2015 CHEVROLET VOLT ADDS ONSTAR WITH 4G LTE CONNECTION
08/28/2014
Chevrolet
Chevrolet Volt holds a unique position in the global automotive market. It is a five-door, four-passenger car designed to provide the fuel-saving and emissions-reducing benefits of an electric vehicle without the range limitations associated with all-electric vehicles.
Volt's propulsion system combines pure electric drive and an efficient, range-extending engine, providing up to 380 miles of range. Using only the energy stored in the battery, Volt delivers an EPA-estimated 38 miles of fuel- and tailpipe emissions-free electric driving. When the battery energy is depleted, the Volt seamlessly transitions to extended-range mode, providing up to 342 additional miles of range.
In fact, with recognition including "Highest Ranked Vehicle Appeal Among Compact Cars," three years in a row by J.D. Power, a No. 1 spot on the Sierra Club's list of plug-in hybrids and "Leader in Strategic Vision's 2013 Total Quality AwardTM for Best Mid-Size Car," there's no mistaking Volt is an everyday electric car - with gas for longer trips.
Because many drivers complete their daily driving on battery power alone, Volt customers are averaging more than 970 miles between gas fill-ups, for greater freedom from the pump.
Charging the Volt battery can be done with a 120V outlet or a dedicated 240V charging station. Owners can also can manage and monitor the Volt remotely via computer or a smartphone.
An engineering change in the battery cell used in the 2015 Volt results in an overall storage capacity increase from 16.5 to 17.1 kWh. Customers may see a slight EV range improvement with the new battery, but the EPA-estimated range remains unchanged.
Also new for 2015 is OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot, which provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the car is on and comes with a three-month/three-gigabyte data trial.
Volt is built at General Motors' Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in Detroit, home to the largest photovoltaic solar array in southeast Michigan. The facility can use the 516 kilowatts of solar energy generated by the 264,000-square-foot array (24,526 sq. m) to charge up to 150 Volts.
Volt propulsion system
The heart of the Chevrolet Volt is its Voltec propulsion system, which combines pure electric drive and an efficient, range-extending engine, giving the Volt up to 380 total miles (612 km) of range.
Volt offers an e-AT-PZEV specification that earns it a coveted "green sticker" for single-occupancy HOV lane access in California, where a third of all Volts are sold. Volt also has a Hold mode that allows owners to direct when the Volt uses its gas generator. This feature helps save money because owners who mix city and highway driving can save the battery charge for city travel, where the Volt's EV mode operates most efficiently.
The Volt's long-life battery consists of a 5.5-foot (1.6 m), 434-pound (196.6 kg) T-shaped, 17.1-kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It supplies energy to an advanced, 111-kW (149-hp) electric drive unit to propel the vehicle. Using only the energy stored in the battery, the Volt delivers an EPA-estimated 38 miles (61 km) of fuel- and tailpipe emissions-free electric driving, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature.
The Volt battery is covered by an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty (10 years/100,000 miles in ARB states). When the battery energy is depleted, the Volt seamlessly transitions to extended-range mode. Power is inverted from a technically advanced, 1.4L 84-hp (63-kW) gasoline-powered onboard engine to the electric drive unit to provide up to 342 (550 km) additional miles of range.
Charging the Volt battery is simple and intuitive, and can be done with a 120V outlet, or a dedicated 240V charging station. The charge port door pushes to open for ease of use. Once plugged in, the vehicle is completely rechargeable in about four hours using a 240V outlet and 10 to 16 hours in a 120V outlet (depending on charging level and outside temperature).
When the vehicle is plugged in, owners can schedule either immediate or delayed charges, even coordinating charging according to departure time or off-peak electricity rates. Owners also can manage and monitor the Volt remotely via computer on MyVolt.com; or via a smartphone through RemoteLink, an exclusive smartphone application powered by OnStar.
