Chevrolet lagged behind competitor car companies for several years in regards to hybrid vehicle technology, and no one really took a Chevrolet hybrid car seriously until 2007 when they announced plans for the Chevrolet Volt which is due to be released in 2010.
Chevrolet also took a lot of criticism for trying to push hybrid versions of gas guzzling SUVs and trucks onto the American public as well. Poorly designed hybrid versions of the Chevy Tahoe and Silverado caused many critics to claim the fuel efficiency benefits of Chevrolet SUVs and trucks are negligible when compared to regular models, and are simply designed to be more expensive. However, the quality of Chevrolet hybrid cars has improved steadily in the last few years, and there are a couple of models worth considering.
Chevrolet Aveo
The subcompact Chevy Aveo is one of the cheapest hybrid vehicles available. Priced at around $12,000, the Aveo is considered a good choice for people who are looking for the most affordable hybrid vehicle and don't need a lot in terms of power or performance. The Chevrolet Aveo offers combined city/highway fuel economy of about 33 miles per gallon.
Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet's most exciting hybrid vehicle has not even been released for sale to the public yet. The Chevrolet Volt, scheduled to be released in November 2010, is already creating quite a stir in the automotive industry and thousands of people have already put their name on a waiting list for the vehicle.
General Motors calls the Chevrolet Volt an “extended range electric vehicle”. Many people are excited about the Volt because it uses electric power only for the first 40 miles of a trip after a full charge. While 40 miles is not a particularly long distance, it does allow one to make quick trips in the neighborhood without using any gasoline at all.
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