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

“Range Anxiety” is a term used for the concern that an electric car may run out of juice before getting to its destination. The Chevrolet Volt appeases that concern because of its range-extending gas engine. Ironically, the folks most affected by this are those who have never owned a plug in car, so as a longtime EV driver, I don’t get range anxiety.

I have gasoline anxiety.

I love the quiet, smooth drive and amazing torque of electric drive so much that I go to great lengths to avoid turning the gas engine on in my Volt. The first time the gas engine turned on, 5 miles from home after a day on the set, I felt like a failure. Last week, I felt secretly irritated that Ian’s drive to Ojai and back  - 240 miles round trip - would mean many gasoline miles. Ahh, the pollution! Good bye super-high mpg!

I definitely need an attitude adjustment. When I admitted to my beloved how much I hated it when the Volt was burning gas, Ian reminded me that if it were not for my Volt, we would still have his Prius burning more fossil fuels in the long run. At least this way our second car uses clean energy most of the time.

I am not used to owning the “gasburner” in the family. Even though it makes much so much environmental sense for me to drive the Volt, my pride is affected when the circumstances of our life turn on that gas engine. Now I see how, because it wasn’t my car using gasoline on our longer trips, but Ian’s Prius, I took less responsibility for my carbon footprint.

This doesn’t mean that my first trip to the gas station to fill up my Volt will be easy, but I am determined to look at it as a win: How cool that I have a car that plugs in AND gives me the choice to drive long distances too.

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.

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