GM says battery powered Volt can now go 50 miles

DETROIT (AP) -- General Motors on Thursday altered the expected range that its Chevrolet Volt electric car can travel on battery power alone.

The automaker now says the Volt can go 25 to 50 miles on battery power, compared with the 40 miles it had previously said it would travel.  The distance will depend on temperature, terrain, driving technique and the age of the lithium-ion batteries.

Spokesman Rob Peterson said GM is not backing away from the original 40-mile range, and that it made the change because the company now has more experience driving and testing the Volt than it had in the past.