[pickeringvolt]

I'm wondering what's happening while on HOLD when I lift my foot off the accelerator pedal or shift to LOW? When on the "NORMAL" or "SPORT" mode the battery charges. But on HOLD there is no indication the battery charges while slowing down. Seems like the Volt's momentum is wasted while "breaking". My question is, "what's happening to this energy?" (I have the 2014 Volt)

 

[srmarti]

The car still slows down doesn't it?

Regeneration is still working and that energy is going back into the battery just as it does in the other modes.

 

[colchiro]

Hold is very similar to when you run out of battery. It still recovers battery thru regen and maintains a minimum battery level. It's very similar to a regular hybrid.

 

[TSquare]

I'm wondering what's happening while on HOLD when I lift my foot off the accelerator pedal or shift to LOW? When on the "NORMAL" or "SPORT" mode the battery charges. But on HOLD there is no indication the battery charges while slowing down. Seems like the Volt's momentum is wasted while "breaking". My question is, "what's happening to this energy?" (I have the 2014 Volt)

Regen still works. The power generated goes into the battery. If the battery's state of charge goes above the "Hold" setting, the ICE will shut off and you will run on battery only, until the state of charge is back to the "Hold" setting.

 

[Sean-a-Tron]

The Volt will always use regenerative braking when the battery is not full. When in Hold/REX mode, the Volt essentially drives like a Prius. It will start and stop the engine as necessary and uses regen to help recharge the battery. Though unlike the Prius, the Volt can go significantly faster and further on electric (In Hold/REX). Anyone who's driven a Prius understands that desire to baby the go-pedal to try and maximize the time on electric only.

 

[VoltenRock]

The issue with hold mode, also, is that if you do get some extra "charge" the Volt will just shut the generator off for a bit and use up the electrons until you get to the predetermined SOC where you originally pressed "hold." On the rare occasions I've added extra "charge" in hold mode to increase the estimated EV miles has been from going downhill. Even then, shutting off hold will usually just tag those extra EV miles as gas miles anyway.

 

[llninja]

It's braking, not breaking (grammar police). I have been able to gain a bar above the Hold point, and if you switch to normal then back to hold you can increase your battery charge. As others have said, regen happens. But seriously, STOP LOOKING AT THE DASH AND CENTER CONSOLE AND PAY ATTENTION TO THE ROAD, PEDESTRIANS, AND OTHER TRAFFIC AROUND YOU!!!! The car is smart enough to try to eek out every mile it can for you, trying to game it in any way usually doesn't help.

 

[obermd]

The issue with hold mode, also, is that if you do get some extra "charge" the Volt will just shut the generator off for a bit and use up the electrons until you get to the predetermined SOC where you originally pressed "hold." On the rare occasions I've added extra "charge" in hold mode to increase the estimated EV miles has been from going downhill. Even then, shutting off hold will usually just tag those extra EV miles as gas miles anyway.

Is this true for the Gen 2 Volt as well? It would make more sense to me to allow the regen features to fully recharge the batteries even while in Hold mode.