GM says to make Chevrolet Volt in China by 2011

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Shanghai, October 17, 2008: (Gasgoo.com) General Motors (GM) will introduce its EREV (extended range electric vehicle) Chevrolet Volt to China for production by 2011 to meet the Chinese market demand, Nanfang Daily reported, citing Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman of product development.

Bob Lutz said, Chinese elements were well considered in the design of Chevrolet Volt, which indicates the electric automobile has entered a new stage. And China will be a big market for electric vehicles.

It is reported that Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in series hybrid vehicle by GM, is expected to begin production in 2010.

The vehicle is designed to run purely on electricity from on-board batteries for up to 64km. With the use of a small internal combustion engine driving a generator to resupply the batteries, the vehicle's range is potentially increased to 579km on the highway (and which can be extended for very long trips by conventional refueling).

Bob Lutz said that Volt, different from the traditional electric vehicles, surely will have a huge market as it solves customersĄŻ concern about driving distance. But the low availability of electric auto parts for the carĄŻs volume production will lead to high price of the first generation Volt.

Bob Lutz is confident about the prospects of the electric vehicles. He said GM has lagged behind Toyota which has promoted its hybrids like Prius for several years. GM sees it unacceptable to lose the first. The worldĄŻs biggest auto maker is making efforts to develop vehicles without using gas from now on.

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