The article was originally produced on December 30, 2011, some facts and prices may have changed since then.

Chevrolet Volt

Is it finally time to seriously consider the option of buying an electric car that you won't have to drive around with range anxiety? 

The entirety of today's Chevrolet wagons has received a very positive refresh since the collaboration with Korean Daewoo ended. At the time, the company was on the verge of completely losing its identity due to so-called badge-engineering, where you simply change the badge in the grill and on the steering wheel and sell the car under a different name. Something many strongly disliked due to Chevrolet's long history with big, solid cars and not small, flimsy low-priced cars from Asia. 

The exterior of the Volt feels very modern and with a nice sense of the future in the design, the front has fast narrow shapes with narrow lights and a large grill opening in aluminum. The rear feels a bit strange, but anything but out of date and it is perhaps a matter of habit to get used to and like it. On the side, the chrome window line has been pulled out a bit in front of the a-pillar and a Volt logo has been placed, something that adds momentum to an otherwise rather empty lot in other cars. 

The technology in the Volt is quite different from other electric cars. The reason for this is GM's solution to the problem of how to supply the electric motor with power. There is a battery and an electric motor as in all other electric cars, but there is also a petrol engine of 1.4 liters and 85 horsepower. Then you might wonder what a petrol engine does in this so-called electric car. The reason is that it acts as a backup and supplies the electric motor with power via a generator. So to be completely correct, the Volt should be called a plug-in hybrid, an electric car that can be charged using a petrol engine. The basic idea is that you should charge the car during the night and then be able to drive a distance of just over 4-6 miles. If you need to drive a longer distance, you don't have to worry like with other electric cars. With the help of the gasoline engine, the Volt gets a total range of about 60 miles and it is guaranteed to remove the range problems that many electric cars suffer from. It is certainly proven that most people on average do not drive more than 4-5 miles a day, which would then be enough for all electric cars. But how much fun is it really to drive around with a car where the meter needle is on reserve for even?

Inside, Chevrolet has put a lot of effort into making it feel ultra-modern, perhaps a little exaggerated on certain details, such as e.g. the center console with its touch buttons which looks like a plastic PC from the late 90s. The large and clear screens in the middle and in front of the steering wheel are full of information such as charge level, navigator, speedometer, etc. There is also a green ball that helps you analyze your driving and if it is eco-friendly, an exciting way to improve and make driving more efficient on. Due to the design of the battery, the Volt is strictly a four-seater, but even taller people sit very comfortably in the two rear seats. Thanks to the hatchback design, the luggage is relatively roomy and bags for a longer journey can fit without problem. 

With a press of the blue start button in the center console, the text "ready" appears on the screen in front of the steering wheel, not a sound not a vibration. When you plant your right foot on the gas pedal, the Volt goes off with a fairly well-measured force, but completely silently. A nice feeling that takes a while to get used to. The top speed of the Volt is around 160 km/h, and it should be mentioned that the Volt is not optimally suited for long high-speed stages on the German autobahns. But for city traffic and highway driving, the Volt works incredibly well, the car feels lively and agile all the time. The transition when the battery runs out happens almost as silently as the rest of the car's behavior and the only thing you notice is a faint humming sound. To make life easier for the owner of a Chevrolet Volt, an App has been developed for people with smartphones that allows you to check the status of the battery, start and stop charging or receive an SMS when the car is fully charged. Incredibly comfortable!

There is no doubt that the Volt will sell well. Of course, there are many other car brands that are close behind with similar technology but still one or more years behind. As the market looks now, no one knows for sure which way the development is going, will the batteries become cheaper and more durable? It is said that when the demand for the raw material for the batteries rises, the price will also rise, despite the fact that the material lithium is recyclable. No matter what happens and how it goes, the Volt will rule this future market that is actually already here thanks to the brilliant solution!

+ Super smart charging hybrid solution, cool design.

- Not quite optimal for long commutes.