Have you been considering going green with your vehicle? While most every major car manufacturer has launched its own version of an energy efficient vehicle, no one can claim to get triple digit gas mileage. That is until now. The Chevrolet Volt, an extended-range electric vehicle from General Motors (GM), boasts of city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon.
As the first vehicle to promise a composite fuel economy of more than 100 mpg – excluding any handmade anomalies that run on French fry grease – the Chevy Volt will truly revolutionize the auto industry as well as reduce toxic emissions. While there is some debate as to whether GM's mileage claim is accurate, the Chevy Volt is definitely a step in the right direction. The Volt is specifically designed for the city driver, who – with all the starts, stops and lingering in traffic – produces the greatest amount of CO2 emissions. On a single charge, GM's preliminary research suggests that the Volt will be able to travel 40 miles using only electricity. This distance is greatly increased to close to 300 miles with the Volt's flex fuel-powered engine generator.
The Chevy Volt operates in Electric mode and Extended-Range mode. The Electric mode is the cleanest and most economical way to run your vehicle. Using no gas and producing zero emissions, its only power comes from the 16 kWh lithium-ion battery. As the battery's charge is depleted, the Extended-Range mode kicks in using the engine-generator to supply the electricity. Both modes work in cooperation when extra energy is needed during acceleration, or when your vehicle is on a steep incline. The catch – if it really is one – is that the Chevy Volt must be plugged in each day in order to perform at triple-digit mileage. The initial EPA methodology results used by GM in private testing concluded that the Volt has 25 kilowatt hours/100 miles "electrical efficiency" in what GM refers to as the "city cycle."
The Cash for Clunkers program – which gave a credit of $3,500 to $4,500 to people willing to trade in their older vehicles for new, more energy efficient models – has certainly heightened interest in vehicles that run on alternative energy sources. While the Cash for Clunkers program expired well before the Chevy Volt is available to purchase, the program has spurred greater interest in energy efficient vehicles. Many people who may not have considered replacing their gas guzzler with a hybrid vehicle are now opening their eyes to the benefits – both to the environment and to their wallets – of owning an energy efficient vehicle. In addition, as the economy and job security falters, most people are looking at ways to both save money and get the most out of every dollar that they do spend.
If this all sounds too exciting and you can't wait to get your hands on the Chevy Volt, you are going to be disappointed. GM doesn't plan on beginning production until late 2010. The rumored price is around $40,000. While this might sound steep, if the Chevy Volt can perform as promised, it will certainly be worth the hefty price tag. For more information and updates, visit Chevrolet.com's Volt section
