Just a couple of weeks after GM had originally planned, customers are starting to receive the new Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid that uses battery power for 35 miles, before a gasoline generator kicks in to extend the car's range. The first to get the car is a retired airline pilot, who picked up his Volt today in New Jersey. He traded in his old Toyota Prius, which could perhaps be read as a ceremonial changing of the guard as GM bests Toyota to the plug-in hybrid market. But it also makes one wonder how much the new car will hurt sales of existing hybrids, rather than the market for gas guzzling cars. GM shipped the first 360 Volts to California, Texas, Washington DC, and New York this week.

Last Friday, the first Nissan Leaf, an all-electric car with an estimated range per charge of 73 miles, was delivered to an entrepreneur in California. His last vehicle was an electric bike.

Jeffrey Kaffee is the first customer to receive the Chevrolet Volt. Credit: GM

The EPA has come out with its fuel economy ratings for the Nissan Leaf electric sedan, which goes on sale in December in 5 states. EPA labeled the car the best in its class in terms of fuel economy, using the EPAs formula that says that 33.7 kilowatt hours is equivalent to a gallon of gasoline, according to Nissan. By this measure, the car gets the equivalent of 99 miles per gallon (although it doesn't use any gasoline, just power from the grid).

But while the car is designed for a 100-mile range, it actually only gets 73 miles under drive tests meant to simulate real-world driving. Nissan has said before that mileage would vary, but gave the impression that 100 miles was the normal case, and the one sanctioned by the EPA (its website says the EPA LA4 cycle puts the range at 100).

According to Nissan, under some driving conditions, such as sitting in traffic with the heat blasting, the car will only go 62 miles on a charge. Traffic jams that keep you on the road longer than 4 hours will leave you stranded. Nissan gives a range of scenarios for driving range, but none of them include driving at normal highway speeds of 65 to 70 miles per hour, which in combination with the stereo blaring and the heater cranked might lower the range below 62 miles.

File under: caveat emptor.

GM has announced that it will sell the much-anticipated Chevrolet Volt--an electric car with a gas generator for extending driving range--for $41,000, which is about what people had been expecting. The automaker notes that with a federal tax credit, the actual cost to consumers is $33,500.

GM starts taking orders for the car today. It will be available initially in California, New York, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, New Jersey and the Washington D.C. area. To buy one, you need to go to a Volt dealer, which you can find at http://www.getmyvolt.com.

The car costs more than the Nissan Leaf, which is also coming out this year. That car will sell for $32,780, or $25,280 after the tax rebate. Both are far more expensive than GMs new, more fuel efficient sedan called the Cruze, which costs $16,995 and is similar in size to the Volt.

With the Cruze, you can get 40 miles per gallon (with the Eco version). The Volt offers 40 miles of electric range with a charge, and 300-miles more with a range-extending gas generator. The Leaf offers 100 miles of gas-free driving range between charges.