For its entire pre-existance, the Chevy Volt has been referred to by GM as an electric car. Sure it takes gas, but only when you choose to engage the range-extending motore. But now a debate is raging across the mighty Internets since Motor Trend has taken the Volt for a test drive and found evidence that the range-extending engine can at times, power the Volt directly.

This then brings the Volt into the realm of a hybrid vehicle which is defined as having two distinct power sources to move the car.

So the debate continues to rage with most agreeing that the Chevy Volt has qualities of both and that it’s basically an electric car that blurs the line a little bit.

However, from this writer’s perspective it seems that the Chevy Volt is more like a hybrid. I think the emphasis on whether or not the gas engine actually moves the wheels of the car is irrelevant. If anything other than electricity is being used to power a car, it ceases to be an electric car and is now a hybrid, or in this case, a plug-in hybrid.

Do you agree? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.

For over a decade now new GM vehicles have come with a one-year subscription to OnStar. When the free period ends, GM drivers are charged $199 per year if they want to keep the service going.

GM has just announced that Chevy Volt buyers will get an extended free period of OnStar use. While the time extension hasn’t been specified yet the details have been promised for later this summer when the Chevy Volt pricing is revealed.

GM has explained that the reason for the OnStar subscription extension is because the Volt is significantly more dependant on the system than previous GM vehicles including functions that allow owners with iPhones, Blackberries and Android phones to check and manage their Volt’s charging and climate control remotely.