- The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has been revamped to meet California's stringent emissions requirements, allowing buyers to qualify for state incentives.
- Volts with the new Low Emissions package will arrive in California in February, GM said.
- The revision allows owners to receive up to $1,500 in state rebates through California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
DETROIT — The 2012 Chevrolet Volt has been revamped to meet California's stringent emissions requirements, allowing buyers to qualify for state incentives. The revision is a significant one since 93 percent of the California incentives checks for zero-emission vehicles went to owners of the Nissan Leaf last year.
Volts with the new Low Emissions package will arrive in California in February, GM said. It will be standard on all models sold in California.
The revision allows owners to receive up to $1,500 in state rebates through California's Clean Vehicle Rebate Project. The Volt incentive will be among the lowest provided by the project, which has set aside $15 million in funds for fiscal years 2011-'12. It is funded by the California Environmental Protection Agency's Air Resources Board.
Owners of the 2011-'12 Nissan Leaf, 2009-'11 Tesla Roadster, 2011 Think City and 2010-'11 Honda FCX Clarity qualify for a $2,500 state rebate under the project. Owners of the 2012 Mitsubishi i and Smart USA ED qualify for a $2,000 state rebate. The Volt is not yet listed as a qualifying vehicle on the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project Web site and missed out on the incentive last year.
The Volt's engine and exhaust components were modified to meet California's tough emissions standards, said GM in a statement. Owners of Volts with the Low Emissions package will also be eligible to apply for one of 40,000 available HOV lane stickers.
Inside Line says: The special package is GM's way of putting the Chevrolet Volt on a more equal footing with the Nissan Leaf in a battleground state.

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rope2 says:
01:28 PM, 01/26/2012
,,
I have to say I drove the volt .. My guess was that it would drive like the rest do ..Like a box on wheels..It drove like a car and it was fun to drive..My opinion is for 3000 more ten the leaf it was worth it.. I checked out the gas engine its very low emmissions and the gas tank is only 9 gallons and you do not have to calculate if you will make it home. 10 hrs to charge on 110 volt outlet on chevy volt 4 hours on 220 volt outlet.. Leaf 20 hrs on 110 volt outlet . which is to long if you work 10-12 hours a day. 10 hours on 220 volt outlet with leaf..When outlets become available the combined miles of a volt is great.. I travel 17 miles each way ..If I was not in the middle of a lease I could travel and pay for no gas at all..
tbone85 says:
03:03 PM, 01/25/2012
"Can you read my sentence grammatically correctly?"
Well, let's see:
"I said: "Just can't image how GM is Going to use taxpayers' money to Smartly break the law." , which never ever implys GM has broken any CA laws for the sake of Volt."
How would you "image" how GM is Going to break the law?
"I guess you really have mental problem, period. Take care."
I have a mental problem, but you like to "image" how GM is Going to break the law to provide support for your hater fantasies. OK.
qdp says:
09:55 PM, 01/24/2012
@tbone85
Can you read my sentence grammatically correctly?
I said: "Just can't image how GM is Going to use taxpayers' money to Smartly break the law." , which never ever implys GM has broken any CA laws for the sake of Volt.
I guess you really have mental problem, period. Take care.
tbone85 says:
09:36 PM, 01/24/2012
QDP, it's a little funny being called a stink troll by you on a thread involving the Volt. You started by saying Volt was vaporware that would never be produced, and you have twisted every story since into an anti-Volt narrative. People in glass houses and all that.
You never did respond with which laws (federal, state or local) that GM had broken with the Volt. Since you did not cite any, I'll presume the answer is none. Perhaps you were using colorful language, but I wanted to be clear whether there actually was a statute violation to substantiate that charge.
As far as the 3 goes, the handling and steering were quite good--the best available in the class IMO when I bought it. Until I drove the new Ford Focus, I thought it retained that title for nearly 5 years-- which I find both amazing and very disappointing. Progress for driving enjoyment had been almost non-existent for compacts until very recently. Acceleration was near the top of the class, but that's a very low barrier. It can get out of it's own way within reason, but handling, steering, and balance are the best aspect of the car.
It's far from perfect. The mileage was below par for a compact when I bought it. It's improved a bit over the years with break in (I typically get 21/32), but it's clearly nowhere near what cars in this class get now. The AC should be stronger, but it's adequate below 100 degrees. The passenger side front door doesn't have a lock.
The bottom line for me is that I thought I'd hate driving a car like this and would have to dump it after 3 years of anguish. I'm surprised, but I still greatly enjoy driving it, and am happy to keep it and pass it on to my daughter in a couple more years. I hope the economy improves and I can get to higher grade wheels, but if I were buying a compact today I'd likely get a Focus.
qdp says:
03:17 PM, 01/24/2012
@tbone85
As said, I am very much reluctant to spar with you, a stink troll, but I give you a last chance, showing you what decency is like:
1) Law: A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/law)
Bylaw: a rule made by a local authority for the regulation of its affairs or
management of the area it governs
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/By+law);
2) You are currently driving Mazda3,which you said is cool except low mpg. Could you tell me why you think it is so cool to you?
qdp says:
03:14 PM, 01/24/2012
As said, I am very much reluctant to spar with you, a stink troll, but I give you a last chance anyway:
1) Law: A rule of conduct or procedure established by custom, agreement, or authority.
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/law)
Bylaw: a rule made by a local authority for the regulation of its affairs or
management of the area it governs
(http://www.thefreedictionary.com/By+law)
2) You are currently driving Mazda3,which you said is cool except low mpg. Could you tell me why you think it is so cool?
tbone85 says:
06:45 AM, 01/24/2012
"Just can't image how GM is going to use taxpayers' money to smartly break the law."
Please relay what laws GM has broken. If you can't then you should have the common decency to retract this mistruth.
titancrew says:
07:26 AM, 01/23/2012
wizard_ says:
"When will the taxpayers all across the rest of the USA be forced to bailout California."
California is already bailing out the rest of the country. We pay more in fed tax than we get back. Most people who like to trash California ignore this fact. We be way better off if we weren't subsidizing all those "red" states.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/press/show/22659.html
wizard_ says:
06:56 AM, 01/23/2012
When will the taxpayers all across the rest of the USA be forced to bailout California.
fandiesel says:
06:20 AM, 01/23/2012
In referance to the batteries in these high tech green(er) cars :
Since Henry Ford went into production, batteries have been seen piled inside and out of repair joints and junkyards with palletts full of broken batteries leaking on the ground. But with today's society being a whole lot more aware and "GREEN" thinking this will not happen anymore, especially with these new, even more toxic batteries, - - - RIGHT ?
One could think about what pollution the billions of discarded "regular" batteries have created !