By YOUNG MONEY Staff
9 September 2008

If you are committed to saving the environment, yet still need to commute to work everyday, the 2011 Chevy Volt might be your dream “green” car. And if GM makes their 2010 deadline, the Volt could be the first extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) available.

Extended-range electric vehicle (E-REV) means the car can drive on a battery for a set number of miles and then the something onboard kicks in to recharge the battery and “extend the range” of the vehicle. The Chevy Volt will be different then previous electric vehicles—it will use a state-of-the-art lithium-ion (LI) battery. Lithium-ion batteries are currently used in cell phones and laptops. They store more energy in a smaller space and are faster to recharge. And the Chevy Volt has multiple range-extending onboard power sources, including gas and E85 ethanol(1), to recharge the battery while driving.

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt may be able to run on electric power alone for 40 miles (with a full battery charge). And Chevrolet promises you will be able to plug your Volt into a common 110-volt household plug. This means that if you drive less then 40 miles a day, you won’t use any gas, won’t produce any harmful emissions, and won’t have a problem finding a place to plug in.

GM has set a self-imposed November 2010 deadline. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is predicted to cost between $35,000 and $40,000.