The Chevy Volt makes a pit stop at FIU

MIAMI – Students, faculty, staff and the general public will get a rare opportunity to take the Chevrolet Volt  for a spin on October 29, 2010 from 9:30 to11:30 a.m.  Three of the electric vehicles will be at FIU’s Modesto Maidique Campus.

Interested drivers can park in Lot #5 across from the Blue Parking Garage and next to the Wertheim Performing Arts Center and sign up for a chance to test drive the Volt. General Motors representatives will be signing up drivers on a first-come, first-serve basis. Drivers must be 21 years or older. The stop at FIU is part of the Volt’s “Unplugged Tour,” a 3,400-mile, cross-country drive showcasing the world’s first electric vehicle with extended-range capability.

On a fully charged battery and tank of gas, the Volt has a driving range of hundreds of miles. Because the Volt can use gasoline to create its own electricity in extended-range mode, long trips are possible. The Volt is powered only from electricity stored in its lithium-ion battery for a typical range of 25 to 50 miles depending on terrain, driving technique, temperature and battery age.  Not only will the public be able to test-drive the Volt but also meet some of the Chevrolet engineers and designers who developed the vehicle.

“The electric car will help us move towards lower carbon emissions, promote better energy efficiency and will increase the energy security of the country,” said Professor George Philippidis, Associate Director at FIU’s Applied Research Center. “To see more energy-efficient cars on the road is the step in the right direction.”

 The Chevrolet Volt will be available in Florida in about a year.  The manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price is $41,000.