Rush Limbaugh criticizes General Motors and the Volt

July 29, 2010June 2, 2011 Chris Chin 2011, Chevrolet Volt, Compact Cars, electric-cars, electric-vehicles, plug-in hybrids

In a not so shocking display of his own ignorance, conservative pundit Rush Limbaugh criticized GM (one of his advertisers), and the Obama administration with regards to the government’s bailout of the former, and the company’s new Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle. Limbaugh scoffed at the $41,000 price tag applied by GM, and questioned the $7,500 tax credit added by the government.

“Obama and the government are admitting nobody wants this,” Limbaugh said, repeatedly referring to GM as “Obama Motors.”

Click here for more news on the Chevrolet Volt.

In his criticism of the vehicle however, Limbaugh revealed his own ignorance. “That 40-mile range has to include you getting home, and staying home three to four hours to charge the thing,” he said. “It’s (a) 20-mile range.” He failed to mention (probably because he was unaware of) the fact that after the car exhausts its 40-mile range on exclusively electric power, the gasoline powered range extender takes over and provides for an additional 300 miles of travel.

In the utmost hypocritical fashion, Limbaugh admitted last year, after a tirade denouncing the bailout of GM, that he had taken advertising money from GM.

Apparently Limbaugh thinks that the technological advances and future implications that the Chevy Volt indicates for future AMERICAN green technology and energy consumption, is insignificant and wasteful. Fortunately, not many people with the slightest sense of awareness regarding the environment or the automotive industry agree.

Click here to read our first drive impressions of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt.

Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, “T”-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. According to GM”s preliminary specs, the system puts out 150-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes less than 3 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 8 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries a 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 300 miles.