Chevrolet Volt. Electric when you want it, gas when you need it. The Chevrolet Volt is unique among electric cars because it runs on two sources of energy. You have an electric source – a battery – that allows you to drive gas-free for an EPA–estimated 35 miles. And there's also an onboard gas generator that produces electricity so you can go farther. So if you want to drive using only electricity, you can. If you want to drive using electricity and gas, you can do that, too. Feeling all revved up? Check out what this current Chevy Volt driver has to say about her unique driving lifestyle…A typical day for Kelly Hendricks involves running around town, meeting with clients, visiting jobsites, and shopping for materials. It’s no wonder why the car she drives is so important to her since she spends a good portion of her day sitting in it. After her 11-year-old SUV was rear-ended and totaled, she decided it was time for a new start. “Being an eco friendly interior designer in San Diego, I loved the thought of driving purely on electricity, but at the same time I wanted to feel at ease knowing I won't get stranded because once I go beyond the battery range the car transitions to a gasoline power source,” she says. She found her ideal vehicle in the Chevy Volt.Hendricks is pleased with her driving experience so far, but also with how much money she is saving on fueling costs. “With as much driving as I do, I'm only having to purchase gas once a month and it averages out to be $27-$30. And my electricity bill has only gone up about $25 per month,” she reports. She does nearly all of her charging up from her own garage, and looks forward to the day when charging stations are more readily available. By charging regularly, Volt owners are averaging about a month between fill-ups.In the meantime, Hendricks says she gets a kick out of the questions people ask her about her Volt. In fact, a recent trip to her Chevy dealership had her upstaging the sales team. “I stopped by the Chevy dealership to pick something up and there was this guy standing out front along with some sales people and he started asking me questions about my Volt. His first question was how much money am I spending on gas a week,” she says. “You should have seen the look on his face when I told him I only buy gas once a month, compared to the $50 per week my former SUV used to cost. He was so stunned and surprised -- I love when that happens!”As for a final fringe benefit, Hendricks says her decision to be a Volt owner makes her feel good about her role in helping the environment, as well as the country. “I like that I am helping to support jobs in America.”The 2012 Chevy Volt offers an EPA-estimated 35 miles on a full charge based on 94 MPGe and an additional 340 miles with a full tank based on 35 city, 40 MPG highway . Actual range varies with conditions.Volt is available to order at participating dealers.Has your Volt ownership reinvented your driving experience? Tell your amazing story here.
