Fwd: Holden reveals electric car

• Ian Porter
• The Age, October 10, 2008
• http://www.theage.com.au/national/holden-reveals-electric-car-20081009-4xl7.html

GM HOLDEN has joined battle with Toyota and Honda in the hybrid car wars by revealing plans to release the Chevrolet Volt electric car in Australia by 2012.

The planned release date would give Toyota's locally made Camry hybrid a two-year lead in the medium-car segment, but GMH chairman and chief executive Mark Reuss said the GM design was superior in that drivers might never have to use petrol.

"The Volt can be driven 60 kilometres purely on the electricity stored in its battery pack," Mr Reuss said at the Sydney Motor Show.

Toyota had a US-built Camry hybrid on display at the show, alongside a Prius and a Supra hybrid sports racer that won a nine-hour race in Japan earlier this year.

The two car giants traded hybrid claims during their presentations.

Honda was more low key. It unveiled a new hybrid car in Paris, the Insight, two weeks ago, but was unable to bring one to Australia for the show.

The Insight will be sold alongside the Civic hybrid.