Chevrolet Volt
Recognizing that all-electric vehicles have a serious drawback when it comes to range, General Motors created the Voltec (or E-Flex) system. It consists of an electric motor, a battery for storing energy and a gas engine that serves as a generator. And this is exactly what you find in the Chevrolet Volt. Its electric motor produces the equivalent of 149 hp and its batteries are of the lithium-ion variety. Drivers who keep their distances under 65 km per day will never use the gas engine!
Tests and Features
All Chevrolet Volt reviews
News
Used Plug-In Hybrids: What Are Your Options?
Used Plug-In Hybrids: What Are Your Options?In partnership with Otogo.ca For a large number of consumers who aren’t yet ready to switch to fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids are an excellent alternative. The vast majority of day-to-day commutes can easily be done using only battery… assuming, naturally, that you adopt the habit of plugging in your …
Blog
General Motors is Reducing its Car Lineup. So?
General Motors is Reducing its Car Lineup. So?American giant General Motors recently announced the upcoming closure of its Oshawa assembly plant as well as four more in the United States in two others outside of North America. This despite an investment of more than $1 billion in 2008 to modernize the facility, and where build quality was …
Test Drives
2017 Chevrolet Volt: Savings Without Compromise
2017 Chevrolet Volt: Savings Without CompromiseSince 2011, the bestselling plug-in electric vehicle in Canada has been the Chevrolet Volt. That may be surprising to some, as models like the Nissan LEAF or Tesla Model S come to mind when talking plug-ins. The Volt has been on top of the charts every year except for a …
First Drives
2016 Chevrolet Volt: Electricity Is More Attractive Than Ever
2016 Chevrolet Volt: Electricity Is More Attractive Than EverWhen Chevrolet launched the first Volt, its styling was not only very different from the other cars on the market, but also from the brand’s own product line-up. In 2010, the compact EV shared the showroom floor with the Cobalt, the Aveo and the HHR, all models that didn’t exactly …
First Drives
First Drive: 2016 Chevrolet Volt
First Drive: 2016 Chevrolet VoltI like to think of myself as my own person, with my own thoughts and opinions. But it's tough to argue with a good idea. Like Brad's about which is the best electric vehicle on the market: The Chevrolet Volt. Whereas other EVs struggle with the daunting issue of range …
Blog
2014 Best Buys: Luxury Compact Cars
2014 Best Buys: Luxury Compact CarsIt’s no secret: There are a lot of people out there who would rather drive a smaller car with better equipment than a more bare-bones vehicle from the next category up. Recognizing the potential of this market, manufacturers—and especially luxury car brands—responded accordingly. That’s how the luxury compact segment was …
First Drives
2012 Chevrolet Volt – The ideal solution?
2012 Chevrolet Volt – The ideal solution?Seldom has a car garnered so much attention. Since its unveiling at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, this car has been the subject countless reviews, both good and bad. At first, people said "GM will never go into production with a car like this. It’s just a flash in the …
News
All Chevrolet Volt newsHybrid/Plug-in Hybrid
GM Changes Its Mind, Wants to Bring Back Plug-in Hybrids
GM Changes Its Mind, Wants to Bring Back Plug-in HybridsGeneral Motors ended production of the Chevrolet Volt almost five years ago to focus on all-electric vehicles. Now facing slower than expected demand in the EV segment, especially in the U.S., the automaker has decided to give plug-in hybrids another shot. In a fourth-quarter earnings call on Tuesday, CEO Mary …
Electric
New Study Sheds Light on EV Range Loss in Winter
New Study Sheds Light on EV Range Loss in WinterBattery deterioration and range loss in the winter are two primary concerns of potential EV buyers in Canada. Driving and charging habits are just not the same as in the summer. Of course, not all EVs are created equal. Some do a better job than others of withstanding temperature drops.
NewsUsed Plug-In Hybrids: What Are Your Options?
Used Plug-In Hybrids: What Are Your Options?In partnership with Otogo.ca For a large number of consumers who aren’t yet ready to switch to fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids are an excellent alternative. The vast majority of day-to-day commutes can easily be done using only battery… assuming, naturally, that you adopt the habit of plugging in your …
News
Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Cruze and Four Other GM Cars: Dead
Chevrolet Volt, Chevrolet Cruze and Four Other GM Cars: DeadGM’s been in the news this week with plans of restructuring its entire company and “preparing it for the future” with the Oshawa plant in Ontario closing its doors, putting some 2300 people out of work. The restructuration plan includes the shutdown of two other assembly plants in North America, …
Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid
Upgraded 2019 Chevrolet Volt to Charge Twice as Fast
Upgraded 2019 Chevrolet Volt to Charge Twice as FastWhen it goes on sale this fall, the 2019 Chevrolet Volt will offer a number of improvements, but none more important than a new 7.2-kilowatt on-board charger that reportedly cuts charging times nearly in half. In other words, you’ll get about twice the EV range for each hour of charge.
Hybrid/Plug-in Hybrid
Chevrolet Volt: A Tweener
Chevrolet Volt: A TweenerAre you familiar with the Chevrolet Volt? Of course you are. So much has been said about it over the last few years. It’s an electric vehicle (EV) that comes with a gasoline engine that kicks in if the battery runs out of juice. The Volt has just been updated …
News
AJAC’s Canadian Green Car of the Year Awards Announced in Vancouver
AJAC’s Canadian Green Car of the Year Awards Announced in VancouverWhile the New York Auto Show is grabbing much of the automotive press’ attention this week, the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada just unveiled the winners of their annual Canadian Green Car of the Year Awards at the Vancouver Auto Show. This year, the Chevrolet Volt grabs the title of …
Geneva
2016 World Car of the Year: Top Three Finalists Announced in Geneva
2016 World Car of the Year: Top Three Finalists Announced in GenevaGENEVA, Switzerland – On the first of two media days at the Geneva International Motor Show, the World Car Awards announced the three finalists in each of their usual five judging categories. A panel made up of 73 automotive journalists from around the world, including yours truly, have submitted their …
Videos
All Chevrolet Volt videosVideo Reviews
Test Drive: 2016 Chevrolet Volt
Test Drive: 2016 Chevrolet VoltThe Chevrolet Volt has been completely reworked for 2016, and Motoring TV's Graeme Fletcher has some good news for prospective buyers. " The second-generation Volt takes some significant steps forward," he says. "First, it now has some real semblance of style, which will amp up its appeal for many." And …
Motoring TV
Motoring TV 2016 Green Car of the Year
Motoring TV 2016 Green Car of the Year"The need to clean up our environmental act is pressing," says Graeme Fletcher. "With that in mind, let's take a look at the nominees for best new green car." Indeed, there are plenty of new vehicles that qualify for Motoring TV's Green Car of the Year award, but three in …
Video Reviews
Review: 2016 Chevrolet Volt
Review: 2016 Chevrolet VoltMotoring TV's Brad Diamond has long maintained that the Chevrolet Volt is the best electric vehicle on the market thanks in large part to its gas-powered range-extender. After moderate success with the first generation, 2016 sees a new Chevrolet Volt hit the market that offers better looks, range and efficiency.
Motoring TV
Throwback Thursday: 2012 Chevrolet Volt
Throwback Thursday: 2012 Chevrolet VoltWith Chevrolet launching the 2016 Volt—more on that on an upcoming episode of Motoring TV—we got to thinking about the first generation car. With its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery and 1.4-litre four-cylinder engine, the Volt was the first electric vehicle on the market to eliminate range anxiety. This segment originally appeared …
