All-new Volt Plug-in goes the distance
Chevy Volt Plug-in
Will Chamberlain | For Calkins Media
The Chevy Volt Plug-in is always driven by an electric motor. The gasoline engine onboard is just there to generate power, extend the battery life and electric range.
Will Chamberlain/For The Times
Chevy Volt Plug-in
There are several types of Electric (Tesla), hybrid (Prius) and extended-range electric (Volt) vehicles currently on the road. Depending on the type of driving you routinely do and where in the country you live will determine which is best for you.
Road testing these vehicles requires you to adjust your driving habits accordingly. For example, the simple gas/electric hybrid (Toyota Prius) drives like a normal car for the most part and provides a good return of between 45 to 65 mpg depending the situation. These cars rely on a gas engine to propel the car and only use electric vehicle (EV) modes when the battery is charged enough.
Plug-in hybrid cars like the plug-in Prius allow the driver to charge the battery at home or at another charging area to increase the EV range for quieter, emission free driving. Extended range plug-in hybrid vehicles like the 2017 Chevy Volt use all of that technology and more.
For starters, the Volt is always driven by an electric motor. The gasoline engine onboard is just there to generate power, extend the battery life and electric range. Think of the Volt as an electric golf cart with an onboard gasoline generator. When you press the accelerator there is no engine noise or gears to click through, it is a seamless and smooth application of power from the electric motor.
Total vehicle output is rated at 294 lb.-ft. of torque that is quite adequate for a car this size. When you really lean into the pedal the Volt can keep up with most cars around it.
The cliché that cars in this niche are slow is no longer the norm. Another aspect of the Volt that I found to be pleasing is the overall fit and finish of the interior and driving dynamics.
The Volt drives like a normal compact sedan, good road feel and balance. It corners well and takes bumps with ease. There are several driving modes in the Volt as well. Normal mode uses just the battery until it’s depleted and then generates power from the engine. Hold mode will hold the battery charge where you engage and then uses the generator to keep the electric motor powered. Sport modes uses everything to the max for the most power possible and Mountain mode will use the battery and generator but saves some of the battery for steep hill climbs.
Comparing it to the Prius Two Eco that I just recently reviewed is where you see differences and similarities. The Prius can get a combined range of 63 mpg on a normal sized gas tank (11.5 gallon), using both gas and electric propulsion. The Volt on the other hand averaged 61 mpg with an 8.9-gallon gas tank and up to 60-mile all-electric range before the generator even starts. It’s difficult to calculate exact mileage because the Volt can be charged at your home overnight and if your commute is less than 50 miles daily, you will never use gasoline.
So for our purposes, I drove the Volt in Normal EV mode in towns, urban areas and flat roads. I switched to HOLD mode when on the highway or in rural areas where I was over 40 mph frequently. During my week with the Volt I managed to drive 668 miles before I had to refuel and never let the battery get below 15 mile range or a quarter empty. You could generally say I managed about 85 mpg using both power sources. Lastly, if you charge the Volt with a regular 120 line in your garage, it will take approximately 13 hours to fully charge. If you have a 240V line installed it will only take 4.5 hours to fully charge.
MSRP for the Volt Premiere Hatchback is $40,325. Please shoot me an email with questions I wasn’t able to cover in this story. If you have any type of electric, hybrid or plug-in car I’d love to hear from you.
Will Chamberlain is a freelance automotive journalist and can be reached at wchamberlain@pghcarguys.com and www.pghcarguys.com.