Essay Sample about The Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt is one of the most unique cars to hit the market to date. Emerging in 2010 from the ashes of the abandoned EV1 project, it has gone on to make its mark in the auto world. In this essay we will take a look at the history, capability, and legacy of the Volt.

The concept car that later became the Chevy Volt debuted at the January 2007 North American International Auto Show. Initially, the Volt was planned to be an all-electric car. However, GM went with a hybrid design due to expensive batteries, range anxiety concerns, and lack of public charging infrastructure. A few years later, in late 2010, after many design changes and iterations, the volt was ready to be launched.

The first edition volt had a 16 kWh battery capable of approximately 32 miles of all-electric range. After the available charge is used up, the car slips seamlessly into gas mode. In 2013, the car got a mid-generation update to a 16.5 kWh battery capable of around 38 miles. And in 2015, the battery was increased again to 17.1 kWh.

In 2016, the Volt got a full overhaul, with the release of the second generation volt. This model went from 4 to 5 seats, and also included a substantial battery increase to 18.4 kWh providing 50 plus miles of range.

The average mile per gallon rate of the Chevy Volt is 42, which is nearly on par with that of the Toyota Prius. Meaning, even when you exceed the electric range, it is still a very efficient vehicle.

But how safe is it? I hear you asking yourself. (Take your schizophrenia pills) The 1st Gen volt received a 5 star crash safety rating. It was also equipped with an advanced pedestrian detection system to give the driver the ultimate safety experience. The 2nd Volt not only includes those features, it also could be equipped with driving safety features such as lane detection, collision warning, adaptive cruise control, among other things.

But where is the volt in 2022? Well, in 2019, the decision was made to “pull the plug” on the Volt project. Instead, the company has moved to focus more on the Volt's successor, the Chevy Bolt. The Bolt is essentially the all-electric counterpart to the volt. The bolt also uses the same Voltec drivetrain that was engineered originally for the Volt. However, the Bolt has had a much shakier lifespan thus far, having received callbacks for being a potential fire hazard.

So what do we now know about the Chevy Volt? We know all about its 8-year run and even about its history in the research and development stage. We have learned about its various features. Indeed, we have even gleaned some info about the Volt's safety features. Lastly, we have been informed of the lasting impact of the volt and how it heavily influenced the Bolt. So, in conclusion, we have studied the history, capability, and legacy of the Chevrolet Volt.