• What's a kilowatt?

  Just like a second is a measurement of time and a liter is a Measurement of liquid, a watt is a unit measure of power, just like horsepower. A kilowatt is a measure of 1,000 watt of electrical power. The electric motor in a Volt will output about 111 kilowatts. One kW is roughly equivalent to 1 1/3 hp, so Volt's 111 kW electric motor can also be described as approximately 150 hp motor.

  KILOWATT
• Who will get the most benefit from driving Volt?

  If you plug in frequently, you'll experience the greatest gas savings and reduced emissions. Per mile, electricity is less expensive to use than gas, so if you can plug in before or shortly after the electric charge runs out, you'll get the maximum benefit out of Volt.

  BENEFITS
• Will I always get 40 miles on an electric charge?

  No. Like any electric vehicle, Volt's electric miles per charge will vary. Like all vehicles, electric vehicles are less efficient in extremely hot or cold temperatures. In addition to outside temperatures, use of features like air conditioning and heat, personal driving style, additional cargo in the vehicle and the age of the battery will affect the electric range.

  ALWAYS 40
• Is it easy to use?

  Yes. While Volt has been designed to be the most efficient when it's plugged in daily (like a typical electric vehicle), it will run efficiently without being plugged in for days, weeks or even months. With Volt, you don't have to be tied to plugging-in every day if it doesn't accommodate your schedule.

  EASY TO USE
• What happens if I never charge the battery?

  You'll probably spend more money on gas than you need to, but Volt will run just fine. Just remember that you'll only get the full benefits of owning a Volt if you charge it routinely.

  NEVER CHARGE
• What happens if the battery is not fully charged?

  You won't have to worry about having enough time to fully charge Volt. A partially charged battery will work until it runs out, then the gas-powered electric generator will seamlessly kick in to provide electricity and extend your range up to 300 miles until you can plug in again or you can refuel.

  FULLY CHARGED
• Why electricity?

  Electricity runs clean in a vehicle — that means zero tailpipe emissions. And if the electricity is generated using wind, hydro, solar or biofuels, there is the potential to significantly reduce the emissions associated with personal transportation. So advancements in electricity production along with reduction in emissions from electric-powered driving could help make our world a cleaner place.

  WHY ELECTRICITY
• Are there other advantages to electricity?

  Since almost all of our electricity is produced domestically, it's a great way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. has a variety of electricity sources, all with the potential to help us become more energy-independent.

  ADVANTAGES
• How long does Volt take to charge?

  In about ten hours, you'll have a fully charged Volt waiting for you, ready to go. You can also install a 240V outlet, which can charge Volt in as little as four hours.

  HOW LONG
• Is a special outlet required to charge the Volt?

  No, you can plug it into any standard 120V household outlet. Or you could have a 240V charging station installed in your garage — it would require a dedicated electrical circuit similar to what is used for your clothes dryer.

  SPECIAL OUTLET
• How much does Volt cost to charge?

  Electricity is an extremely affordable way to power a car - the average American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. If the average American drives less than 40 miles, it will cost about $1.50 a day for electricity. That's about the same annual cost as running a common household appliance. To save even more, some utility companies recommend charging overnight for off-peak rates and may even offer incentives to customers who do so.

  COST TO CHARGE
• What happens if I travel more than 40 miles?

  Once the initial electric charge is depleted, the range-extending gas engine will kick in to seamlessly generate enough energy to continue to power the car for hundreds of additional miles.

  TRAVEL MORE
• What is it like to drive Volt?

  Those who've had an opportunity to test-drive Volt have noticed how easy it is to use. Steve Parker, blogging on Huffington Post, commented on what it's like to drive Volt: “Push the ‘start' button and Volt springs into life… All in all, it's an intuitive area for the driver…The car is quiet, smooth and fast off the line (electric motors have all their torque at start-up, unlike gas engines which need time to build power).” On top of that, Volt can also accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about nine seconds.

  WHATS IT LIKE
• How much interior room does Volt have?

  Volt will carry four adults comfortably. The hatchback design provides surprising flexibility for larger cargo.

  INTERIOR ROOM
• What kind of battery will Volt use?

