Summary
- New Volts have a low battery range estimate that will increase over time based on the points below.
- Volts in cold weather will see a drop in the battery range based on the points below. This will reverse when the weather warms again.
- Volts with battery service will see the battery range reset to the lower factory default. Just like a new Volt owner, you will see this change as you drive the car normally over the next several days.
- Volts with multiple drivers may see a drop in the battery range based on the points below. As a passenger, you can quickly determine why your partner is getting fewer battery miles than you (or vice versa!).
New Volt owners; or those who have had some battery service done; or those driving for the first time in fall/winter months can become anxious when seeing their Volt's battery range display a mileage estimate in the 30's, rather than the 40's or even 50's they were expecting or were previously experiencing.
Some fear the lower battery range estimate indicates a battery problem of some sort. Do not panic. It is much more likely the decreased battery range (actual or estimated) is due to a change in driving style, or in environmental conditions, or the car's conditions, or all the above.
Four Main Points About Volt Battery Range
1. The battery range display is an estimate based on the past, it's not an absolute.
The Volt attempts to predict how many miles you will be able to drive on the full battery based on your past few days of driving. A brand new Volt typically has no real past driving results to base an estimate on, so it displays a range estimate of 36-38 miles. This can vary a bit based on pre-delivery driving by the dealer.
The actual miles you get from the battery can be higher or lower than the displayed estimate based on factors discussed below. In general, all things being equal, if you drive consistently every day, the Volt's battery miles estimate will come very close to the actual miles you will get. Again, this assumes little or no change in your driving style or environmental conditions.
2. Your driving style affects the battery range (actual and estimated).
The way you drive greatly affects how many miles you will get from the battery. If you change the way you drive for a few days or so, it will be reflected in the Volt's estimated battery miles as well.
Speed. Slower speeds will deliver more battery miles. The faster you drive the more energy it takes to push through air resistance. The battery will deliver more driving miles at a steady 30 MPH than it will at a steady 70 MPH. Generally, you'll drive further at speeds under 50 MPH than you will at speeds over 50 MPH.
Cruise Control. The Volt has a great cruise control. Using cruise control will often be more efficient (deliver more battery miles), than not using cruise control because many people have a hard time keeping a very consistent speed. For the Volt's cruise control, this is easy.
Anticipating Change: Starts and Stops. Starts and stops that keep the green ball centered in the dash will enable more miles to be driven on the battery than rapid starts and stops which will waste more energy. Anticipate stops and slow down gradually rather than "speeding to a stop". Try to maintain inertia, as a rolling start will require less energy than accelerating from a dead stop.
Drive vs. Low Regen. Drive creates the same amount of regen (electricity regeneration) that Low does when slowing down, but Drive takes a longer distance to do so. With Drive, you can coast, with Low you can slow the Volt down quicker without using the brakes and thus recover more battery range in a shorter distance than Drive. Some people drive in Low all the time. Some downshift into Low only when approaching slowed traffic. Some feel unsafe using Low without tapping their brakes. Whatever your choice, Low pumps more electricity back into the battery than Drive given a short stopping distance.
Climate Control. Not using the heater, the A/C, the defroster will be more efficient (deliver more battery miles), than using them. Eco uses more electricity than not using climate control. Comfort uses up more battery miles than Eco. Of course, if you need them, use them. Just be aware that your battery miles (and estimated range) will be reduced. At speeds less than 50 MPH, popping open the window a half inch will often clear windshield fog as well as the defroster.
Seat Heaters. If you need heat, the seat heaters use much less energy than using the the climate control heat. Try using the seat heaters instead of the climate control if possible.
3. Environmental conditions that affect battery range (actual and estimated).
The conditions you drive under can dramatically affect how many miles you will get from the battery. If these conditions change for a few days or so, it will be reflected in the Volt's estimated battery miles.
Rain/Snow. Pushing the car through water or snow on the road takes more energy (battery miles) than driving on a dry road. Higher tire rolling resistance and lower tire traction take their toll. Also, water is a more effective coolant than air, so the tires and lubricants operate at cooler (less efficient) temperatures. Plus, the wipers and defrosters are typically needed, drawing even more electricity. Wet or snowy conditions can therefore decrease miles (by up to 14% according to some Prius owners). Nothing you can do about rain or snow, just be aware you will get fewer battery miles on those days.
Road Surface. Concrete is the most efficient driving surface, asphalt second, chip and seal is worst. Road roughness can increase rolling resistance up to 20% due to energy dissipation in the tires and suspension (10% loss of mpg).
