OK, admit it. You were sucked in by the catchy title! Now the we have that behind us, allow me to explain how an aircraft carrier turns nuclear power into mechanical propulsion. The act of nuclear fission creates heat. A LOT of heat ! That heat is used to superheat water into steam, driving a turbine generator, creating electricity. This huge, nearly inexhaustible electrical plant in turn drives massive electric motors. These turn the propellers in the water, propelling the giant ship forward.
Got it ? Nuclear power; heat; steam; turbine; electricity; electric motors; propulsion. Still with me ?
So what does all of this have to do with the Chevy Volt ? No, it's not nuclear-powered. Although the would be pretty cool. Like the aircraft carrier, it is entirely electric. The motors driving the wheels use locally stored & generated power to derive its propulsion.
You still don't get it ? It has a gas motor, you say ? Yes, you're right. But instead of using the gas motor to derive mechanical propulsion, it is used to generate electricity. To re-charge the batteries. Which provide electricity to the motors, powering the wheels ! Yes, you still need to plug it in to top off the batteries, but you don't stop driving when the batteries are depleted.
Got it ? Gas motor; generator; batteries; electric motors; propulsion ! How freaking cool is that ?
Unlike other hybrids, which may start off with gas, and then switch to electrical motors, or the Nissan Leaf (props to my buddy Mike & his wife Tammy, who were some of the first proud owners in Alberta !), which is entirely electric, the Chevy Volt is the only one capable of generating it's own electricity. Many vehicles use regenerative technologies, which convert the heat energy from braking back into electricity to charge the batteries. Bu this is highly wasteful, and yields very low results.
I admit it, I am a fan-boy. When the time comes, my next vehicle WILL be a Chevy Volt !
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