Chevy Volt - 9 Months and 9000 miles with this amazing GM hybrid electric car [Review]
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- www.redferret.n... .The Chevy Volt is charging ahead in the electrifying battle to become the #1 plug in hybrid. OK, so how cheesy an opening is that, but the reality is that for the first time since the horse drawn carriage, gasoline is slowly becoming more of an optional part of the personal transportation equation. At least that's the way it seems right now...gas powered skateboards may change the balance once again if they get popular. But I digress.
The Volt isn't the first electric car, nor is it the sportiest (hello Fisker Karma), or the one with furthest range (nice to meet you Tesla Model S), the cheapest, the largest, the shiniest, and it can't make balloon animals.
However...it is definitely a landmark vehicle.
The Chevy Volt is simply the most practical plug in hybrid ever created, and I am not surprised that it won the European Car of the Year at the Geneva Motor Show this summer (www.wired.com/a.... It combines a 35-40 mile electric range with a surprisingly agile internal combustion engine (aka "gas engine"). Of course, electric driving range is just one feature, even a golf cart can stagger a few miles on an electric charge.
The Volt however manages to combine plug-in technology and practicality in a fun-to-drive package, and the result is a vehicle which achieves a phenomenal gas mileage while at the same time offering conventional sedan style comfort and style. And what other car comes with not just one, but two smartphone apps to keep you informed and in touch with your vehicle? Most importantly, you don't need to worry about running out of battery charge half way to your destination, as with other electric vehicles.
We definitely haven't seen the last of this kind of imaginative and innovative technology. Check out my video review below which bursts quite a number of myth balloons about this brave engineering gamble from General Motors.
More at www.redferret.net
just look at it, how could you not want it, it looks so sick
Pickin up one of these today....from Porsche to Volt !
I can't begin to say how pumped I am with the gas mileage....I'm 18 miles from work....screw gas prices!
+jeffbrent Totally worth it. My wife and I just bought a used 2012 Volt. We're 10.5 miles away from work, with a very hilly journey. We get to work and back with more than half of the battery life left. In the past month, we've used about half a gallon of gas, because we had a couple of unplanned longer trips. Sure beats the 40 gallons per month we were burning before. We raised the thermostat on our home air conditioner by 2 degrees, and that more than covers the cost of charging the car. Will NEVER go back to a gas car!
it's great tell they slam you will a $1,000 registration cost
Just got a 2014 VOLT two weeks ago. High end one MSRP $38,500. In my 35 years of driving, I have had more than 10 cars including an AMG, BMW 740i, Corvette, Maxima, Toyota. We have 7 cars currently in my household in Los Angeles .... The VOLT is one of the best cars I have ever had. The guy below doesn't know what he is talking about. I leased the vehicle just in case they keep getting better. The interior is great and well appointed. Great Bose sound system, quiet, handles well, accelerate well, etc. I get about 48 miles out of one charge and I drive it at 75 mph in highway too in my commute. I recommend it highly.
do you still have the corvette, if so what year and model?
I do. 2005 Z51 package. Got it new and not planning to sell that.
is it a zr1, z06, or a grand sport
In 2005 there was no Z06 or ZR1 or Grand Sport. There was the base and the Z51. First year of C6. So I got the C6 Z51. Different trani, suspension, brakes, tires. .. etc. Z51 package is now available again on C7.
oh but can't wait till the new c7 z06 comes out. it's gonna have 650 hp
The Volt is CARZYYYY MAD MADNESS...I use to pay about 60.00 a week in gas with a Toyota corolla, that's 240.00 a month...I've had my volt for a month now, and haven't put gas in since the dealer filled it upon the day of my purchase. 30 days later I'm just at half a tank!!!! dooooooooo the math!!! charging price you ask? so far free, I charge for free at public ev stations :-) win win boo boo
+Bad Ontario Drivers- obviously you are the adversary you work for Toyota hahahaha!! my employment requires me to drive, I do hundreds of miles per week, a little over a week ago I put $17 in gas empty to full!! in that time frame I grossed $1,000 income from $17 in gas and I am at half a tank .....helllloooooo winning!!!
As for my electric charging bill, its 0.... the city of Los Angeles has plenty of free charging stations.... Triple A has free charging, charge point also has free charging and I utilize them all everywhere I go.
