Chevrolet Starts Taking Orders for the 2011 Chevy Volt

General Motors announced today that it is beginning to take orders for the new Chevy Volt electric car. We reported about the Volt: GM’s Pioneering March to Alternative Transport and Energy, but at that time the exact price was not available.

The Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price starts  at $41,000. Once the full federal income tax credit is applied, the effective price goes down to $33,500. The federal income tax credit for the Chevy Volt ranges ranges from $0 to $7,500. The lease payment based on the sticker price would be around $350 per month for a 36 months lease with about $2,500 due at lease signing.

[caption id="attachment_5138" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="2011 Chevy Volt Electric Car, Photo Courtesy of General Motors"][/caption]

“The Chevrolet Volt will be the best vehicle in its class…because it’s in a class by itself,” said Joel Ewanick, vice president of U.S. marketing for General Motors, who made the announcement at the Plug-In 2010 conference. “No other automaker offers an electrically driven vehicle that can be your everyday driver, to take you wherever, whenever. The Volt will be packed with premium content and innovation, standard.”

Initially the Chevy Volt will be only available in certain areas: California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. area. If you want to locate a Volt dealer, you can use the Volt dealer locator.

To be among the first to purchase a Volt, customers can visit their nearest participating Chevrolet Volt dealer. A Volt dealer locator will be available later today at http://www.getmyvolt.com.There is also a team of Volt advisors available to answer consumer questions: 1-888-865-8496.

The battery is covered by an 8 year or 100,00 mile warranty.  All other parts are only guaranteed between 3 to 6 years and also 100,000 miles.

Overall the Chevy Volt looks like a nice car. Something that is not usual for electric cars. Other electric cars and hybrids were built without designers. The Volt looks like a real car.  Whether the pricing is competitive enough: the future will tel.

At least you don't have to pay a ridicules reservation fee of 99 buck like you have to for the Nissan Leaf. Looks like Nissan wants you to leave the Nissan Leaf alone and buy the Chevy Volt.