[alfon]

I remember a few years back that there was some anticipation with the Gen 2 Volt to be a 50-50 Volt model, meaning 50 mile electric range, and 50 mpg when running on the gasoline engine.

It seems that our 2016 Volt is getting close to 50 mpg on the gas engine. Since the software update on the engine we have noticed a fairly impressive increase in mpg on the gas engine, even though its late winter/early spring conditions. Our last trip, my wife and I, two days ago to to the Portland Oregon area, was nearly 170 miles round trip. 45.3 miles on electric and the rest on gas with 48 mpg on the gas engine. Summer I'm sure electric would be over 50 miles and gas mpg over 50 mpg as well. This is a trip via highway 26 from sea level to 1642 feet with three mountain passes each way to return home.

Just curious if anyone else has noticed an increase in mpg on their 2016-17 Volt after the engine software update?

 

[N8XWB]

What engine software update???

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

In order to remain competitive against the Toyota Prius, the generator range extender needs to pull around 50 MPG, since a Prius is now doing a bit more than 50 MPG, although suffering a bit on acceleration.

 

[Raymondjram]

In order to remain competitive against the Toyota Prius, the generator range extender needs to pull around 50 MPG, since a Prius is now doing a bit more than 50 MPG, although suffering a bit on acceleration.

Any hybrid can possibly get 50 MPG if you drive it carefully. The purpose of the EPA tests and rating is for an average MPG rating. I read at a Ford Fusion forum that several Fusion Hybrids did get and pass 50 MPG. That is amazing for a 3,800 lb (empty) mid-sized five-seat sedan, since the Volt and all the Prius are compacts. If the Volt had a lesser battery, it could pass 60 MPG.

Read more about the 50 MPG Fusion Hybrids here:
http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com/topic/3446-traded-in-my-2008-prius-for-a-2015-fusion-energi/
http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/to...thod-of-driving-my-experience-getting-50-mpg/

And if the Fusion Energi can get 30 EV miles, a slightly better battery can reach the Gen 1 Chevy Volt's original EPA EV range and maybe pass it. So if GM doesn't apply the EREV tech to a midsized sedan soon, the Fusion Energi will catch up.

 

[TSquare]

In order to remain competitive against the Toyota Prius, the generator range extender needs to pull around 50 MPG, since a Prius is now doing a bit more than 50 MPG, although suffering a bit on acceleration.

Don't you mean, in order to remain competitive with a Volt, the Prius needs to get an all EV range of at least 50 miles before the range extender starts?

 

[Qinsp]

The 18.4 kWh battery is going to keep the fuel economy down on the Volt.

I would say most long time Volt owners can actually hit 50+ AER and 50+ mpg on demand today. We know how.

 

[Qinsp]

The true performance difference of a Prius vs a G2 Volt is more than minor.
It takes less than 75% of the passing distance a Prius requires on paper, but even less in the real world due the EV instant performance of the Volt. ICE performance < EV performance when the power is the same.

On paper a Prius has almost identical power to weight, hence better acceleration than a Volt.

2017 Prius - 3010lb with 121hp = 24.9 lb/hp yields 10.5 seconds to 60mph.
2017 Volt - 3543lb with 149hp = 23.8 lb/hp yields 7.5 seconds to 60mph.

 

[kentlucas]

Hitting 50MPG except in short segments has proven difficult for me, and I am in the 96th percentile in MPGcs on voltstats:

MPGCS: 45.20 #112 / 96.1%

 

[Qinsp]

Recent round trip mostly highway, on 235/45-17 tires inflated to 51 psi.

Cut your speed back to 55 mph drive in the slow lane.

Note that the gas use was slightly uphill from 400' to 800'.

 

[hellsop]

Any hybrid can possibly get 50 MPG if you drive it carefully. The purpose of the EPA tests and rating is for an average MPG rating. I read at a Ford Fusion forum that several Fusion Hybrids did get and pass 50 MPG. That is amazing for a 3,800 lb (empty) mid-sized five-seat sedan, since the Volt and all the Prius are compacts. If the Volt had a lesser battery, it could pass 60 MPG.

Read more about the 50 MPG Fusion Hybrids here:
http://www.fordfusionenergiforum.com/topic/3446-traded-in-my-2008-prius-for-a-2015-fusion-energi/
http://fordfusionhybridforum.com/to...thod-of-driving-my-experience-getting-50-mpg/

And if the Fusion Energi can get 30 EV miles, a slightly better battery can reach the Gen 1 Chevy Volt's original EPA EV range and maybe pass it. So if GM doesn't apply the EREV tech to a midsized sedan soon, the Fusion Energi will catch up.

There are many Priuses. The regular, V, and Prime are midsized cars per EPA, the C and the Volt are compacts.