Volt design and exterior features
Working closely with aerodynamicists in GM's wind tunnel to shape the Volt, design and engineering teams developed the most aerodynamic vehicle in Chevrolet's history. By reducing the energy needed to overcome air resistance, Volt aerodynamicists contributed an estimated eight miles (5 km) of electric range, and 50 miles (80 km) of extended range.
The Volt's rounded and flush front fascia, tapered corners and grille enable air to move easily around the car to reduce drag. In the rear, sharp edges and a carefully designed spoiler control air flow. An aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass also help reduce turbulence and drag.
Additional exterior features include:
Body-color roof and liftgate
Daytime running lamps with LED illumination
LED center high-mounted stop lamp
Heated and power-adjustable mirrors with integrated turn signal indicators
Seventeen-inch five-spoke painted aluminum wheels are standard
Seventeen-inch five-spoke forged, polished aluminum wheels and 17-inch sport alloy wheels with black inserts are available
Pedestrian-friendly alert, featuring a driver-activated horn chirp
Exterior colors: Iridescent Pearl Tricoat (premium charge), Silver Ice Metallic, Summit White, Black, Silver Topaz Metallic, Ashen Gray Metallic, Brownstone Metallic and Crystal Red Tintcoat (premium charge).
Volt interior
Inside, the Volt offers the space, comfort, convenience and safety features customers expect in a sedan - including storage compartments and 40/40 rear-folding seats. It also delivers them in a variety of interior color, lighting and trim options unlike any previously offered on a Chevrolet sedan.
Two seven-inch, high-resolution full-color screens are featured: One is a reconfigurable graphic cluster display and the other, in the center stack, features a touch-screen display, touch-control switches and integrated shifter.
Standard interior features include:
Color touch screen AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback, includes seven-inch-diagonal color touch-screen display
USB audio interface port
SiriusXM Satellite Radio and Travel Link with a three-month trial
Bluetooth phone connectivity
Automatic climate control
Keyless access and ignition
MyVolt.com vehicle connectivity
Three auxiliary 12-volt power outlets - one in the front center console, one in the rear console and one in the upper instrument panel storage bin
Remote vehicle starting system
Universal Home Remote
Leather-wrapped steering wheel
Premium cloth seats
Front bucket seats with reclining seatbacks and adjustable head restraints
Interior seat color combinations: Jet Black with Ceramic White accents, Jet Black with Dark accents and Pebble Beige with Dark accents.
Available interior features include:
Navigation and Bose(R) Preimum Audio Package (requires Premium Trim package) includes color touch AM/FM stereo with CD player and MP3 playback capability, GPS navigation, USB port, seven-inch diagonal touch screen display, Radio Data System and Bose energy-efficient, seven-speaker sound system
Heated driver and front passenger cloth seats
Premium trim package includes leather-appointed seat trim, heated driver and front passenger seats and rear seat armrest
Safety Package 1 includes auto-dimming inside rearview mirror, rear vision camera and rear park assist
Safety Package 2 is available when Safety Package 1 is ordered, and includes front park assist, forward collision alert and lane-departure warning to help drivers avoid potential collisions.
MyLink, OnStar 4G LTE
Volt's standard, next-generation MyLink system gives customers the best of both worlds when it comes to infotainment. It provides easy, intuitive operation of basic functions, yet it is also highly customizable and capable of linking up to 10 devices such as smartphones, SD cards and MP3 players, giving users more ways of staying connected.
Enhanced connectivity and convenience includes a new Text Messaging Alerts feature for smartphone users with Bluetooth profile (M.A.P.), which reads incoming texts through the vehicle's speakers, and Siri Eyes Free for iPhone iOS 6 and iOS 7 users to enhance connectivity and convenience. Each enables voice-controlled connectivity, to help keep phones safely stored and hands on the wheel.
The MyLink screen also serves as the display for the available rearview camera system, as well as the controller for Volt's audio system.
Complementing MyLink to enhance Volt's connectivity is new OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi hotspot. It provides a mobile hub for drivers and passengers to stay connected. The hotspot is on whenever the vehicle is on and comes with a three-month/three gigabyte data trial.
