The car achieved this after being put through its paces in cold weather testing in Kapuskasing, Ontario. In June and July, hot weather testing will be conducted in Yuma.
GM adds that the Volt is right on schedule to begin mass production in the fourth quarter, after the various test versions of the Volt already clocked 500,000 test miles.
When the cars will be produced, the first 100 units will go to the US government, who decided to buy them as part of the 5,600 hybrids meant to replace most of the government agencies.
The Volt will be initially launched in late 2010 in California. It will come powered by lithium-ion batteries which will give it a range of up to 40 miles without the use of the internal combustion engine, which will increase it's total range to some 300 miles.
Pricing for the car has not yet been announced, but GM's CEO Ed Whitacre hinted the car might be priced under $30,000.
Such a price is just about the only option left for GM, after Nissan announced the pricing for what may very well become Volt's competitor, the Leaf: $25,280 ($7,500 federal tax credit included). Although not in the exact same segment of the market as the Volt (the Leaf is a full-electric vehicle), the two will definitely become foes in the electric battle which starts this year.
Google News