost in torque and power, running at a maximum of 5600 rpm.
The new battery pack replaced all but nine parts from the first generation model. It uses prismatic pouch-like cells with an updated lithium-ion formula employed across 192 cells. The new battery is 20 percent more efficient and 30 pounds lighter than old one. It has a lower internal resistance and an improved cooling system making it much more dependable than the last.
The onboard electronics in the 2016 Volt received upgrades as well by integrating the Traction Power Inverter Module and other controller electronics with the car’s electric engine and transmission. This allows for better communication between the onboard computer and the transmission, eliminating the need for cumbersome cables. The new computer led to a 60 percent reduction in volume, and a loss of 100 pounds in the powertrain.
