Carper pushes Chevy electric car at Delaware car dealer

With gas heading towards $4.00 a gallon, Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) went to Milford to make a pitch for electric technology in automobiles.

Carper was at the I.G. Burton Chevrolet in Milford where he test drove the car that had just been delivered on the lot. He says the car represents a turn around for American automakers and General Motors in particular. “In 2007, GM promised an electric car in four years and now they have delivered,” said Carper. “In 2006, all buyers had to choose from were SUV’s, Hummers, and big trucks. Now all of that has changed.”

Carper is chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety. He said the Volt is an example of a fuel efficient vehicle. It boasts a 93 miles per gallon equivalent when driving on the battery. It can go 35 miles on a charge. The car can travel at 35 miles per gallon on a gas/diesel fuel.

Carper admits the price tag, $48,700 is high, but if gas goes higher the car will pay for itself. He said there’s something bigger at stake for Americans as well. “They’ll know they are supporting American technology. They’ll know they are supporting off-shore wind. They’ll know they are supporting cleaner air,” Carper said. He even linked it to lessening the need for American troops to have to deal with keeping the supply of oil coming for less stable foreign governments.

Carper’s review of the car highlights the likes the torque. “When you hit the accelerator you go really fast,” he said. He said the first you thing you notice is how quiet the ride is.

George Schiffer, head of maintenance for Burton, said his crew is training to fix the cars. He didn’t expect this car to sell right away. The dealership plans a sale in a few weeks and was going to make sure that car could be used on display.