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SALT LAKE CITY — Sales are up for Chevy's plug-in hybrid the Volt. Chevy loaned KSL one so we could find out if it's cool or not.
It starts with a cool sound. The dash has a slick finish, but plenty of buttons, not just menus.
"At first it looked like a video game, then I got used to it," test crew member Dick Keele said.
On a full charge, the Volt will go 50 miles before it burns any gas. We checked it out during Salt Lake City commuting. Stop and go isn't so bad, because it recharges when coasting.
At first it looked like a video game, then I got used to it.
–Dick Keele
After the electrons are spent, it burns gas with a 1.4 liter engine. The fuel economy rating is like no other, claiming 94 mpg-e, 37 gas-only.
"(It) accelerates beautifully in electric," said test crew member Karl Huddleston. "It's a nice car."
The harder you drive, the shorter the range. For maximum efficiency, keep the green ball in the middle. Even braking hard means you can't recharge as much as with a longer stop.
Debate rages about battery cost, electrical demand, and all kinds of side issues, but for now, consumers are impressed.
