Apart from announcing 49 Australian dealers for its upcoming “long-range electric car”, Holden today confirmed its dealers have already received an unspecified number of orders for the Volt and said it will announce the car’s all-important price, as well as specifications and launch timing, by the end of next month.
Latest indications are the Volt, which unlike the all-electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV and upcoming Nissan Leaf employs a 1.4-litre petrol engine engine to boost the driving range of its electric motor, will cost around $60,000 when it hits Australian showrooms around November.
Holden said dealers from Townsville to Bunbury will sell the Volt because its long-range capability means EV ownership is no longer restricted to city dwellers.
Holden Executive Director – Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, John Elsworth, said each dealer has committed to achieve environmental accreditation and invest in new technologies to support Volt servicing requirements.
“Many Holden dealers already have a strong environmental focus but Volt dealers will also be required to achieve at least a level 2 Green Stamp Plus Accreditation through the VACC Green Stamp program,” said Mr Elsworth. “Accreditation assures customers that the dealer takes its environmental responsibility seriously.”
Dealerships that attain such environmental accreditation must implement a minimum number of environmental management practices across their business, including recycling, efficient energy usage and reduced disposal of toxic chemicals.
Mr Elsworth also confirmed the first orders have been placed by Holden dealers, and each approved Volt dealer will be required to install a dedicated charging station and invest in new tooling and training.
“We asked dealers to place their first Volt orders last month and while it’s too early to confirm numbers, we are receiving anecdotal feedback that there’s strong interest.
“We would urge all customers to contact their dealer in the first instance if they want to secure one of the first Volts when they arrive in Australia.”
Holden commenced local testing of Volt last year, but recently announced the first right-hand drive versions of the Volt are now in Australia participating in the Victorian government’s electric vehicle trial.
General Motors also recently announced a battery upgrade to improve the driving range of the Volt, which it bills as the world’s first extended-range EV.
Minor changes to the chemistry of the battery – which now has a total storage capacity of 16kWh (up 15.6kWh) - extend the electric-only range of the Volt from 35 miles to 38 miles (56.3km to 61.2km), while total driving range including the use of the petrol engine increases by one mile to 380 miles (612km).
As a result, the 2013 Volt, which goes on sale in the US in August, will offer an official combined fuel consumption figure of about 2.4 litres per 100km – down from 2.5L/100km.
However, the upgrades also extend the time it takes to complete a full charge. The upgraded Volt will take four hours and 15 minutes to fully recharge from ‘empty’ via a standard 240-volt household power socket – 15 minutes longer than before.
As part of its pre-release campaign, Holden has established a dedicated Volt section on the Holden HQ blog and has invited Australians to register for more information .
Australian Volt dealers are as follows:
Victoria:
Bay City Holden - Frankston
Winter & Taylor - Geelong
Gary & Warren Smith - Oakleigh
Barry Bourke Holden - Berwick
Preston Motors - Essendon
Watson Holden - Bundoora
Barloworld Holden - Glen Waverley
Brighton Holden - Brighton
Booran Holden - Cheltenham
John Collins Holden - Mornington
Mantello Holden - Fawkner
Barry Bourke - Warragul
New South Wales:
Muirs Holden - Ashford
Paul Wakeling Holden - Campbelltown
Hunter Holden - Ryde
Northside Holden - Chatswood
Suttons City - Rosebery
Sutherland Holden - Sutherland
Castle Hill Holden - Castle Hill
Kelly Holden – Cardiff
Geoff King Holden - Coffs Harbour
Queensland:
Eagers Holden - Windsor
Zupps Mt Gravatt - Mt Gravatt
Surfers City Holden - Southport
Beecham Holden - Caboolture (woohoo!!!!)
Oldfield Holden - Capalaba
Motorama City Holden - Moorooka
Tony Ireland Holden - Townsville
Ross Gray Holden - Bundaberg
Sunco Holden - Marroochydore
South Australia:
Peter Page Holden - Elizabeth
City Holden - Adelaide
Hamilton Holden - Somerton Park
Metro Holden - Thebarton
Western Australia:
Brian Gardner Holden - Cannington
Phoenix Holden - Waneroo
City Motors - Perth
Melville Holden - Melville
Rockingham Holden - Rockingham
Shacks Holden - Fremantle
Bunbury Holden - Bunbury
ACT:
Commonwealth Motors - Phillip
Gerald Slaven Holden – Belconnen
Tasmania:
Motors Pty Ltd – Hobart
Huge congrats to the Dealers - More here.http://www.carsales.com.au/news/2012/small-passenger/holden/holden-reveals-49-volt-dealers-30751
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