2011 Chevrolet Volt to Get 230 Miles per Gallon

General Motors just announced that the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle is expected get city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon.

The Volt is scheduled to start production in late 2010 and be available as a 2011 model. It is said 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.

The Chevrolet Volt uses grid electricity as its primary source of energy. It has two modes of operation: Electric and Extended-Range. In electric mode, the Volt will not use gasoline or produce tailpipe emissions when driving. During this primary mode of operation, the Volt is powered by electrical energy stored in its 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

When the battery reaches a minimum state of charge, the Volt automatically switches to Extended-Range mode. In this mode, 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," said GM Chief Executive Officer Fritz Henderson.

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.

For more information on the Volt, visit www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/fuel/electric.do