General Motors is claiming its electric vehicle, the Chevy Volt, could get an astonishing 230 mpg in city driving, because its battery should allow it to run on electricity only for 40 miles. It has a small internal combustion engine that would kick-in after that point and at higher speeds. GM says the car, to initially cost a hearty $40,000, is on track to hit the market in 2010.
Miles-per-gallon estimates are usually off the mark. For instance, since I’ve been commuting to work on 1-95 from my new home in Boynton Beach, my Prius is getting about 41 mpg, versus the previous 47-49 mpg it got during my former commute, from Lake Worth to Palm Beach on the slower roads of Flagler Drive and Ocean Boulevard.
Still the development of a mass-produced car that will produce very little pollution is encouraging. And with tax credits and record-busting fuel efficiency, the cost of the vehicle will be less expensive than the sticker price.
There’s the cool factor to consider, also.
Imagine being the first on your block to get one. Lots of questions, lots of onlookers, lots of satisfaction knowing you’re an early adaptor of the latest technology. If I had the available cash right now, I’d be lining up to get a Volt.
One of these days.
For the latest story on the Chevy Volt, click here.