Video of the Chevy Volt

It ain't pretty

Posted by Adam Browning (Guest Contributor) at 10:20 AM on 15 Jan 2007

Read more about: electric vehicles | cars

According to this video (below the fold), the Chevy Volt -- GM's much ballyhooed plug-in hybrid concept car -- sounds like a jet engine taking off as it tops out at somewhere between 6 to 7 mph.

Conspiracy theorists, start your engines.

For story: Video of the Chevy Volt
3 Comments | Post a Comment

Intended audience?

This video seems like it's meant as an internal video or something... bad sound quality (the background traffic noise during the driving), large silent parts, lack of music until the end where I'm thinking it was just part of the animation used... I really hope they don't intend to release this video to the public/media.

Also, the gm website [PDF] lists the top speed at 120mph, so maybe they're just trying to show the body design of the car? The recording also has really high mic levels (i.e. the doors opening and closing are really loud), so maybe that can explain why the car sounds so lound on the recording?

Ryan Maloney

by ryanmaloney at 11:49 AM on 15 Jan 2007

B-roll

This looks like "b-roll" footage provided by GM and meant to be spliced into news reports about the Volt, where the volume is usually cut out. I saw the first chunk of this video on YouTube a few days back, and didn't think the car sounded loud (though the sound was "unrefined"). This version of the video does seem louder for some reason... But, since the only point of reference for sound is that lady going in and out of the house, it's hard to say if my headphones are just at the wrong level.

Still, my understanding is that the prototype on display at the auto show isn't actually functional. This thing likely has some random motor thrown in, possibly with significant gear reduction to get enough power to the wheels (it might just be a lowly 5hp motor or something). Whatever gears are in there might also be temporary and not "broken in" or there just might not be any sound deadening in the vehicle yet.

The "conspiracy" is simply that the vehicle has only been in development for less than a year and still has years to go to reach production. Like Ryan said, they're just showing off the body in the video, and demonstrating how customers would plug it in every day.

by mulad at 1:36 PM on 15 Jan 2007

Chevrolet Volt Fan Site

The only way American car companies are going to be able to compete with the Japanese is by beating them at their own game, TECHNOLOGY.

I compiled some videos, audio clips, pictures and more of the Chevy Volt Concept Car , check them out online at http://www.chevy-volt.net

by seyoda at 2:56 PM on 20 May 2007

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