New car news

16 November 2011 - 09:00

Holden Volt lands in Australia

It's been on sale in the States for more than a year (and in Europe, too, as the Opel Ampera), and now it's here in Australia; well, three of them are, as Holden puts the car through its paces for a 2012 launch.

Holden Volt pics HERE

It's not a hybrid in the true sense of the word, even though it uses two powerplants. The lithium ion battery pack will propel the Volt some 60km on electric power alone, before a 63kW, 1.4-litre petrol engine kicks in to - crucially - charge the batteries, not propel the car. It also extends the car's range to about 480km, according to Holden.

This is what distinguishes the Volt from something like Toyota's Prius - the petrol engine isn't connected to the drivetrain in any way. The battery pack also absorbs charge from an onboard regnerative braking system, and can also be recharged from a regular 240V socket in about eight hours for a full charge.

So, is it a true EV? Not really. If US reviews are any indication, though, the Volt is another step forward in the mainstreaming of alternate drivetrains - something has to wean us off our dependence on oil, and interim solutions like the Volt are a step in the right direction (arguments about coal-fired electricity generation notwithstanding...).

Most importantly, though, it looks and acts like a regular car, albeit an expensive one. The Volt is sure to top $60,000 when it hits showrooms, though early adopters won't blink at the price.

What do you think, topgearers? Right step forward, or is Holden missing the boat?