Wind. A strong headwind can reduce battery miles by increasing air resistance. Strong winds often accompany rain and snow storms.
Outside Temperature. Colder outside temperatures reduce driving range for a number of reasons including the fact that thicker lubricants have more resistance requiring more battery energy to overcome. Colder weather often results in increased use of the climate system, further reducing miles. Nothing you can do about outside temperature, just be aware you will get fewer battery miles on colder days than warmer days.
The chart below from an actual Volt owner show the affect that temperature alone has on battery range (next to it is a chart showing the amount of energy used to travel 100 miles vs. outside temps). The lower the seasonal temperature, the more energy it takes to travel, resulting in fewer miles on a full charge:
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http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread...a-Comparing-Effect-of-Temperature-on-EV-Range
4. Volt conditions that affect battery range (actual and estimated).
The condition of your Volt can dramatically affect how many miles you will get from the battery. If these conditions change for a few days or so, it will be reflected in the Volt's estimated battery miles.
Tire Pressure. Maintain the correct tire pressure. Low tire pressure can reduce you battery miles by up to 10%. Correct tire pressure is more efficient, maximizes battery miles. Low tire pressure creates more rolling resistance and therefore consumes more battery miles. Check tires weekly, or at least once per month. Some even keep their tires inflated to a slightly higher 40 psi.
Winter Tires and Wheels. These tires, plus their often heavier wheels, can increase rolling resistance and therefore decrease battery miles.
Preconditioning. The 240v EVSE charge stations have the advantage of allowing you to pre-start the Volt and warm (or cool) the cabin at max comfort temperatures for 10 minutes using (mostly) the house electricity rather than the battery. If you do this 15 minutes or so before departure, your car will have 5 minutes to replenish if needed and you won't need to draw down the battery range as much during your drive. The 120v EVSE does not supply enough power to precondition the Volt this way, and more battery power is robbed to make up the difference. A refinement is to delay charging so it completes about 15 minutes or so before you plan to leave. The battery will be a bit warmer than if it had finished charging hours earlier.
Clean & Waxed Car. MythBusters showed that a dirty car can decrease fuel efficiency (battery miles) by up to 10%. A clean Volt has less air resistance than a dirty Volt. It looks better too. Wash your car weekly, or at least every few weeks. Package delivery services and airlines know this and keep their equipment clean.
http://dsc.discovery.com/tv-shows/my...-clean-car.htm
TIP: Keep Your Volt Plugged In
Yes, you should always keep your Volt plugged in if possible. It will not hurt the car. Instead, this allows your Volt to take care of battery management chores using grid electricity instead of using its battery. Keeping your Volt plugged in will enable you to use all your battery miles for driving.
Interesting reading:
http://cumminsengines.com/assets/pdf...whitepaper.pdf
Related Battery Degradation Information
Although cold weather will not degrade the battery, what many may not realize is degree of engineering sophistication the Volt employs to coddle the LiOn battery and minimize degradation from other causes while providing maximum battery life:
The battery is never fully discharged. Only 10.5 kWh (usually 45-50 miles in summer, 25-35 miles in winter) of the battery's total 16 kWh can be used (16.5 kWh for MY 2013). The extra 5.5 kWh forms a buffer as well as a reserve to be used as the battery ages. LiOn batteries degrade faster if fully discharged on a regular basis, the Volt prevents this.
The battery temperature is maintained in a narrow range while plugged in or driving. This is done with a liquid coolant system. Extended exposure to high heat is bad for battery life. The Volt minimizes the effects of external hot or cold temperatures by using its active thermal management coolant system programmed to stay within 3.6°F (2°C) of the pack’s optimal temperature, which depending on usage conditions falls in a range between 50ºF and 85°F (10ºC to 30°C). While it is parked unplugged, the insulation around the battery helps maintain the desired temperature.
The battery can not be cooked with a "supercharge". The Volt does not allow rapid, half hour recharges of the depleted battery. These kind of charges can easily cook the battery if done frequently or improperly.
Related reading:
http://www.myperfectautomobile.com/g...nt-system.html
Also:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt#Battery
Volt buyers pay a little more to have these advanced battery management features. To sell at a lower price, some EV's skimp on these features or skip them altogether.
GM has test Volts with well in excess of 200,000 miles still operating within spec which means the liquid-heated and cooled battery and related systems are engineered to at least go the distance in all climates. Though the battery is warranted for half that, I expect we will see many Volts still running on their original battery even after 12-16 years of use.
