Chevrolet Volt facts for kids
The Chevrolet Volt is a special kind of car called a plug-in hybrid. This means it can run on both electricity and gasoline. It was first made in 2011 by Chevrolet, which is part of General Motors.
This car can go about 25 to 50 miles (around 38 miles on average) using only electricity! After its battery runs low, a gasoline engine kicks in to help it go further. In the United States, it cost around $34,185 when new. People who bought it could get a $7,500 tax credit. The Volt can carry up to four people.
How the Volt Works
The Volt uses a 16.5 kilowatt-hour (kWh) lithium battery and a 1.4-liter gasoline engine. This engine uses premium fuel. The battery is strong enough to make the car go fast. It can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in about 9 seconds. When the battery is charged, the Volt drives just like an electric vehicle.
When the battery runs out of power, you can recharge it by plugging the car into an electrical outlet. Or, the car can turn on its gasoline engine. The gasoline engine and electric motors work together using a special system called a planetary gear. This is similar to how the Toyota Prius works. This system lets the gasoline engine either drive the car or create electricity. This electricity can then charge the battery or power the electric motor.
Saving Fuel
How much gasoline the Volt uses depends on how you drive it and how often you recharge its battery. It is possible to use only electric power and never use gasoline if you drive short distances and recharge often. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average person will get about 98 miles per gallon (when you include the cost of electricity).
Charging the Battery
You can recharge the Volt's batteries in a few ways:
- Standard Outlet: Using a regular 120-volt (V) house outlet, it takes about 10 to 16 hours to fully charge the battery.
- Faster Charger: With a special 240-volt (V) charging unit, the batteries can be fully charged in about four hours.
- Gas Engine: The car's gasoline engine can also charge the battery while you are driving.
- Regenerative Brakes: When you slow down or brake, the car's special "regenerative" brakes turn the energy from the moving car into electricity. This electricity then helps charge the battery.
Images for kids
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This picture shows how a "series hybrid" car works. The Chevrolet Volt can run in this mode when its gasoline engine acts like a generator.
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The Chevrolet Volt ready for production at a car show in 2011.
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A view of the back of the Chevrolet Volt.
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The Chevrolet Volt (left) next to a Chevrolet Cruze Eco (right).
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The final production version of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.
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Under the hood: On the right is the power inverter on top of the electric motor. On the left is the 1.4-liter gasoline engine, which works as a generator.
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The charging port on the left side of the Chevrolet Volt, with its charging cord.
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The official EPA sticker for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, showing its fuel economy.
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The 2012 Volt's EPA window sticker, showing how much money you could save on fuel.
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The second generation of the Volt's engine system. On the left is the 1.5-liter gasoline engine, and on the right is the power inverter on top of the electric motor.
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President Obama driving a Volt at the White House.
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A Chevrolet Volt with California's green sticker for HOV lane access.
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Production Volts at a test drive event in Washington, D.C..
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The second generation Volt was sold only in the U.S. and Canada.
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The Buick Velite 5 is a version of the second generation Chevrolet Volt made for the Chinese market.
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The Cadillac Converj was a concept car that shared the Volt's special engine system.
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See also
In Spanish: Chevrolet Volt para niños
