The Chevy Volt leading the way to a practical transition from fossil fuels

Chevy Volt: By Evan

The Chevy Volt is a car that Chevy hopes will begin to lead to more green cars.  The Chevy volt in turn has been named the green car of the year 2011.  This car presents a more practical solution to a mix between electric and gas powered cars.  Chevy claims that this car is able to drive for around 35 miles completely gas free and on a single charge.  After 35 miles or so a gas motor will turn on and take the driver of up to around 340 miles more on a single tank of gas.  This car is not completely gas independent, but for most comuters in urban and suburban areas it could prove to be virtually if not all electric.  The concept of an automobile like the Chevy Volt will begin the transition away from fossil fuel in cars all together.  This car proves to have the same luxuries as every other car that is not quite so electricity dependent.  Chevy even claims specifics such as, “10 hour charge time on a 120 volt line” and “4 hours on a 240 volt line.”  This charge time suggests you can plug the car in overnight and wake up and drive around 35 miles gas free the next day.  Chevy even claims that “$1.50” will be the price of a gas free commuter to drive this car a day.  This remarkably inexpensive price makes this car appealing to the public while it still remains green and more environmentally sound than any other car competitor out on the market that still remains an average price range.  The price of the Volt seems to be around $32,780 according to the Chevy Website.  This price puts the car in an average price range compared to other cars on the market.

My personal feeling about this car is that it is a remarkable break through.  We have had the technology to do this for a while, but the car companies had to make these cars seem practical and affordable to the public and it seems like Chevy has accomplished this.  I think that as Americans we have perfected electric power more than fossil fuel extraction and in turn we have a more abundant supply of resources for electricity on the homeland than resources like oil, which we must trade will nations such as Saudi Arabia.  The idea of being able to plug a car in overnight and wake up the next day and drive 35 miles with out gas is very appealing to me and the consumers of the car industry. 

My final conclusion is that this car proves to be an excellent green car that offers the owner with a cheaper cost per drive due to the lack of independence the Volt has on gasoline.  The car has a very average price, so it is not out of the price range of the common public consumers in the automobile industry.  It even proves to be much more practical than other attempts at a mix between gas and electric engines.  For example, the Hybrids don’t use gas if you go under a certain speed and then turns the gas generater on whenever it goes above that speed or runs out of electricity.  This process is somewhat effective, but Hybrids are still gas dependent on highways and usually anywhere with a speed limit about 35 miles per hour or over.  Where the Volt will be gas independent for around 35 miles with no limitation created due to the users speed.  This car seems to pave the way to the future, while still remaining practical to the public.  I know when this car comes out I will want to purchase it and envy everyone who has it.

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