Chevrolet Volt

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in Electric Vehicle with a small engine and a generator add to increase the driving range .

The Volt differs from Hybrid vehicles in that with the hybrid , the wheels are driven by the Gasoline engine at times .

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The Volt wheels are driven strictly by the electric motor and the Lithium-ion batteries . The Volt has a range of

about 40 miles on the batteries . After that the 1.0 liter engine cuts in to turn the generator and recharge the batteries . Due to the 12 gallon US fuel tank the range is increased to 640 miles with the electric motor being driven by the generator .

Its is estimated that 75 % of commuters in USA would never burn any gasoline at all with this car if it were recharged every night at home . It can be recharged on either a standard 110 volt Home outlet in about 8 hours , or by use of a 220 volt outlet in about 3 hours or less . EPA rating for the volt with an average driver is estimated at about 230 miles per gallon US . It is also estimated that the cost of operation on plug-in electricity would be about $2.50 per 100 miles or less , depending on hydro electric rates in the area .

The volt is slated to come on the market in 2010 . An actual date has not been announced yet .