Chevy Volt questions answered

FLINT- NOVEMBER 24: A GM Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle is shown at the General Motors Flint Engine Operations plant November 24, 2010 in Flint, Michigan. GM announced they will be investing more than $160 million at three plants in Michigan and Ohio, including the Flint plant, to increase production of their Ecotec 4-cylinder engines for vehicles such as the Chevy Volt and the Chevrolet Cruze. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Slot of us still have questions about the new Chevy Volt. Our friends at the Detroit Free Press put together a well written Q & A that dives deep into what the Volt is all about.

QUESTION: Can people come and take a tour of the plant and watch the Volt being built? Is there an education center about the Volt? — reader John C. Tyrrell

ANSWER: The Detroit-Hamtramck plant where workers assemble the Volt will have interactive, educational displays in its lobby next year. GM is also planning a reservation-based tour program for the public that will start next year.

Q: Why is the Volt considered an electric vehicle when actually it is a hybrid? — reader Dennis Bonucchi

A: The Volt is very different from hybrids like the Escape, Insight and Prius. The Volt’s wheels are turned by electricity only — not by the gasoline engine. The gas engines in hybrids turn the wheels most of the time. A Volt owner driving 40 miles or so between charges may hardly use gasoline.

Read the full article.