CONFIRMED: The 2016 Chevrolet Volt Will Have MORE Electric Range Than The Outgoing Volt

One of General Motor's most controversial vehicles in recent memory, the Chevrolet Volt, just had some big news drop yesterday. And, we're sure that Voltiphiles will be excited to hear that their baby is showing some impressive growth.

That is, when it comes to its all-electric range.

The first-generation Volt was claimed to achieve an all-electric 38 miles on a full charge. Now, Chevrolet is claiming the second-gen product will be able to hit 53 miles on all-electric power. This has been estimated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) who conducts this testing.

Considering most plug-in hybrid vehicles are not nearly as capable as they typically sacrifice all-electric power, 50+ all-electric miles is a big deal.

Now, let's see if buyers will be swooned by the potential and look past the vehicle's rather bleak design.


Chevrolet's press release follows:

The Results Are In: More Range for the 2016 Volt

EPA-estimated pure electric range is 53 miles

DETROIT – The 2016 Volt is engineered to offer customers more of what they want: range, range and more range.

The Volt's all-new second-generation Voltec extended range electric propulsion system delivers 53 miles of pure EV range, based on EPA testing. That is nearly a 40-percent improvement over the first generation Volt.

Chevrolet expects many next-generation Volt owners will use power solely from their battery for more than 90 percent of trips. Today, Volt owners use battery power on 80 percent of their trips.

This means that the average Volt owner may expect to travel well over 1,000 miles between gas fill ups, if they charge regularly.

For the first 53 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its new 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery, which is rated at a combined 106 MPGe, or gasoline equivalent. When the Volt's battery runs low, a gas-powered generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range for a total of 420 miles on a full tank.

"We listened to our customers," said Andrew Farah, vehicle chief engineer, "They were very clear when they told us that they wanted more range, and a fun driving experience behind the wheel. We are confident that the 2016 Volt delivers both."

The next generation Volt's new 1.5L range-extender, designed to use regular unleaded fuel, offers a combined EPA-estimated fuel efficiency of 42 MPG.

Data shows that drivers of the first-generation Volt achieved, and often exceeded, the published EPA-estimated mileage. Chevrolet expects the same label-exceeding result with the next-generation Volt.

TheSteve - 8/4/2015 11:08:24 AM

-5 Boost

I'm aware that I have (possibly irrational) anti-GM biases that prevent me from considering a GM product, no matter how good it might be. The problem for GM is that I'm not an isolated case. In *my* mind, GM is the company that went bankrupt... and then won't honor warranty claims for cars they sold before they went under... and they sucked billions of taxpayers' dollars in the form of bailouts, just so they could do it all again... and they're not exactly known for making quality products.

randy3023 - 8/4/2015 11:24:16 AM

-5 Boost

Totally agree. I have the same feelings, both from their arrogant behavior before the bailout, and from owing GM vehicles which have suffered from shoddy parts and poor quality assurance.

This company needed to be allowed to fail, in my opinion. This is how the system works. It's brutal, but in the end we get better products from more innovative and less arrogant companies.

MDarringer - 8/4/2015 12:04:37 PM

-3 Boost

The current Volt never generated an interest beyond the handful of "greener than thou" types with too much education and no common sense or the people who heard how steep the discount was and came in. The new Volt is generating inquiry. It may look like an 8 year old Civic, but there is a lukewarm interest which is better than the stone cold reception of the current one.

atc98092 - 8/4/2015 4:46:47 PM

+4 Boost

The newest GM car I've ever personally owned was a 1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, and no it wasn't new. I've had no personal experience with any recent GM car, other than an occasional rental, and I don't count them because who knows how well they've been treated.

GM is putting out cars worth considering again, with the Colorado diesel pickup and the Volt. Neither fit my current automobile plans, but if they did I would certainly give them a look.