Goodbye Chevrolet Spark Electric; Welcome Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid

2011 Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid

Mahindra took over Reva Electric and this promptly led to the alliance between Reva Electric and General Motors India being terminated. An obvious fallout of this project was the Chevrolet Spark Electric project being shelved, much to the chagrin of the eager Indian car buyers fervently hoping for an affordable electric car.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid

What goes around must come around and come around it has, with General Motors India seemingly readying up plans to launch the Chevrolet Volt Plug In Hybrid as early as the end of 2010. If the Chevrolet Volt indeed sees an Indian launch in 2010, it could be the third hybrid car, after the Honda Civic Hybrid and the Toyota Prius Hybrid, to hit Indian streets.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid

While the Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid might not ring the volumes that the now erstwhile Chevrolet Spark Electric could have for GM India, the Volt would be more of a brand builder by giving Indians a taste of the radical electric plug-in hybrid that is set to sell internationally later this year. In line with it’s premium positioning, expect the Chevrolet Volt Hybrid to be priced somewhere close to the INR 20 Lakh mark.

2011 Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid

Coming to how the Chevrolet Volt Plug-In Hybrid aims to save the world, you get a radical new concept in EVs called the range extender in the Chevrolet Volt. This range extender will kick in once the 40 mile electric range of the Chevrolet Volt is used up. Once this happens, the range extender will use petrol in the Chevrolet Volt’s fuel tank to generate electricity, which then will propel the Chevrolet Volt for hundreds of miles. This will work till you run out of fuel after which you need to recharge your batteries or tank up. Interesting, isn’t it? The wait for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt in India has just begun.