[MikeyCVolt]

https://youtu.be/67mV_FyuCgk

Just a silly little test...

I would have sworn my 2017 Volt felt a little faster when passing in hold mode until I ran the videos side by side. Acceleration in hold mode vs normal mode look nearly identical. Guess the buzzing of the ICE is deceiving.

Mike

 

[Sheldon]

Nice test! Thanks for posting. Car and driver claims better acceleration from 50-70mph in CS mode (or Hold/Hybrid mode) in their review comparing the 2017 Volt with the PriusPrime.
* EV mode: 5.2sec from 50-70mph
* CS mode: 4.3sec from 50-70mph
https://www.caranddriver.com/review...ng-performance-data-and-complete-specs-page-4

 

[Don M]

Were those tests done in 'Normal' mode . . . . or 'Sport' mode? Sport adds a second electric motor for more torque and power and should give faster acceleration results than 'Normal' mode

Don

 

[jcanoe]

Were those tests done in 'Normal' mode . . . . or 'Sport' mode? Sport adds a second electric motor for more torque and power and should give faster acceleration results than 'Normal' mode

Don

I do not believe that is correct. Sport mode simply changes the Volt's response to pressing the accelerator pedal. Sport mode does not change the Volt's maximum power output, traction control, drive mode (1 motor / 2 motor), steering or suspension.

 

[Don M]

I'm not sure who to believe

https://www.greencarreports.com/new...ertrain-how-it-works-in-electric-hybrid-modes

"Its two electric modes are pretty simple: Either one motor powers the car, or both do.

The two motors themselves, known as Motor A and Motor B, are the same diameter but differ in their construction."

Before I bought the car, I watched a long video (nearly an hour) of a GM engineer explaining how the new Voltec drive system operated and how it differed from the Gen 1 and he said the same thing - One motor for 'Normal' and both motors for 'Sport'

Don

 

[jcanoe]

I'm not sure who to believe

https://www.greencarreports.com/new...ertrain-how-it-works-in-electric-hybrid-modes

"Its two electric modes are pretty simple: Either one motor powers the car, or both do.

The two motors themselves, known as Motor A and Motor B, are the same diameter but differ in their construction."

Before I bought the car, I watched a long video (nearly an hour) of a GM engineer explaining how the new Voltec drive system operated and how it differed from the Gen 1 and he said the same thing - One motor for 'Normal' and both motors for 'Sport'

Don

I refer to the following article on the Gen 1 and Gen 2 Volt drive trains. https://gm-volt.com/2015/02/20/gen-2-volt-transmission-operating-modes-explained/

For the Gen 2 Volt, Charge Depletion Mode 1 (CD1), for low, medium torque demand, uses only MGB. For CD2, for high torque demand, both MGA and MGB are used. When you fully depress the accelerator pedal in either Normal or Sport mode you create high torgue demand, MGA and MGB would be engaged.

 

[wordptom]

My understanding is the Gen 1 Volt is capable of full performance using only the single large traction motor MGB. The smaller motor, MGA, is clutched into the drivetrain under conditions where its use will improve efficiency. Sport vs Normal is a performance choice, so I would expect the Gen 1 acceleration sprints to be performed in one-motor configuration.

The Gen 2 Volt, on the other hand, uses MGA to meet performance demands, as mentioned above by jcanoe. I would suspect that switching to Sport mode in a Gen 2 Volt could well move the vehicle into the torque demand mapping area that utilizes both motors for acceleration sprints.

 

[jcanoe]

Other than how much you need to depress the go pedal it has never been shown that the Volt accelerates any faster in Sport mode.

 

[hellsop]

Before I bought the car, I watched a long video (nearly an hour) of a GM engineer explaining how the new Voltec drive system operated and how it differed from the Gen 1 and he said the same thing - One motor for 'Normal' and both motors for 'Sport'

The modes in that video have nothing to do with the "drive mode" that the button involves. The car will use either propulsion mode as it sees as appropriate regardless of the "driving mode" setting.

 

[MikeyCVolt]

To answer the question, the modes were normal vs hold. I didn't bother with sport because I saw no difference in normal vs sport in my 0-60 testing and posts here indicate that sport mode only remaps the throttle position.

My 0-60 tests:
https://youtu.be/8RJM5c2wrMs

Mike