General Motors is planning to develop a third Chevrolet plug-in vehicle alongside the Volt range-extended electric car and all-electric Spark EV minicar.
Probably, a 200-mile, subcompact electric car will roll out of GM’s Detroit factories in the near future.
Currently, the Chevrolet Volt is one of the most popular plug-in cars on the market in the U.S today, amounting sales totals to date since launch in December 2010 of just over 69,000 units.
With a 17.1 kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack a 111 kilowatt electric motor, the Volt is capable of travelling an EPA-rated 38 miles before its battery pack is depleted.
whereupon its 1.4-litre four-cylinder range-extending engine operates in tandem with a smaller 55 kilowatt electric motor to generate enough electricity to continue driving a total of 380 miles on a full tank of gasoline before a refill is required.
Both the Volt and Cadillac ELR Coupe will get a refresh for the 2016 model year. Details about the specific changes to the Volt and Cadillac ELR are thin. Some larger battery pack and longer electric-only mode or a smaller electric range and more efficient three-cylinder gasoline engine are speculated.
More information will be out with the 2016 Volt due to be unveiled in January at the Detroit Auto Show and the 2016 ELR due to be unveiled later this year at the LA Auto Show.
Alongside the Volt and ELR, other plug-in car is the tiny Spark EV mini car. Built as a compliance car to complete zero emission mandates in California and Oregon, it offers an EPA-approved 82 miles of range per charge.
Moreover, GM’s future plans include an all-electric vehicle based on the current Sonic subcompact. Available as a four-door sedan or five-door hatchback, it is a fuel-efficient gasoline car.
Building a 200-mile electric car from the Sonic platform seems to fit, on considering the fact that both the Sonic and the Spark are built on the same GM Gamma II platform.
Besides, General Motors’ future production plans include space for a 200-mile electric subcompact that would compete with a longer-range Nissan LEAF and Tesla Motors’ 2017 Model.
Last year, GM was working on an electric car with 200 miles of range and a $30,000 target price. There is also news that a 200-mile lithium-ion battery pack would enter production.
However, the Sonic-sized electric subcompact wouldn’t enter production until 2017, at the same time when Tesla will be hitting the market.