Ive had my car since 2015 and I have not paid one penny in electricity for charging as of yet....again winning!!!!
+Bad Ontario Drivers lol good try Toyota of Ontario. I have driven every model of the Prius and still paid a lot in gas...i was paying 300 a mo in the prius, in the volt i pay 30 t0 40 a mo..... the volt is the number one car on the road hands down...I still love Toyota because I come to your facilities and charge my car for free hehe
+Bad Ontario Drivers The Volt isn't a bad car if you need a commuter car and especially if you can plug it in at home and/or work. If your round trip work commute is less than 50 miles, or 70 in the new Gen 2 Volt, you can easily do most of your trip, if not all of it, on electric.
Yes, electricity isn't free. But it's a lot cheaper than gas, and electric prices don't fluctuate like crazy like gas prices do.
The Volt is surprisingly low maintenance for the most part. The first 45k miles of scheduled maintenance is tire rotations every 7500 miles, and if done at a dealership, the techs check out the Voltec system for any irregularities. Oil changes are every 2 years if you don't use the gas engine much, or whenever the oil life meter in the car is under 10%, whichever comes first.
Electric motors have less moving parts compared to a gas engine, so that means less stuff to break down. Yes, the Volt still has a gas engine, but if you barely use it, you could easily have a 100k mile Volt that only has 5-10k on the engine. No gas car will ever be able to claim that.
Erick Belmer has recently passed the 300k mile mark on his 2012 Volt, of which over 100k of it was on electric. He still gets the same 35 miles of range today as he did when he first bought it a few years ago. And other than front wheel bearings (probably due to potholes since he lives in Ohio), he hasn't had any issues with the car.
GM really over-engineered and babied the heck out of the Volt's battery, because they had to get it right the first time. And it shows, compared to say, the Nissan Leaf's battery which has shown range loss in really hot climates, likely because Nissan cheaped out and used an air cooled system as opposed to the liquid cooled system the Volt uses.
No Volt owner's battery has yet to be replaced out of warranty, but cost estimates are around $3-4k if it has to be done, which is about the same as if you got an automatic transmission replacement in a gas car. I believe GM ran simulations where the battery held up fine even at 500k miles, but time will tell. The Volt's battery is not like your smartphone/laptop battery, so don't automatically rule it out because of that.
And of course the Volt isn't for everyone. But if you're looking for a more economical to run commuter car, used Gen 1 (2011-2015) Volts can be had for $10-18k easily, which is econocar territory.
But the Volt drives and feels like a $35k car. Give one a test drive if you don't believe anything I just said.
Ashelm56 s
Sir Charles wow that's crazy!
the best car you can get if you cant afford a Tesla, the Volt is better than bmws, audis, mercedes, etc
I bought a used one, a 2013 recently. The drive train and battery is warranties by GM and it's transferrable. If you drive one, you are likely to want one, especially if you are tech savvy and willing to try something new. GM put their best people on this project. This car has great potential for being long-term reliable. I love mine. This is very nearly a perfect application of current technology to the electrically driven vehicle. 2017 update: I bought a second used Volt for my wife.
Did you buy yours used ?
+Fred Medina 0609370 literally the first sentence from the guy, he said he got it used. Literally, did you even read?
Yeah, I used the word "used" a couple of times in relation to both used cars. Because they were used.
Hi Folks, can we please keep the conversation civil? There's enough nastiness around, without adding to it here. Thanks very much. :)
+Red Ferret you my friend are the reason i purchased a 2013 chevy volt! I watched your review back in 2013 and I finally have one! I thank you for this review!
+Renaldo V It's our pleasure, glad we could help. I personally feel that we're just about to see an explosion in hybrid and all electric technology, so hang on. :)
+Red Ferret Cant wait for the Tesla Model 3 as I'm not a fan of carrying around a gas engine just for the off chance I run out of electricity.
We need updates on the Volt please!!
Change the oil at lest once a year motor oil goes bad and filled with water
and engines can't get lucubrated by water
I just bought a used 2014 - Same color! I LOVE this car.....excellent excellent excellent. Great review! Thanks
Thank you for doing this review! I was so confused on how hybrids work and now I understand. You are the first and only person who made me understand them completely. Thank you!
