[Shivetya]

So my first complete round trip to work and back using the Volt. Guessometer reports nine miles left. I traveled 54.3 miles using 12.6kwh which is 4.3 miles per kwh. This was with Eco to and from. My trip to and from work is not identical in roads I use, the morning is dark.

So do we have 18.1 usable? Would it be reasonable to think I could push it another twenty? The dash showed nine miles and two bars but I am not sure those bars are equal to much.

On a another good note, got my 6-20 converter plug in and the charge is estimated to take around five hours.

 

[Joiner]

We can only use 14.7 of the battery. It always keeps some in reserve so the battery lasts longer long term.

 

[jcanoe]

We can only use 14.7 of the battery. It always keeps some in reserve so the battery lasts longer long term.

I believe it is closer to 14.0, not 14.7.

54.3 miles using 12.6kwh is 4.3 miles per kwh. That is pretty good for a first trip. I usually don't get more than 4 miles per kwh but I do a fair amount of highway driving at 65mph.

 

[Joiner]

I believe it is closer to 14.0, not 14.7.

54.3 miles using 12.6kwh is 4.3 miles per kwh. That is pretty good for a first trip. I usually don't get more than 4 miles per kwh but I do a fair amount of highway driving at 65mph.

You are right, I remember reading 14.7 somewhere long ago but that might have been speculation. Seems most users are between 14 and 14.1 usuable kWh

 

[Qinsp]

It runs out shortly after 14.0 kWh. First it will idle the ICE motor for a couple minutes, then the ICE will actually assist in the propulsion.

That is great range out of a charge. It would have went about 60 miles before the ICE turned on.

 

[jcanoe]

To improve your driving efficiency there are some simple things you can do:

1) Slow down, above 55mph even a 3-5mph reduction in speed can make a noticeable difference
2) Inflate your tires to 2-3 lbs above the recommended 36lb tire pressure
3) Keep the outside of your car clean (Mythbusters proved this actually makes a difference)
4) Remove any unneeded items from your vehicle, reducing the weight of the loaded vehicle can help. If you are not going on a road trip there is no reason to keep the gas tank more than half full.

 

[16513]

Your result is typical. Enjoy the ride.

 

[jsmay311]

There is no such thing as "kw/h".

 

[Shivetya]

Your result is typical. Enjoy the ride.

does that detail screen with the scales (terrain, etc) help?

how hard do people regularly accelerate? I try to stay under 30k but have peaked at 40 before

ps: how do I post the small picture that you can click on to make bigger?

 

[jcanoe]

does that detail screen with the scales (terrain, etc) help?

how hard do people regularly accelerate? I try to stay under 30k but have peaked at 40 before

ps: how do I post the small picture that you can click on to make bigger?

Yes, the driving score can help you to see the error in your ways. Just kidding. You can't do anything about the Terrain, Outside Temperature or Other (battery conditioning). Climate control score can show you the cost in % of total battery capacity/electrical energy when you choose to use the heater or the A/C. Using heat on Max or Economy for more than short intervals will have a large impact on EV range, using the AC in warmer weather is not nearly as much of an impact on EV range.

 

[Arcanox]

There is no such thing as "kw/h".

Well, there is, but it would measure an increase in energy load/draw over time

does that detail screen with the scales (terrain, etc) help?

how hard do people regularly accelerate? I try to stay under 30k but have peaked at 40 before

ps: how do I post the small picture that you can click on to make bigger?

I'm a lead foot...I usually accelerate at about 60-70 kW, sometimes more if I really want to get going fast.

I still get 50+ miles range when it's ~60 *F outside, more if it's warmer.

 

[BAZINGA]

I seldom run my battery to empty (99.2% all electric so far) but the few times I have come close I get between 14.2 and 14.4 kWh


18.x is the size of the battery with about 4.x kWh is held as a buffer and NOT available to the consumer.

 

[snic]

about 4.x kWh is held as a buffer and NOT available to the consumer.

Sure it is. After the battery range is reached, some of that 4-odd kWh of battery capacity is used to store charge from from the engine and from regenerative breaking, and used for propulsion as needed.

That energy is "available to the consumer", but the Volt keeps track of how much energy from the plug-in charge has been used - and when that's depleted (all 14.something kWh), the charge remaining shows zero.

 

[jeff_h]

I seldom run my battery to empty (99.2% all electric so far) but the few times I have come close I get between 14.2 and 14.4 kWh

18.x is the size of the battery with about 4.x kWh is held as a buffer and NOT available to the consumer.

Same here - I have only run it out completely 3x in 49k miles -- in those cases it lasted for 14.0, 14.1, and 14.5.