GM Releases 150 MPG Hybrid Concept Car

GM announced a new concept car at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Sunday.  The Chevy Volt will be a hybrid car capable of getting 150 miles per gallon.  However, the car cannot be produced for consumers until the lithium-ion battery that powers can be obtained for a reasonable cost. 

The North American International Auto Show is closely watched by auto enthusiasts like the members of DFW Elite Car Club.  Members of DFW Elite Car Club share a garage of elite sports cars with a group of other car aficionados.  For those who want a shorter-term adrenalin kick, an increasingly popular option is renting elite cars from DFW Elite Auto Rental.  Another choice is a dream tour, like those available from DFW Drive Your Dream.  Dream tour participants can drive several amazing cars in a single day.

According to USA Today, “The Volt would be similar to hybrids such as Toyota’s popular Prius, combining a hulking battery and electric motor with a supplemental gasoline engine. Unlike the current-model Prius, the Volt could be plugged into an ordinary wall socket overnight to recharge its battery.  Also, unlike the Prius, the Volt would never run directly off its gasoline engine. When the stored power from being plugged in runs out, the engine would charge the battery. All the car’s motive power would come from its electric motors.”

GM describes the Volt as “innovative,” saying, “Concept Chevy Volt is just another way Chevy is working to bring you drivable and practical vehicles that help decrease our dependence on petroleum and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This major advancement in existing technology will make it possible for those short, up to 40-mile or less commutes to be gasoline-free.”

The battery technology improvements that are necessary to make the Volt a reality may occur in the next few years, or they might not happen for decades.  GM is betting that production of the car will be possible within a few years time.

According to the blog Autopia, GM’s has shifted its focus away from gas-guzzling SUVs and toward greener technology.  “General Motors is way out in front on the hybrid front, promising to deliver one new hybrid every three months for the next two years,” claims Autopia.  “GM recently opened a design studio dedicated exclusively to developing electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt, and it recently started road testing 100 hydrogen fuel cell Equinox SUVs in Southern California.”

With gas at $3 and promising to go higher as refineries switch to making summer blend fuels, 150 MPG can’t arrive soon enough for many American drivers.

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing services. For more stories from Kate, visit our daily luxury car news page.