EPA Rates The Chevy Volt at 93 MPG

Hot on the heels of the EPA announcement that the Nissan Leaf will get 99 MPGe, the Chevrolet Volt received its own EPA sticker today. Unlike the all electric Leaf, the Volt is a plug in hybrid and thus has three distinct fuel economy figures. On a full battery charge the Volt will travel about 35 miles while getting 93 MPGe, or only slightly worse than the Leaf. After the initial battery charge runs out the Volt consumes gasoline like a regular car. The EPA rates the Volt at 35 city and 40 highway when running purely on gasoline, these numbers place it slightly above compact cars fuel economy wise. Overall, the EPA predicts that through a mix of electric and gasoline driving the Volt on average will achieve 60 MPG combined, this places the Volt 10 MPG ahead of the Prius.
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outsider - 11/25/2010 2:55:05 AM

+3 Boost

The theoretically figures are different from reality. Let's see at pump. Volt is an plug-in hybrid (not electric). Between two plug you can reach (maybe) EPA rate, but ...
As Leaf concerned is, I guess there will be lot of discharged at roadside. Big business is coming to towings!

Joe_Limon - 11/25/2010 12:48:13 PM

-1 Boost

EPA ratings have traditionally been conservative. Anyone can beat the ratings. The other problem with your analysis is that you're assuming that people will drive the volt without ever plugging it in. Even if you travel 100 miles a day, the first 35-50 miles will still be netting the 93MPGe. So if you keep plugging it in your overall mileage will never reach the 35/40mpg w/o charge claim.

And I don't think there will be a lot of towings of the leaf, maybe at first, but I think people will very quickly realize for trips what it is and isn't capable of.

outsider - 11/26/2010 3:34:48 AM

+4 Boost

To Joe_Limon

With EV you have major problems with charging time. When you almost out of range, you should immediate charge and it takes hours. (The time is money.) You have to have second car for long traveling. With the plug in hybrids, the EV and hybrid advantages putting together.
The range of EV drastically reduce at winter:
- Low temperature decrease efficiency of battery.
- Slippery surface needs contimous TRC operation, because the special torque characteristic of synchronous electric motor.
The estimated EV range can be half of the ideal one.
EV :-(
Attkinson Plug in Hybrid :-)
DiesOtto Hybrids ??? -> Watch the news!

Joe_Limon - 11/26/2010 9:18:27 AM

0 Boost

I dunno, I see people becoming very aware of just how far they can go on a charge. If I had one you can bet I'd never try taking it to 73 miles on one charge. That would be like trying to drive my gasoline powered car until I just about ran out of gas, not gonna happen.

Stevez - 11/26/2010 11:42:55 PM

-1 Boost

I'm done with the Volt... Especially when they announced that it was another hybrid.... :/

uaw_lax - 11/27/2010 11:19:45 AM

+1 Boost

Call the Volt whatever you want but there is no other car with the same capabilities as the Volts. There are NO HYBRIDS that can get you back from the ballgame or grocery store without using a single drop of gas,

tango - 11/28/2010 12:40:53 PM

+1 Boost

I think the 230 miles per gallon is still possible. Let's say that the driver never runs the car above 70 mph (when the engine will cut in), never drives beyond, say, 30 miles for a day, and plugs in at both ends of the journey (work and home). Theoretically, the car would not use any fuel at all. However, the ECU is programmed to turn the engine on for a short while ever so often to keep things lubed and functional. This short cut in time would use some fuel. Let's say the car has travelled 230 miles before the engine cust in enough to have burnt 1 gallon of fuel, then guess what my math tells me? 230 miles per gallon. It will happen just like that for some, but not all drivers.