Does anyone here believe that the Chevy Volt is NOT an electric vehicle?

The volt is not always a "pure electrically operated vehicle." Chuckles is not correct. The Volt will run as a series for most but not all (100%) of its RPM range. At the top end it switches from a pure series hybrid to a parallel hybrid.1 Another interesting fact is that the Volt will not charge its batteries from the engine.2 I assume GM did this so that it could seemingly increase its gas mileage without increasing its overall mileage.

But what is a "real" EV? We used to hear about parallel hybrids vs a "pure ev," but one could argue that a battery electric vehicle is not as "pure" as a vehicle with no batteries that runs only on power transmitted to it from a third rail, overhead lines or an induction coil buried in the roadway. Is a solar car more of a "real ev" than a vehicle with an engine?

One could argue that any vehicle with an electric starter motor is a "hybrid." Just calling a vehicle a "hybrid" or an EV may not mean very much until you understand what is involved. I would argue that there are three classes of electric vehicles:

1... those that have power transmitted to them like subways, trams, and in the future some electric cars (3)

2... those that run on some manor of stored power. In the past we have experimented with flywheels, presently we are pursuing battery technology and in the future we will probably use only a form of ultracapacitor. (4)

3... those that make electricity on the vehicle that is used to exclusively drive an electric motor. This would include solar cars, fuel cell vehicles, and a pure series hybrid.

All these electric vehicles would use some combination of electric motors to drive the vehicle, but the electricity has a variety of potential sources. And just because a vehicle is not completely an electric vehicle does not mean that it has no value. I have a problem with the way the Volt was marketed and the price. They never claimed it was a pure series hybrid, they never used those terms but they did release statements that suggested as much. A compressed air powered vehicle might be a great vehicle for some applications but it is not strictly an electric vehicle. Hybrids have a place even if they are not purely operated by electric motors.

The Chevy Volt is an electric vehicle in that 100% of the power that meets the road comes from an electric motor. There is no coupling of any kind for energy from the gasoline engine to power the wheels. The gas engine is there only to recharge the batteries in case the driver goes too far and runs out of battery power. If you drive the Volt less than 40 miles a day you never need gasoline to operate it.

And the price is high not because of a desire to jack up the price but because it is very expensive to make. It has a battery in it that costs about $8000 to make and the extra electric drive train costs more to make than a transmission costs to make.

The Volt was developed because the government demanded they come out with a higher mileage vehicle. It is part of the road towards getting new technology developed.

I'm not hung up what it's called, I think it is an intriguing invention.

It has enough battery range that it can be used by many people on a daily basis as a pure-EV commuter vehicle.

The gasoline engine allows much greater range than any EV, so when you have to drive to another state, you can make it.

Especially for a 1-car family, it seems like the obvious choice if you want a mostly-electric car.

I don't care what label you give it, it sounds to me like a step in the right direction.

As for the price compared to a leaf, having the combustion engine will of course add to the price. It's also a bigger car.

Cutting edge technology is always more expensive.

If you mean is it a purely electric vehicle I would have to say no it isn't. It's closer to a plug in hybrid then an electric vehicle. To me a true electric vehicle runs 100% on battery not mostly.

The 2011 Honda Insight starts at $18,200, + tax,.fees..and its rated 40/43. http://automobiles.honda.com/insight-hybrid/

The Prius10 starts around $22,800. and its rated at 48 / 51. http://www.toyota.com/prius-hybrid/

now, the Volt comes down from $40,280 to $33,500, AFTER rebate, still a lot of money for a car that I can do the same with a bit of gas $$. once the credit is gone...

good luck chumps!

its more than twice the price of a basic Insight.(with out rebate)

I wonder where anyone claiming this is a good buy has his/her head?

Do you know how long it will take to offset those extra $$ you spent?

even the Nissan Leaf is a better buy.

if you own a FORD you own a Mexican + Brazilian + IDK where else + American vehicle. just remove parts from it and you will see I'm not lying, start with the radio.

IDK about GM or Chryslers but i suspect the same thing.

but to each its own.

Either way it's a step in the right direction . I like them I think they have a modern look . Stop gripping at least they are trying .

yes. definately i belive