Hot Car Models 2011: Chevrolet Volt 1:02 AM

Chevrolet Volt in 2011

The five-door compact hatchback 2011 Chevrolet Volt is GM’s first electric car. It provides 40 miles of battery range, plus a further 300 miles from a gasoline engine-generator that sends power directly to the car’s motor. It represents a major advance over gasoline-electric hybrids like the Toyots Prius, and its major competition is likely to be the Nissan Leaf, the all-electric hatchback with a 100-mile range, along with a plug-in hybrid version of the Toyota Prius, which is expected to go on sale for the 2012 model year. The Volt hasn’t yet been priced, though estimates hover around $40,000, but buyers will be eligible for a $7,500 Federal tax credit.

The Volt was unveiled—to wide public acclaim—as a concept car at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show, and the first examples will reach dealers in November or December 2010. Only 10,000 or so will be built for the 2011 model year, and perhaps 60,000 a year thereafter. It uses some of the same mechanical elements as the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan, but only the Volt has a lithium-ion battery pack located in the tunnel between the front seats and extending under the rear seat. It drives entirely like a “normal car,” although without any transmission shifting noises, and like most electric cars, its acceleration from a stop is brisk and continuous.
As a brand-new model, the Volt comes only in a single body style, and the few option choices aren’t yet final. No sunroof is available, and the only exterior option will be a choice of silver paint or polished chrome on the five-spoke 17-inch wheels. Inside, a navigation system can be integrated into the dashboard stack, and two-tone leather upholstery can be specified rather than the standard cloth. Heated seats will also be offered. The car comes with the necessary charging cord to plug it into a standard wall outlet, and recharging the pack will take roughly five hours.
The EPA hasn’t yet decided how to rate the gas mileage of a car that runs significant distances purely on electricity from the grid. Some drivers may never use the gasoline engine, meaning their gas mileage approaches infinity. Others might drive more than 40 miles every day, using the gasoline engine once they have depleted the battery. So it’s worth taking any “mileage” figures for the Volt with a large grain of salt. As they say, “your mileage may vary” depending on how you use a car like the Volt. It’s also important to note that the Volt is often called a plug-in hybrid, because it has two energy sources. But unlike plug-in versions of conventional hybrids, the Volt is powered solely by electricity. Even if the “range extender” gasoline engine switches on, it doesn’t turn the wheels mechanically. Instead, it turns a generator that provides power to the electric motor driving the front wheels