My friend picked up his new Chevy Volt today. [View all]

[Motown_Johnny]

I am a big Volt fan and have been following them since they were just a concept vehicle. I go to the Detroit Auto Show (almost) every year and have seen them there but I must admit I was still caught by surprise.

It maybe the fact that at the Auto Show you look at dozens of vehicles in a few hours and they all tend to blend into one another, but this car really stood out for me today. For one thing I have never heard one run before. They tend to just be sitting on the showroom floor at the show so you can sit in it and look under the hood. I almost didn't hear it run today just because it is so freaking quiet. Even with the generator running to recharge the battery it is virtually silent.


I have not ridden in it, or driven it, as of yet but I expect to within the next week or so. He offered to let me take it for a drive today but I was in the middle of something and really didn't have the time to relax and enjoy it. He tells me that it is faster/quicker than he expected it to be. I understand that electric motors create more torque than an internal combustion engine so I am guessing that is why the performance seems to be so good. He had only driven it about 33 miles and the battery was nearly dead when he picked it up (I guess it came from a different dealership) but the dash says he was getting over 84 MPG. So at that rate he would need to go 42 miles before he burned his first half gallon of gasoline.

I'll see it again tomorrow and maybe even drive it then, if we both have time. I can't wait to see what the real world mileage is for this car. The battery will also be fully charged by tomorrow so I will get to hear (or not hear) it in fully electric mode too.

How was your day?