The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in series hybrid vehicle to be produced by General Motors, expected to be launched as a 2011 model with integration vehicles to be built starting on June 2009, at Warren, Michigan. Sales are scheduled to begin in November 2010, and in spite of GM bankruptcy filing, the automaker announced it remained committed to keeping the Volt on schedule. Beginning in late summer 2009, production of the integration vehicles will start to ramp up to 10 a week, and by October 80 of them will be on the road as press cars and test vehicles. The Volt's propulsion system will be based on GM's new Voltec (formerly known as E-Flex) platform, which is differs significantly from GM's earlier BAS Hybrid and Two-Mode Hybrid systems.

Unlike most currently commercially available electric hybrids, the actual propulsion of the Volt is accomplished exclusively by the electric motor, as the internal combustion engine (ICE) is not mechanically connected to the wheels. This electric power is sourced from its onboard lithium-ion batteries which are charged by an electrical power outlet and/or the gasoline engine. The Volt's 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack can also be fully charged (technically ~85% (SOC) by plugging the car into a 120-240VAC residential electrical outlet using the provided SAE J1772 compliant charging cord. No external charging station will be required.

With fully charged batteries, enough stored electrical energy will power the Volt for 40 miles (64 km), a distance capable of satisfying the daily commute of 75% of Americans, which averages around 33 miles (53 km). After 40 miles (64 km), a small 4-cylinder gasoline internal combustion engine drives a 53 kW generator effectively extending the Volt's potential range to as much as 640 miles (1,030 km) on a single tank of gasoline. The electrical power from the generator is sent to either the electric motor or the batteries, depending on the state of charge (SOC) of the battery pack and the power demanded at the wheels. The distribution is controlled by the electronic control unit (ECU) of the vehicle.