The media has been buzzing about the Chevrolet Volt for months, while General Motors quietly released another ground-breaking model into their Chevy line-up: the 2011 Cruze.

At first glance, the Cruze looks like just another entry into the "small economical car" market.  however, on our Jim Ellis Green website, we're encouraging consumers to look a little bit closer at the Cruze.



The Volt's Plug-in Hybrid technology may be ground-breaking, but why not just use existing technology to improve fuel efficiency in a standard unleaded car?

In the interest of "reduce, reuse, recycle" the infrastructure changes that are necessary to support plug-in electric cars create more environmental impact than it would if we all just purchased efficiently-running used cars!

Using what we've already got can be less expensive for consumers, and it can have less overall impact on the environment.  There is no cost to create or embellish infrastructure. There is no need to manufacture new tools, new batteries, or new technology to support these cars.

While the 1.8L Cruze LS achieves a respectable 36 mpg on the highway,  the 1.4L Chevrolet Cruze Eco gets an impressive 40 mpg on the highway! That's raising the bar, without breaking the bank.