[Trampis]

All,
Just joined up and not yet a Volt owner but in the very near future hopefully! I had a mileage/hybrid question about the Volt's system.

My commute is 45 miles each way mostly freeway. Since the Volt's range is around 38-40+ on the battery, will it run on just the battery for that long? I know a/c, heater, speed, etc affect that number but what if I keep it a steady 70 with the HVAC system off?

Thanks in advance~

 

[wws]

The Volt generally runs entirely on the battery until it is depleted. Then switches to gas hybrid mode. So you would initially be driving completely EV. At 45 miles, a Gen 1 Volt would make it most of one way on electric. If you slowed down a tad to 60-65 mph, you might even make it all the way to work on electric.
Assuming no workplace charging, the return trip would be on gas at 40+ MPG. A Gen 2 (2016-2017) would make it to work and some of the return trip on electric, then switch to gas at 45+ MPG. If you have workplace charging available you could do your entire commute electric.

 

[RFE]

Yes. Battery first then ICE, if you leave it in normal mode.

Mileage depends on A LOT of factors. Gen 1 is rated at ('11-'12) 35mpg, ('13-15) 38 mpg. Gen 2 get more ('16-'17) 53mpg.

Currently I am getting 53 miles per charge, but I drive the speed limit or a little above and have to deal with Chicago rush hour traffic. My round trip commute is 66 miles. Most of my commute is on the highway/tollways with speed limits between 55 to 65. Traffic will do between 60 and 85.

 

[Trampis]

Outstanding! And yes, I have a charge station at work. I'm so stoked about getting one, I'm currently spending around $360 on gas and tolls per month. My tolls would go down half (to $50) and my gas just might be a trickle.

 

[ZamboniMan]

Welcome to the party! My commute is perfect for the volt... 18 miles round trip, all on surface streets. If I remember to plug in when I get home, I can conceivably go completely without gas, unless I want to take a longer trip. When I'm fully charged, the Guess 'o Meter tells me that I can get 48 to 50 miles per charge, and that's right about what I'm getting now. I'm still looking for a route to and from work that's downhill BOTH ways...

 

[Barry]

I have a 2013. Unlike a lot of forum members here who quote getting better range and MPG than the official EPA rating, I drive mostly on freeways, and a little over the speed limit, and use the HVAC for comfort, and I get pretty close to the rated numbers or a little less.

Considering warming up a cold engine, etc. I would expect to use about 2/3 of a gallon of gas per day (round trip, with getting a full charge at work and at home), on average, on your commute, in the spring/summer/fall. About twice that much gas in cold winter weather. These are realistic estimates that you could get without having to try to conserve range by driving slower than traffic, change your route, forego HVAC, etc. Maybe you will do better than me, but for the purposes of estimating your expenses, I would start with this as a not-overly-optimistic scenario.

Any other errands you have to run besides your commute would most likely increase your gas consumption over this number. Things like driving out to lunch or going out to the grocery store in the evening.

A Generation 2 Volt would reduce your gas consumption more, probably to zero for the commute except in really cold weather.

 

[bjrosen]

All,
Just joined up and not yet a Volt owner but in the very near future hopefully! I had a mileage/hybrid question about the Volt's system.

My commute is 45 miles each way mostly freeway. Since the Volt's range is around 38-40+ on the battery, will it run on just the battery for that long? I know a/c, heater, speed, etc affect that number but what if I keep it a steady 70 with the HVAC system off?

Thanks in advance~

The Gen2 Volt is rated at 53 miles on the battery. At highway speeds it's about 48 and on back roads it's 60 to 70 miles depending on speed and how you drive. On gas it's rated at 42 MPG, I generally get 45 MPG and I've gotten as much as 54MPG in a mix of mostly backroads and some highway. The switch between electric and gas is seamless. On the highway you won't notice any difference, on streets and back roads it's silent on battery but on gas you will hear the engine (it's actually pretty quiet for an engine but you get spoiled by the electric drive so you will notice it). You will be able to get to your office on the battery, if they have EVSEs then you can do the whole trip on battery otherwise the return trip will be on gas.

 

[hellsop]

The Gen2 Volt is rated at 53 miles on the battery. At highway speeds it's about 48 and on back roads it's 60 to 70 miles depending on speed and how you drive. On gas it's rated at 42 MPG, I generally get 45 MPG and I've gotten as much as 54MPG in a mix of mostly backroads and some highway.

"Highway speeds" means very different things to different people. To some, that means "80+". To others, it's "anything over 50 except on weekdays when it's anything over 40" Similarly "backroads" to some mean "65 MPH" and to others, "45 MPH". It's a lot clearer if one states the actual speeds involved.

 

[linkim]

"Highway speeds" means very different things to different people. To some, that means "80+". To others, it's "anything over 50 except on weekdays when it's anything over 40" Similarly "backroads" to some mean "65 MPH" and to others, "45 MPH". It's a lot clearer if one states the actual speeds involved.

Its not only speed, but also the terrain. I get better EV range when I drive from SF to Silicon Valley using Hwy 101 (flat) than I-280 (hilly), usually at similar speeds. Maybe the EV range is about 53 miles versus about 60 miles.

 

[Trampis]

This is all great stuff! Thank you! I'm actually kicking around the idea of waiting until later this year, maybe Sept/Oct, to see what kind of deals there will be on the 2017's still on the lot. I'm really liking the Gen 2 body style )

 

[bjrosen]

This is all great stuff! Thank you! I'm actually kicking around the idea of waiting until later this year, maybe Sept/Oct, to see what kind of deals there will be on the 2017's still on the lot. I'm really liking the Gen 2 body style )

Don't wait until next year, the $7500 Federal tax credit may be gone by then. Each manufacturer is limited to 200,000 vehicles, GM may hit that number next year.

