When: Expected November 2010
What: The Chevy Volt will be the first electric car to hit showroom floors in the United States, when it arrives at the end of 2010. The Volt, which has been in the works for several years, is electrically powered by more than 200 lithium ion batteries. The car is electrically powered for the first 40 miles, but thereafter it switches to a gas generated engine. The forty mile range seems rather low for a vehicle which the buyer is likely purchasing due to its electric engine. Yet Chevy claims that in their studies, more than seventy five percent of those surveyed said they commute no more than forty miles a day. Thankfully drivers won’t be stuck on the side of the road when they exceed the forty mile range, for the car’s gas powered engine takes over after the electric range is surpassed, making this an interesting alternative. If the Volt lives up to its forty mile range, it will be a step in the right direction, combining the benefits of electricity with the reliability of a gas powered backup system. Unfortunately, the price tag on the Volt seems quite high, being that the range seems so minimal, but for some the backup system may justify the added price. In contrast, the Nissan Leaf has a solid 100 mile range on electric power, yet after that, you’re stuck… well hopefully you recharge before your battery runs out! The Volt, similar to the Leaf, comes with an impressive high tech digitalized computer interface on the dashboard, not to mention a sleek touch screen navigation system as well. Finally, there will be an available OnStar mobile application that allows you to remotely control your vehicle’s charging and other functions. The Volt, although with a higher price and considerably lower range than the Nissan Leaf, appears significantly more like a modern car, rather than the Leaf’s interesting… and unique shape!
Price: believed to be around $40,000 (after possible full tax savings, around $32,500)
Range: 40 miles (electric power) + runs on gas after electric power runs out.
Top Speed: around 100 mph
Seating Capacity: 5 people
Learn more at: http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/future/volt.do
Visit Transportation Page for More Chevy Volt Photos and Video
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