Gene Weingarten tries to jump-start his car with a Chevy Volt, a gas-electric hybrid that was voted car of the year by automotive writers.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
Gene takes the Volt for a spin at Howard University. For an eco-friendly car, Gene says, the Volt is sleek and growly-looking. It's on the streets in five markets, including the Washington area, and only 10,000 will be sold in 2011.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
Gene tools around town. Fully charged, the Volt can travel 30 or 40 miles. After that initial charge, the gas engine acts as a generator to recharge the battery, keeping the car going about another 300 miles. So that road trip to Philly for cheese steaks is doable.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
Anyone can build a simple electric motor at home ...
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
... right?
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
Can Gene get his home-made machine in working order? After some tweaking (and advice from Andrew Farah, the chief engineer of the Volt), yes.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
The battery inside the trunk of a Chevy Volt. The ads tout the car's alternative nature, but electric power isn't all that clean.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
The Volt's dashboard display shows an estimate of the miles remaining before the battery power is exhausted.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
A 220-volt charging station can recharge the Volt in about four hours. Using a regular wall plug, you can charge a Volt overnight.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
To discover what no one else will tell him about the Volt, Gene meets another Volt-driving source in a secretive meeting at a garage in Rosslyn.
Dustin Fenstermacher-for The Washington Post
Gallery Credits:
Photo Editor, Producer Troy Witcher
Text Editor Jennifer Abella