Keep in mind that this question was asked in the Gen 2 forum and the above numbers are (evidently) for a Gen 1 car . . . .I make a 156 mile commute and I'm averaging 42-43 mpg driving on very flat freeways doing 67-68 mph. I can get about 42 miles of battery, and then I'm on gas. In all, I use 2.7-2.9 gals on the commute
I see similar. Mileage really drops over 70mph.2017 Volt LT:
38 to 40 MPG when running 70 to 75 MPH
45 to 48 MPG when running 65 MPH
50 to 55 MPG when running 55 MPH
55 to 60 MPG when running 45 to 50 MPH
I see these numbers consistently at the listed speeds. Mountains and hills don't impact these figures either due to regenerative braking.
It was my understanding what separated the Volt from a Hybrid is the electric motor was the only thing which powered the wheels. Do you know where I can learn more about the power train configuration for the Volt?I see similar. Mileage really drops over 70mph.
And OP, the car has an engine that connects directly to the wheels. It is not a generator. This car is a plug in hybrid with some fancy marketing on top.
And the Horse Power needed for steady speed driving goes up as the cube of the speed....the drag force increases proportional to the square of the speed of the vehicle, hence why going from 55 to 75MPH is not simply arithmetic.
Thermodynamics explains why the ICE drives the vehicle directly when in use. By having the ICE drive the vehicle directly you only lose energy once. Having it drive an electric generator which then drives the vehicle results in two energy loss points.No, the ICE does power the wheels under many torque situations. It really is a hybrid. Probably best explained in this video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3-wGOyT2-I
That's not bad, but nothing to write home about. I've gotten 42 mpg on a non hybrid Altima on a trip that was all above 70mph.Just did 809 miles round trip on Volt, 754 miles on gas and burned 19.7 gallons of gas, outside temp was 80F, AC was on. Average speed on engine was 75 mph. Average fuel economy 38.3 mpg - very impressive for the speed of 75mph with AC on.
It’s the Gen 1 Volt that operates as an electric car on generator output when in Hold Mode or the battery is depleted. As I understand it, the Gen 1 is capable of full performance using only the single large motor. The smaller motor is clutched to the drivetrain under certain driving conditions to improve efficiency.It was my understanding what separated the Volt from a Hybrid is the electric motor was the only thing which powered the wheels. Do you know where I can learn more about the power train configuration for the Volt?
Your MPG results are the same as my 2017 Volt. The burning smell should lessen over time. Check your fluid levels, at least once a month, (specifically engine oil, coolant overflow tanks (there are 3) and brake fluid for signs of any leaks.I've only gone through about 9 gal of gas in my 2018, but so far it seems to average right around 42-44 mpg. This is a mix of higher speed (~70-75 mph) highway, and also some ~40-50 mph local roads/highways. It actually seems to do better at slightly higher speeds(~60-75 mph) since it's probably getting into a better gear ratio than down in the ~30-50 mph range.
That said, I still get a distinct burning/something getting hot smell of something when running the ICE for more than a few minutes. It almost makes me want to really run the ICE for a solid tank or two just to get rid of that smell, but I really have no need to. I just run it ~10 miles every 1-2 weeks to keep things going. EMM is annoying, so I'd rather run the ICE on my own terms.