[DBMoore]

My Guess-O-Meter (GOM) is rather optimistic. It is my understanding that the GOM is supposed to use recent driving experience to estimate available range. I been getting 30 to 33 miles on a charge since July, yet every morning the GOM says 38 miles available. Any thoughts on why the GOM is so optimistic?

As for the circumstances, in the (relatively) cool of the morning, my 18.5 mile commute uses 4.5 kWh, so 4.11 miles per kWh. On the trip home in the blazing afternoon sun (climate control on "Comfort" natch), the remaining 6.0 kWh is used up in 12 miles, so 2.0 miles/kWh.

The road traveled is the same both ways. Elevation change is minimal (60 feet), so all that extra energy is going into the AC, which is easily apparent with the energy consumption showing 5.0 kW at the start of my afternoon commute, trying to cool down a car that has been soaking in 110 degree sun.

 

[VikAiRious]

Is your commute mostly freeway? The GOM probably doesn't assume you'll drive mostly freeways.

Also, you might be using the A/C on high?

 

[freshcut]

Wow, a fellow member from Bakersfield.

My guess is the better range from the morning that throws the estimate off. I know when we have a heatwave come through, my A/C runs quite hard and my power usage is quite abysmal. Sitting at a stop I can see it frequently at 6Kw. I've been averaging 42-44 on my GOM but don't use A/C in the morning, and mostly windows down in the early afternoon, though if I go out after work it's usually comfort at 70, auto which seems to be very power hungry.

 

[wordptom]

A range estimate is simple math: average mileage x available fuel.

The algorithm used to create the full-charge, start of day mileage estimate is based on historical driving data, weighted for recent data. Your morning drive is efficient. The trip home, with heavy use of a/c, much less so. If your Volt’s computer evaluates the entire previous day’s data to arrive at the next day’s start of day ev range estimate, the "average mileage" for the entire previous day would be less than yesterday morning’s mileage and more than yesterday afternoon’s mileage. The more efficient morning leg of your trip included more ev miles than your afternoon leg. The a/c use in the afternoon magnified the difference between am and pm efficiency. Thus, the current day’s start of day ev range estimate, when the mileage estimate is multiplied by the available power in a full charge, is greater than the total ev distance you actually drove the previous day.

 

[llninja]

All sorts of things help and hurt the GOM readings. I'm lucky to get 33 miles of range, but that's because I have custom 18" wheels and drive with a leadfoot. I'm guessing the temps are milder so less AC is going to cool the battery.

 

[2015 volt]

After 2 year's my guess meter us still messed up big time!!!! LOL!!
I travel every few month's out of town to visit relatives, so I use the ice on the interstate, and use my. Battery for in town driving
My guess meter still shows with s full tank of gas that I have 170 miles plus 50. Even miles = 220