It’s a well-known fact that President Obama is a fan of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. 

In fact, Obama has pledged to buy his own Chevrolet Volt when he leaves office, whenever that takes place. 

As Commander in Chief however, Obama will be pleased to see that the U.S. military isn’t waiting for him to leave office before it switches over to plug-in cars. 

According to an article in military newspaper Stars & Stripes, the Pentagon plans to buy 1,500 plug-in vehicles---including Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric cars--to help it become more environmentally friendly. 

The military already operates more than 3,000 plug-in vehicles, but most are low-speed neighborhood electric vehicles that cannot be used on highways.

Thus far, the article says, the military has bought more than 150 highway-capable vehicles, with additional purchases on the way.

This news may cause some media outlets to cry foul, accusing the U.S. military of helping out the supposedly failing, supposedly Obama-backed Chevrolet Volt by artificially inflating sales.

But we have a different take on the news. 

2012 Chevrolet Volt

2012 Chevrolet Volt

First, as Bob ‘Father of the Volt’ Lutz pointed out earlier this week, it’s just too early to call the Volt either a failure or a loss-leader. 

Second, the fact that the U.S. military want to buy the Volt means that it views the plug-in hybrid as a sturdy and reliable car that can help it reduce its fuel bill. 

That’s because like any government organization, procurement in the U.S. military is a long, complex process. 

These won't be the first Volts to arrive. Earlier this year, the Marine Corps Air Station in Miramar, California, purchased two Volts, while 18 Volts will soon head to the Andrews Air Base in Maryland, where Air Force One is based. 

If the U.S.-made Chevrolet Volt helps cut down dependence on oil, and lowers the U.S. military’s fuel budget, doesn't that make it the ultimate patriotic car? 

Let us know your thoughts in the Comments below. 

NOTE: This article has been updated to indicate that the 1,500 highway-capable electric cars will include Chevy Volts, but are not all Volts. We apologize for the error.

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