That means your Volt’s battery pack should be quite happy during the cold winter months. Desert climates such as in Arizona will not be kind to the batteries. What you need to know: the Canadian Volts could potentially benefit from longer battery life than in the US, even after the warranty expires.
Why did it take so long for the Volt to arrive in Canada?
Short supply. Production of the Volt started very slowly, although GM is supposed to ramp up production for 2012. We were told that Canadian dealers would only get 3 or 4 each this fall, and one of those will not be sold so customers will be able to take it out for a spin.
Odds and ends
The cost for running the Volt in EV mode versus an equivalent gasoline car is obviously cheaper on a per km basis. It’s about 1/4 in Ontario, 1/5 in BC and 1/6 in Quebec.
About 60% of electricity generated in the US comes from coal, making them much more carbon-intense than the Canada. Our worst-performing province (Alberta, by the way) produces less CO2 per kWh than the US national average. What that basically means is that we’re producing cleaner electricity to run a cleaner car.
While we stopped to take pictures, the gas engine fired up as we opened the hood, and shut off when we closed it. According to GM, the Volt has a clever safety procedure; if the car is turned on and the hood is popped, the engine will start to warn mechanics that the car is still running.
The Volt will carry an MSRP of $41,545 in Canada before taxes, freight, preparation and government discounts ($8,500 in Quebec, $8,000 in Ontario).
Why did it take so long for the Volt to arrive in Canada?
Short supply. Production of the Volt started very slowly, although GM is supposed to ramp up production for 2012. We were told that Canadian dealers would only get 3 or 4 each this fall, and one of those will not be sold so customers will be able to take it out for a spin.
Odds and ends
The cost for running the Volt in EV mode versus an equivalent gasoline car is obviously cheaper on a per km basis. It’s about 1/4 in Ontario, 1/5 in BC and 1/6 in Quebec.
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| Photo: Michel Deslauriers/Auto123.com |
About 60% of electricity generated in the US comes from coal, making them much more carbon-intense than the Canada. Our worst-performing province (Alberta, by the way) produces less CO2 per kWh than the US national average. What that basically means is that we’re producing cleaner electricity to run a cleaner car.
While we stopped to take pictures, the gas engine fired up as we opened the hood, and shut off when we closed it. According to GM, the Volt has a clever safety procedure; if the car is turned on and the hood is popped, the engine will start to warn mechanics that the car is still running.
The Volt will carry an MSRP of $41,545 in Canada before taxes, freight, preparation and government discounts ($8,500 in Quebec, $8,000 in Ontario).