GM India to display Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle

General Motors India, which has officially announced that it will display six production and concept vehicles at the upcoming Auto Expo, has now confirmed that Volt plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is one of them.

The Chevrolet Volt, which is expected to be launched in November 2010 as a 2011 model in the US, is unlikely to make its way to the Indian market in the foreseeable future. The Volt's propulsion system will be based on GM's new Voltec (formerly known as E-Flex) electric automobile platform, which differs significantly from GM's earlier BAS Hybrid and Two-Mode Hybrid systems. The first pre-production test car based on the full Volt design.

Commenting on the display of vehicles, P. Balendran, vice-president, General Motors India had recently said, "The Auto Expo in Delhi is the most ideal platform in India to highlight our new product range that will showcase GM’s technological advancement and innovation. The theme of our stall entitled 'Inspiration to advance' will have Chevrolet brand of vehicles displayed under three categories like Performance series, Mini series and the Green series, with Chevy Volt being one of them.”

For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt is powered by electricity stored in its on-board lithium-ion batteries which are charged by an electrical power outlet. The Volt's 16 kWh (8.0 kWh usable) lithium-ion battery pack can be fully charged by plugging the car into a 120-240VAC residential electrical outlet using the provided SAE J1772 compliant charging cord.

Unlike most current commercially available electric hybrids, the actual propulsion of the Volt is accomplished exclusively by the electric motor.