[Larryakoch]

I had heard there was a chip upgrade that would tweek the electrics. True?
the factory manual suggests running a low volume of gas to improve performance, so the idea of tweeking performance seems kosher to Volt.

 

[jcanoe]

I had heard there was a chip upgrade that would tweek the electrics. True?
the factory manual suggests running a low volume of gas to improve performance, so the idea of tweeking performance seems kosher to Volt.

Not sure. The Gen II Volt was tested and found to be slightly faster (0 - 60 mph, 7.5 sec) when running in hybrid mode than in pure EV mode. One thing that might improve acceleration is to reduce weight. Don't ride around with a full tank of gas, 1/3rd tank is recommended if you don't regularly need to use gas. Leave the spare tire, tools at home if you have these.

 

[colchiro]

Many talented people tried to speed up the 1st gen Volt, with no success. Your best bet would be to lighten the vehicle.

 

[SharkVolt]

Smaller diameter tires will increase acceleration. Smaller diameter rims with even smaller tires will increase it more yet.

 

[llninja]

Whatever you do, don't add 3" pipe, a big ass wing, and a fart can to the volt - that won't help. As sharkvolt said, smaller diameter wheels and tires will help with acceleration, but your top speed will suffer. You also have to reduce the weight of the overall package, or else you might not gain any ground. Plus the lower you go, the more of a chance you'd do some major damage with potholes and such.

Rather than jettisoning the spare tire in the hatch, a good fitness program might help get rid of the spare tire on the average American torso. Some crazy folks would tear out the seats, carpeting, headliner, door panels, anything in the name of saving weight.

But my best advice is to save your pennies to get a Tesla with ludicrous mode. You only need about 9 million of them, or convince 90000 people to give you 100 pennies at a time. A less expensive technique along this line is to get a used ELR. The ELR will actually use the battery and the ICE together for faster 0-60 times in sport mode. Plus the car is such a sexy supermodel that you'd be willing to risk your marriage for a ride. Now if someone could fool the volt into thinking it was an ELR, that would be something. It's the same basic engine/twin electric motor setup with different software.

 

[jupitermoon]

Am I missing something??? Spare tire? What spare tire?

 

[SharkVolt]

How about replacing the Volt drivetrain with a Bolt drivetrain. You would have 50 additional horsepower, with about 350 pounds less weight.

 

[jupitermoon]

How about replacing the Volt drivetrain with a Bolt drivetrain. You would have 50 additional horsepower, with about 350 pounds less weight.

Basically an all EV Volt. A great idea that was met with ridicule and criticism here because people were having a fit about a Volt being all electric and it doesn't make sense. Lol..hilarious.

 

[Sean-a-Tron]

I put one of these on my Gen 1. It went from 0-60 in 9 seconds to 2.4 seconds.

Otherwise, aside from reducing weight, there's not much to be done to the Volt that would make it faster and not void the warranty.

 

[Qinsp]

EFILive supports only the 2011-2012 Volts at this point. I have not flashed one though.
HPTuners supports only 2012-2015 Volts at this point. I have very little experience with HPTuners, I normally tune with EFILive.

These are tuning systems for experience tuners. Engine damage or bricking your ECM is a common side effect if you make a mistake.

 

[Qinsp]

Someone who is really into adventure could try about 25HP worth of dry nitrous shot. This mean you inject the nitrous pre-MAF so the MAF sees the cold nitrous and adds fuel automatically.

 

[TheBlueFlash]

SPORT MODE xD

 

[Coppersnowboarder]

Slow down the pace of your life. Try driving 55 MPH on the freeway. Faster acceleration guaranteed. Theory of Relativity in practice.

 

[JRRF]

The Volt was not really designed to go fast. It was designed to use electricity. If you really want a fast Volt, you could rip out the engine, drive train, and battery, and put in a small block V8. Voila! A fast "Volt".

 

[Qinsp]

What is interesting is that most hybrids combine their EV power to their ICE peak power to achieve their advertised performance.

A 262HP Volt (EV at full blast, ICE at full blast) might be fun. The ELR did have a combined mode, but IIRC, it was 205HP. Same drivetrain, different programming with some pieces upgraded for the additional power.

 

[Dutch]

Power vs Economy. Pick one.

 

[llninja]

Am I missing something??? Spare tire? What spare tire?

It's an option on Gen2 Volts. Go get one. Us gen1 owners have to scrounge junkyards for older CTS spares and get a harbor freight scissor jack.

 

[ewiggins]

First of all, I do not claim to be anywhere close to an expert in physics so please correct me if I am making some bad assumptions. I am always willing to learn a different view.

The Volt's weight is around 3700 lbs so reducing the Volts weight by 50 lbs is only reducing the weight by about 1.3 %. Just remember a car uses most of its energy just moving the car around so 50 lbs won't make much difference. So technically reducing any weight will help, but probably not as much as people think.

Electric motors have quick torque, however to get quick torque you must have high initial current. I would assume GM regulates the speed of torque because of at least two factors, safety and protecting the battery from high current draw in a short time.

 

[Mr X]

Whatever you do, don't add 3" pipe, a big ass wing, and a fart can to the volt - that won't help. As sharkvolt said, smaller diameter wheels and tires will help with acceleration, but your top speed will suffer. You also have to reduce the weight of the overall package, or else you might not gain any ground. Plus the lower you go, the more of a chance you'd do some major damage with potholes and such.

Rather than jettisoning the spare tire in the hatch, a good fitness program might help get rid of the spare tire on the average American torso. Some crazy folks would tear out the seats, carpeting, headliner, door panels, anything in the name of saving weight.

But my best advice is to save your pennies to get a Tesla with ludicrous mode. You only need about 9 million of them, or convince 90000 people to give you 100 pennies at a time. A less expensive technique along this line is to get a used ELR. The ELR will actually use the battery and the ICE together for faster 0-60 times in sport mode. Plus the car is such a sexy supermodel that you'd be willing to risk your marriage for a ride. Now if someone could fool the volt into thinking it was an ELR, that would be something. It's the same basic engine/twin electric motor setup with different software.

No need. The standard 85 is very quick, even the 60 is plenty quick, and the original bad boy, the P85 is nuts. All are in the $50,000 range for CPO Model S's. No better deal around for the best car ever made. P85 for me next year

 

[saltsman]

This always helps (and improves range too!)