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Connecticut is about to plug in. General Motors recently announced that the Chevrolet Volt will be available here by early next year. The Volt, a hybrid vehicle expected to sell in the mid-$30,000 range, runs on electricity generated by its battery.
Connecticut will be one of the first states to sell the vehicle, joining Texas, New York, New Jersey, California and Michigan.
Leo Karl III, president of Karl Chevrolet in New Canaan, has been watching the development of the vehicle for years. "We're really excited about it. The Volt has the potential to shatter perceptions about the electric car because its range is much farther than other electric vehicles," he said.
After charging for 6-8 hours in a standard 110-volt outlet, the Volt can run exclusively on electricity for up to 40 miles. After that, the car -- which looks like a standard mid-sized sedan -- runs on a range-extending gasoline generator that produces enough energy to power it for hundreds of miles on a single tank. This, Leo maintains, will be the key to its popularity and success. "Seventy percent of Americans have a commute of less than 40 miles, so most people could drive a Volt on pure electric power. They could plug in at home, drive to work and back and never use gas."
Additionally, Connecticut Light & Power is working with the towns of Westport, Darien, New Canaan and Norwalk to build Volt charging stations in selected municipal parking lots, such as those in Metro-North stations.
In a statement, Gov. M. Jodi Rell said: "This announcement clearly puts Connecticut in the driver's seat as a leader in alternative and renewable energy."
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