Gas prices in Illinois have been hovering around the$4 a gallon range for several months now. Like most people, filling my tank comes with a tinge of personal pain. Anyone who’s experienced this knows that the promise of a future void of a dependence on oil for fuel can’t come soon enough. Every major US automakers has been busy developing fuel cell based vehicles to bring this promise to fruition.
When I was contacted by Klout with the opportunity to test drive the new Chevy Volt, I jumped at the opportunity.
Having never driven an electric vehicle before, I was shocked at the power of the Volt’s engine. It had the pick up of a traditional sedan with an overall smoother ride than a standard combustion engine.
Chevy’s design direction and styling for the Volt is spot on, they’ve crafted a vehicle inside and out that can hold its own against any sedan on the road. At no point did I feel like I was driving a visually less desirable vehicle just because it was electric. As my wife and I drove around in the Volt people at stop lights and in our neighborhood went to great lengths to get a view the car. It definitely turned heads.
Chevy Volt leather interior shot.
The Pros:
- The Volt’s design is gorgeous, it turned heads everywhere I went.
- The in dash flat screen displays provide detailed information about every aspect of the vehicles functions.
- Your local commute can be gas-free on electricity for an average of $1.50 a day.
- The Volt has a powerful drive train/engine combo. “On the test track, Volt reached a top speed of 100 mph”
- Purchasing a Volt makes you eligible for a $7,500 tax break.
The Cons:
- The mileage of the Volt’s electric engine is too small. 50 miles on a single charge doesn’t seem like enough.
- You still have to buy gas, once the battery runs low the car switches to gas as a means of powering the electric cells.
- The center control panel is touch sensitive, you can accidentally turn on or off things like the fans every time you reach for the volume knob.
- $32K price tag seems steep for such a limited range on a charge. (The full price is $40K, consumers receive a $7,500 tax credit)
- The electric battery takes 10 hours to charge with a standard 120-volt line, or as little as 4 hours using a dedicated 240-volt line.
Disclosure:
I was given a free product or sample because I’m a Klout influencer. I was under no obligation to receive the sample or talk about this company. I get no additional benefits for talking about the product or company.
You can follow me here: @KevinMinott
