[trm2]

I prefer the serenity of electric driving, I'd pay to charge at that cost. I'm not sure where my cutoff is, but it is > $1.32 a day.

 

[RePo]

I'm looking at the least expensive method of transportation. Zero cost (gas) still beats cheap electric. I would demonstrate the cost savings to the company to promote electric reimbursement.

 

[Elemental]

Nope. If your company is too short sighted and stuck in their ways, let them pay.

 

[firehawk72]

Nope. If your company is too short sighted and stuck in their ways, let them pay.

I completely agree. No way would I charge at home with this situation. Use that gas card and feel good about it.

 

[AZ EV Driver]

Unless your company, and you, are breaking the tax laws the cost of the gas you buy is not FREE. It is a taxable benefit - been there, done that. So now it is a comparison between the income tax on the value of the gas card benefits and the cost of your electric use. Depends on your tax "bracket" as to which is dollar-wise cheaper. Cost to the environment is something else, with the arguments always being very cloudy.

VIN # B0985

 

[KNI]

Only if my car would be BEV

 

[bonaire]

What is the gas card for? To keep from paying mileage reimbursement? I assume you didn't get the volt from the company too. GE went green in buying their employees fleet Volts and also giving gas cards. That ended badly.

On a tou plan, are you paying more than $1.00/recharge? Do you buy coffee at Starbucks or brew it at home? I would fully pay for the electricity and charge nightly. Isn't that the point of Volt ownership? Otherwise, get a nice econo car about the same size ang Gasser up.

 

[bro1999]

As much as I like reducing my gas consumption, if I were in your situation, I would fill 'er up with dino juice on company dime. I would still try to opportunity charge (for free) when possible.

 

[ghostgs1]

I like the approach RaPo takes. Perhaps this will lead to a change in thinking that is certainly due.

 

[MTN Ranger]

I would turn down the gas card and use the tax deduction for the business miles driven per year. IRS allows $0.575 per mile driven.

 

[ianjay]

The only way companies are going to understand any benefit from the Volt/Bolt/ELR concept would be to compare "Joe" with gas/electric to "Terry" gas only. You get the benefit of driving dreamy when in electric mode. The company wins either by being able to show others (their customers?) that they're going green or by lowering operating costs to shareholders because their employees are willing to contribute on a very modest level. The people handing you the card and reconciling the books might even be able to show their superiors the actual dollar benefit and get recognition for noticing.

 

[HighlanderICT]

I would spend my couple of bucks per day to charge the vehicle (and also do what MTN Ranger suggested if I was in USA).

Correct me if I am wrong, but if I understand many of the articles discussing TCO that I have read, running as much on the electric motor as possible (and using regen braking) is one way to minimise wear and tear on the ICE portion of the vehicle and therefore keep traditional servicing costs down (especially brake pad replacement and oil change costs). There will still be those costs, but likely less frequently.

 

[Joule]

For me it's not about the money. It's about breaking our addiction to oil as a nation.

 

[Buzzz]

I would spend my couple of bucks per day to charge the vehicle (and also do what MTN Ranger suggested if I was in USA).

Correct me if I am wrong, but if I understand many of the articles discussing TCO that I have read, running as much on the electric motor as possible (and using regen braking) is one way to minimise wear and tear on the ICE portion of the vehicle and therefore keep traditional servicing costs down (especially brake pad replacement and oil change costs). There will still be those costs, but likely less frequently.

Great point. Is there a cost per mile figure on running the ICE, excluding gas and tires? I guess that's service (oil, preventative maintenance, spark plugs, brakes) ?

 

[llninja]

I like the approach RaPo takes. Perhaps this will lead to a change in thinking that is certainly due.

I have a different approach than RePo on this one. If I were broke, then I would charge the gas card, but if I made any sort of decent living, I'd pay for my own electricity since it (1) isn't that much (2) might be beneficial to the environment {it all depends on how the power is generated} and 3, at least with a Gen1, the smoothness of all EV outweighs the attempt to save a few bucks and dealing with the ICE causing noise, vibration, and harshness.

 

[viking79]

I would just use the card for lomger trips, but my commute is only 6 miles 1 way. If you had say a 60 mile commute and were burning gas anyway, I would just use gas card and only charge at work. What you could do is charge at home and try to get them to donate to some clean energy project.

 

[Breezy]

I've seen the opinion expressed that, after a while, Volt owners would grow tired of plugging in and just start using gas. That's not even remotely true. Running on battery is strongly preferred. Judging by the poll results so far, it seems it's preferred even when the gas is free.

 

[Chris TX]

Ditch the card, charge at home, claim unreimbursed mileage on your taxes.

 

[Loboc]

I've seen the opinion expressed that, after a while, Volt owners would grow tired of plugging in and just start using gas. That's not even remotely true. Running on battery is strongly preferred. Judging by the poll results so far, it seems it's preferred even when the gas is free.

It's kind of like Tramadol. Once you had some, you never go back to aspirin.