Technology of the Year Range-extended EV or Hybrid, no matter what you call it, Chevrolet Volt is a milestone in automotive history. It cleverly avoids the biggest drawback of EV, i.e. limited range, by adding an on-board generator that can be refueled in gas stations. This idea is nothing new, but GM is the first to put it into mass production, beating green-tech leaders like Toyota, Honda and Mercedes, which is the real surprise. Another surprise is how well the Volt performs in real world. It offers decent performance, ride and handling, something not even Toyota Prius managed. |
| Past winners 2010 FIAT Multiair 2009 Better Place-Israel electric car plan 2008 Mercedes F700 and DiesOtto engine 2007 BMW Turbosteamer 2006 Volkswagen-Eaton Twincharger 2005 BorgWarner regulated 2-stage turbocharging system 2004 Toyota Prius 2003 BorgWarner DualTronic double-clutch gearbox 2002 BMW 7-series 2001 Saab SVC (variable compression) engine 2000 Audi Multitronic CVT 1999 Volkswagen 24-valve VR6 |
