BISMARCK, ND - In order to drum up customer interest in the 10 new Chevrolet Volts recently delivered to the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) State Fleet Services, the fleet hosted a ride-and-drive event for its potential customers. The event took place Feb. 9 and approximately 35 employees came out to test drive the seven Volts made available that day, said Paul Hanson, CAFM, director of the NDDOT State Fleet Services.

Used as a method to educate potential drivers about the new vehicles, Hanson said some questions from employees were about vehicle range, what happens when they can't charge the vehicle for a day or two, whether it will work in cold weather, and acceleration.

"Employees were impressed with all the technology built into the vehicle," Hanson said. "They were impressed with the power, ride, comfort, and handling in the normal mode and even more impressed with the power of the sport mode." Hanson said employees learned they could preheat the vehicle interior, defrost windows, or cool the vehicle down using a FOB and powered through the power cord. One employee was happy with the ability to fold down rear seats for better capacity to bring supplies. Employees also commented about low ground clearance of the vehicle.

Dealership sales staff led the vehicle orientations on site. Employees drove a cumulative 140 miles within the city during the two-hour event.

"We considered the event to be a success," Hanson said. "Several [employees] were asking how soon they could schedule them."

Hanson said the dealership would handle servicing of these vehicles.