Connecticut will be one of the first four U.S. markets to get the Chevrolet Volt when the state gets the first cars early next year.
Chevrolet announced today that Connecticut and New Jersey will receive the car in the second rollout wave after the retail launch begins in Austin, Texas and New York city later this year.
“This announcement clearly puts Connecticut in the driver’s seat as a leader in alternative and renewable energy,” Gov. M. Jodi Rell said in a statement. Â “Putting electric vehicles on Connecticut roads underscores our commitment to cleaner environment, the alternative fuel industry and the jobs it creates.”
For trips under 40 miles, the Volt is power exclusively by a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the battery runs low, a gasoline-power engine clicks on and extends the driving range to about 340 miles. The Volt is the only electric vehicle that can operate under a full range of climates and driving conditions without limitations, according to Chevrolet.
The car can be charged from a 120-volt outlet in nine to 10 hours. The first 4,400 buyers of the Volt can receive a free 240-volt home charging station, capable of charging the vehicle in three to four hours.
Led by Rell, Connecticut has pushed to be a leader in the electric vehicle market, formulating the Electric Vehicles Infrastructure Council. The task force, among other things, has sought to build electric car charging stations throughout the state.
