The Chevy Volt received quite a bit of negative press due to a government agency concern over battery fire potential. Forbes reported in January the problem had been solved. Sales of the unique hybrid vehicle had slow considerably, and the negative press appeared to drown out some of the very positive stories from owners who have achieved thousands of miles per gallon while driving their Volts.
One of the owners is a GM battery engineer who probably drove his Volt almost continuously in the electric mode, but he managed to go 1,554 miles on half a tank of gas, which would be 3,108 miles per gallon. Because he is a professional engineer, he probably knows more than the average driver and therefore can get better mileage, but Jay Leno says he also has achieved extremely high mileage.
His Volt came with a full tank of gas. For the Volt that is just 9.3 gallons, but he has only used half of it, and drove 11,000 miles. The gas mileage for 4.65 gallons and 11,000 miles is well over 2,000! Leno must be keeping his Volt in the all-electric mode and recharging at the office and at home.
Close to 700 miles per gallon has been achieved by another Volt owner, who posted a video about his experience.
LA resident, and actress Alexandra Paul has averaged just 126 miles per gallon, possibly because she has to drive further than the 35 mile all-electric range. She was an EV1 driver and protested its recall and destruction.
GM is offering new leasing options on Volts, to make them more affordable.
Image Credit: Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz, Wiki Commons
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48 comments
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why is this inappropriate?
Hum - maybe I should consider a Volt as my next car, instead of a Nissan Leaf. At least you can drive a Volt from Atlanta, GA to Portland, OR in three days. Couldn't drive a Leaf from Atlanta to Portland, ME in three days!
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This is very positive news. Hopefully it'll stay in the news. I remember in the 70's, each time I'd hear about an alternative fuel vehicle...it got hushed real fast.
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my wife has 10000 miles on her Volt an averaging 400 mpg......not perfect, but not complaining.....oh and we pay for wind power......
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NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
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Thank you.
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Agree with John B.
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Remember that most electricity comes from coal, a VERY dirty, polluting, disease-causing source, or from nuclear, a very deadly, cancer-causing, genetic-mutating source that may eventually kill all life on earth. Do not trust batteries that need recharging from our electrical systems. Be more efficient in your use of a car, or switch to rapid transit or busses whenever possible. There are no shortcuts to energy saving that are deadly-side-effect free!
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Let's hope the Volt doesn't have the same fate as the EV1....if the oil companies can't make money, then what?
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I have to admit the idea of a car that generates its own electricity when the batteries are low is very tempting. It solves the problem of a short range while still giving a practical electric drive for short trips.
Drivers of pure electric cars are almost forced to drive with one eye on the charge gauge to ensure they get the maximum range out of their batteries, even from full charge. It's a bit like driving between towns when the low fuel light comes on. You get great economy but you don't concentrate as much on road conditions.
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