2011 Chevrolet Volt
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt combines an electric motor, which powers the car for the first 50 miles or so of driving, with a 1.4-liter gasoline-powered engine that acts as a generator, creating electricity for the electric motor once the batteries are depleted. To travel solely on electric power, the Chevrolet Volt must have its batteries charged. With a standard household outlet, that takes between 10 and 12 hours; if you opt for a home charging station (about $2,000), the charging time drops to about four hours. Because it has a backup engine that generates electric power, the Chevrolet Volt does not have a limited range between charges like purely electric cars do.
