“Range anxiety.”

That’s the phrase that best associates consumer hesitation in purchasing a full-blown electric vehicle, that being that while electric vehicles might be good for the day-to-day commute and short errands, it’s probably not something you’re going to take a road trip just based on how long it takes for the battery to re-charge. (It’s worth noting that manufacturers have developed 30-minute fast charge solutions, however such solutions are said to lead to a decrease in overall battery life.)

That’s where the Chevy Volt – GM’s big eco-friendly innovation in its post-bankruptcy era – comes in. It’s an electric car and a hybrid, so when all the juice is exhausted from the electric battery you can keep going as it will switch over to its engine powertrain. And the 2013 model offers some nice new upgrades compared to the debut model.

Here’s a look at the 2013 Volt, its new fuel-efficiency improvements and how the vehicle can work for you:

• The Volt offers a 300-mile range, of which 25-50 miles can be completed on electric battery power alone. And when its range is exhausted, just fill it back up with gasoline and keep going. How’s that for combating range anxiety?

• “Hold” mode: Chevy engineers have included what’s called a “hold” mode into the 2013 Volt. Specifically, this allows the driver to manually select when to use the electric battery to power the Volt. For instance, if you’re planning to do a lot of highway driving, followed by some city driving, it would make sense to use the vehicle’s 1.4-cylinder gas engine on the highway, where you’ll get better gas mileage, and then the electric setting during the stop-and-go city portions. “Hold” mode enables you to do this.

• The 2013 Volt carries a price tag just south of $40,000, which many consider high for a mid-sized sedan. But one thing to consider is that you’re immediately eligible for a $7,500 federal tax credit when you purchase the vehicle, as well as additional state credits (depending on the state you purchased the vehicle in). What’s more is that with gas prices having averaged about $3.60 in 2012, you’re certainly saving on fuel as well as regular maintenance costs like oil changes.

So can a Volt work for you? It depends on your lifestyle. For instance, if your commute is less than the 50-mile limit that the electric battery powers and you can drive the vehicle primarily on electric power, then a Volt can certainly work for you, as you’ll be minimizing use of the gas engine. Also consider whether or not your work, or a location near your work, offers electric vehicle charging stations in order to cut down on the costs for you to charge it (while you’re certainly saving on gas prices with the Volt – it’s estimated that such costs can total up to $14,600 over a five-year span -, keep in mind that your electric bills will increase if you have to charge the vehicle out of your home).

Bottom line – Under the right circumstances, the 2013 Volt can work for anyone.