The Chevy Volt has been embraced by the automotive industry as one of the most advanced and innovative cars to look out for in 2011 and named North American Car of the Year. The concept of electric cars is a good one, however many are not practical due to their driving range limitations.

For example, the Leaf needs to be charged every 100 miles and hence would not suffice for long road trips or work for people who have long commutes. The Volt however, is a different story.

The Chevrolet Volt powered initially by an electric power train which switches over to traditional gasoline mode after around forty miles. The electric powertrain provides 149 hp and 273 lb feet of torque while the traditional engine is a 1.4 Liter four cylinder. Acceleration is smooth and instantaneous while the Volt provides a driver oriented and athletic drive. Charging the car is quite simple; you just plug it into a regular 120 volt outlet. When compared with a hybrid, the Volt is pretty fast; it can zoom from zero to sixty in just 9.2 seconds.  It’s suggested to purchase a separate home charging station for quicker charges. Eau Claire Chevy has a large selection of Volt cars in stock.

This is a truly a car of the future and the cabin of the Volt definitely proves that. When you step inside you will be amazed at the futuristic design and innovative center console which is actually touch screen instead of making use of traditional buttons.  A LCD touch screen is in place which controls the radio, Bluetooth system and a hard drive for music storage. Another LCD screen showcases information such as mileage and fuel consumption.

Safety has been thorough addressed by Chevrolet with the inclusion of many advanced precautionary systems. Safety features include ABS brakes and traction and stability control. Air bags are in place and the vehicle comes with OnStar Service, a system which automatically contacts emergency responders if you get in an accident. An innovative feature allows the Volt to make noise whenever it’s near a pedestrian since the motor can be impossible to hear when in  the electric mode.

The Volt features a lot of amenities such as an audio system with a hard drive for music storage, USB and music player compatibility and a voice command system. XM radio is also standard and includes three months of free service to get you started. The Bose audio system offers superior sound while still being energy efficient. Chevy Eau Claire has a large stock of Chevrolet cars.

The Volt is a truly impressive and unique car that will change the landscape of the automotive market forever. A tax credit of $7500 is available which can be applied towards the original retail price of around $40k. All things considered, the Volt is the most user-friendly and practical electric car due to its versatile power train. It’s the only electric car you can take out for long road trips due to its gasoline engine.  For great prices on used cars check out Used Chevy Eau Clair and for new cars visit GMC Terrain Eau Claire.

What make this car different from the 2009 Toyota Prius Hybrid or the 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid is that this car can runs on electricity only for up to 40 miles. This will satisfy the daily commute for the majority of Americans. For longer hauls; the Volt has a regular gas engine that will kick in and power the car.

Of course regenerative breaking is a feature that will recharge the batteries to a predetermined level. Once the batteries are charged, the electric engine will turn back on. As you can guess the Volt will have get outstanding MPG on long trips and will emit hardly any emissions. As is stands the Volt produces no emissions what so ever with the electric motor running! My only question is too little too late? I mean the big U.S. automakers have been in jeopardy as of late. Why not get a hybrid out to the public when we wanted it 5 years ago?