General Motors introduced its Chevrolet Volt concept to rave reviews in 2007, but the transition from concept car to production required many tradeoffs. Gone was the edgy styling that captivated show goers. In its place, an aerodynamic body designed for efficiency. While the powertrain was novel, it was closer in function to today's parallel hybrids than many had expected. With the Volt, you get a 4-passenger car that can operate solely on electricity for 25-50 miles. When the battery is depleted, a small 1.4l gasoline engine is used to maintain the battery and provide power to drive the vehicle. The lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable in 4 hours on 240V, or 10-12 hours on 120V.

What Changed:

The battery capacity has increased to 17.1 kWh