4G LTE is the most current and fastest mobile data network - 10 times faster than 3G and 100 times faster than the previous generation of OnStar hardware. And with OnStar, it also offers stronger, broader coverage than smartphones on the same network and it's easy to use: If the vehicle is on, the connection is on.
At the time of purchase, six months OnStar Directions and Connections includes all of OnStar's advisor-based safety and security features, including Automatic Crash Response and Stolen Vehicle Assistance, as well as turn-by-turn navigation.
Five years of OnStar Basic Plan includes RemoteLink Key Fob Services, allowing owners to remotely start and lock/unlock a car (if properly equipped), and activate the horn and lights from anywhere with a data connection. It also includes OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, which runs monthly checks of a vehicle's engine, transmission, anti-lock brakes and more, and Dealer Maintenance Notification, which sends a diagnostic report directly to a preferred dealer to simplify service scheduling.
Volt chassis and suspension
The Volt's MacPherson strut-type front suspension, sophisticated compound crank rear axle and quick-reacting, rack-mounted electric power steering system with ZF steering gear have been tuned to deliver a smooth, refined ride with responsive handling and a solid, on-center feel.
A low center of gravity combines with the wide track and long wheelbase for balanced performance. Front and rear hydraulic ride bushings help eliminate road harshness.
The Volt rides on lightweight aluminum wheels that weigh only 20.5 pounds (9.3 kg) each - nearly four pounds lighter apiece than typical 17-inch wheels. They're wrapped in Goodyear Fuel Max all-season, low-rolling resistance tires optimized for electric vehicle range, noise, feel and performance. Lighter-weight polished aluminum wheels (17.9 pounds / 8.1 kg apiece) and sport alloy wheels (21.2 pounds / 9.6 kg apiece) are available.
An electro-hydraulic regenerative brake system captures energy up to 0.2g for transfer back to the battery. The friction braking system features large Duralife(TM) rotors with a special Ferritic Nitro-Carburizing finishing process that protects against corrosion and promotes longer life.
Volt safety and crash-avoidance features
The Volt helps protect occupants before, during and after a crash. Crash-avoidance features include standard anti-lock brakes with traction control, StabiliTrak electronic stability control and advanced, LED daytime running lamps that make the Volt more visible to other motorists and pedestrians.
Occupant protection continues with a strong structure, and the Chevrolet Volt's body-frame-integral structure strategically blends advanced steels to help ensure crashworthiness and stiffness. Nearly 80 percent of the Volt's overall structure consists of high-strength, advanced high-strength or ultra high-strength steel.
Because the Volt operates so quietly in all-electric mode, a driver-activated feature sounds a noise to alert pedestrians, particularly those with visual impairments, in an intersection. The alert was developed in conjunction with the American Federation of the Blind.
Additional safety features include:
Eight standard air bags, including dual-stage driver and passenger air bags; front driver and passenger knee air bags to help mitigate lower leg injuries; roof rail side-curtain air bags that extend over both seating rows for side-impact and rollover protection; and seat-mounted thorax and pelvic side air bags
Available forward collision warning and lane departure warning systems warn drivers of a potential crash
Available front and rear park assist
Available rear vision camera
Automatic occupant sensing system detects the presence of a child or smaller adult in the front passenger seat and suppresses the air bag to help avoid an injury
Rollover sensing and protection system
Collapsible pedal assembly to protect against lower leg injuries
Safety belt retractor and lap belt pretensioners in the driver and front passenger positions
LATCH child seat installation system in rear seating positions
Anti-lock brakes, traction control and StabiliTrak electronic stability enhancement
Tire pressure monitoring system.
After a crash, the Chevrolet Volt offers the security of OnStar, which uses built-in vehicle sensors to automatically alert an OnStar advisor in certain types of collisions. The advisor is immediately connected to the vehicle and can request that emergency help be sent to its location.
More information about OnStar can be found at www.onstar.com.