WARREN, Mich. — General Motors said Tuesday its Chevrolet Volt electric car could get 230 mpg in city driving, making it the first American vehicle to achieve triple-digit fuel economy if that figure is confirmed by federal regulators.
But when the four-door family sedan hits showrooms late next year, its efficiency will come with a steep sticker price: $40,000.
Still, the Volt’s fuel efficiency would be four times more than the popular Toyota Prius hybrid, the most efficient car now sold in the U.S.
“Dealers are anxiously awaiting the Volt, as are consumers,” said Tim Jackson, president of the Colorado Automobile Dealers Association. “The challenge it’s going to have is the price point. It’s going to be quite a bit above some of the traditional hybrids in the marketplace.”
Jackson said he expects most GM dealers in Colorado to offer the Volt, except for perhaps a few smaller or rural dealerships that may not have specially trained technicians on staff to service the cars.
Inventories of the Volt are likely to be limited initially, Jackson said, requiring buyers to order the cars in advance. GM has produced about 30 Volts so far and is making 10 a week.
Most automakers are working on similar electric models, but GM would offer the first mainstream plug-in with the Volt, which seats four and was introduced at the 2007 Detroit auto show.
The Volt will join a growing fleet of cars and trucks powered by systems other than internal-combustion engines.
Unlike the Prius and other traditional hybrids, the Volt is powered by an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range. After that, a small internal-combustion engine kicks in to generate electricity for a total range of 300 miles. The battery pack can be recharged from a standard home outlet.
Hybrids use a small internal-combustion engine combined with a high-powered battery to boost fuel efficiency. Toyota’s Prius — which starts at about $22,000 — gets 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway.
Denver Post staff writer Steve Raabe contributed to this report.
Volt vs. hybrids: How they compare
Volt: Billed as a rechargeable electric car, it gets most of its power from an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range. It also has a small internal-combustion engine that kicks in after the battery runs out of juice. General Motors expects the $40,000 Volt to get 230 mpg in the city.
Traditional hybrids: The Toyota Prius combines an internal-combustion engine with a special hybrid battery that boosts fuel efficiency. The newest version starts at about $22,000 and gets an EPA-estimated 51 mpg in the city and 48 mpg on the highway.
The Associated Press
