The Chevy Volt that Won’t Recharge Itself
Since the first hints of Chevrolet’s Volt electric concept over two years ago it was widely believed that the vehicle would be one that recharges itself as it drives. In fact, according to a 2007 Chevy press release: “When the battery is depleted, a 1-liter, three-cylinder turbocharged engine spins at a constant speed…to create electricity and replenish the battery.” It looks like GM dropped that idea all together, but didn’t bother to tell anyone until last week.
After you switch from electric to gasoline or “flex fuel” motor, the engine maintains what is left of your charge. Once you’ve passed the 40 mile range of the ion battery your regular engine completely takes over. According to Chevrolet, this is done so that you get the most out of each battery – drain it almost completely, and recharge it back to full at your home or a power grid (aka, fuel stations of THE FUTURE!) – It’s kind of like draining your cell phone battery when you get a new mobile device, then charging it full and draining it again – it gives the user’s battery a longer lasting life span. Great…cars that charge like cell phones. Does this mean that after a year your Chevy Volt won’t hold a charge anymore?
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