2011 Chevrolet Volt in Waco, Texas, en route during the 1,776-mile Freedom Drive PR stunt

2011 Chevrolet Volt in Waco, Texas, en route during the 1,776-mile Freedom Drive PR stunt

With the much-anticipated release of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt questions keep being raised about the lifespan of the batteries and more importantly what GM will do to stand behind their new product. The suspense has ended, at least where the battery is concerned. GM announced today that the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will come standard with an eight-year, 100,000-mile battery warranty.

As the press release indicated earlier today, GM is providing customers with “an unprecedented” warranty as standard equipment. Why? According to Micky Bly, GM executive director, global electric systems, GM customers “are making a commitment to technology that will help reduce our dependence on petroleum. In turn, we are making a commitment to our customers to deliver the highest standards for value, safety, quality, performance and reliability for an unprecedented eight years/100,000 miles.” That is quite the commitment considering that no other competitor can touch the warranty terms. What are those terms? Let’s find out.

The Volt’s battery warranty can only be called comprehensive. The warranty covers all 161 battery components, which GM is proud to say is 95% designed and engineered by their own employees. Also covered are the thermal management system, charging system and electric drive components. Obviously, GM is trying to reassure customers that the new technology in the Volt is not only reliable, but also long lasting. The warranty might not make a believer out of everyone, but at least it might make the decision to be a part of the future of the automobile easier to make. Think of it this way, if there was say a new cell phone, would you upgrade faster if they offered a warranty for 4 years instead of 1 year?

 

Be sure to stay tuned for our next installment of the Great Smart Car Road Trip right here at AllSmallCars.com. To catch up on the series, read the beginning of this micro adventure here.[Source: GM]