[VoltenRock]

Had a partial HV battery replacement last week. Now I'm getting 10.7-11.4 kWh in a 2013.

Before that, 10.1-10.3 max this time of year.

Now, I get it--just an estimate. I've purposefully driven the battery down to "empty" several times and let it sit for a while before plugging in. I've avoided all partial charges. However, so much was reprogrammed that the car is probably still figuring out what's going on. The weather has been awful--high rain, high use of HVAC, colder, high wind, so it's been difficult to gauge based on the "usual" EV miles for these conditions.

I half jokingly asked the Volt tech to "give me more range" before he finished the job. I didn't think he would--and I doubt that GM would program a '13 for greater usable window... but one can only hope!

What say you? Just a fluke until more of the "relearn" process completes? Or am I one happy VoltER now?!?!?

 

[Rampage_Rick]

I'd give it a dozen full/empty cycles before it settles in, but it's certainly possible to have a higher capacity pack. I believe the 2014 pack is 17 kWh compared to the 16.5 kWh for the '13, could have one of those.

 

[BAZINGA]

What does a partial replacement mean.

 

[twright]

Does the invoice say what the part number of the battery that they put in? You could look it up and see what it is.

 

[Loboc]

My 2014 ELR gets 11.6 to 11.8 on a full charge. Which is pretty much every day with my commute. I believe it is a 16.5kWh with a larger SOC window.

 

[llninja]

I wish I could get 11.4 KwH on my volt battery. Heck why not shoot the moon, I wish I could get 20 KwH on my volt battery.

Battery range aside, I'm curious why your battery needed partial replacement?

 

[ClarksonCote]

I wish I could get 11.4 KwH on my volt battery. Heck why not shoot the moon, I wish I could get 20 KwH on my volt battery.

Battery range aside, I'm curious why your battery needed partial replacement?

I wish I could get 10.something. Many days my commutes are 9.7, 9.8 etc.... on a 2013 Volt at that. I get it's just an estimate, but I'm pretty sure the energy going in correlates well to the estimate, based on the times I've looked at my Chargepoint Home energy usage.

 

[ari_c]

My 2014 ELR gets 11.6 to 11.8 on a full charge. Which is pretty much every day with my commute. I believe it is a 16.5kWh with a larger SOC window.

The ELR uses 72% of the battery compared to 65% of the Gen 1 Volt, even though it is the same battery. Many Gen 1 Volt owners wish they could get the 72% window that the ELR uses.

 

[telveer]

If you are consistently getting 10.7-11.4, consider yourself lucky. Either the replacement added more capacity, or some software adjustment is making the car now use more of the the 16.5 kwh battery

 

[ItsNotAboutTheMoney]

What does "partial" mean?

If they replaced all the module with 2015 then it would make sense that you're getting 2015-like range.

 

[ari_c]

I wish I could get 10.something. Many days my commutes are 9.7, 9.8 etc.... on a 2013 Volt at that. I get it's just an estimate, but I'm pretty sure the energy going in correlates well to the estimate, based on the times I've looked at my Chargepoint Home energy usage.

Have you tried my overcharging technique? I can routinely get 10.2 kWH out of my early build 2012 Volt with 107,000 EV miles on the battery.

 

[VoltenRock]

I'm still waiting on the multi-page work order (yes, it was that long) regarding the battery. My service advisor is making a copy and getting it to me. This will help confirm things.

What i understand is that the temp sensor likely failed, requiring a 1/3 battery replacement because it is non-serviceable. However, that was the initial analysis and there may have been more as the job progressed. My service advisor was worried that there was something deeper causing the temp sensor to go haywire, which may have required additional replacements. He sent me pictures from the work and it looked (to my untrained eye) that the whole battery was replaced.

It also took 4 weeks to get the battery, which means it either didn't exist or had to be newly-constructed. If it is a "new" battery then it must have the better battery chemistry and capacity of the late-model Gen 1. I would guess that the software would have to be updated for a newer battery as well.

Getting the work order in my hands--and time--will reveal all. I was just curious if anyone else went through a replacement like this and found greater capacity as a result.

 

[DonC]

The ELR uses 72% of the battery compared to 65% of the Gen 1 Volt, even though it is the same battery. Many Gen 1 Volt owners wish they could get the 72% window that the ELR uses.

They could if they had paid more! (only kidding). But not all Gen I Volt's had the same battery. Can't remember now but didn't the latter Gen I Volt's have a 17.1 kWh pack?

 

[ari_c]

They could if they had paid more! (only kidding). But not all Gen I Volt's had the same battery. Can't remember now but didn't the latter Gen I Volt's have a 17.1 kWh pack?

Yes, but from what I have heard all Gen 1 Volts only used 65%. The sizes were 16.0, 16.5, and 17.1 kWh. The jumps being at 2013 and 2015.

 

[canehdian]

If that number is consistent, they replaced the entire pack and gave you a 17.1. 1/3 doesn't add up in any way.

Logically, it makes sense that it would be the latest and greatest. Even if they had 16.5kWh packs around they would have been assembled 3+ years ago. That's either a very large warehouse with batteries gathering dust (and risking damage unless they're trickle charged occasionally), or pulled used from another car (would they want to risk a used battery module in there? who knows)

 

[VoltenRock]

There is definitely something going on here.

I also got decent EV range for colder weather. I have non-efficient run-flats (Bridgestone Driveguards) and 41+ miles is not unusual for mild spring/summer temps. It might get better after I get a chance to get my tires up to MY specs (around 44 psi). This dealership "deflated" my tires to 38 psi. I hate it when they do that. I try to remember to tell them to leave it alone but forgot this time. At least they check, which is better than some places.

On a side note, my gas MPG has been atrocious!

 

[GSP]

Yes, but from what I have heard all Gen 1 Volts only used 65%. The sizes were 16.0, 16.5, and 17.1 kWh. The jumps being at 2013 and 2015.

When the 2013s came out, it was reported that the useable SOC window was extended to all of the extra 500 Wh capacity to be useable (2013-14 batteries were rated at 16.5 kWh, vs 16.0 kWh for 2011-12). However, I don't know if these reports were confirmed.

GSP

 

[llninja]

When the 2013s came out, it was reported that the useable SOC window was extended to all of the extra 500 Wh capacity to be useable (2013-14 batteries were rated at 16.5 kWh, vs 16.0 kWh for 2011-12). However, I don't know if these reports were confirmed.

GSP

Plus, I thought there were reports of late 2014 buyers getting rewarded with the slightly bigger 2015 model year batteries.

 

[ari_c]

Plus, I thought there were reports of late 2014 buyers getting rewarded with the slightly bigger 2015 model year batteries.

Same thing with late 2012 Volts getting the 16.5 kWh battery. I don't think the SOC window was extended to cover the full 500wH as we would have seen a bigger jump in the kWH used figure if it was.

 

[VoltenRock]

Same thing with late 2012 Volts getting the 16.5 kWh battery. I don't think the SOC window was extended to cover the full 500wH as we would have seen a bigger jump in the kWH used figure if it was.

Assuming the "estimator" is right, I'm looking at an extra kWh usable. It would be better if I had a voltmeter to check on how much of a charge it is taking now. The myvolt.com charging information is unreliable/unavailable. I will say it seems to be taking longer to charge, but since my OnStar "charge complete" notifications are not working again, I don't have the exact time.