2011 Chevrolet Volt
An important sidebar to the story of the Chevy Volt extended-range electric car is its gasoline generator. This is used to generate electricity extend the car's driving range beyond the 40 mile capacity of its battery.
When GM finally decided it would use a 1.4 L 4 cylinder engine for that role, it had earmarked the construction of a new plant in Flint Michigan to construct them. The Volts themselves would be built in nearby Hamtramck.
With recent financial difficulties though, GM had to halt plant to construct that plant.
Today the automaker has announced they will still be building those engines in Flint but now to do so will be re-tooling an existing engine plant at a cost of $250 million. Preparations will begin this Spring and engines will start rolling out in December 2010. The Volt will launch in November 2010 with Austrian-made engines.
