I have a question on starting the car with the MyChevy App. #1 I love it, let me start with that. It can get hot FAST in a car in CT so coming out of the grocery store and having it be at least under 80 degrees is nice (tho I just got the windows tinted and that helped a TON it seams.) It has climate control so I can just set it at whatever temp. But how do I set a temp for it to automatically start at? I couldn't find it in the manual or on the app. Does it just go off of whatever the car was set as when you got out/shut the car off?
In my experience when you use the remote start function of the MyChevrolet App the Volt will use the climate control system to heat or cool the cabin to the temperature you have set. You can just set the climate control on Automatic, Economy and set the temperature and the Volt will use this setting when you activate remote start. You can also leave the climate control on Max instead of Economy and the Volt's cabin will reach the desired temperature quicker but this will use more of the battery charge.
In summer I frequently use the remote start feature on the key fob or else use the MyChevrolet app to cool down the Volt's interior. Some Volt owners prefer to use the key fob to lower the windows and ventilate the Volt (you can't lower the windows using the app.) Remote start for cooling works well. If you let it run for 8 to 10 minutes the Volt's interior will be comfortable when you get in the vehicle. The energy required to run the AC is not a big hit on EV range compared to the energy required to run the electric heater.
In winter I frequently set the Volt's climate control on maximum blower speed, Max AC/heat, Hi temperature and Recirculate before I shut off the Volt. The settings will be used the next time the Volt is started. I charge using Level II so the power drawn from the battery to heat the Volt is largely recovered by the time I leave.
A remote start cycle lasts 10 minutes. You can use remote start up to two times, for a total of 20 minutes, before you must start the car manually. The manual states that after the first time you remote start the vehicle (for the first 10 minute cycle) if you wait 3 seconds and then press the remote start sequence a second time the Volt will run for the entire 20 minutes. I have not been able to consistently get this to work but will try again next winter when I routinely use the remote start in the morning while plugged in.
