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Oh, so the ENGINE is what keeps it from being a 4000 lb paper weight? Thanks for the tip. BTW, what does the ENGINE use for fuel?

The Volt uses gasoline for its 1.4L ICE engine. But the Ampera, the Volt's European cousin uses either gasoline or diesel. If the EPA would allow it, the Volt could use diesel. But that's the point. The Volt can use gasoline, diesel, E85, Ethanol, or even in the future hydrogen fuel cells. That's the beauty of the Design. The ICE Engine only generates electricity and the Car is driven with an electric motor which is far more efficient. It's similar to the way a Diesel Electric Train works except it's got a battery for a buffer.

78% of Americans drive less than 40 miles a day. 90% of all American drive less than 60 miles a day. (This is excluding those who drive trucks and buses for a living). So for a huge demographic the Volt (or Ampera in Europe) makes a great deal of sense. For many people they will be able to reduce their use of gasoline or diesel (oil) by huge amounts. Is that a bad thing? OK, so you say how do you generate the electricity? Well we generate VERY LITTLE electricity with Oil. The fuels we use to generate electricity are home grown. NO IMPORTS! That's very important, not to send hundreds of billions to the middle east and elsewhere for imported oil.