Jay Leno isn’t that charged up about the Chevrolet Volt

July 19, 2010June 29, 2011 Omar Rana 2011, Chevrolet Volt, Compact Cars, electric-cars, electric-vehicles, Jay Leno, plug-in hybrids

Depending on how you look at it, comedian Jay Leno isn’t all that excited for the Chevrolet Volt to hit markets. The Tonight Show host had been asked by General Motors to help build buzz for the Volt but his recent comments in an interview with The Detroit News make it seem like Leno isn’t dying to park one in his 17,000 square foot garage alongside all the rare and exotic vehicles.

“If you didn’t know, you might think it’s a Cobalt or a Camry,” Leno said in an interview. “I don’t think there’s a lot of cachet in having the first one. It’s not like when you pull into Bob’s Big Boy parking lot (a hotspot in Burbank, California) with the Volt, you’re going to open the hood.”

GM gave Leno a Chevrolet Volt last year to test-drive. While Leno has previously said he’s excited for the Volt, he won’t be running out to purchase one.

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.