The first working Chevy Volt is on the road in Michigan.

Automobile Magazine explains, "Two weeks ahead of schedule, GM has begun testing the first pre-production models of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt. Although GM had hoped to start testing the models on July 4, the test schedule was moved up, giving the automaker more time tweaking the complex powertrain."

The Volt is GM's "extended-range electric vehicle" - a form of hybrid that can travel up to 40 miles on battery power alone before igniting its gasoline engine, meaning that many owners could travel through a typical day without using gasoline.  The car seen driving around Michigan this week is the first full-functional "integration mule" of the Volt, which means it's the first car to put together all of the components expected to appear in the production car, for testing purposes. 

Jalopnik reports, "GM's says that it will build up to 80 Volt prototypes for testing out on public road over by October which will help engineers sort out all the little issues with the vehicle before it goes on sale to the public."

On GM's FastLane blog, Volt Chief Engineer Andrew Farah writes, "To this point, I've only experienced the Volt through the virtual world of computer aided-design and concepts...But yesterday, I was able to sit in, touch and drive an early version of the real thing."  He called the experience "exhilarating." 

Automobile notes, "GM wants to have the Volt reach Chevy showrooms by November 2010."

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