The Volt is an electric vehicle that goes further. It is powered primarily by electric charge and switches seamlessly to a gas-powered onboard generator for extended range.
The Volt’s advantage over typical gas-fueled vehicles and hybrids is that it uses its electric motor for as long as it has a battery charge while others like the Toyota Prius only use the electric motor to get the car rolling and then switch to gas.
Compared to the pure EV Nissan Leaf driving range of less than 100 miles, there are no driving limitations with the Volt. If the road ahead of you is a long one, you don’t have to worry. Once the battery is depleted, the gas-powered onboard generator will charge the battery to keep you going….and going… and going…. for up to 300 more miles on a single tank of gas.
The Volt also has more horsepower and torque than the Toyota Prius. “But,” you say, “the Prius is so… trendy!” Trendy? Maybe. Efficient? Nope. Hybrids aren’t designed to travel at high speeds in EV mode. The Volt, however, can hit 100 mph without batting an eye. That’s enough to send Marty McFly back to the future and then some.
How It Works
Your time is valuable. The Nissan Leaf takes up to 20 hours to charge. The Volt only needs 10 hours (in a standard household outlet). A 240V charging station (like those used for clothes dryers) brings that charge time down to just 4 hours. That’s barely long enough for a nap (or one of those never-ending sales meetings)!
What about those cold Pittsburgh winters? Not a problem! While charging and operating in cold weather, the Volt has a battery heater to keep the battery in its ideal temperature range and when it gets hot in the summer the car’s A/C will keep the battery cool.
The Volt’s battery is easy to charge in any standard household outlet. It also comes with a 100,000 mile/8-year Battery Warranty that will make your cell phone and TV remote batteries jealous. To ensure longer life, the Volt’s 16 kW hr lithium-ion battery is designed to operate in the middle of its charged range, never fully charged or fully depleted, as in most other electric vehicles and other consumer electronics. That overnight charge will cost you around $1.50. Yes, ONE. Dollar. And fifty cents.
Standard and Optional Equipment
The Volt is quiet, smooth, and fast off the line. Electric motors have all their torque at start-up, unlike gas engines which need time to build power. On top of that, the Volt can also accelerate from 0 to 60 in less than nine seconds. The Volt comfortably seats four adults and the hatchback design provides surprising cargo flexibility.
Luxury IS our standard. All Volts come with an LCD touch screen, digital reconfigurable LCD instrument cluster, keyless ignition with push button start, remote start, steering wheel audio controls, Bluetooth, Navigation, BOSE sound system, USB port and auxiliary input jack, 30 GB hard disk drive for digital music, XM radio. Oh, and Onstar, 8 air bags, Stabilitrak with traction control, pause and play live radio, and… and… whatever AND you can think of.
There’s an app for that. Chevrolet Connect Mobile App powered by OnStar allows you to check your current electric/fuel range, battery charge and fuel levels, and view the current charge status and next scheduled charge, all from your phone. You can also receive text alerts when it’s complete or set plug-in reminders. At your desk or on your iPad? You can communicate with your vehicle to start charging right from your MyVolt.com owner site.