C'mon, really, if Chevy's claims about 230mpg are true -- tell me if Toyota or Honda can measure up to that. Chevy eats the competition with a zero-emission car, its 100% electric. I bet electricity is alot cheaper then gas is right now at the pump.

via Washington Post - GM Says New Car Is Capable of 230 MPG

Knowing GM, I wouldn't put it past them to fudge the math there buddy. Same for how car companies play fuzzy math with the MPG ratings -- usually under supreme driving conditions (no A/C, driven at 55mph, etc). According to the Wash Post article you cited, "As for GM, its claim of 230 miles per gallon is based on a proposed federal methodology for measuring the efficiency of plug-ins. But what Volt drivers will actually get for mileage depends on how far and how hard they drive.

"So if, for example, a person drives a Volt only 30 miles a day on easy roads and recharges each night, almost no gasoline would be required, making its mileage almost infinite, company officials said."

I will give them credit for being the ones to launch the first all-electric vehicle. That's pretty impressive considering their major fiasco that was the EV-1.

If the Chevy Volt takes off, it would also be a great way to encourage faith in the US auto industry. I mean really, nearly 40 miles purely on electricity sounds great. Most people drive within 20 miles a day, normally. Can you imagine how much that would reduce in gas emissions? Imagine how much cleaner your neighborhood would smell, feel.

But at $40,000 will consumers nip for it? That is significantly more expensive then its hybrid competitors and we are in a recession -- I'd have to be driving that car for many many many years before I could pay it off and see the green savings from it. 

We don't want this to be like a mini Tesla car where only a few people buy it. However,  I do hope that the stiff competition from GM will drive even further development of electric car technology from other companies including Toyota and Honda.

Have you seen the Chevy Volt? For once, it's a hybrid car that doesn't look like crap (*cough*Prius*cough). I see a little touch of the Camaro in the design. For $40,000, it better have a NICE interior and not have GM cop out on cheap feeling interior materials. I think this thing looks like  Now GM just needs to make sure it doesn't break down all the time. Can we say comeback for GM if this thing works like it's promised to?

The Volt already is elevating awareness, discussion and debate about electric vehicles.  Up to more than 40 miles of pure EV driving and then having the engine generator means you'll never be stranded.  I drive about 35 miles per day and about that on weekends. So I'll just plug in at night. This not only is going to save money, reduce emissions and the dependence on petroleum, it's going to save time by not having to go to the gas station very often.

The vehicle will have at minimum a $7500 tax credit, so we're looking at low-mid $30K

I'm on the waiting list!

Looks-wise, I have to agree with redletterduke -- the Chevy Volt DOES look better then the Nissan Leaf. But I welcome the competition. Nissan says the Leaf covers a majority of commuters with a" 100 mile range [that] meets the needs of 70% of the world's motorists. In the case of U.S. consumers, Nissan says that fully 80% of drivers travel less than 100km per day (62 miles), making the Leaf a solid fit for America's motoring majority."

Maybe they should say MPC (Miles Per Charge) and as for reliability.  The Volt will more than likley break a lot and who knows how reliable the battery will be.  How long will this battery last and when it finally takes a shit and holds no charge, how much will this monster battery cost

I'm with Chevy and I think it already has changed the competition. However, the Volt is not a hybrid, it's an electric vehicle that functions like a series hybrid only in charge sustaining mode, i.e., when the engine generator is being used after about 40 miles, not when the battery has a charge. So, it's changing the game for what people expect from a car with multiple fuel sources since electricity is the first option. Plus, it's changing what people expect from an EV since it has the range extender in case you run out of battery power and can't plug-in. The 230 city mpg claim is based on the current draft EPA fuel economy methodology, but even more important is the fact the Volt will get more than 100 mpg combined (city/hwy) - that's impressive by any measure or comparison.  My own personal opinion for comparing the Volt to other vehicles is to use a cost per mile comparison and the Volt clearly wins on that one too. Check this U.S. News & World Report story -

There is so much to consider when you talk about that MPG number, how is it truly calculated?

The electric car (HEV or BEV) would be a much better option if we could get away from batteries, or combine it with this technology in public roads.

http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity.html

The batteries in use are a huge evironmental problem.