Since the Chevrolet Volt's triumphant unveiling, refinement, and eventual release, many people have scoffed at and/or questioned the vehicle's potency.  With a 35-mile electric vehicle range on a single charge, a standard 120-volt charging cord, and up to several hundred miles of fuel efficient driving when the vehicle does exceed the 35 to 40-mile battery-operated zone there is little left to chance from the believers' side of the fence and the age old question "will this new technology work?" in the naysayers' camp.

So what are you, the common shopper, supposed to believe?  Where's the proof, when not more than handful of these Chevy Volt EVs have been sold in the state of Vermont?  Should you go on my word, a person that is in a sense a Chevy salesperson?

Of course seeing - or in this case driving - is believing, but without a mid-$35,000 investment after government incentive and such we understand that not all of us consumers can make that leap of faith easily.  This is why OnStar and GM have teamed up with their current Volt owners and have recorded actual mileage data for all the Volt's on the road (wherein an owner consented to mileage information submissions), giving birth to one of the most unique, pro-Volt advertisements yet.

At any time web browsers can go to www.chevrolet.com/volt-electric-car and view real time data on total miles driven in full electric vehicle (EV) mode, total miles driven in both EV mode and after battery depletion, and total gallons of fuel saved since the first Volt was sold.

As I write this very description, here's what the totals are:

• Total miles driven in EV = 41,463,481
• Total miles driven = 67,875,859
• Total gallons of fuel saved = 2,225,009

Even to a pro-Volt advocate like myself these numbers are instantly staggering (almost 42 million miles have been driven on the Volt's battery charge alone?), but when you take a step back and notice that almost 62 percent of all measured Volt travel has been on electricity things get really interesting.  Keep in mind this includes folks that live well beyond the 40-miles EV zone, too; obviously this keeps things "average," but who knows what these people's habits are.  My point is with a full mean value of over 60 percent battery powered driving, the time to buy a Chevy Volt has never been more clear or rationally presented.

Before I leave you for today, let me just give you the new totals since I wrote that last paragraph (which equates to three to five minutes maximum):

• Total miles driven in EV = 41,464,838
• Total miles driven = 67,877,705
• Total gallons of fuel saved = 2,225,067

Which means in the past five minutes, the Volt has...

• ... gone 1,357 miles without using gas
• ... traveled 1,846 more miles, only 492 of which used any gas
• ... saved roughly $250 in fuel costs at the pump
• (P.S.  Just while doing these calculations the numbers have jumped significantly)

Don't just take my word for it - go to www.chevrolet.com and see the Volt's mileage statistics now.  Once you're interested come into Handy Chevrolet of St. Albans, VT to test drive, lease, or buy a Chevy Volt today.

Chris Dugan
Handy Chevrolet
St. Albans, VT  05478