Want to know what makes the Chevrolet Volt the better electric vehicle? Yeah, Chevrolet wants you to know as well, which is why they have released this two and a half minute highlighting the Chevrolet Volt. One of the major features, of course, is its capability of running 40 all-electric miles and traveling for up to 340 miles on single full tank. Being able to charge it anywhere and everywhere is also a nice little perk as the liquid cooled lithium ion battery can be charged in ten hours using a 120V outlet or in four hours using a 240V outlet.
Another cool feature for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt is its eight year or 100,000 miles warranty that covers all 161 battery components found in the Volt. Of course, this warranty loses its originality as Nissan is offering the same one for their Leaf.
Pricing for the Volt was just released yesterday and will cost $41,000 before federal and state tax incentives. The federal tax credit adds up to $7,500, cutting the cost of the Volt to $33,500. The lease option seems to be the best choice with buyers being able to lease their very own electric Volt for $350 per month for 36 months. That is the exact same payment that Nissan is asking for with the Leaf EV. The tax incentive will be factored in the lease payment.
Check out the video and let us know if you think the Chevrolet Volt is the better electric vehicle or if Nissan’s Leaf Attack Plan will outrun the competition.
We finally have some pricing information on the Chevrolet Volt. General Motors Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Joel Ewanick announced the Volt’s pricing at an event named Plug-In 2010. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt will cost $41,000 before federal and state tax incentives.
While the sticker price is rather high, the lease deal seems to be the best choice. Buyers can lease their very own electric Volt for $350 per month for 36 months. That is the exact same payment that Nissan is asking for with the Leaf EV.
Buying this sort of car comes with perks. Buyers will get a federal tax credit of $7,500, cutting the cost of the Volt to $33,500. Buyers will have to finance the $41,000 and get the credit back on their next tax return. For people who choose to lease the car, the credit will be factored into the payment. The Volt will require a $2,500 down payment, but now buyers can buy the car at the end of their lease.
That price will get buyers a well equipped sedan. The car comes with a navigation system, a great battery warranty, Bluetooth, Bose Sound System, and a subscription to OnStar. The only options for the electric Volt are heated leather seats, chrome wheels, three premium paint colors, and rear park assist.
We are very interested in how the Volt will sell. The sticker price is a tad high and the Volkswagen TDI models offer great mileage at a cheaper price. We will have to take the Volt for a drive to really get a good idea of how it operates.
Chevrolet knows that the Chevrolet Volt will be subjected to a number of questions as soon as it is released, not the least of which will include how the electric car will fare on long-distance, cross-country trips.
So before the question is even asked, Chevrolet has already decided to answer it. Earlier this month, during the fourth of July weekend, Chevrolet took the Volt on a cross-country road trip where it traveled from Austin, Texas all the way through a number of states before arriving at its eventual destination in New York City, completing a distance of over 1,776 miles in the process.
Okay, so the entire ‘Freedom Drive’ wasn’t as electrifying a trip as George Washington crossing the Potomac River as Chevrolet seems to exaggeratedly suggest, but we’ll give them points for embarking on the adventure in the first place.
According to GM CEO and President Ed Whitacre, the whole purpose of the ‘Freedom Drive’ was to illustrate and prove that the Chevy Volt is built for just about any driving situation. From urban city driving to cross country road trips, the Volt is built not just for the short fix, but for the long haul as well.
The Chevrolet Volt got an unexpected visit from no less than US President Barack Obama when the Commanding Officer took a trip to Chevrolet’s production facility in Holland, Michigan. Yeah, and we’re all lucky enough to have the President himself knock on our front doors and ask to have a round of beer with us in our backyards.
President Obama’s visit came during the ground-breaking ceremony of Compact Power’s new facility in the area. Incidentally, Compact Power, which is owned by LG-Chem, will be a key supplier to the Chevrolet Volt. Likewise, the new facility is expected to be of the key sites that will spur further growth of the country’s high-tech industry, a sentiment echoed by the President during his visit at the facility.
As for the Chevrolet Volt, President Obama seemed to be eager to get behind the driver’s seat of the car and was optimistic that the electric car, which is capable of running 40 all-electric miles and can travel for up to 340 miles on single full tank, would set a new standard in fuel-efficient vehicles and would pave the way to a future where automobiles wouldn’t be as dependent on fuel as they are today.
Remember when GM claimed that the Volt could get around 230 miles per gallon? Well, think again. It was calculated using a government formula that never got final approval.
"We just don’t know right now" what the new number is likely to be, Micky Bly, executive director of global electrical systems for GM, said Wednesday at GM’s battery factory in Brownstown, Mich.
The Volt is an electric car and we’re sure most of you already knew that. It can go 40 miles on its batteries alone, but it also has a gas engine that is used like a generator. To find out the mileage for that would take a mathematician and the government doesn’t appear to have one.
The gas engine’s mileage is dependent on how charged up the battery is, which can vary based on each car’s charge. The Society of Automotive Engineers is currently working on a way to calculate mileage stuff for plug-in hybrids and electric cars. The organization expects the government to use its new standard for all future plug-in vehicles.
