Bethesda Dealerships Electrify Their Selection
Bethesda continues to buzz with interest about electric cars along with the rest of the United States. Luckily, buzz is turning into the opportunity to see, test drive or own as electric models roll off assembly lines and onto local roads.  Take a look at what’s happening in Bethesda for the Chevy Volt, the Nissan Leaf and even luxury cars like Rolls Royce and Bentley when it comes to driving Green.

The First Chevy Volts Come to Town
The  Chevy Volt  gives electric car enthusiasts the option of local driving with electric power and a gasoline engine for longer journeys.   Bethesda was a stop on the Volt Unplugged Tour just before the 2011 model went into production in Michigan, and the Washington, D.C., metro area is one of the first areas to receive the 2011 Volts as they come off the assembly line. In fact, some of the first Chevy Volts produced are already in the area. Ted Shepherd, General Sales Manager at Ourisman Rockmont Chevrolet at 15301 Frederick Road in Rockville says, “We were allocated seven Volts initially, and we pre-sold all seven to people who had ordered them four or five months ago. I’ve got four due within the next 30-60 days and an additional six or seven ordered for the next allocation. They’re all pre-sold as well.“ 

Shepherd says GM will produce 20,000 Volts during 2011 and are planning to increase production for 2012 to 40,000 to 50,000 Volts. “It’s been phenomenal,” says Shepherd, who warns that for the time being Volts sold in the area will be pre-ordered. “I’ll have a Chevy Volt by mid-February for demo and test driving, and as allocations become available I’ll receive more. But for now we will not have the luxury of having the Volt in stock.” 

GM is preparing workplaces in D.C. for the number of Volts anticipated. According to Shepherd, “GM is working with local government agencies to install Volt charging stations.” Currently the Volt is sold and delivered only in D.C., California, New York, Connecticut, New Jersey and Texas.

But, in response to high interest across the country, GM has announced they are accelerating the Volt’s launch to make the car available in all 50 states by the end of 2011. 

The Summer of the Nissan Leaf
The all-electric Nissan Leaf will be available in Bethesda in early summer according to Ralph Kolius, General Sales Manager at Chevy Chase Nissan at 7701 Wisconsin Ave. “We’ll have a Leaf available for demo and test drives sometime during June or July. Our region is part of Phase II of the US launch, and there’s a lot of interest. The Leaf order is done through the manufacturer with the buyer selecting where they want their Leaf delivered. We are the #1 Leaf dealer in our zone.  We are in the 300 range for Leafs delivered to our dealership. ” 

Kolius explains that Nissan requires verification that the charging station is already in place at the customer’s home before delivering their Leaf to the selected dealer and also says that government agencies are installing charging stations for the Leaf. “There are a lot of government agencies around here that are installing charging stations. If a consumer has the opportunity to charge their car at work and at home that’s going to make the car more attractive to them.” 

Kolius notes a difference between the Leaf customer and the customer buying a Volt. “The Leaf is the first 100 percent electric car.  The Volt still has the comfort of a gasoline engine. The Leaf customer is more open to the idea of going 100% electric and doing away with the internal combustion engine.”

Rolls Royce and Bentley Turn Luxury Green
You might need to drive to Rockville to buy a Volt, but you can buy a Rolls Royce or Bentley in the heart of Bethesda at EuroMotorCars, Bethesda. When Rolls Royce recently announced the possibility of an electric model in time for the 2012 London Olympics we had to learn more. Gil Hofheimer, General Manager of EuroMotorCars, Bethesda says that “Rolls is very quiet on the subject.” So, we’ll have to wait for more information but we’ll keep watching. 

Hofheimer does point out that “Bentley’s 2012 models are all E85 compatible.” For the unacquainted, E85 compatible vehicles are engineered to run on blends of gasoline and ethanol in any ratio up to 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline. Bentley is also introducing technology to its 2012 models that will reduce CO2 emissions and fuel consumption while maintaining current levels of performance. We look forward to learning more about Bentley’s green developments for their 2012 models. It’s good to know that European luxury brands, with their expert engineering and superior craftsmanship, are responding to customer interest in greener driving.

Whether you’re focusing on the Volt and the Leaf, or holding out for a luxury electric car, greener alternatives for driving around Bethesda are becoming a reality in 2011. Enjoy the ride, enjoy the debates and most of all please keep us posted about your greener driving experiences.