Chevrolet Volt launch by 2010-end

Confirming the 2010 launch plan for the Chevrolet Volt, General Motors has said that everything is on track ahead of the deadline. The company’s board has also approved funding for production of the much anticipated plug-in electric car.

Anticipation is sky-high for the Volt. As gas prices show no sign of coming back down, SUVs are on the backburner, and every auto manufacturer is working on hybrids or electric vehicles.

Chevrolet Volt, unlike the new gas-electric hybrids, will be powered entirely by an electric motor and have a battery that can be charged through an ordinary power socket. The Volt’s on-board engine will be used only to power the battery on longer trips. The gas electric hybrids, as you know, run on a system that twins battery power and a combustion engine.

Approval from the GM management and board reiterates the technical goals and marketing of the Volt. The board felt that the technical targets are not only achievable, but achievable generally within the time frame the company had previously outlined. Volt, which is among the most anticipated electric vehicles worldwide, is likely to see a high profile launch.

Industry observers believe that a successful launch of the Volt would be critical to General Motors Corp as America’s top automaker struggles with a heavy lineup of gas-guzzling trucks. The company has been toiling to claim an edge in fuel-saving technology against Toyota Motor Corp and its market-leading Prius hybrid.

So as plans now having kicked off toward realization, the automaker would see to it that the Volt would be rolled out of its  Hamtramck plant in Michigan. There are hassles of course in the form of possible hurdles with regard to parleys with state and local governments for tax sops. All said, General Motors Corp wants to and looks forward to keep its end-of-2010 deadline for the Volt unveiling.