What would be your ideal Electric to Gas range ratio?
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For my own daily use, the Gen 1 offers more than enough EV range as I typically average about 20 miles. I naturally use a bit more if I have errands or other running around. Aside from having a Bolt sized battery for out of town driving the split offered with the Gen 1 does everything I need it to do on most days. I do enjoy having plenty of gas range that I can comfortably make a 300 mile drive without stopping to charge or refuel, although I do need fuel shortly after 300 miles.
That said, I think for the average driver who may only charge overnight and never between charges such as an afternoon opportunity, having 75 miles electric would be well within what many would require. As for gas range, 350-400 miles would definitely be welcomed in addition to the 75 miles EV range. Increasing the Volt tank to 10-11 gallons would certainly put it into such ranges for fuel or perhaps even higher as I've seen my fuel range as high as 385 miles gas.
That said, I think for the average driver who may only charge overnight and never between charges such as an afternoon opportunity, having 75 miles electric would be well within what many would require. As for gas range, 350-400 miles would definitely be welcomed in addition to the 75 miles EV range. Increasing the Volt tank to 10-11 gallons would certainly put it into such ranges for fuel or perhaps even higher as I've seen my fuel range as high as 385 miles gas.
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More is better. I'd say combine the Bolt's EV range with the Gen 2 Volt engine so ~240 EV / ~370 gas.
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100% EV is the eventual goal. For a one-car family, the current Volt is a good ratio. For a multi-car family, throwing a Bolt into the mix might make sense.
Retired people I know don’t drive that much except for a few snow birds. When I retire in a couple years, I can’t see myself needing more than 125mi EV range with no gas at all. Or, just autonomous Lyft service.
Retired people I know don’t drive that much except for a few snow birds. When I retire in a couple years, I can’t see myself needing more than 125mi EV range with no gas at all. Or, just autonomous Lyft service.
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An easier way to look at this would simply be refueling times. It isn't about range as much as it is about refueling times.
I don't think the ratio is as important as the absolute range. For road trips, I like having at least 300 miles of gas-only range. That means I can make a typical road trip without having to stop for fuel along the way, or just once on a longer driving day (and assuming an empty battery). I personally could get by with say 100 miles, but then it gets annoying to have to watch the fuel level all the time and make frequent stops. It would add time to the trip, and then I would get complaints from my wife. She would want to take her ICE vehicle instead, which happens to to get over 450 miles before the light comes on -- very nice on long trips or when more fuel is needed for towing.
And there are some areas in the western states where you really would need extra range to make the next gas station. Remember, these vehicles have to appeal to people used to ICE vehicles and their typical ~400 mile range.
And the difference between a 100 mile and 300 mile gas range is just designing in space for about 5 gallons of additional fuel. Not hard to find that space in a regular sized car.
And there are some areas in the western states where you really would need extra range to make the next gas station. Remember, these vehicles have to appeal to people used to ICE vehicles and their typical ~400 mile range.
And the difference between a 100 mile and 300 mile gas range is just designing in space for about 5 gallons of additional fuel. Not hard to find that space in a regular sized car.
My idea would be 100% electric, but 30-50 miles lets 90% of the trips be all electric. Long trips are of course on gas. Rarely do I end up running the battery flat and using just a little gas.
Profound point. However, you're more or less stuck with current technology and refueling infrastructure, so your answer has to be informed by the current situation.
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I would like the ability to do 100% electric except for road trips. The gen 2 volt doesn't quite get there and really needs another 10-15 kWh in the battery. We started with the volt replacing a tdi and then added a Bolt for the second one and I much prefer the Bolt as a daily driver. It has enough battery that I don't worry about range, although it might get close once it gets cold.
Unfortunately the charge rates on the Bolt really don't allow it to be used for more than short road trips. Just takes too long to charge even on a dcfc. Adding an ic assist like the volt would really be great, then it could be my only car.
Unfortunately the charge rates on the Bolt really don't allow it to be used for more than short road trips. Just takes too long to charge even on a dcfc. Adding an ic assist like the volt would really be great, then it could be my only car.
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I agree. I have a Gen 1 that regularly hits 39miles per charge. If I had another 10miles EV I'd be running pure electric on all the but the absolute worst of weather days for commuting.
I also wish I could bump the combined total to 400 miles range but that's just a mental quirk of mine.
I like a minimum of 30 miles EV range and 200 miles gas range, so Gen 1 Volt is fine. Too much EV range becomes wasteful in terms of weight, manufacturing resources, etc. Gen 2 is about the limit of what I would want unless the genset becomes smaller. Like i3 is okay, but fuel tank should be 5 gallons instead of around 2.
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Agreed, being retired, my Volt does 100% EV driving around town and when I want to take a long trip...........no problem
I just retired and find that I enjoy my Volt more when I can run just on the battery. It has enough range to just barely meet our local driving needs, though with Winter coming on it may fall short. I'd love to have more electric range so that I could do ALL of our local driving on battery only, no matter what the outside temp. The gas range is great for our vacation trips.
I'd prefer not a ratio. Minimum electric miles should be 100, and then at least 300 miles on gas. I would never buy a Tesla if I can get my hands on a CrossVolt with this specs.
I am happy with my gen 2. The gas range is ok but I can seldom get the claimed distance. There is not a ratio since they are for very different uses. The gas tank determines the gas range and needs to be about 250 miles or more to avoid having to stop too often on a long trip. The epa number is claimed to high in my experience since it does not do well at freeway speeds. I wish they had gotten the numbers of the malibu hybrid. The electric range of 53 miles is adequate but I would always like a bit more but there is no reason to go overboard. It is fine for running around town or even to an adjacent town. I live in the foothills so my use may not be average.
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Agreed, being retired, my Volt does 100% EV driving around town and when I want to take a long trip...........no problem
I am a tele-commuter. So, without a daily long-commute (which many people "foodheartedly" endure
) I match your comments. I drive locally electrically and for the long trip, Volt Gen-1 is fine on the highway for long distance.My only grip is my 2011 seems to have a faulty engine oil countdown timer. It stuck at 51% for a long while, including over a 1000 mile trip using mostly ICE. I reset it and it has ticked down from 100 to 97 recently. Time for another oil change (last one 13-months ago).
For me, the range of say a Gen-1 2015 would be better than my 2011 for electric range. Possibly 3-5 more miles. Then for the long-distance driving, the Gen-2 engine is better for that. I wouldn't mind a slightly smaller gas tank but all we need to do is keep it at half full instead of full to save a few pounds for around-town.
Everyone is throwing out all sort of figures on range, but no consideration of what price (and problems) it would add.
Bolt range in a Volt, would put you in the $50,000 range... the car would weigh closer to 5000lbs. Nobody here would pay that premium or drive that lug... so then they'd have to bump the motor, so there's more cost. Etc, etc...
Bolt range in a Volt, would put you in the $50,000 range... the car would weigh closer to 5000lbs. Nobody here would pay that premium or drive that lug... so then they'd have to bump the motor, so there's more cost. Etc, etc...
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