General Motors Company marked the arrival of the first drivable Chevrolet Volt models in China today as two of the electric vehicles appeared at the Shanghai Expo Bureau for use as part of its VIP transportation fleet at World Expo 2010 Shanghai.
China will be one of the first markets outside the U.S. where the Volt will be on sale next year.
GM is sending the Volt to China before Europe.
The Volts will shuttle guests to and from Shanghai’s Expo Park and demonstrate what GM is calling its “vision of sustainable urban transportation.” China of course is heavily dependent on coal-powered electric utilities and along with the U.S. is a leading producer of greenhouse gas emissions.
“GM has made a long-term commitment to bringing our industry-leading technology to China,” said Kevin Wale, President and Managing Director of the GM China Group. “This is enabling us to provide the best mobility solutions for addressing the transportation challenges associated with the growth in demand for personal mobility.”
The Volt is the only electric vehicle that can operate under a range of climates and driving conditions with little concern of being stranded by a depleted battery since it carries its own 1.4-liter gasoline engine on board to charge the batteries.
For up to the first 60 kilometers, the Volt drives gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free (if you don’t count how the electricity is generated) using electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gasoline-powered engine/generator operates to extend the driving range another 450 kilometers on a full tank. This GM hopes will eliminate so-called “range anxiety.”
The Volt will be available in China with the OnStar in-vehicle safety, security and communication service. Chevrolet and OnStar developed the automotive industry’s first working “smartphone” application system that will allow Volt owners to set the charge time, start their vehicle, track mileage, and unlock doors from a phone or home computer.