STRONGSVILLE, Ohio – Chevrolet’s electric and gas powered car, also known as the Volt, is rolling into Northeast Ohio showrooms. A battery that runs down the middle of the car powers the vehicle.

“The vehicle is engineered to drive between 40 and 50 miles without gasoline whatsoever,” said General Manager Dan Blazer of Serpintini Chevrolet of Strongsville .

The Volt got far less mileage in Consumer Reports first test, averaging between 23 and 28 miles per charge. That test was during the cold winter months. The heat and air conditioning both drain the battery.

Once inside, the Volt gives you tips so you don’t zap too much power from the battery. The key is keeping the heat and air conditioning cycling on and off, and to keep a steady driving pace.

“It has a lead foot gauge in it to tell you that you are not being so nice to the vehicle,” Blazer said.

The car has good pickup. When we tested it, the accelerator image, or lead foot gauge, turned yellow warning me to let off the gas pedal. Punching the gas also dropped my driving style or energy efficiency from 53 percent to 34 percent, meaning I wasn’t getting good battery mileage.

While some accessories drain the battery, the car regenerates power.

“As you take your foot off the gas pedal, the resistance from the tires sends a charge back to the battery and charges the battery up as well without any gas motor being used,” Blazer said.

The gas tank holds only nine gallons of fuel and the gas motor is about the only thing that makes noise in the car. The drive on battery power is silent.

The Volt costs between $39,000 and $44,000, before the $7,500 tax credit.

While there are not many charging stations around town, there are a few. You can plug the Volt into any standard electrical outlet.

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