Volt’s website gives you a very clean looking, easy to read rundown of pretty much every bit-o-tech Volt has to offer. From diagrams of the recharge device (like posting your secret sauce recipe online, careful GM!) to how you can go mobile anywhere in Volt are all there to read. Chevy even threw in some graphs to help you understand just how much you’ll save on a yearly commute when driving a rechargeable Volt – and don’t forget about those tax cuts when you purchase an eco-friendly automobile.

Go have a look yourself at the EV Volt for 2011, view the interior and exterior galleries and gawk at the sexy charts that help an average Joe understand how frugal a Volt can be.

The Volt’s 230-mpg city fuel economy estimate by Henderson is only an assumption right now, as the CEO states: “GM is not over-promising on the numbers.” The EPA’s new system weights vehicle ratings based on the expectation that they will travel more city miles than highway miles on electricity only. To define the electrical efficiency of plug-ins, the EPA calculates the kilowatt hours used per 100 miles traveled. General Motors 2011′s Volt, which travels up to 40 miles using only electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack, to use as little as 25 kilowatt hours per 100 miles in the city. Using a national average of about 11 cents per kWh, GM anticipates the average Volt customer would pay about $2.75 for electricity to travel up to 100 miles.

Basically, it’s all one big math problem and guessing game. Good Luck Chevy! Now you’ve got a lot to live up to.

Several news outlets are reporting that GM has adjusted their asking price for temporary salvation at $4 Billion in December and another $4 Bill in January. Convincing Congress to bail out these American Automakers might be an impossible feet, but at least Rick knows how to show off not one but two of Chevy’s best new products at one time.

It would be a hard sell for NASCAR – fans want the sounds, smells and leaks that a good NASCAR brawl provides. The racing organization is slow on change – only switching to unleaded gasoline last year. Spectators will probably take to the idea as much as hockey fans took to banning player fighting.

GM executives want to persuade racing enthusiasts with the idea that electric vehicles may be empty of gasoline but are full of American Pride – since they cut dependency on foreign oil.

Still, NASCAR is a total sensory experiences – maybe the tracks could install blowers with burning rubber and oil smells, and the vehicles themselves could be fitted with speakers under the hood to produce loud engine sounds. Sounds crazy, right? Probably about as plausible as this quiet electric car becoming a racer.

First, we were told the Volt will indeed recharge while in motion, something many electric cars are expected to accomplish. Last week, we were told the Volt will not recharge itself – making it your ordinary plug-in vehicle. Let’s have GM straighten all the confusion out.

GM’s VP for Global Program Management John Lauckner (what a title!) has explained that the Chevy Volt can indeed recharge it’s own batteries/engine, and can do so best while in a stead state of motion. In other words, blasting through intersections and jamming on the brakes, much like with gasoline fueled vehicles, will probably kill your gas electric mileage. During this steady motion, energy not being used to power the engine will be distributed back to the lithium-ion battery packs. Extra juice will also come from the rechargeable brake generators.

So, is everyone clear on exactly what the Chevrolet Volt will be able to do? There will be a quiz during our next class.

Is Chevrolet’s Cruze the gas powered (i.e.: non-hybrid) version of Chevy’s Volt? Or is it just the next Cobalt? The Chevy Cruze is a fuel efficient vehicle for the masses. Sure, we’d probably all love a hot hybrid Volt, but not everyone can afford the supposed $35k price tag, plus the cost of (battery) charging and regular repairs. If you’re looking for a new car with plenty of gas mileage, over 40 MPG total according to General Motors, than Cruze is your best bet.

A 4-cyl turbocharged 1.4 liter engine, which is all internal combustion, produces the power to this little next generation Cobalt-esque vehicle. There will be a diesel version for the European audience available in 2009, and America will have their shot at the Cruze in full gasoline mode by late 2010. No official price has been set, but even if we’re talking low-to-mid $20′s the Cruze will win back the hearts of waning Chevrolet fans.

The vehicle is a 5-door front wheel drive car with room for four. GM/Chevy is reporting a top speed of 100 mph (not bad for the old Extended-Range Electric Vehicle (E-REV) motor) and city mileage of 40 mpg! Volt also has “full regenerative brakes” for top energy capture. Power steering will also be controlled electrically.

220 lithium-ion cells make up the Volt’s power plant. GM estimates a fuel savings of $1500/annually. 

As we speak GM officials are unveiling the Chevrolet Volt electric car to a press junket for the first time! Aren’t you excited?! Well, since the Volt has been teased in front of us for the past several months, we don’t blame you for feeling a little ambivalent towards this American made hybrid-electric automobile. Some are excited, while others feel this serves to finally get the giant elephant out of the living room so we can move on with our lives. At the risk of sounding obvious, when Volt goes on sale in 2010 only then will we know for sure how people really feel. Chevroletpedia will be back to update you on reactions to GM’s electric pet.

It’s ALIVE!