I really appreciate this review. I think you sold me on the car.
great review! I still don't understand why there isn't more hype for this car. It's a pretty revolutionary design.
It's do to a high number of people being retarded :D
I absolutely cannot wait for the 2016 model to come out. My parents are looking at replacing their Toyota, and I've been pushing this car for them. I'll drive my Mazda a few more years until upgrading it to the Chevy Volt.
We just purchased (May 2016) a used 2013 Volt Base with only 12,100 miles on it for less than $15,500. We looked at the same year, 2013 but was against it due to it's over $40,000 price tag. If you can get a good one used, they are a fantastic value.
I've gone over 800 miles on it and not used one ounce of gasoline.
Btw the engine is a 1.4L NA that has 83hp, not 160.
Other then that, exellent review. You're exactly the type of client for a Volt, someone who doesnt do a lot milleage and stay in the electric range.
Thnx for this very informative vid,,the MPG is truly impressive!
I'm only hoping GM will put this drivetrain into their big trucks soon...
Check out Via Trucks. 100 mpg full size pickups and vans. Great reviews on UA-cam.
I don't understand the reason why people have to be insulting and nasty! I'm in the market right now for an electric vehicle, keep the debate and the reviews coming. For the guys that are nasty and narrow minded, you can certainly express your opinion but keep the discussion civil, there is no need to be nasty!
Thank you for taking the time to make this video Red Ferret. NICE JOB!
Fantastic review - I'm going to get one!
Cool, good luck. :)
My 2013 has 30,000 miles ... 30 gallons total ... hard city miles. 97% all electric.My Wattmeter indicates $23/month electricity... 3.5 years. Two oil changes total.Least maintenance .. lowest noise... best brakes... no tranny... no shifting... No ICE comes close.
Also, the 2013 and 2014 versions of the car plug into a regular wall outlet and takes approx. ten hours to complete a full charge. You can purchase a 240 outlet that will charge the car in 4 hours.
i bought a 2017 volt in September.
it runs great, i have a level 2 charger at home. i plug it in at nite and wake up to full battery. then i use battery until i get to freeway then switch it to gas with the "hold" mode. then when i get off freeway close to work i change it back to battery. then on mountain mode on way home.
It is very easy to share the all the great aspects of the Volt, like unbelievable milaege (900 mpg in many cases), faster 0-60 times than most cars in its class, unlimited range to drive as far as you want when you want
The 2013 Volt is programmed to run the ICE every 45 days if it detects no usage. The ICE will cycle for 10 minutes then shut itself off again. This is done to prevent "aging". PS: I love my 2013 Volt!
While in gas mode (battery depleted), when the foot is lifted from the pedal, the car coasts (recharging the battery) and reverts to battery because of the regenerative actions. At the light, the car is off (battery mode). The car remains in battery mode for about 1/8 of a mile, at which time, the gas generator turns back on. This occurs about 90% of the time.
Normal braking is not done by the pads. The E motor slows the car down to 3 mph. The pads take over then. Regenerative braking.
Thank you for posting this, very informative
I am on my second pre owned Volt, sold the 2012 to my sister, bought a low mileage 2014.
Both have been great cars. Few issues, high quality and since I have solar on my house, I basically charge for free. I am on the waiting list for a model 3, but today I do not think I am going to take advantage of it. The Volt does everything I need it to do and no range issues if I want to make a trip. So, if you buy pre owned, the cost to run is lower than most anything out there and you will have a great comfortable car. I am having my new one ceramic coated next week, so I think I am going to keep it, certainly if the US tax credit goes away, the Tesla will make no economic sense to buy. If I got it, would be an emotional I WANT IT decision, not a practical decision.
I'm noticing used Volts coming off lease selling for $27k. Because they're 3yrs old, they still qualify for a 5 year loan. For many people the lower cost of driving makes payments even more affordable.
It is still happening, I just bought a 2015 with 22k miles for $14,300.
I am glad that you enjoyed it!
