Note: For more from Alexandra, visit the "Ask Alexandra" tab on the Chevrolet Volt Facebook page

My husband Ian drives a 2001 Prius and I drive a 2002 RAV 4 electric car, which I charge every night in our garage. With my Volt coming this month, we needed to decide which of our current vehicles we’d sell to make room for the new car.

It was a no brainer for us: sell the hybrid, keep the EV. Ian has always preferred driving electric, and the Prius didn’t allow him to drive sans gasoline, since its battery pack only assists the gas motor. When I shoot on location, Ian eagerly ditches his Prius and drives my EV. Since he works out of our garage, there will be a bit of maneuvering to charge the Volt and the RAV side by side, but it will be worth it.

We use his hybrid as a second family car, for trips outside my RAV 4’s 100 mile range. With my purchase of the Volt, we get the best of both worlds: as an “extended range electric vehicle” (EREV), it has 25-50 miles of pure electric range depending on how and where you drive, and then a gas motor as backup to extend driving for another 344 miles if needed.

I aim to use the extended range mode as little as possible. I often drive 50 miles a  day, a range the Volt can do on its batteries alone  if you know how to drive it efficiently, but when I have to drive farther in a day, I will either “opportunity charge” (plug it in between trips when I get the chance) or borrow the EV from Ian.

Chevrolet’s first commercial had the tag line “More Car than Electric,” but to me the Volt is more car than gasoline. Having the choice to drive on pure electric makes it way better than a hybrid or a conventional gas car. The Volt is two cars in one, but I will always prefer the electric part.

***

Alexandra Paul is a longtime electric vehicle advocate, actress and former EV1 driver.  She is working with Chevrolet to educate consumers about EVs and the Volt. Full disclosure, Chevrolet is paying her for her time, but her opinions will always be hers.

Comments (4)

Name

Email

Comment smaller | bigger