Signature Media

To me, driving an EV or EV hybrid is such a no-brainer. We bought the Chevy Volt for a variety of reasons. First, it’s an EV/hybrid. So, for the first fifty miles or so, if it is fully charged, it runs on electricity. I plug it directly into the garage outlet. Now, that takes a lot longer to charge, but if it’s charging overnight, it’ll be fully charged by morning. The car has gone about 26,000 miles. Only 3,000 on gas, so my trips to the pump are very rare. That’s a great feeling. The electricity bill has gone up a bit, but not as much as filling the car with gas for those other 23,000 miles.

Also, when the car is running on electricity, it is so quiet and quick. It’s addictive. I also wanted to buy American and am very happy with the reliability of the Volt. I’m very sad that GM has decided to stop producing the model. Regardless, it’s a very solid car.

Last reason - cost. The lease is $200 a month. Very hard to find this technology for that price. Not to mention the clean vehicle rebate, which got me a $1500 check. Oh, and the red All Access sticker for the HOV lane for the sole driver. These are all great benefits that make a daily difference in my life as a LA commuter and to the air around me.

Once this lease is up, I’ll be buying a fully electric vehicle. There’s no going back for me.