Local Man Saves On Gasoline By Going Electric
CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- It's the high price of gasoline that has some people ditching SUVs in favor of fuel-efficient cars, but one local man is going one step further by buying electric.
George Totolos, of Cranberry, says he loves his new car and for good reason. He's had it for a week now and hasn't used a drop of gas.
He is driving the 883rd Chevrolet Volt electric car around on our local roadways.
"So far, since the last charge, it's basically infinite miles per gallon, but it shows it as 250 miles per gallon plus," said Totolos.
The Volt has a gas motor but will go 40 miles on battery alone at a cost of about $1.50 on electricity. That translates to about 100 miles a gallon.
"I love the car, it's really fun to drive and it's a thrill knowing that I'm not using a drop of gasoline as I go to and from work or running errands," Totolos said. "It's a really fun car."
However, the Volt is expensive, even with a $7,500 tax credit; it can cost more than $30,000.
Totolos leases his for $350 a month but figures he's saving about $100 a month in gas so his true cost he says is $250 a month.
But he says saving money is only part of the appeal for him.
"It just seems like the right thing to do, but I also view it as some way for the U.S. to kind of get off our dependence on foreign oils," he said. "So, if more people could pick up on this technology, then we'll be using less oil and maybe some of the Middle East tension would be a little less."
Totolos, an engineer, says second and third generation electric cars will get cheaper and more efficient but he wanted to be among the first to test the new technology.
The Volt likely won't be available in Western Pennsylvania until the fall, so Totolos made a visit to New York where he picked his car up.
RELATED LINKS:
Chevrolet Volt
GasBuddy.com
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