 

[Trampis]

Don't wait until next year, the $7500 Federal tax credit may be gone by then. Each manufacturer is limited to 200,000 vehicles, GM may hit that number next year.

I won't wait until next year. Sept/Oct this year will be the latest. If there's nothing good at that time I'll pull the trigger on whatever is available. And I understand the California $1500 credit is no more?

 

[bjrosen]

I won't wait until next year. Sept/Oct this year will be the latest. If there's nothing good at that time I'll pull the trigger on whatever is available. And I understand the California $1500 credit is no more?

They've run out of money so you will get an IOU for $1500 which you may or may not collect depending on what the legislature does. I saw an article they other day where there was a proposal to increase the credit to $2K but it would be income tested so if your income is above $150K you wouldn't qualify, but that's far from a done deal.

 

[llninja]

Its not only speed, but also the terrain. I get better EV range when I drive from SF to Silicon Valley using Hwy 101 (flat) than I-280 (hilly), usually at similar speeds. Maybe the EV range is about 53 miles versus about 60 miles.

Even if you keep your max speed at 70 mph, range will be affected if you gently get there or drive with a lead foot. I've been known to lose 2 miles of range on the guessometer with one big launch. My advice, just drive and don't obsess about trying to make it on all electricity all the time. Just ask Ari_C, who holds several records (most miles without using any fuel miles, 81.8 miles of range in a single charge in a g1, something like 114 miles in a G2 - I might be a bit off on this last one). But he drives his family crazy planning routes, sitting in places charging, burping the battery, pump and gliding.

My advice? Just drive it. During my first 2 years of volt ownership, I hypermiled, then at year 2 something snapped in my head and I now drive it like jeff Gordon. My lifetime MPG dropped from 90mpg to 70mpg, which still blows away any Prius.

 

[freshcut]

I won't wait until next year. Sept/Oct this year will be the latest. If there's nothing good at that time I'll pull the trigger on whatever is available. And I understand the California $1500 credit is no more?

The California tax credit is in limbo right now pending on fund replenishment if it happens. There is however a $500 rebate through PG&E that may still be going on. I actually was able to apply and receive that rebate check even though I bought used.

 

[linkim]

.
My advice? Just drive it. During my first 2 years of volt ownership, I hypermiled, then at year 2 something snapped in my head and I now drive it like jeff Gordon. My lifetime MPG dropped from 90mpg to 70mpg, which still blows away any Prius.

I'm not a hyper miler, I just drive like a grandpa, which I am. I slowed down my driving speed to about 60 mph when I got a Prius in 2002, and haven't changed my driving style since. The 2016 Volt replaced the old Prius. It's hard to teach an old dog, new tricks I guess.

 

[llninja]

I'm not a hyper miler, I just drive like a grandpa, which I am. I slowed down my driving speed to about 60 mph when I got a Prius in 2002, and haven't changed my driving style since. The 2016 Volt replaced the old Prius. It's hard to teach an old dog, new tricks I guess.

Your orders are to take your volt out for a ride and purposely try to get the lowest EV range possible by driving it like you stole it. Take on any and all pony cars and ricer boys at stop lights. Your face will turn into a huge silly smile - guaranteed.

 

[Trampis]

Your orders are to take your volt out for a ride and purposely try to get the lowest EV range possible by driving it like you stole it. Take on any and all pony cars and ricer boys at stop lights. Your face will turn into a huge silly smile - guaranteed.

In general, people have NO idea the amount of torque electric motors have! I can't wait to do this....

 

[ZamboniMan]

Even if you keep your max speed at 70 mph, range will be affected if you gently get there or drive with a lead foot. I've been known to lose 2 miles of range on the guessometer with one big launch. My advice, just drive and don't obsess about trying to make it on all electricity all the time. Just ask Ari_C, who holds several records (most miles without using any fuel miles, 81.8 miles of range in a single charge in a g1, something like 114 miles in a G2 - I might be a bit off on this last one). But he drives his family crazy planning routes, sitting in places charging, burping the battery, pump and gliding.

My advice? Just drive it. During my first 2 years of volt ownership, I hypermiled, then at year 2 something snapped in my head and I now drive it like jeff Gordon. My lifetime MPG dropped from 90mpg to 70mpg, which still blows away any Prius.

LLninja, you're my hero!

 

[hellsop]

Just ask Ari_C, who holds several records (most miles without using any fuel miles, 81.8 miles of range in a single charge in a g1, something like 114 miles in a G2 - I might be a bit off on this last one).

Nope, that's right. I had reason to look it up last night. The nice thing about having Ari do all that stuff is that it becomes pretty pointless to try on one's own. Ari did X, so that's what the car can do, if you're at least as conscientious as Ari. And basically nobody's got the patience to be MORE conscientious (like go to the field, and do the trip Ari did over and over at EVERY MPH faster and slower around 23 to see if there's a better speed hiding someplace), so we already have a good idea of what the upper limits are.

The reason was getting a message from a friend that she's gonna buy a Volt, after finding out that the apartments she's moving to apparently have many EVSE around the place. Se we got to do the whole "it's a car, then engine runs when it wants, if you're buying new, load the hell out of it so you can get the ACC, you'll be tempted to stats the hell out of it, doing that won't gain you much if anything, so it's probably a waste of time unless it's fun, oh and here's this website where a bunch of owners hang out" chat. Good times.