Could this be my next car?
Unlike the Prius, Civic hybrid, and upcoming Honda Insight, the Chevy Volt uses its gasoline engine to charge the batteries and is never used to directly drive the wheels (serial hybrid vs. parallel hybrid). That, and you actually plug it in! I wonder if there will be a waiting list? I am really interested in ultra-efficient diesels and potentially diesel hybrids, but we’ll have to wait and see.
The Volt, which General Motors finally unveiled Tuesday, is a series hybrid, also called a range-extended electric vehicle. Like the Prius, it’s got an electric motor and a gasoline engine, but the engine merely charges the battery as it approaches depletion. Electricity alone turns the 17-inch wheels. The Volt is designed to travel 40 miles on a single charge of its lithium-ion battery, meaning most drivers will never burn a drop of gasoline.
[via wired – Photo by General Motors]
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Hopefully Chevy actually goes through with it. I have been reading about this car for years now and supposedly they have just been waiting for battery technology to improve. However, I wouldn’t be surprised if the chevy volt is just a ploy to present environmentally responsible persona. I’ll believe it when I see them in the dealerships.
Agreed! Apparently, they are dumping $400 to 500 million to get this thing out by the end of 2010. I’ll believe it when I see it too!
What do you think about the 2009 Jetta TDI, Dr. Kassel? 38 city, 44 highway, uses clean diesel, under $22,000..
http://www.metaefficient.com/transportation/2009-vw-jetta-clean-diesel-car.html