Where are you located?

 

Central Florida.

 

You may be able to recoup more money by parting out, but I realize that could be a lot of work depending on your situation. If you do decide to part out, I would be interested in some parts! There may be someone out there willing to purchase the entire car with the intent of buying a refurbished battery to put into it. My pipe dream is to somehow put an LS drivetrain in mine if something were to happen to it.

May I ask how your driving patterns were? Mostly battery? I'm assuming that you are the original owner!

 

Parting out was a thought, but I'd rather sell the whole thing.

I'm the original owner. Bought from the lists here in 2014-2015 that had inventory in other states that sat on the lot and couldn't sell.
It was mostly electric driving. Charged every day.

If I had to guess, about 40-50k on the battery and the rest on ICE. I had some large coverage territories for work.

 

I realize that age (and sometimes temperature) is the biggest threat to these batteries, but it baffles me that a 65k mile car has bricked itself. These horror stories are a little worrisome since I just recently picked up a '15 with 94k+ miles. I bought mine to drive solely off of the gas generator, sort of like a plain hybrid of sorts, mainly because I've always loved the looks of the first gen. I am curious as to just how detrimental the charge and deplete cycles are to the life of the battery. I'm not convinced that the technology is here, even now with the ability to swap packs. Major resources are being/will be burned through. I digress.

If you don't have any luck selling the car as a whole, and you do decide to part out, I would most certainly purchase parts from you!

 

I realize that age (and sometimes temperature) is the biggest threat to these batteries, but it baffles me that a 65k mile car has bricked itself. These horror stories are a little worrisome since I just recently picked up a '15 with 94k+ miles. I bought mine to drive solely off of the gas generator, sort of like a plain hybrid of sorts, mainly because I've always loved the looks of the first gen. I am curious as to just how detrimental the charge and deplete cycles are to the life of the battery. I'm not convinced that the technology is here, even now with the ability to swap packs. Major resources are being/will be burned through. I digress. If you don't have any luck selling the car as a whole, and you do decide to part out, I would most certainly purchase parts from you!

In regards to the car bricking at 65k. A GreenTec tech told me that the norm mileage he is replacing batteries (all brands) is 30-60k. He said that a main factor is if it’s been primarily driven on the battery. I’m in AZ so I think the heat is another main issue.

 

Miles largely don't matter to the survival of a Volt. They're really well-engineered. What kills them is battery age, and a random percentage of cells becoming unfunctional enough to be problems, across ALLLLLL the cells in ALLLLLL Volts. It's like radioactive decay and there's a half-life for cars. More akin in predictability to having the thing destroyed in a wreck than maintenance/repair.

 

Miles largely don't matter to the survival of a Volt. They're really well-engineered. What kills them is battery age, and a random percentage of cells becoming unfunctional enough to be problems, across ALLLLLL the cells in ALLLLLL Volts. It's like radioactive decay and there's a half-life for cars. More akin in predictability to having the thing destroyed in a wreck than maintenance/repair.

That's a really insightful analogy. 😉

As far as the value OP, that will vary over time with the demand for parts in your location. There's Peddle, CarBrain, etc that can provide on-line quotes. You can also call your local junkyards. That's really the only way to determine the value.

 

I agree, I have no idea why my car is like this. Pack 1 and 3 were already replaced in 2020 under warranty, so I thought I was good for a while.

It's possible that being idle during the pandemic might have been the issue, but I'm not certain.
It could be sitting on a lot for over 2 years from production.

But that random percentage quote? I think that's it. If I could just drop the battery and use it like an ICE, I'd probably have it for a few more years.
I can't complain too much for a car I've had for 8 years and was built a decade ago. Especially for the price I got it for based on the work of those in this group.

 

...But that random percentage quote? I think that's it. If I could just drop the battery and use it like an ICE, I'd probably have it for a few more years.
I can't complain too much for a car I've had for 8 years and was built a decade ago. Especially for the price I got it for based on the work of those in this group.

When the Gen 1 Volt runs out of power to run on battery only, the gas engine kicks on... and then it becomes a "gas car?" What does that even mean?

Wikipedia says the Gen 1 Volt’s powertrain consists of one 63 kW (84 hp) gasoline engine, one 111 kW (149 hp) electric motor MGB, and one 55 kW (74 hp) electric motor MGA. In Electric Mode, MGB provides the car with full performance as the only source of propulsion.

How could the Gen 1 Volt maintain its "Electric Mode" performance level when extending the range if it then used its 63 kW gas engine as the primary propulsion source instead of the 111 kW motor? How could you just "drop the battery and use it like an ICE car" if the only direct physical connection between the gas engine and the propulsion system is the clutch that connects it to the smaller motor MGA?

 

What's the value of the Volt minus the battery pack?
Are there any dealers or individuals that buy these?

Just for kicks, I checked with Peddle. They will give you an online appraisal - even for cars that are not running. My 2012 was appraised at $3K.

 

My 2011 just turned over the 195,000 mile mark. Original battery although somewhat degraded, still gets me 26-29 miles range in warm weather.

 

@MISterKnight - your daily charging... Was it at Level 1 or 2?

 

For 7 years it was level 2.
For 1.5 years it was level 1.


Peddle had it at 2600 or so. I might just go that route, unfortunately. If I could use it as a gas car, I'd do that for a while.

