[homesteadelectric]

Probably been answered but I can't find it: When the car is in hold mode where does the regen energy go and why doesn't it show up on the GOM? Also, same question when the battery is at zero miles?

 

[scrambler]

Regen always goes into the battery.

But when you are in hold mode, regen is considered gas miles, because gas was used to build up the energy that you are recuperating during regen.

I don't understand what you are asking with " same question when the battery is at zero miles? "
may be you can elaborate.

 

[homesteadelectric]

Sorry. I meant can we regen in gas mode.

Regen is regen so it should show as increased electric range, IMO.

 

[sduck]

You are running off the battery even in hold mode. The computer tells the gas engine system to maintain the battery level at the same level it was in when hold was engaged. So the regen is applied to that total, it gives the gas engine a bit of a break, but it's designed not to "top off" the battery, despite how convenient that sounds like it would be.

 

[El Dobro]

I've built up one or two green pips while the battery was in hold mode, but the ICE will shut off to use them up.

 

[Steverino]

Regen is regen so it should show as increased electric range, IMO.

The dollars spent were on gas, so the gas dollars recovered by regen are counted as gas miles. Otherwise, its perpetual motion, something from nothing.

 

[wordptom]

The energy usage screen displays Electric Mode vs Extended Range Mode numbers, not battery miles vs ICE is running miles. Electric Miles numbers identify distances driven on the grid power from the wall stored in the battery, and on any regen put back into the battery while driving in Electric Mode. The kWh Used number is a net calculation of the grid power used less regen put back into the battery.

Regen works just the same when you’re in Extended Range Mode (Hold, Mountain Mode, fully depleted battery), giving you battery powered distances accounted for under the Gas Miles display.

Counting these regen battery miles as Electric Miles would give a distorted picture of how far your Volt can travel on the amount of usable grid power stored in the fully charged battery when compared to how far an all-electric car could travel on the same amount of usable grid power stored in their battery.

The function of the braking regeneration system, of course, is to serve as a method of slowing/stopping the car. Recharging the battery while braking the car is a bonus benefit.

As you might know, when the Gen 1 Volt is in Extended Range Mode (Hold, Mountain Mode, or fully depleted), the gas engine’s shaft is clutched to the smaller electric motor’s shaft, operating it as a generator, creating electric fuel for the primary electric motor. In one sense, 100 % of the Gen 1's miles are "electric" miles.

 

[obermd]

Sorry. I meant can we regen in gas mode.

Regen is regen so it should show as increased electric range, IMO.

The Volt tracks where the battery is being charged. When the ICE is running any battery charge is credited to gas MPG. This is true even if you run out you EV batteries driving up the mountain passes in Colorado and the ICE turns on near the top of the pass. The entire downhill run with it's attendant regeneration will be credited to gasoline.

 

[hellsop]

And, as usual, it's worth remembering that 2011/12 account for miles differently (much more simply) than 2013/14/15... Miles driven with the green meter showing are electric, miles driven with the blue meter showing or while the engine is on are gas miles, no matter how they got into the car. You can run it down to one mile remaining, pop on Mountain Mode and pull over until the engine stops, pop off MM and (because you still had range left when you turned it on) drive 14 more ev miles, with your 0.1 miles of gas use burning 0.3 gallons, for an absolutely terrible MPGcs.