You are mostly right The Chevy volt has 4 modes. Mode 1, single motor full electric. At cruising speed, the planetary gearset will engage both electric motors, to reduce the speed of the main motor. Less power, but extends electric range. Mode 3, once the battery has depleted the gas engine spins the generator, which keeps the battery in it's low limit charge, main electric moving car. Mode 4 adds the gas engine for high speed crusiing.This increases fuel efficency. I have 16000 miles on my volt
Sorry, but you aren't all correct. The gas engine does not have the ability to power the vehicle; my uncle works for General Motors, and I drive one. The engine isn't connected to the wheels. When the battery is near the end of it's charge, the gas engine enables to charge the battery and power the vehicle; it's strictly an electric vehicle. It provides enough energy to keep the battery at it's level, and run the vehicle.
93% of all owners love the car so much, they will absolutely buy again. Did you ever notice that 40 miles is the longest range of all the plug ins. 40 miles is also the most Americans drive 80% of the time according to the last census. It is the perfect range to shoot for. I've purchased 6 gallons of gas in 15 months.
That's impresive! The average Volt owner gets about 1,000 per each gas tank, wich is only 9 gallons. We were getting 221 MPG in about 300 miles in our Demo at the dealership. The problem? The Haters! Nobody is buying this amazing machine that was Motor Trend Car of the Year, North American Car of the Year and Car and Driver 10 Best because it doesn't have a Toyota or Honda emblem. This is a game changer and if more people were buying it, the oil companies would be in trouble. Go GM!
That was a tremendous video. Super well done and covered every aspect of the vehicle. Even answered some things I didn’t know.
You don't have to use 91 octane ... the mid-grade here is 89 octane and engine runs fine with 37K miles here. I have a Ford F-150 that I use in snow and for longer trips with all family gear. The Volt is for some days when I commute and shorter trips for errands ... no complaints; better than the Prius we sold.
I was liking the review until the reviewer thought it was necessary to clarify that the tax credit is a George W. Bush credit and not Obama's. If it were an Obama credit, so what? I don't watch these reviews to know how car reviewers feel about Obama. :/
I agree! I felt that was unnecessary!
Also agreed. Glowing review otherwise.
DISCONTINUED IN EUROPE, JAPAN, AND AUSTRALIA. The Americans get the new G2 version, but the overseas markets do not, because overseas drivers did not want the car (they already have 50-80 mpg diesels)
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I agree. I have bought only 6 gallons of gas in 17 months. Buying gas is a waste of money. BTW, my son bought a Volt. He commutes 82 miles a day. He charges at work. He has cut his commute expense from $325 a month to $0. Pays the car payment.
Great review - I thought I knew everything about it, but I didn't realize that the gas motor could also send power to the wheels. As to the discussion about cost, people need to realize that the cost of a vehicle is not what you pay for it, but what it depreciates while you own it. I bought mine with a 72-month 0% loan from GM, and will get my $7500 credit just five months later - it pays for the entire first year. Time will tell as to resale value, but the few for sale now seem to maintain valu
Also in my area (Indiana) they have the Clean Cities Program...Check you area / power company as its not really advertised.
They come out to your house: provide a 240v charging station (free)
Install a new meter and run 240v power to it (free)
And all charging to the vehicle off peak is totally (free)
I purchased mine used 2012 with a huge sticker savings. I cant justify the monthly payment on a new one.
In the Europe the Chevy Volt was available as "Opel Ampera" but it is very rare because it was probably too expensive for many people!
After further investigation the Volt does have specific situations upon the engine providing some minor charge to the battery. However, in the definition of a hybrid, the engine does recharge the battery. The Volt, if not plugged in will not work as an EV and will run the engine so as to provide electrons. I stand corrected as to the technical specs. However, the Volt is an EV not a hybrid, and charging the battery using an EVSE is required. Otherwise, it is an ICE car and not an efficient one due to the battery/components weight. Like most present EV's, except for Tesla, it is a city/short range EV. Cheers.
Using 240 volts doesn't require less energy, you just get charged less because you're trading volts for amps, but you're charged for amps. So, it's less expensive and faster but the upgrade doesn't hug any more trees.
I purchased the Volt and already had a Kill-A-Watt meter. I constantly got a total of 13 kilowatt hours to charge the car. Sometimes a little less, sometimes a little more. There are several other Volt owners who used Kill-A-Watt meters to calculate their charging costs. Find your average cost for electric power and multiply that by 13 = cost for charge from 0. A little less with the 240V. cuz fans or heaters work less during charging. Quicker charge, less fan or heater time.
