General Motors Puts a Price on The Chevrolet Volt

General Motors has announced the price of the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. US$41,000 (AU$45,500) as a starting price. Not bad for a plug-in hybrid. It’ll go on sale in the US in October/November.

The plug-in hybrid is also an eligible vehicle under the American government’s federal tax credit system, which means US$7500 in the pocket for any buyer. General Motors is also offering the car on a lease plan for a little as US$350 for 36 months with an initial down payment of just US$2500, although this is only available to customers within the same area codes of the launch cities; Austin, California, Michigan, New York City, Texas and Washington D.C
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Chevrolet Volt At Washington DC Auto Show

Chevrolet has announced that greater Washington DC will be an initial launch market for its 'Volt' electric vehicle with extended range. The city joins California and Michigan as the initial retail markets for Volt.

The Chevrolet Volt is an electric vehicle with an extended-range capability. It is designed to drive up to 40 miles on electricity without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When it's lithium-ion battery is depleted, an engine/generator operates to extend driving range if there is no access to an electrical outlet to recharge battery, thus eliminates range anxiety.

According to Chevrolet, it will deliver around 100 Volts to several utilities across US, including Pepco and Dominion, which serves Washington DC and its suburbs as part of an extended demonstration program. The overall program includes 500 charging stations that will be installed for residential, business and public use.

The Chevrolet Volt Dance

GM's official dance routine performed at the LA Auto Show and set to the official song "Chevy Volt and Me." To learn about and follow the Volt, go to http://gm-volt.com.
So yo think you can dance? Just watch the video below

Audi's viral remark about the Volt

Audi's viral remark about the Volt being for idiots and that electric vehicle proponents are intellectual elitists is raising a lot of question about the company. Is there any truth to it?

The gist is that a advanced plug-in hybrid, PHEV like the Volt, or in GM lingo an extended range electric vehicle, E-Rev is an impressive piece of technology, but is Audi of America's President Johan de Nysschen calling it a car for idiot out of line?

Johan de Nysschen is a straight forward person and has invested a tremendous amount of energy, time and funds in the research of advanced diesel internal combustion engines, ICE design. He has also raised a few eyebrows when he said the Volt will fail and that anybody who buys it is an idiot. While competitors wish the Volt to fail, is it wise to call its would-be buyers "idiots"? He even goes a step further by saying EV lovers are: "intellectual elite who want to show what enlightened souls they are." At least we know where Audi stands with its dislike of EVs. He claims he does not remember having said this but that it was in line with his thinking.
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Chevrolet Volt Attracts 33000 Buyers

The all-electric Chevrolet Volt in an undated image courtesy of General Motors.


In a bid to show the demand for the upcoming all-electric Chevrolet Volt, a proponent of the car has released details of an unofficial waiting list for the vehicle with over 33,000 prospective buyers.

On Tuesday, Dennis a New York neurologist released details gleaned from the list showing that 33,411 people had signed up to show their intent to buy a Volt when the rechargeable car is released in 2010.

The list shows the highest number of potential Volt buyers in California, Texas, Florida and Michigan. It also includes potential buyers from 46 countries outside the United States.

The average price buyers were willing to pay for the car was $31,261 -- substantially less than the $40,000 GM has said it will cost to build the first-generation of the car equipped with a massive lithium-ion battery pack.

GM has been racing to finish development of the Volt in time for the planned launch as the centerpiece of its effort to break a costly association with gas-guzzling vehicles at a time when truck sales are tumbling and gas prices remain high.
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