[chuckm]

The Volt's genset is sized to be a charge-maintaining system. I'm talking about a using genset that is unable to provide average driving load amps.

I don't think charge-maintaining is necessary unless you plan on driving 300+ miles in one shot. I think the better way to go, for most people, is to charge your battery pack from the grid, but decrease the load on the pack with the genset. By providing only some of the required power from a genset, you extend the range of your pack (hence range extending). The Volt will go as long as you have gas in the tank because it will *maintain the charge*.