California Gets Greener Volt
The Chevrolet Volt has been lauded as America’s answer to global warming. But it isn’t green enough to get the coveted California Clean Air decal. Apart from the feel-good effect, that sticker comes with a $1,500 rebate, courtesy of the State of California, and the privilege of driving solo in the state’s carpool lanes. GM is doing something about that.
Volts with a special Low Emissions Package began shipping from the General Motors Detroit-Hamtramck plant this week and should begin arriving at Chevrolet dealerships in California before the end of the month. The Low Emissions Package will be standard in California.
All other states receive the regular Volt with less green.
Bertel Schmitt comes back to journalism after taking a 35 year break in advertising and marketing. He ran and owned advertising agencies in Duesseldorf, Germany, and New York City. Volkswagen A.G. was Bertel's most important corporate account. Schmitt's advertising and marketing career touched many corners of the industry with a special focus on automotive products and services. Since 2004, he lives in Japan and China with his wife <a href="http://www.tomokoandbertel.com"> Tomoko </a>. Bertel Schmitt is a founding board member of the <a href="http://www.offshoresuperseries.com"> Offshore Super Series </a>, an American offshore powerboat racing organization. He is co-owner of the racing team Typhoon.
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Why doesn't GM just switch ALL volts over to be compliant with the more-strict standards? Because they may lose say, $250 in profit on each? Typical...
When the Volts first came out, I remember trying to get a test drive in one with the Robert Farago school of thought -- test drive it your own self, from a dealer lot. At the time, I was told, if I wasn't pre-ordering to buy the Volt, I would be waiting until 2013, because they had pre-sold the production run for several years into the future. So, I'm thinking, maybe next January, I can get a test drive on that, assuming supply exists.
Why can't we open the HOV lane for cars of a certain MPG rating? 35 and up? Ride the diamonds!
"But, they are sold out according to Government Motors!" Hey Garbage, looks like it for people in Canada. Off the the Voltl Facebook page: @VOLT MARKETING DEPARTEMENT: Is it possible to know how many VOLT will be allocated in Quebec, where gas prices are over 5$ a gallon? I know friends who made a 1000$ deposit 6 months ago and still have not received it. Only 100 Volts were allocated in 2011, how many for QC in 2012? As a friend told me, his GM dealer who is in business since 25 years has never seen this. It's easier in QUEBEC to order a custom Ferrari, than a VOLT !!! I need this information since being myself a Volt owner, I get lots of requests from friends «where can I get a VOLT». EVEN some people try to import VOLT's from the USA, but it's quite complicated and you're not eligible to Quebec's 7769$ rebate