As an avid environmental activist, I’ve been keeping a close eye on how the automotive market has been evolving over these past few years. Disillusionment with American manufacturers was a big part of the nearly disastrous drop in sales logged during the recession, and now that the Big Three have recognized where they stand, we’ve been seeing these manufacturers pump out vehicle after vehicle employing hybrid, clean diesel and electric engine technologies that are sure to make driving a more efficient practice. Chicago Chevrolet dealers across the city are about to give the auto industry a rude wake up call when they launch one of the most fuel efficient electric cars to hit the market yet. The much-anticipated Chicago Chevy Volt will hit showrooms at Chicago Chevrolet dealers. And Chevrolet expects this vehicle to really turn up the heat in the race for fuel efficiency. The new Volt employs cutting-edge battery technology to travel a reported 300 miles without refueling and 40 miles on the electric engine alone. A commuter car, the Volt will help travelers with commutes less than 40 miles total drive to and from work without using a single drop of gas. And with Chevy’s recent announcement at the LA Auto Show, it looks like we’ll be seeing the Chicago Chevy Volt sooner than we expected. In the coming months, Chevrolet is poised to release the Volt to the public. In a speech at the LA show, Robert Lutz, the Vice Chairman of Global Product Development at GM, said, "We have significantly expanded our commitment to electrically-driven vehicles at GM, and are now in the midst of an extraordinary transformation. GM is moving from a company that, for 100 years, has been based on mechanically driven automobiles, to one that will eventually be focused on electrically driven vehicles. This is a big deal." While Chicago suburban used car dealers won’t see the Volt for a little bit, we’re expecting that the innovative new vehicle will set the bar high for fuel efficiency in the coming years. Priced at $40,000, the Volt is a little pricier but will help pay for itself in costs saved on gas. As part of the new push towards efficiency, GM is teaming up with three California utilities to help give the Chevy Volt a jumpstart. A $30 million government grant will help distribute 100 Volts and build 500 charging stations for residential, commercial and public use. While competitors like the Nissan Leaf are firing back after GM’s recent announcement, it’s clear that the Volt is the only vehicle of its kind thus far that will be able to back up its claims of fuel efficiency. I don’t know about you, but I’ve got plans to test-drive one of these babies as soon as possible. In the end, the Volt represents exactly what this struggling automotive industry needs and will kick manufacturers into gear in the coming years. Don’t wait until the Volt is featured at Chicago suburban used car dealerships. Stop by in the coming months to experience what all the buzz is about.
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