GM created buzz at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show with its Chevrolet-branded Volt concept car. The Volt is a true design concept in that it explores radical exterior and interior styling, new materials from GE, and an electric power train.
Designers wanted to use a high beltline in the Volt, but didn't want to impede views out the side windows of this sports car. GE provided a clear composite material that can be formed in the same shape as the sides of the car to run along the bottoms of the side windows.
GE also provided a Lexan canopy and a rear hatch. Unlike glass, the material can be molded to support the taillights. Body panels, such as the hood, are also made from a composite material that's as strong as steel, yet 40 percent of the weight.
The Volt's interior design team kept it simple. Instead of putting an LCD in the dashboard, they created a multidisplay out of the instrument cluster by using projection technology.
Probably the most unique aspect of the Volt is the power train, using GM's E-flex system. It's an electric vehicle platform storing power in a large lithium-ion battery. When the battery gets low, a small gas engine kicks in to recharge it. GM claims this combination could drive the car for 640 miles, although a lithium-ion battery of this size has yet to be engineered.
More Galleries
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?