Red Ferret thanks for posting. I love my 2011. No car like it in the world. Truly. Let the folks that don't understand them continue to wonder . . . cs
Thanks for the clear concise review and explanation. Ive had to suffer through some of the worst reviews by supposed automotive experts that were not anywhere as clear and informative as yours. The worst is when they are just reading from a cue card as they try to explain the drivetrain.
No hard feelings or anything, just teasing. I really liked your review. Would you suggest I wait for the 2016 model or is the tech/refinement in the current model more than adequate even after all these years?
I have a dilemma. I own a Chevrolet Volt and love it. I also own a Chevrolet Silverado with the Duramax Diesel engine, for my business and love it. I have haters on both ends of the spectrum. The Volt is driven 2,000 miles per month using less than 10 gallons of gas. The truck is driven, pulling a heavy load, about 1,500 miles using about 120 gallons of diesel. Now that is painful. If you don't like GM or you don't like the Volt ... don't buy one. That is pretty simple.
There is so much misinformation on the Volt in the comments from non-Volt owners. I bought my 2014 Volt for $31,195 - $9,000 fed and state tax credits and rebates = $22,195 final cost. If you initial price is more than $31,195 before your rebates, then you really are not good at buying a car. Try using TrueCar.com to help you get a good deal. As far as charging costs: I paid $100/month on my electrical bill before I bought the car. The first month I had the car it went up to $160/ month. I switch to SCE electric vehicle rate plan and my monthly bill dropped back to $100/month. So basically it costs me nothing extra to charge my car. I consistently get 45-51 miles on a charge. I have averaged 145 lifetime mpg over the last 8 months I have owned the vehicle. I have driven almost 13,000 miles in that time. The volt is fast, fun, reliable (not even a sqeak), and just the most incredible vehicle on the road. With its generator this vehicle has unlimited range and never needs a charge. If you drive less than 40 miles daily you will get about 900mpg. WHAT CAR GETS 900 mpg AND HAS UNLIMITED RANGE if you need it? All you jealous Prius and Leaf propagandist keep spreading false comments, but the truth is getting out that the Chevy Volt is truly an amazing car.
Comprehensive & well produced review. Thanks for posting.
The Chevy Volt has a stainless steel, sealed gas tank. The car actually vacates all air from the tank when the gas door is closed. When the gas door button is pushed for refuel, it allows air back in to neutralize the pressure.
Gas can last for years when sunlight and air are not present. However, if an owner should go about 1 year without using gas, the car will burn off most of it. The driver can not stop the car from burning off the gas.
Oh, and another thing: if you keep you volt plugged in at all times, it will keep the battery at driving temperatures, so it saves some energy. :) And use the remote start when it's plugged in to have the car heat or cool the car, without using the battery life. :) I love my Volt, and I've had it for nearly nine months.
red volt with chrome rims and beige interior is by far the nicest volt
It depends a little on the weather... however, without an intermediate charge you could expect to burn 0.4-.75 gallons of gas
Can't wait til the new Volt comes out!
that sounds good, even in jamiaca where the cost electricity being so high I calculate about a 50% savings on travelling.
but you guys! you guys save like 90%. Im surprized that isnt the only car you guys will buy.
It’s looks like older electric ⚡️ cars are worth holding onto, lots of battery specialists popping up, enabling the upgrade of older/worn batteries, further extending the range and life of the vehicle
Another thing: you cannot shift the vehicle out of park with the charge cord attached. Just another side note. :)
holy fuck i need this car
Continued from my previous message....converted to electricity which combines with the battery buffer to power the Volt's MGB electric motor. In this mode, the car is less efficient but is able to deliver higher output (more power) to the wheels.
Well done Sir! If you're not already getting a commission from Chevy, you should be. While the Volt is nowhere near the quality of the Tesla, it doesn't cost $120,000 either. Thank you for your concise and informative review.
i get 50 miles (electric) every day on my 2012 volt ,but I have to say its on flat roads at low speed in town in warm climate ,but its possible and I enjoy it a lot
A parallel hybrid uses two distinct modes for propelling the car. A gas motor is directly linked to the rear wheels with no other assistance.
