GENERAL MOTORS (GM) is planning to re-badge its Chevrolet Volt electric car as an Opel and bring it to Europe as part of the plans to expand the model range of its highly anticipated new vehicle.
GM is so encouraged by the development of the Volt that it has started work on several other derivative vehicles.
Bob Boniface, the Volt's design director, said more than two other models were at the scale-model stage of development. One of these follow-up models will be an Opel for sale mainly in Europe.
The Detroit carmaker has staked its reputation on the Volt, heavily promoting each stage of the car's development since a concept version was displayed last year. The first production version is due to roll off the assembly line in late 2010.
The Volt and its derivatives will share many components - including a 400lb battery that is 5ft in length - enabling GM to achieve economies of scale.
GM promises that the Volt's lithium-ion battery will have a range of at least 40 miles with a minimum life of 10 years. The car will be recharged either by plugging it into a normal power socket or, when it is in motion, by a four-cylinder internal combustion engine. Petrol consumption is estimated at about 150 miles per gallon.
Toyota also plans to unveil a plug-in car in 2010 which will be driven both by a battery and a petrol engine. It is claimed to cost less to produce while delivering the same performance.
GM said last week that it would choose the Volt's battery supplier before the end of the year. Two groups, led by South Korea's LG Chem and A123Systems of Boston, are vying for the contract.
Frank Weber, head of the Volt project, said the biggest challenge is maintaining the cells' stability: "Batteries are like human beings, they like room temperature," he said.
GM has yet to disclose the retail price of the Volt but is lobbying for a government subsidy to bring the car within reach of the average Chevrolet customer.
- Financial Times Service