time based on charge level and outside temperature)Ĥ.5 hours (approx. Second-generation Voltec electric drive system with 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery pack and Ecotec 1.5L gas-powered range extenderġ3 hours (approx. Don’t forget, it’s an eight-gallon tank.Fuel Efficiency | Fuel Tank Capacity | Engines | Transmission and Axle | Chassis/Suspension | Exterior Dimensions | Interior Dimensions & Cargo Volume | Weights & Capacities Also, when you are completely charged with a full tank, you will get around 40 miles all electric and 380 miles on the gas, witho a combined total range of around 420 miles. General Motors claims 106 mpg-e which incorporates the electric charging average and 42 mpg average gas-only. So mileage, that’s a rough estimate because you are using two types of fuel and it’s hard to quantify your home battery-charging costs. So upgrading to a 240 line is recommended if you plan to own a plug-in vehicle of any kind. Charging it from almost empty takes 12 or more hours on a regular plug in your garage. There is also a Mountain setting that reserves battery for hill climbs. You can actively change how the car operates to be the most efficient at the specific time. It's ideal for people who drive in town, then highway to work, then in town again. What this does is lock the battery at the current charged level and uses the generator almost exclusively to save battery for city driving. One of the features I loved about the Volt was “Hold” mode. You can plug in for 40-plus miles of electric charge and use the gas engine to help on highway commutes. But really, if you commute in the city to suburbs primarily, the Volt is a really nice alternative to gasoline or even hybrid cars. The car jumps to attention and will blast down the highway. It’s a smooth application of power and even more rewarding when in sport mode with a full charge. It’s a really neat idea and one that sips both fuel and electric.Īs far as a transmission goes, the car is really just a CVT with electric propulsion, so there is no shifting like traditional gear boxes and the car doesn’t hop around gears. Once that is gone, you will use the gasoline motor on board to fuel the charging of the batteries to get you home or to a gas station. If you charge the car to full capacity, you will have somewhere between 32 to 45 miles of all-electric (EV) mileage. An onboard gasoline generator provides charge on demand, so you can travel an extended range of miles past the car's battery pack mileage. Simply put, the Volt is always propelled forward or backward with electric motors. So with batteries, electric motors and a gas range extender on board, I’ll do my best to break it down. For the most part, most people won’t notice the difference while driving this car as opposed to any other small sedan. Acceleration is pretty decent, and driving an electric vehicle is actually really nice, with no hesitation in the gas pedal. Those combine with the 1.5-lion range extender gas engine to provide a total output of 149 horsepower but 297 pound-foot of torque that will propel this hatchback to 60 mph pretty quickly. Under the hood is a Voltec Electric drive unit and a Li-ion battery unit. This week we take a look at one of my favorites: the Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. Keep in mind these are all introductions to the cars of the future that will combine all of this tech in different ways to make all sorts of efficient vehicles. Then everyone would really understand the pros and cons of all types of electric, hybrid and plug-in vehicles.Įach has a niche, and each has its drawbacks. Everyone should spend some time with a Volt, a Prius, an Insight and a Tesla.
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