The ICE generator in the Volt is never linked to the rear wheels alone, and only on rare occasions. The car weighs 3800 lbs. The 85 hp generator could never handle that weight. In a series architecture, multiple systems feed into each other in sequence with only one connection to the end point, namely the drive wheels. Series means in line.
I have a UK version - the Vauxhall Ampera. It is the best car I have ever owned. The best bit is when you put your foot down at three miles an hour. The instant torque is breathtaking and so easy to use. You will beat any petrol engine vehicle across the lights if he isn't sitting there at 3000 r.p.m. ready to drop the clutch. I have severely embarrassed cars that are far faster on paper. My lifetime fuel consumption is currently 197 m.p.g. (Imperial) but I've done some long trips in it.
Great review; I leased a 2013 Volt and love it! I have put about 1000 miles on it and used about 13 gallons of gas. Primarily because I made a round trip of more than 300 miles and a round trip to one of my favorite stores is about 20 miles shy of a full charge range. Still much better than my Chevy trail blazer.
LOL. As far as I know, the mechanical linkage is not permanent and activates in only very very few cases. And even then, the petrol engine does not directly drive the wheels, it supports the generator (which then functions as e-motor) which is connected to the drivesystem with additional torque. That's how I understood the system as described by an engineer. No matter what we call the car.
My das was going to buy a hybrid.. He didn't because he felt the car was too complicated, so if something broke, he wouldn't know how to fix it. Instead, he bought a Volkswagen Passat, which is a car he pretty much knows in and out. So yeah.. Maybe the reason people aren't buying Chevy Volts is because they don't want change lol
Well, that's true. But on the other hand, my oil will last almost the lifetime of my car. My brakes will last about 150,000 miles. Most people don't realize that about 96% of all braking on electrics (not just the Volt) is done by the E motor. It's called regenerative braking.
The car has a long warranty. If you throw in the GMPP, you have coverage for 8 years. I have a few classic cars I can work on and fix. I don't want to be working on my daily driver. The VW will probably be repaired a lot more than the Volt
waterzap99 Currently there are 160k miles on my 2004 VW Passat that we bought for 2.5k.. A sensor broke at around 100kish, so we had to take it back to the dealer and it was fixed for $600. Besides that, nothing has been done to the car besides the regular stuff you can expect to be done on a car that has been in use for a decade (change of fluids, new tires, and other small stuff). I use the car every weekday to commute to and from my university which is a total of 50 miles a day lol. Seeing as how a new Volt is worth 15x the amount of my car and the cost of all the maintenance/repairs is hovering around 1k in total..I'd say my VW is the better deal. Although the Volt does look better and the technology on it is, undeniably, something I would like to get my hands on lol
Hi there, as a Volt owner living in Calgary it costs an extra $25 - $50 per month
My top electric range according to the dashboard has been 47 miles. However, I know that I have driven 11 miles when the monitor went from 47 to 45. So, how you drive has a HUGE impact on whether you use the predicted amount or less or more.
In the second year, my range has grown to 51 miles. Perhaps as the battery ages it gets stronger.
Do you still have the Volt? Would you buy one with 100k on it?
Perfect day and driving conditions, drove all electric 53 miles.
That is different than what is stated in Motor Trend
look up the Motor trend article about the Chevy Volt's Planetary gear - excerpt below
"Once the Volt’s battery is depleted, the engine fires up and clutches to the generator to produce the power required to drive the car. Above 70 mph, when the generator couples to the ring gear, the engine gets a more efficient direct mechanical connection to the wheels."
Love my Volt! Averaging about 138MPG
In my area its .11 cents a kWh and a fully discharged vehicle will be about a $1.3. Compare to my last car that got 19mpg it would take over 2 gallons of gas to the distance of one charge. I love my Volt.
These are sold in Australia with Holden badges. Haven't seen too many on the road, but Priuses are everywhere, particularly as taxis.
There is a gas tank in the back of the car, just like in other cars. The gas cap is in the back on the passenger side of the car.
I agree. Plus the bed area could house some serious batteries. You would have to raise up the load area in the bed a few inches, but it would be a great place for some batteries.