EPA also says the Volt's operating cost is lower than the V, C and vanilla Prius. The Prime's expected annual cost is lower than the Volt by about $50 per year. (The Malibu Hybrid has a modified (non-plugin) Voltec in it, is also a midsized and it is right between the vanilla and V Priuses in estimated operating cost.)

 

[wws]

EPA also says the Volt's operating cost is lower than the V, C and vanilla Prius. The Prime's expected annual cost is lower than the Volt by about $50 per year.

Thing is the G2 Volts AER so dwarfs the PP, that the extra MPG in the PP over the G2 Volt doesn't matter. Around town we are almost always using all electric. (In my case even a G1 Volt would be on gas on occasion. The PP would be worse.) For a road trip example take a hypothetical 900 mile trip for me, from the SF Bay area to San Diego and back. Assume both cars are fully charged/fully depleted once when heading south, and fully charged/fully depleted once when heading back north. The difference in gallons of gas used is about a gallon or two. For the $3-$5 difference in gas, plus whatever charging costs (could be anywhere from free to a few dollars), I'd much rather drive the Volt for any number of reasons.

 

[alfon]

What engine software update???

There was a software update a few months for 2016-17 Volts as the gas engine when running would be not smooth. Many on this forum noticed this as well. It seems to have been a positive update as, at least in our 2016 Volt, seems like on gas we have more power, run smoother, and a noticeable improvement on mpg's, looks like 3 mpg more, on the gas engine.

 

[firehawk72]

Don't you mean, in order to remain competitive with a Volt, the Prius needs to get an all EV range of at least 50 miles before the range extender starts?

My EXACT thoughts.

 

[Bacardi]

I agree...There would be no better way to increase sales than to hit the "magic" 50 MPG EPA number...Could increase EV range to 60, lower the 0-60, give it DCFC/power seats/sunroof/homelink but any of that would result in only a slight sales increase...Outside of giving it a price haircut, nothing would increase sales more than to increase the MPG...The Volt shouldn't be in a competition with just vehicles like the Prius/Prime, GM should make it compelling enough to appear on the car buying list for the guy who plans on buying an ICE Civic or ICE Corolla...

 

[Loiter]

There was a software update a few months for 2016-17 Volts as the gas engine when running would be not smooth. Many on this forum noticed this as well. It seems to have been a positive update as, at least in our 2016 Volt, seems like on gas we have more power, run smoother, and a noticeable improvement on mpg's, looks like 3 mpg more, on the gas engine.

Is there a way to know if the car has the update? Just purchased my Volt at the end of February, would they have checked it/updated it prior to sale?

 

[rmay635703]

Hitting 50MPG except in short segments has proven difficult for me, and I am in the 96th percentile in MPGcs on voltstats:

MPGCS: 45.20 #112 / 96.1%

Temperatures and hvac use determine 50+ mpgcs or low mid 30's for me

 

[canehdian]

I almost hit 50/50 on a gen1. Piece of cake on a gen2...

My guess-o-meter was up to 79km (50mi=80km) each morning last summer and I regularly get 5.0L/100km (47MPG). Best run of 4.9 (48MPG)

 

[alfon]

Is there a way to know if the car has the update? Just purchased my Volt at the end of February, would they have checked it/updated it prior to sale?

Have the dealer check the vin. This will give them all the service, including recalls, performed on your vehicle. You would also perhaps notice when running on the gas engine, it will shudder a little when driving, and not be smooth compared to being driven in 100% electric mode.

 

[tgreene]

I was hoping to add some useful information to this thread for a little bit but since I didn't have results of my own to support it I stayed out.

Well on my 107.5 mile one way trip home tonight I came up with some solid results that made me really happy. I bought my volt a couple weeks ago because of my 200+ round trip to work daily and it's true colors shined today. A 50/50 volt in my opinion is easily achievable. The results in the picture were a result of 99.9% highway at 65mph.

 

[Sheldon]

There was a software update a few months for 2016-17 Volts as the gas engine when running would be not smooth. Many on this forum noticed this as well. It seems to have been a positive update as, at least in our 2016 Volt, seems like on gas we have more power, run smoother, and a noticeable improvement on mpg's, looks like 3 mpg more, on the gas engine.

It seems like a lot of folks can get 44-46mpg at 65mph steady state on their gen2 Volts, but Wayne in his 2016 Volt review at cleanmpg.com only saw 41.4 mpg at 65mph. Maybe the newer gen2 Volts (after the software upgrade?) get better ICE mpg than the gen2 that Wayne tested.

Maybe its just cold weather. Cold weather plays a huge role in Volt mpg. Voltstat's is way better in the summer than in the winter though some of that is ERDTT. Anyway, the gen2 Volt on highway ICE mileage is probably nearly comparable with the last generation Prius, but the 2016/2017 Prius really did raise the bar with 52mpg combined.

The Volt's more fun though.