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Anyone here have a Volt to compare?


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Being that I'm aware of your driving ability :worship: , I'd say you'd get 50+ miles EV in good weather in the Volt.   If you can get additional opportunity charges during the day (especially faster 240v Level 2 ), your EV/Gas ratio gets even better.   With your driving style, I'd questimate 40-42mpg when on the gas generator.  The Volt runs the ICE much like a conventional generator at set speeds depending on battery charge/demand so traditional hypermiling techniques are more difficult to implement.  The newer 2013+ models have an "EV later" type button so you can save your EV miles for lower speeds while traveling at high speeds on gas boosting your overall efficiency.  The car will automatically run on gas (for cabin heat) in colder weather to meet minimum federal requirements for windshield visibility.  That acronym is called ERDTT (engine running due to temperature) and you might want to do some searches on that phenomenon and what some northern owners think about it.  It never affected me here in the south.   Battery range in cold weather can drop to 20-30 miles.   The 2015 has a slightly larger battery that isn't promoted by GM.  

 

For me, the car's strongest suit is its driving dynamics.  It's just a FUN car to drive.  If it wasn't for the cramped rear seats (primary reason) and low driving position which is also more difficult ingress/egress than the CMax,  I'd still have mine.  The former shouldn't be an issue for you as a work vehicle.   My best hypermiling EV range was 61 miles on the smaller 10.3kWhr 2012 battery.  Be wary of MPG claims by owners as the car computer doesn't factor in electricity use which is a HUGE omission.  Ford is now doing the same thing in the current Energi's <grrrrr> but my early edition at least computes MPGe.  

Edited by fotomoto
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Yup, true to a large extent.

 

If the EV range is 50 miles and I can get 40 mpg after that, the math works. One big thing that has always irritated me about the C max is the poor mileage for the first 5 miles or so. That kills my MPG on the weekends. However, the Volt would shine on short trips. So, it looks like my mileage would be a touch better during the week on the Volt and way better on the weekends.

 

Hmm, much pondering to do.

 

Matt

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