12-10-2007: General Motors' Chevy Volt Concept Makes Its Debut In San Francisco, Touring The Bay Area's Famous Sites

Extended-Range Electric Vehicle Will Electrify The City By The Bay

LOS ANGELES – General Motors’ extended-range electric vehicle concept arrives in San Francisco on Thursday, providing a rare, up close preview of the highly-anticipated Chevy Volt. The vehicle will be on display at some of the Bay Area’s famous locations including Fisherman’s Wharf and Union Square from December 13 through December 18. San Francisco is one of only four U.S. cities to host the Chevy Volt around town, providing an opportunity for locals to see the car of the future.

Since its introduction in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the Chevy Volt sedan – powered by GM’s E-Flex electric propulsion system – has energized car enthusiasts in the U.S. and abroad with its potential to greatly reduce trips to the gas station for many commuters, as well as greatly reduce CO2 emissions.

More than 75 percent of drivers in the United States commute fewer than 40 miles a day1. For these drivers, a fully charged Chevy Volt will use no gas and produce no tailpipe emissions. The Chevy Volt is easily recharged by plugging it into a common 110-volt electrical outlet. A FlexFuel on-board engine that can run on gasoline, E85 ethanol, or a combination of the two, creates additional electricity to extend the vehicle’s range up to 640 miles, delivering triple-digit miles per gallon.

To bring the Chevy Volt to production, GM has engaged more than 200 engineers and 25 interior and exterior designers, and is aggressively pursuing battery-development contracts with two leading suppliers.