A 1,776-mile Freedom Ride; rigorous testing in the Arizona deserts; millions of blogs; hundreds of Facebook posts and Twitter tweets; does any of this sound familiar? After all the rigmarole we have finally reached our destination: the 2011 Chevrolet Volt has been delivered (well, the first anyway!).
Yes my friends, though Handy Chevrolet-strike that-since Vermont is discriminated against in the worldly marketplace due to our small population, we don't have any Chevrolet Volt's for sale quite yet. When I spoke to Pete Obuchon his estimate was a vague "sometime next year," and though it's not his fault that we can't get a definite timeframe, I am at least glad all my preaching will soon be either justified or stifled.
For months upon months I've been goading anyone who will give me half a moment to give the speil that the Volt is a fantastic idea, and I'm not the only person: Motor Trend named the Volt the 2010 Car of the Year, Automotive Digest has named it the most significant piece of technology of the year, JD Power and Associates named it the Car of the Year (as well as the Silverado-props to it as well), and several other venues have deemed the Volt as amazing as my dreams have led me to believe.
And what's not to love? Sure, electric vehicles (EVs) are not absurdly new; in the mid 1990s Toyota produced a Rav4 EV to somewhat decent success as several of them are still used by Postal Carriers and the like. Tesla is an exclusive EV company, but the problem there lies within the cost. You might as well try to buy a high-end Porsche or BMW M6 for the price you'll pay, and with such a new company who knows how these high-priced EV roadsters will fare five, ten, or twelve years down the road.
Therein lies the grace and awe that is the Chevrolet Volt. Many people think that because of the gasoline combustion engine within the Volt that it's really no different than a "regular" hybrid vehicle. Questioning comparisons have also come up with regards to the Nissan Leaf, a purely electric vehicle that doesn't rely on the gasoline engine. But where other EVs have failed (and time will tell if the Leaf falls victim to this ailment as well) is in regards to what has been coined "distance anxiety." As with all new technologies, we're not sure how far the Leaf will go: will it go the full distance that Nissan claims, or will it peter our after a few miles?
The Volt doesn't suffer from this which makes it the perfect transition vehicle from hybrid technology to EV technology. If the electric engine quits after the 40-mile mark, you have a world-class hybrid vehicle at your disposal and you don't have to get out! Further, with the 220Volt charger (don't worry folks; I'm not going to explain this once again!) you can be ready to roll gasoline-free once more.
For those of you looking to make a dent in your carbon footprint, save some money on ever-rising fuel costs, or if you just want a snappy new vehicle that's all the rage wherever it goes, talk to Pete Obuchon by emailing peteo@sover.net with questions and to get updated as we are regarding the Volt's estimated arrival date.
Until next time, Cheers!
Chris Dugan
Handy Chevrolet
cdugan@handycars.com
