volt

Three and a half years after introducing the concept Chevy Volt electric car, General Motors is finally answering the question of its price: $41,000 before a federal tax credit.

GM disclosed the pricing and touted the 340-mile range of the Chevy Volt on Tuesday at a conference on plug-in vehicles in San Jose, Calif.

The cost of a lease is $350 a month for 36 months with a $2,500 down payment. The Volt, which has an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty, qualifies for a $7,500 federal tax credit, which brings the net purchase price to $33,500 after … Read more

DETROIT--The long warranty--eight years or 100,000 miles--on the Chevrolet Volt battery got the headline last week. But the battery's liquid heating and cooling system helped make it possible.

Batteries last longer and perform better when they avoid extremes of hot and cold. And because liquid cooling systems are more compact than air-cooled systems, General Motors Co. engineers had room for more battery cells.

The Volt hybrid, which goes on sale late this year, can drive 40 miles on the battery. Then a gasoline engine kicks in to generate electricity for the motor.

Standard auto coolant circulates … Read more

President Barack Obama on Thursday had a chance to check out the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle during a visit to the Compact Power battery plant in Holland, Mich. LG Chem, the parent of Compact Power, is making the battery cells for the Volt.

The Volt has a reported range of about 340 miles and is powered with electricity at all times. For up to the first 40 miles, the Volt is powered solely by electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery, using no fuel and producing no emissions. When the Volt's lithium-ion battery runs low, an engine/generator seamlessly … Read more

How many runaway Toyotas weren't?, Chevy Volt gets cheeky battery warranty, Mercedes' SLS gets batteries, HD Radio gets some traction, Ford hangs up on texting while driving, and we take you for a drive in the 2011 BMW 535i.

• Electric Mercedes SLS

• Chevy Volt gets 100,000 mile battery warranty

• Tesla cranks up its first prototypes for Toyota

• Will electric car driving ranges get a big haircut?

• Google helps find you a parking space

How many miles a Chevrolet Volt can travel on a single gallon of gas is still up for debate. The EPA rejected the formula that General Motors used to calculate its 230 mpg estimate for the extended range vehicle. In GM's defense, it used a draft formula that the EPA developed for testing plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Using those calculations, GM has been promoting a 40-mile range on a single charge of the battery when driving the Volt in EV mode. Yet when using its gasoline-powered engine generator to propel the vehicle, the Volt would be able to extend its … Read more

General Motors today announced its Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle will come with an eight-year/100,000-mile warranty on its advanced lithium ion battery. According to GM, this is the automotive industry's longest, most comprehensive battery warranty for an electric vehicle, and it's transferable to other vehicle owners at no additional cost.

"The Chevrolet Volt's batteries have exceeded our performance targets and are ready to hit the road," said Micky Bly, GM executive director, global electrical systems. "Our customers are making a commitment to technology that will help reduce our dependence on petroleum. In turn, … Read more

Tesla goes public and revises its Roadster; the new Mini gets revised electronics; the FAA moves forward on flying cars; another Toyota recall for the exact opposite of acceleration; Chevy Volt headed for New York City and Austin, Texas; and we drive the Acura TL SH-AWD.

SHOW NOTES

Two contenders are about to duke it out for our automotive future. Nissan brings out an all-electric car that promises emission-free driving along with low maintenance and per-mile costs. The Volt is also an electric car, but Chevy fits it with a range extending gasoline-powered generator, giving it about five times the range of Nissan's Leaf but adding to the complexity.

Brian Cooley takes an early look at both of these cars, weighing not only their drive-train technology, but also their connectivity and cabin tech systems. Watch as he gives a preview of which car might come out on … Read more

Austin, Texas, and New York will be among the first cities in the U.S. where the Chevy Volt plug-in electric vehicle will hit the road.

General Motors is expected Thursday to announce that a first run of 8,000 cars will be made available in a handful of cities, The Detroit News reported Thursday.

The announcement is expected to come from GM CEO Edward Whitacre, who is set to address the Austin Chamber of Commerce on Thursday.

The Volt is, of course, GM's heavily hyped plug-in electric vehicle that will potentially get 230 mpg. It can power from … Read more