2016 Chevy Volt Wins Green Car Of The Year Award

The 2016 Chevy Volt has won the Green Car Of The Year award at the Los Angeles auto show. The  award is based on a number of factors, including fuel efficiency, performance, affordability, accessibility and availability. The 11 member selection panel also considers certifications from the Environmental Protection Agency and California Air Resources Board when making its decision. Other cars in the running this year were the Audi A3 e-tron, Honda Civic, Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Prius.

“Chevrolet’s all-new Volt is a milestone, building on an already-technologically advanced ‘green’ car and delivering what buyers have longed for, including an impressive 53-mile driving range on a single charge,” said Ron Cogan, editor and publisher of Green Car Journal. “A visually appealing design, increased five passenger seating, and an array of on-board electronics combine with the Volt’s inherent efficiencies to make the 2016 Chevrolet Volt a real winner,” Cogan told Electric Cars Report.

The second generation Volt is an improvement over the original car in almost every way. It can travel more than 50 miles on battery power alone. Several people who have taken test drives in the new car report that range is accurate in real world driving. Since the average US driver travels only 40 miles a day or less, the Volt is fully capable of functioning as a pure electric car most of the time.

In fact, the car’s computer is instructed to start the on-board range extender engine from time to time just to make sure that the internal engine bits are kept properly lubricated while it waits to called upon. The new car is more fuel efficient that the original. It is rated at 42 mpg on the highway versus 37 and has an EPA rating of 106 MPGe.

The new car has been extensively restyled inside and out, giving it a more refined and upmarket look. The interior in particular looks like that of a more expensive luxury car. Robin Purchia ofCleanTechnica drove one recently and reported the Chevy Volt is quite capable of being a family vehicle, too.

The 2016 Chevy Volt is available now in California and 10 other states. It will find its way into showrooms nationwide by early next year. Not only is it handsome and fun to drive, with a larger battery and longer range, it is also priced at $1,000 less than the prior model. Well played, Chevrolet!