I think one of the problems people have in understanding the Volt comes from using "engine" instead of "electric generator" to describe the power source. "Engine" sounds like the Volt works like a regular ICE car, a Prius even. "Electric generator" on the other hand better explains what is going on in my opinion. The Volt is an electric car with an electric generator should you run out of battery.

 

I agree. When ever I'm explaining how the Volt works to someone who asks me, I say once the battery is depleted the generator comes on to provide electricity for the electric drive motors. That gives the impression that the ICE isn't driving the car like in a Prius. I've seen that eureka moment where guys have realized in their own minds that "So, hey, the gas motor isn't driving the car? Is that right? Cool!" That's when I tell them the car has no transmission and really blow their minds!!!

 

I agree that we need simple ways to describe the Volt but GM caused a lot of confusion by over-simplifying how the car works. The reality is that the Volt often does mechanically connect the engine to the wheels through a planetary gearset somewhat like the Prius after the usable capacity of the battery has been run down.

You may tell people the Volt has no transmission, but the official Volt service manual on the table in front of me has a 350+ page section (section 17, Volume 3) titled "Automatic Transmission - 4ET50".

I tell people that the Volt is a "full-power electric vehicle until the battery runs down after 25-50 miles and then it switches modes and turns into a Prius-like hybrid but with larger electric motors and a much larger hybrid battery".

 

Since it is based on the same 1.4L ICE that the Cruze uses, I need to still call it an engine. Maybe an ICE-G - ICE-driven Generator. Generators are coils driven by engines - so it's Engine + Generator = CS-mode. Wheels are always driven by electricity, though.

 

Great thread started...posting from my Droid so I hope this works...Best 6 minute video about the Voltec Drive that I have found on You Tube. GM Engeneer giving animated presentation. If this link below is nroken or doesn't work just YouTube the topic Voltec..3rd or 4th video down...

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=/&gl=US#/watch?v=xTxNnjsbocw

 

Just tested the link. This is a marvelouse presentation of The Amasing Chevy Volt EREV Voltec Drive Train.....Pass it around!!

 

Here's an article one of my nephews emailed to me this afternoon......we've heard this issue discussed before, but this one is actually rational !

http://green.autoblog.com/2011/09/22/chevy-volt-sales-whats-the-real-story/

 

That's a good article Steve. You can tell he is a Volt skeptic but he is also one to believe the truth when it is actually presented to him. Also he clearly hates BS/political agendas in media and likes shining a light on it! Something that is refreshing that you don't see very often today.

 

Technically it does have a transmission but when you look at it , the Volt has a single reduction gear. Not a traditional transmission with multiple gears that are changed. I haven't seen the service manual but I'd be willing to bet it deals with the clutch systems between the Electric drive, generator, and ICE motors. Maybe the a differential as well.

 

The electric drive, the generator, and the ICE are hooked up to their own planetary gearset somewhat like the Prius but with clutches and differences in which thing are hooked up to which gear. The result is an electronically-controlled continuously variable transmission (CVT) when the clutches are engaged in some combinations. This planetary gearset is separate and in addition to the reduction gear and differential that are all housed together in the same transmission case. It is heavily based on the 2-mode hybrid transmission GM developed and shares 75% of it's parts.

 

That's sounds different than the way they describe the drive system here...

http://media.gm.com/content/dam/Media/documents/US/Word/101010_volt_launch/Drive_Unit.doc

Anyhow, I'm not trying to argue the point. In any case it's not your fathers transmission! I'm going to have to pick me up that service manual. I love looking behind the curtain!