behind the wheel of gm's chevrolet volt - 3.7 volt lithium ion battery1

Meet the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, and GM answers like a Toyota Prius hybrid.
You won't have a chance to buy it until the end of the year, but abc News.
Com was invited to preview the Volt on a closed course outside the RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. C.
If you haven't driven an electric or hybrid car before, the first thing you notice after stepping on the throttle --
How quiet this is.
Electric engine powered by 400 lb lithium
Ion batteries allow cars to whisper while making sound.
You also notice how fast the voltage is.
Due to the design of the motor, power and torque can be obtained from the starting line.
GM spokesman Dave Darovitz said it will take about 8 hours for the car to fully charge by plugging into your standard home outlet.
If your commute is 40 miles away from the battery, the on-board gas engine/generator will start, leaving you at 300-
400 miles before refueling
"What they're trying to do with Volt is basically to give you an electric car, but don't worry about it being out of power," said John Davis . ", Host of public TV show racing week
"This is the next step beyond a hybrid like [Toyota]Prius.
"In Prius, as in most hybrid cars, the gasoline engine will start right away, not after 40 miles, whenever the car is going hard or up the hill
GM has high hopes for the success of the car.
"Production voltage represents not only the future of GM, but also the future of the entire US automotive industry," Davis said . ".
"It's a technology, and it looks like Detroit automakers actually have a place in most of their competition, so the whole aspect of the remote hybrid is very important.
"The GM representative is not yet ready to announce the price tag for the Volt, but the current estimate is $30,000 --$40,000 range.
"This is a huge risk for GM, and they need to fix the car and its entire battery and petrol generator system for the first time," Davis said . ".
"They have everything to rely on.