Everybody's expense is different, as electric rates are not the same. To find out what your cost would be, simply find out your average cost per kilowatt hour per month and multiply that by 13. It takes 13 kwh's to fully charge a Volt. 10 hours at 1.3 kilowatts per hour.
The average cost per kwh in the USA is 12.5 cents. That means it costs $1.63 on average to charge the Volt. That is for 40 miles on average.
Night time rates are usually lower. You can program the car to charge later.
Im getting a 2012 premium volt next week. I cant wait! worth the money
Very nice video, learned alot
Actually, the Volt (and all electrics) does better in town. It is the opposite of a gas car. When you come to a red light, nothing is happening. There is no idle. Even when in gas mode, regenerative actions puts enough juice in the battery to let the car revert to electric when coasting to a red light. The car then travels about 1/8 - 1/4 mile in full electric before the generator restarts. See mpgomatic's review on YT. They got 43 mpg gas mode after 600 miles. So do most owners.
I bought a volt in October of 2013, and immediately it had a CEL for charging system coolant failure. 3 days later I get my car back after driving it only 1 day and was told I must have used the brakes too much. 5000 miles later it is back in the shop for another CEL for charging system coolant failure. 9 days later they replace a coolant pump for the charging system and hope they have it fixed. Who knows.
Depends on your electric company.... in some areas it can be less than $1.00 a day (at $0.09/Kw) but in other areas it could be double that amount.
You can also look-up the article in Wall Street Journal by Holman Jenkins who states, “the gasoline engine that generates electricity when the (Volt) batteries are depleted will, under certain circumstances, directly turn the planetary ring gear and help drive the car.”
Nice review, wish we have this in the Philippines.
The useable kWh's in the Volt's battery is 10.5 kWh. With the 110V charger, it takes 12.5 kWh's to charge it up that 10.5 kWh useable. There is that % of loss while charging. The 220V has less loss.
So at the average electric costs at 12 cents a kWh, that is right at $1.50 fopr a full charge and to go 35 miles for a 2012 Volt, the 2013 Volt has a little bigger battery and can go 38 miles on a full charge.
That's really impressive! Are most electric cars this convenient? Or is this a feature exclusively reserved for the Chevy volt?
See my post 4 days ago. 40 miles is perfect for the real world. Lots of Volt owners don't even use gas. No other extended range vehicle gets as many miles electric as the Volt. On long trips, the car gets 43 mpg gas. See mpgomatic on YT for the Volt review. They drove 600 mi's. & got 40 in E & 43 mpg in gas mode. EPA estimates are low cuz dyno's won't allow regenerative actions. In the real world, regenerative actions allow the Volt to revert back to E for short periods of time.
FYI, the Volt loves red lights and city driving. Regenerative actions are much more common on city streets than on the freeway. It is the opposite of a gas powered car. Better city than highway.
Also, when at a red light, the Volt is off. That is, as far as the motor and battery are concerned. There is no idle in an electric car.
You're missing something. The EV1 only seated 2 people and the batteries took up a lot of the cargo space and the NIMH battery pack version battery pack weighed 1,147 pounds versus Volt's is about 500 pounds.
The Chevy Volt's battery pack is liquid cooled and heated, the EV1 was air cooled and heated. Water cooling takes up more space and some weight.
Also if the Chevy Volt used the entire capacity of the battery rather than just around the range of 22% to 85%, there'd be more range.
but the battery would not last as long though
Good video but I want to point out you have the extended range operation reversed. When in steady state crushing over 35 MPH, the ICE mechaniclly engages to the planetary gear. This is not for more power, but for higher efficiency. When under hard accelerating (full pedal) or when climbing steep grades, this is when the Volt is in full series mode, which means all of the output from the ICE gets converted to electricity whi
Good input for me to decide which hybrid/electric car should I get.
To clarify, the Volt is not a hybrid as the engine does not ever charge the battery. This car is an electric car, EV, with a range extender engine. With the battery depleted, the engine provides electrical power to the motors to run the car. Like all EV's, the Volt must be connected to an electrical source to recharge the battery. Not a hybrid. Thanks.
