Why? Data Shows Volt Drivers Log 1012 Miles A Month VS Nissan Leaf's Average Of Only 629

Is it a case of picking the right electric car for the right job? Or could a lack of "range anxiety" really lead drivers to cover more miles?

It's a kind of chicken-or-egg question, but it came to mind when our author Matthew Klippenstein sent us some data.

On average, owners of the Nissan Leaf battery-electric car cover 629 miles a month, while those who drive the Chevrolet Volt range-extended electric car go 60 percent further, logging 1,012 miles.

Of those Volt miles, 75 percent are in electric mode using a battery charged from the grid, not the gasoline range extender.

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MattDarringer - 11/29/2013 2:10:14 PM

+1 Boost

The Volt is a real car where the Leaf is a paper weight once the battery dies. The Volt is a viable replacement to a conventional car, but the Leaf isn't. That explains the difference.

vdiv - 11/29/2013 4:14:18 PM

+2 Boost

But, but, but, I thought folks here said that the Volt is not an EV... even though it racks up more EV miles a month than the LEAF which is.

Is the light bulb starting to shine a bit in petrol land?

MattDarringer - 11/30/2013 1:57:26 PM

0 Boost

@vdiv The Volt is step in the right direction most decidedly, but it still a pretty terrible drive. It definitely needed more engineering and prototype time instead of being rushed to production to make Obama giddy. It costs $40K+ and drives like $20K- is the problem. Its technology is not brilliantly futuristic in any way. It's an EV with a gas engine to charge the batteries when necessary. It will be interesting to see if Cadillac was able to purge the Volt of its lack of refinement for the stupidly expensive ELR.

vdiv - 12/1/2013 1:56:37 AM

+1 Boost

Matt,

The Volt starts at $35k now and if eligible for the Federal and State tax credits it can be had in the mid $20k. The 2013 models can currently be had for less yet. For reference the average new car purchase is $32k.

The Volt is a Chevy for better or for worse. It has a rather good handling for a Chevy as the drivetrain is superb. You cannot find a $20k car that compares in every aspect. In fact you cannot find any car that compares in every aspect, even the ELR. The unfortunate part is one has to deal with GM and the Chevy dealerships in order to drive one.

Also the engine does not normally nor fully charge the battery as done by the Accord PHEV for example as that is inefficient. It sustains the charge by matching the average el. motor demand so that the range can be extended to 380 or so miles. The technology is unsurpassed over three years after the release of the Volt as all competitor PHEVs are more anemic in their electric propulsion and rely much more on their gas engine. The exception to that, the longer EV range i3 has the opposite problem as the 600 cc range extender apparently offers a sub-par performance.