Opel Scheduled for GM’s E-flex System

GM’s Chevrolet Volt is still some two years away from scheduled production, but that hasn’t stopped the company from making plans to expand the market. General Motors officials insist that the Volt will be available in U.S. showrooms in 2010 and they are determined to have a similar car for the Europeans by 2012. In a GM press release, the company states that its European Opel division, and U.S. brand Saturn (which share similar customer demographics) have collaborated on a Volt derivative that matches European tastes. It’s a bold move, and if worldwide energy prices remain high, it’s probably a smart move.

Like the Volt, this car will use GM’s E-flex propulsion system. What’s E-flex? Short and sweet, it’s a plug-in hybrid with a twist. The drivetrain uses an electric motor powered by a lithium-ion battery to propel the vehicle upwards of 40 miles. For extended range, a small onboard engine that can be powered by multiple fuel sources (e.g. diesel, biodiesel, gasoline, E85), hence the twist, drives a generator that then powers the electric drive motor and simultaneously charges the battery. For daily commutes under 40 miles, the engine never needs to start. The vehicle can be recharged in just a few hours by plugging into regular household current.

So what’s the name of this car? Well, for now GM calls it the Flextreme. Not so sure about that. It’s clever, but … We like the pizzazz conveyed by the name Volt, but since it’s already taken, maybe something more like Amp, or Watt or how ‘bout Joule (the unit of electrical force named after British physicist James P. Joule).

Yeah, Joule, that sounds nice. Who wouldn't want a car whose name sounds like Jewel?