New posts from Gas 2.0!

2012 Chevy Volt Prices at $39,995, Now Available Nationwide

Posted: 10 Jun 2011 10:35 AM PDT

What's that, GM? You're knocking $1,000 off the price of the 2012 Chevy Volt? And now customers all over America can order one from your local dealership? Hells yes, I like where this is going, which soon should be everywhere.

No doubt, the Chevy Volt is not the perfect car. But there is something about all the haters dissing the Volt that makes me like it all the more. However, not even I can pretend like the $41,000 starting price is cheap, though reportedly that is exactly how much it cost to make the Volt in the first place. I’d still like to see the prices come down closer to $35,000 or so (before the tax break), and I think we’ll get there in a few more years. This is a timely price cut though, and shaving $1,000 off the price of a brand new car is actually a pretty big deal if you ask me. That’s like Apple knocking $20 off the price of the iPad because hey, we can make it cheaper now.

The price cut comes from expansion of Volt production this year for sales nationwide, as well as new package offerings. The base model Volt will start at $39,995, including an $850 destination fee (but not taxes, title, or registration obviously.) If you apply for the Federal tax credit, that brings the price of the Volt down to $32,495. Or, if you opt to get all the bells and whistles, the Volt will set you back $46,265, or $38,765 after the tax credit.

And now customers in all 50 states can put in an order for their 2012 Chevy Volt, though the slow rollout will limit availability (in other words, you might still have to wait a while.) Other changes for 2012 include two near exterior colors (Summit White and Blue Topaz Metallic), two new interior accents, standard keyless entry with passive locks that lock or unlock in the presence of the key fob, a standard AM/FM radio with CD player and 7.1-inch touchscreen, and later this year a 17-inch sport alloy wheels with black inserts. All this sounds good to me, though I am still holding out hope for a sportier Volt SS. Probably too soon for that, but hey, I can wish, right?

Source: GM

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs. You can read about his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout or follow his non-nonsensical ramblings on Twitter @harshcougar.

Video: Nissan Leaf Drives 779 Miles in Just 24 Hours

Posted: 10 Jun 2011 07:35 AM PDT

Over the course of four days, I had to drive almost 800 miles last weekend. Impossible to do in an electric car, right? Wrong. A pair of Dutch Nissan Leaf drivers managed to cover 779 miles in just 24 hours.

There must be a catch, right? A tow truck, or a battery trailer, or something? As it turns out, the only advantage this duo of Dutch drivers had were fast charging stations spread along their route. They set out to see how far one can drive an electric car using these fast chargers in a 24 hour period. Considering that the EPA estimates the Leaf's driving range on a full charge to be about 73 miles, I figure these two probably plugged-in at least ten times (probably more though, given much of the trip was at highway speeds, lowering the estimated range even more.) That’s a lot of coffee breaks. Good thing the Netherlands is known for its “coffee shops.”

So, it's not exactly the most "convenient" trip. However, with gas prices hovering between $7 and $8 a gallon in much of Europe, the extra time is probably well worth the hundreds of dollars they saved in gas expenses. The video also proves the hardiness of both the battery pack and cooling system (which some people called "primitive") as well as the usefulness of the fast charging system. The DC Fast Charger system charges the Leaf in as little as 20 to 30 minutes, allowing them to cover a total distance of 1,254 km, or 779.2 miles, in just 24 hours. Not too shabby if you ask me, and on my recent mini-road trip, it would have saved me almost $100 in gas expenses.

Perhaps this video will win over a few more EV converts, perhaps not, but it definitely adds more fuel to the fiery debate over electric vehicles.

Source: All Cars Electric