Ramon - "as the engine does not ever charge the battery." Actually, the engine does charge the high voltage battery pack in several circumstances, the most obvious being when MM is selected with 0 - 15 miles battery range remaining. The Gen one Volt operates as both a serial hybrid and a parallel hybrid in different circumstances. GM chooses to say EREV for the Volt, but says Plug-in Hybrid for the Caddy ELR with the same basic Voltec operating system. We Volt owners don't need to defend GM's chosen, but silly and misleading, nomenclature.
+Dave Riley thanks.
Now that's crazy. Cool ... but crazy. I'm the type that keeps cars for quite a while. Had two beautiful Seville's for 17 years each. Had them together for about 6 years. Kept them showroom new & sold them for 2 X blue book. You'd be surprised how many people want to buy a 15 + yr. old (new) car that they don't have to put a dime into. My 94 STS even smelled new inside. My caddy days were over until I got a look at the Cadillac ELR. Now I'm having second thoughts. Maybe in 7 years.
Theyre selling these as Amperas here in finland. The range is 10 miles in winter. This is like the worst idea ever for our conditions. Plus it costs 70,000$ here!
Shhhh, don't say that too loud. A lot of Volt owners live in warm places like California or Florida, where to them winter driving means having to turn on the heat once in a while.
Bayan1905 Gasoline car mileage also drops in the cold.
That is amazing. This is my dream practical car!
Looks exactly like my 2012, same interior and everything. The only difference is I'm at 90k miles not 9k! How many miles are on yours now, if you still have it?
currently driving a Pirus C. only get 48-55 MPG. I will buy a plug in hybrid for my next car. you can say Volt is a EV (36 mile range) with extend gas engine. :)
As a Volt owner I can assure you that you will barely notice a difference. Electric motors are 5 to 10 times more efficient than gas engines.
10.5 hours on 110 4 hours on 240. I have a 2013 volt, work 4 days a week, 11 hour shifts and consume the full charge in my commute + about a tenth of a gallon of gas. I pay 11 cent per killawatt and to charge takes 14KW (13.8 rounding up). I put a Kw meter between the charger and the outlet. $1.50 per charge.
Comparing charge time to gas time is silly though. I get home and plug in the charger, thats it. Its like closing your car door, takes the same amount of time.
Yep charging at home is cheap, even here in Europe. Until this April, public charging was cheap/free. In the UK many public chargers will now charge OVER 4 USD for every 12 miles of range you put on the battery!! So be warned! you can have the the "goal posts" moved on you without warning! It's a lot of money to spend on a car and THEN have that happen! Let's hope Uncle Sam does not go down that route.
For Mr. Frank Rizzo. I doubt that your Prius can do this.
postimg.org/image/j54m2a5gx/
My charging costs come to 2.5 cents per mile. That means when gas is at $2.50, I can drive 100 miles for the cost of one gallon of gas. However, I live in CA where gas is quite expensive. At current prices, I can drive over 150 miles for the cost of one gallon of gas.
I truly doubt that your Prius can get 100 mpg, let alone 150 mpg.
You seem to forget that 90% of a car's millage is city driving. Taking a long trip in a Volt can be very light on the pocket. First of all, if kept at 68 mph, most Volt owners get about 40 - 43 mpg. Secondly, most Volt owners take their charger with them on long trips. Third, there are charging stations along the way.
Last, if you payed that little for a Prius, you bought a bare bones car. You can't compare prices when one is a fully loaded vehicle and the other is bare bones. A nice Prius is about $26k. The Volt, after credits is about $28k. The difference will be made up in a year. Go to KBB's 5 year cost of ownership and plug in the Prius against the Volt. Don't cheat. Pick a Prius that compares to the Volt in options. You'll see.
The Prius V costs $4,000 more to operate than the Volt. That means that the Volt is ahead after 5 years.
However, this is with a $5,000 credit only. Most Volt owners get the full $7,500 credit. Add to that the $1,500 credit that many states give, the Prius ends up costing $8,000 more to operate in those 5 years.
But going to the gas station 9 times in 4 years is what really sells the car for me. You can't do that in a Prius. Not even a plug in.
Prius is a good car. I just hate paying for that much gas anymore.
Li-Ion batteries hold about 4 times more energy, but they've also been downsized to allow more room for other things (like rear seat and trunk)
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