Electric Car Featured At Denver Auto Show
DENVER (CBS4)- The only American-made electric car to be mass produced is the Chevrolet Volt. The vehicle is being featured at this year's Denver Auto Show.
CBS4's Environmental Specialist Paul Day test drove the Volt. He said he liked it because it is heavier and wider than a Toyota Prius and feels more like a mid-size car.
Unlike the Prius Hybrid, the Volt is powered solely by electricity.
"What's exciting about this is there's absolutely nothing on the market today," said GM Product Specialist Tricia Opper.
The Volt has a lithium ion battery pack that provides power for about 40 miles. As the batteries are depleted, a gasoline generator kicks in, making more electricity. That's what extends the Volt's range up to 379 miles.
The Volt has a 9 gallon gas tank that extends the range. On battery power, the Volt has the equivalent of 93 miles per gallon. When burning premium gas to make electricity, that drops to 37 miles per gallon.
Batteries can be restored with household electricity, but a depleted battery will need 10 hours to recharge.
The availability of the Volt has been limited, but that's changing.
"It's for sale in seven markets right now. We're on acceleration to ramp up and the vehicle will be on sale in December by the end of the year," said Opper.
The Volt's sticker price is $41,000. Buyers can apply for a $7,500 tax credit from the federal government.
The Denver Auto Show is at the Colorado Convention Center through Sunday.
Link: Chevy's Volt Website
Link: Denver Auto Show
More On The Auto Show
Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association, stopped by CBS4 studios to talk about the show. Watch his interview in the video clip below:
CBS4's Critic at Large Greg Moody shares what's new and unusual at this year's show in the video clip below:
