We’ve known all along that General Motors planned to ramp up production of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, with 10,000 to 15,000 sales in the first year of production. But what of 2012? The Detroit News is reporting that Doug Parks, GM’s electric vehicle executive, said at the Business of Plugging In conference that in 2012 the Volt will “be in this max rate of 60,000.” Parks insists that The General can move that many Volts in 2012, and possibly more. Given the fact that the Volt’s 2012 production was moved from 30,000 to 45,000, we’re thinking there’s a solid chance GM hasn’t stopped adjusting it’s production figures.
In other Volt news, GM is hoping to get official efficiency figures from the Environmental Protection Administration within the next month. Parks said at the conference that the company expects the Volt will fall somewhere in the 25-50 mile range in electric-only mode. GM has said since the Volt concept was unveiled in 2007 that it was shooting for 40 miles in EV mode, though Parks is hoping the Volt will over-deliver. As far as miles per gallon go, Parks says the Volt is hitting mid to high 30s combined while the gasoline engine is charging the batteries.