 

Wordptom
How?

it cant
He would if it could
but it cant so he wont

which is what he said
he is selling the car, its a brick

 

It’s not quite that simple. The OP is the original owner of a 2013 Volt, currently around 65K miles, mostly electric, charged every day, but his guess is about 40-50K miles "on the battery and the rest on ICE" (i.e., about 15-25 K miles "on ICE"). The battery is now failing and he wishes he could just "use it like an ICE." Seems to me when he says, "if I could use it as a gas car..." it suggests he views his Volt as an ordinary plug-in hybrid. If "ICE" driving is "driving on engine power without using battery power," then he’s already put nearly one-third of the miles on the odometer by "driving on gas" after depleting the battery. So, if the battery now no longer works well, why he can’t extend the life of the car by driving "on gas," using only the engine? Another participant in the thread (post #6) says he bought a 2015 Volt "to drive solely off of the gas generator, sort of like a plain hybrid of sorts..."

My point is the Gen 1 Volt does NOT become a "plain" gas hybrid car when it runs out of power to run on battery only and the engine kicks on. At that point, unlike the other plug-in hybrids out there, it continues to be a battery-powered car, but now with a second source of power, a gas-powered generator. The 111 kW electric motor continues to be able to provide the car with full performance, and now the 55 kW generator power can be used to supplement the power remaining in the battery (and to keep it charged to a programmed level). You may think of extended range driving as "driving on gas," but that’s because you hear the sound of the 63 kW engine as you drive. You continue to use the 111 kW electric motor for propulsion. "Driving on gas" is a fuel accounting issue, not a propulsion source issue.

 

Clear codes, get it to charge, use MM forever, drive it intolerably the ground.

 

I got just under $4800 for my 2013 from Peddle.com. It had only 45k miles and was in really nice condition (except the battery was dead and car wouldn't charge or start.)

And yes, you can't drive the Volt if the main battery is dead. Gas engine won't start in that case.

 

I agree, you can’t drive the Gen 1 Volt if the main battery is dead, but it’s not because the gas engine won’t start, it’s because the main battery is dead. The Gen 1 Volt is a battery-powered vehicle even if you never recharge it (that’s what the engine is for: to keep the battery charged). The car can’t move if the main battery can’t deliver any electric power to the motor to get the car moving. That would be true even if the engine was running. Is it possible the battery went dead because the engine wasn’t able to keep it charged because MGA had a problem (that’s how Erick Belmer’s 2012 Volt Sparkie first gave up the ghost after 400+K miles)?

 

I have a 2011 with Battery Pack 2 dead in Northern NJ. I can look at Peddle as I've heard it can be started on engine only but one module is way below the thresehold.

 

It's lived a long life, but I'm not sure I want to Greentec a new battery into my 65k mile Volt.

Pack 3 failed for a second time in 3 years.
It has some cosmetic issues.
I want a bit of a bigger car.

What's the value of the Volt minus the battery pack?
Are there any dealers or individuals that buy these?

Anyone here interested?

You may want to put GreenTec battery pack in and sell it. Last time I looked a battery pack was $6500. We just sold our 2014 Volt with 56k to Carvana for $12200. You might be able to make money from it.

 

I note that the GreenTec comment is concerning all brands ( I would assume that the low milliage replacements are in cars with poor battery managment or just age. The Volts issues that I am awear of are mostly do to age not running on the battery.

 

My 2012 just died on me two weeks ago (segment 3 failed). Been driving the car since new in December 2012, mostly electric miles and this is my first battery problem with the car. I’ve got ~115k miles on it right now. I live in north Alabama, so we get some good heat in the summer. Greentec has a refurbished replacement pack for $10k plus $500 install fee with a 3 year warranty on the battery. KBB says my car is worth 3-7k, so if I go for the refurbished pack it’s to keep driving the car till it bricks again. At the current price of used cars this is a tempting choice. Anyway, just wanted to throw my data point out there given the age/miles discussions above.

 

Just bear in mind that there's no guarantee that the Greentech replacement won't brick again in a month or six. A warranty says what will happen to make you whole IF something fails, not that it won't, and the length of the warranty is how long the bet is good for.

 

I might be interested in buying this from you. I've been trying to learn how to work on EVs. I've bought several different brands and models with a damaged battery for $2500 so I can offer you that. I live in south Florida so its not to far from you

 

I own two 2013 Volts. One purchased brand new and the other two years later with low mileage. Both vehicles currently have 115k miles. The used one we bought just bricked. I was tempted to have the battery replaced but decided to just keep it for now and use it as a parts car for my other Volt. It was the daily driver for my granddaughter. We decided to purchase a new Bolt EUV for her. My Volt is still running fine but you never know. I am still thinking about selling the bricked one. It's still a nice car, just inoperable because of the battery. The dealership did not give me a good diagnosis of the battery and just said the battery is bricked.

 

I own two 2013 Volts. One purchased brand new and the other two years later with low mileage. Both vehicles currently have 115k miles. The used one we bought just bricked. I was tempted to have the battery replaced but decided to just keep it for now and use it as a parts car for my other Volt. It was the daily driver for my granddaughter. We decided to purchase a new Bolt EUV for her. My Volt is still running fine but you never know. I am still thinking about selling the bricked one. It's still a nice car, just inoperable because of the battery. The dealership did not give me a good diagnosis of the battery and just said the battery is bricked.

What would you consider the value without hybrid? Or how much does it devalue it?

 

And it really is a battery buffer. The whole reason we can have a 111KW motor operate at full capacity with a 63KW generator is because the battery buffers the demand and builts back what was drawn down during a moment of acceleration, independently of wheel speed. Generator spins as the generator needs to spin, it's clutched into the transmission when it's convenient to do so, and the big MGB does whatever it needs to do on its transmission input to make the output come out at the commanded speed. Sometimes that's spinning more slowly than it would if it were solely providing power, sometimes that's regenning, sometimes that's spinning fast, and it changes A LOT.