  The Volt will be powered by a Lithium-ion battery pack. While there are many different kinds of lithium batteries like the ones used in computers and cell phones, the Volt cells are specifically made for vehicles. The Li-ion battery holds its charge efficiently and has no memory effect, which means you don't have to run it down completely before recharging.

  KIND OF BATTERY
• What makes the Volt battery unique?

  The Volt battery is designed for long life and to be reliable. Each battery pack is made up of more than 200 rectangular cells arranged in a series-parallel configuration. Computer systems monitor the battery cells to make sure everything is working correctly.

  UNIQUE BATTERY
• How much will Volt cost?

  The purchase price is yet to be determined, but the Volt will qualify for the maximum federal tax credit for plug-in electric vehicles — $7,500. Check back with us for updates on other potential energy incentives.

  COST TO BUY

Technology

See how Volt compares

• Storing power

  Volt is powered by electricity stored in its 16-kWh Lithium-ion battery. It is also powered by electricity created by its gas-engine generator.

• Up to 40-mile charge

  The electric motor drives the wheels at all times and speeds. Once fully charged, Volt is powered only by electricity stored in the battery for trips up to 40 miles(1).

  1 Assumes fully charged battery. Actual range depends on driving habits, weather conditions, terrain and the operation of electrical features in the vehicle. Vehicle features and performance capabilities subject to change without notice.

• Converting energy

  Energy is captured during braking and converted into electricity. The electricity is then stored in the battery for future use.

• Switching to gas

  When the battery's energy is depleted, a gasoline- or biofuel-powered generator automatically and seamlessly provides electricity to power Volt. This extends the range of Volt for several hundred additional miles, until the battery can be recharged or until additional fuel is added.

• IVER

  Short for Integration Vehicle Engineering Release, an IVER is a preproduction Volt. Because of the small quantity, these models are hand-built rather than mass-produced and are considered an almost-finished version of the final car. They're used for testing to determine if any final changes are needed before official production begins.

  IVER
• Kilowatt (kW)

  Just like a second is a measurement of time and a liter is a Measurement of liquid, a watt is a unit measure of power, just like horsepower. A kilowatt is a measure of 1,000 watt of electrical power. The electric motor in a Volt will output about 111 kilowatts. One kW is roughly equivalent to 1 1/3 hp, so Volt's 111 kW electric motor can also be described as approximately 150 hp motor.

  KILOWATT
• Lithium-Ion Battery

  The Volt 16 kilowatt hours battery is the first of its kind. While there are many different kinds of lithium batteries (Li-ion), like the ones used in computers and cell phones, Volt battery cells are specifically made to power vehicles. The Li-ion battery holds its charge efficiently and has no memory effect, which means you don't have to run it down completely before recharging. The Volt battery has gone through numerous environment-specific tests including corrosion and hot- and cold-weather testing. This is the first time a vehicle battery like this has ever been produced, so we need to make sure it will stand up to every real-world condition.

  BATTER
• Off-Peak Charging

  To use the power grid more efficiently, we recommend recharging the Volt when overall energy demand is at its lowest each day. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, this is usually from around 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. If you'd like to know whether reduced off-peak electricity rates are offered in your area, contact your local electric company.

  CHARGING
• Range-Extender

  The four-cylinder, 1.4 liter engine and onboard generator is the single most important feature in making Volt different than all other electric vehicles. Powered by gas, it seamlessly kicks in when the Volt battery is depleted. It provides electrical power so Volt can travel several hundred additional miles until you can plug it in or fill it up again. This way, you don't have to worry about stopping to charge the battery every 40 miles if you can't or don't want to.

  RANGE-EXTENDER
• Regenerative Braking

  Kinetic energy is the energy any object in motion has. When a vehicle slows or stops, it typically loses kinetic energy. A conventional braking system dissipates this energy as heat and does not capture it. Since this energy is too precious to lose, the Volt braking system recaptures much of the car's, kinetic energy and converts it into electricity, helping to make Volt even more efficient to drive. Here's how it works: Volt accelerates using its electric motor by converting electrical energy from the battery into mechanical energy. When you step on the brakes even slightly, the electric motor reverses this process, converting mechanical energy from the motion of the vehicle back to electric energy into the battery to be re-used later.

  BRAKING