The GM Volt – The Electric Car is here!
Dec 5th, 2008 by Thomas Rosquin
General Motors has set the release date for the first E-REV car. The Chevy Volt set to go public in 2011; is an extended range electric vehicle. Really the Volt is the new generation of hybrids which will use not only a gasoline engine but an electric engine too.
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?
I have always flirted with the idea of eventually getting a car like this. There is huge potential & I feel that the industry is gonna get their ducks in a row and shift away from these gas hogs that we drive today. I just hope that these things become mainstream and affordable.
The Volt may be here but I am not so certain GM will be around much longer which makes me very hesitant to buy one.
After 40, it runs on gas and recharges the batteries while driving. I don’t know how much you have to drive before it runs on batteries again. It can be recharged for 8 hours at night.