Starting today, Chevrolet dealers will begin taking customer orders for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle.
The price? $41,000 retail, before a tax credit of up to $7,500.
The vehicle will initially be available in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and Washington D.C.
The substantial tax credit drops the price of the vehicle down to $33,500 retail, but it’s unclear if consumers will bite at such a high price point.
To be clear: this is a reasonable price point for an electric vehicle, but it’s still steep for the average American family car. (To compare, a new BMW 328i starts at $36,200 MSRP.)
Chevrolet is touting the Volt’s “extended-range” 16-kWh battery as its calling card, which is used exclusively up to the first 40 miles. Then, a gas-powered generator kicks in to give the battery more juice for another 300 miles.
Inside, tech amenities abound: a 7-in. touchscreen display for navigation, Bose audio, OnStar, eight air bags, electronic stability control and traction control.
The Volt will come with a 120-volt charge cord so you can plug it into a standard home electrical outlet next to your cell phone, if that’s your thing. (Just kidding.)
The Volt’s battery is backed by an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty, as well as:
- 3-year / 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage
- 5-year / 100,000-mile roadside assistance and courtesy transportation
- 5-year/100,000-mile limited gas engine coverage
- 6-year/100,000-mile corrosion protection coverage
Chevrolet also says 4,400 Volt buyers in launch markets could be eligible for a free 240-volt charging station, including home installation, thanks to a U.S. Dept. of Energy initiative.
How much is Nissan’s new Leaf, by the way? Retail is $33,000…before subsidies.
