Chevy Volt Forum

Making sense of the Chevy Volt mileage figures

CodyP — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 06:46:26 +0000

The 2011 Chevy Volt is in many ways like all the other cars around town. Four doors, wheels, a steering wheel…but not all cars have an electric motor, huge li-ion battery AND a receptor for a wall plug. Complicated? We think so, and apparently it just gets worse when it comes to the Volt’s mileage figures. Because now we aren’t looking at just a normal car with just a gas engine.

Like reading a book without your glasses on, everything’s a little hazy when working out the exact numbers that sit on a car’s window sticker. The EPA tells us the average Volt sees around 35 miles on an electric charge but in reality it’s anywhere from 25 to 50 depending on temperature, road conditions, lead foot, you get the idea. The Volt will push 37MPG in a gas-only mode while combining a full take of petrol and a maximum charged battery pack will take you about 379 miles down the road. Now we get to the fun part since the cost of electricity for charges is also considered. This results in an efficiency estimation of 93 MPGe. That’s miles per gallon equivalent. All said and done, the Volt got an honorable 60 MPG combined score. Confused yet? We are looking at all sorts of MPG numbers, 37, 93, 60….maybe the geniuses in the video can shed some more light on it for you.

The Chevy Volt looking for twin or even triplet

CodyP — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:22:37 +0000

In recent news it’s said that there are 240,000 “potential buyers” for the new 2011 Chevy Volt but only 10,000 units ready to sell in the first year. So what is GM supposed to do? Obviously if the Volt has this much following then GM will kick it into high gear and start spitting out Volt’s like a Las Vegas Slot machine hitting the jackpot.

GM’s CEO Dan Akerson says his company is looking to double or possibly triple it’s production rates. One problem though, GM’s battery cell vendor, LG Chem, is currently planned to make around 10,000 units in 2011 for GM and 45,000 in 2012. The latter number upped from it’s original number of 30,000.

The upside of doubling or tripling it’s production of the Volt would be that GM would see a slightly lower production cost. Let me know what you think about this and shoot me a comment back!

Is the Chevy Volt right for you?

CodyP — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 04:36:27 +0000

What is the Volt?

The Chevy Volt is a plug-in electric hybrid. Current hybrids have a battery pack that is charged by either regenerative braking or power from the gas engine. The Volt’s battery can also be recharged by plugging it into an electrical outlet. When fully charged this battery can power the car for several miles before the gas engine has to be switched on.

What happens if I run out of electricity?

When the battery charge gets low the gas engine turns on and spins a generator to recharge it. Under severe circumstances it’s possible to deplete the battery faster than it can be recharged. The car will still run, but it will use reduced power to let the generator catch up.

How much space does it have?

The Volt is a little wider than its platform-mate, the new Cruze. The Volt’s battery is in a tunnel between the seats; this location allows the rear seats to be folded down for more cargo space, an uncommon feature in hybrids.

What kind of fuel economy does it get? How long does it take to charge?

On short trips with a fully charged battery the Volt uses no gas. How long the car can be driven like this depends on your driving conditions: GM reports anywhere from 25-50 miles with most early reviewers getting around 35. Once the engine has to switch on it should get around 35-40 mpg.

Charging the battery takes up to ten hours using a household 110v outlet or four hours when connected to the 240v charging station.

How much does it cost?

This is a tricky question. The Volt lists for $41,000, but the first 200,000 plug-in hybrids sold will qualify for a $7,500 federal tax rebate. Some states offer additional rebates. As with any hot new car there will surely be some dealer markup.

Price for the charging station is $495 plus installation costs. Due to the demand the car puts on a home electrical system these installation costs can be as high as $2,000 when wiring improvements are factored in. Again, some states offer rebate programs for installation.

Why should I buy a Volt?

If the length of your regular commute is within the Volt’s battery range you may not need to visit a gas pump for months. It also offers plenty of usable space and its new technology is sure to make it a hot car for the next couple years. Federal and state rebates may bring the price closer in line with other hybrids although dealer markup will be high.

Award #2 for the 2011 Chevy Volt thanks to Motor Trend

CodyP — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:30:56 +0000

Seemingly following Automobile Magazine, Motor Trend named the 2011 Chevy Volt as it’s 2011 Car of the Year.

Yet some of you may be wondering why we still haven’t seen the Volt on showroom floors and unfortunately it’s because it’s still waiting on it’s papers to be graded by the EPA, that is it’s official sticker certifying the Volt’s miles per gallon rating. We could be at this standstill forever! No one really know how it should be rated since it’s not a hybrid but a full EV! General Motors global product chief Tom Stephens told Automotive News that the sticker is expected “any day,” and unfortunately that’s a requirement before the Volt can walk out the door.

Currently the Toyota Prius has the honor of being the more fuel efficient electric or plug-in hybrid available in the U.S., but I think the Chevy Volt will bump it down a place once things are in order with the EPA and DOE on the 2011 Fuel Economy Guide.

Automobile Magazine names 2011 Chevy Volt as Automobile of the Year award

CodyP — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 18:19:28 +0000

Not good enough, a good start, or love the car, call it what you want–Automobile Magazine is naming the 2011 Chevy Volt a winner of their Automobile of the Year award. Some say they saw this coming but who really knows if this car will even make it past the starting gate. As much of the ‘game changer’ that it is, the Chevy Volt has a lot to live up to with its almost complete non use of gasoline while driving.

The Volt’s 240V home charging unit is right inline with the Volt’s sticker price….high!

CodyP — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 03:08:10 +0000

Earlier this month GM release the price of their 240V Voltec home charging unit that is designed to quickly and more efficiently recharge the Chevrolet Volt in your garage. Set at a minor dent in your wallet $490, it seems fairly inexpensive. That is, until you have it installed. Hovering at about $1500, it’s the installation that’s going to break the bank! So rather than plugging your Volt into a normal outlet in your garage and taking around 10 hours to reach a full charge from empty, The $2000 240V Voltec charging unit will complete the same job in only 4 hours. Incase anyone is wondering, the Votec system’s overall cost is in line with the Nissan Leaf’s Aerovirnment 240V charge station. Fortunately for the first limited Volt buyers, and living in places with local incentives, you may be able to get a free charger. See Chevrolet’s website for details.

The 2011 Chevy Volt, set to land November 11th

CodyP — Sun, 17 Oct 2010 02:49:35 +0000

Well the day is finally approaching for the launch of the much anticipated 2011 Chevy Volt. The 11th of November is marked on GM’s calendar as the targeted production launch for the Volt. We should be seeing the first models around the dealer lots in early December if eveything goes according to plan. Between now and November, GM’s plant in Detroit-Hamtramck will continue to build pre-production units for employee real-world evaluation and testing.