Chevy to sell Volt in Chicago by mid-2012

By Mary Jane Grandinetti
Posted Nov. 19, 2010 at 1:36 p.m.

Expect the Chevrolet Volt to be available in the Chicago area by mid-2012, when General Motors rolls out its extended range electric car across the country.

Chevy spokeswoman Kelly Cusinato said the full rollout would happen 12 to 18 months after the car goes on sale in a handful of inaugural markets, including Los Angeles and New York, by year-end.

“Dealers have said their first allotments are spoken for,” Cusinato said on the Chicago leg of a nationwide tour to show off the car that will get 25 to 50 miles on electric power, depending on climate and driving style, before a gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the 300-volt battery.

“A liquid temperature control system will work to keep the battery pack at a constant temperature to maximize range in hot or cold conditions” that typically limit a battery’s power, said Valarie Boatman, a performance integration engineer at GM’s VOLTec who helped develop the system that provides Volt’s anti-lock brakes and stability and traction control.

And she points out that the gas engine is there to repower the discharged batteries and prevent the “range anxiety” that exists with pure electrics, such as the Nissan Leaf that’s also set to go on sale by year-end.

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8 comments:

  1. James Oberland Nov. 19, 2010 at 1:46 pm

    If you just can’t wait Toro is having an end of the season sale on riding mowers.

  2. Reality Nov. 19, 2010 at 1:57 pm

    If you don’t know the first thing about cars, you probably just commented on this article.

  3. Brutus Nov. 19, 2010 at 2:20 pm

    Back to the future!

    Obama was taking bows for this last summer but now we find out this obsolete, throwback is not even going to be available in most of the country for two more years. Battery driven electric cars have been around for a hundred years. Because of the limits of batteries, with or without a gas engine, they have not and never will be sensible. On top of that the pollution entailed in making the batteries makes any environmental gain move into the negative. How many greenies want to live next to a lithium battery factory?

    More denial of reality and delusions from the left.

  4. Barbyr Nov. 19, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    Reality is talking about Brutus. Brutus knows all about the big lie – because he swallows every one of them, and spits them back involuntarily when presented with any topic he doesn’t understand.

  5. Will Nov. 19, 2010 at 2:42 pm

    Hey Brutus, how much do you get paid from an oil company to say that?

  6. NissanVolt??? Nov. 19, 2010 at 3:48 pm

    Um didn’t anyone else notice in the last sentence that Nissan is also planning a car named “Volt” just the same as GM’s car?

    “as the Nissan Volt that’s also set to go on sale by year-end.”

    That’s pretty gutsy of Nissan. Mary Jane makes for great articles.

    Peace,

    NissanVolt

  7. ejhickey Nov. 19, 2010 at 4:53 pm

    2012? How timely!

  8. PulSe Nov. 19, 2010 at 4:57 pm

    Brutus:

    Unga Bunga.
    Do you realize that your tribal identity has swallowed your entire life now.

    I bet you argue with the passion (online and without eye-contact, of course) of a tribal warrior about everything that can be divided and parsed in this life – including thin-crust or deep dish, Pepsi or Coke, Red or Blue, Oil or Electric, Hellmans or Miracle Whip, Cable or Satellite, Mac or PC, iPhone or Android, Toilet Paper hung over the top or around the back… We all know – I could go on and on…

    It’s great to see that you’ve come to this with your life. You’ve done well and should be proud that you defend the tribal conch shell of ultimate power with such vigor.

    Unga Bunga my heathen friend.

    Unga Bunga indeed.
    -your pal Oo Oo BooGa