Technology

Folks who don't qualify for a $4,500 â?oCash for
Clunker's rebate may want to hold onto their cars a little longer.Â
Chevrolet announced this week that it will be rolling out a new electric
car which will give drivers the highest gasoline savings in history.
 The Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle
is expected to achieve city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon,
based on development testing. Production is scheduled to start in late
2010 as a 2011 model. The Volt is expected to travel up to 40 miles on
electricity from a single battery charge and be able to extend its overall
range to more than 300 miles with its flex fuel-powered engine-generator.
 "From the data we've seen, many Chevy Volt drivers
may be able to be in pure electric mode on a daily basis without having to
use any gas," said GM Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson. "EPA labels
are a yardstick for customers to compare the fuel efficiency of vehicles.
So, a vehicle like the Volt that achieves a composite triple-digit fuel
economy is a game-changer."
 According to U.S. Department of Transportation
data, nearly eight of 10 Americans commute fewer than 40 miles a day. At
the U.S. average cost of electricity (approximately 11 cents per kWh), a
typical Volt driver would pay about $2.75 for electricity to travel 100
miles, or less than 3 cents per mile!
 When the battery reaches a minimum state of charge,
the Volt automatically switches to Extended-Range mode. In this secondary
mode of operation, an engine-generator produces electricity to power the
vehicle. The energy stored in the battery supplements the engine-generator
when additional power is needed during heavy accelerations or on steep
inclines.
 "The key to high-mileage performance is for a Volt
driver to plug into the electric grid at least once each day," Henderson
said.
 Volt drivers' actual gas-free mileage will vary
depending on how far they travel and other factors, such as how much cargo
or how many passengers they carry and how much the air conditioner or
other accessories are used. Based on the results of unofficial development
testing of pre-production prototypes, the Volt has achieved 40 miles of
electric-only, petroleum-free driving in both EPA city and highway test
cycles.
 Besides the savings on energy costs automakers are
hopeful the Volt and other domestic cars will restore the U.S. auto
industry to its former glory. GM, Ford and Chrysler say they are
developing new lines of energy-efficient vehicles that will compete
successfully with imports such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan. Toyota's
Prius drivers currently get an impressive 50 miles per gallon. Compared
to the 230 promised by the Chevy Volt, the Prius will seem like a gas
guzzler.