Having announced plans to manufacture the electric drive unit for the second-generation, 2016 Volt in Warren, Michigan, General Motors provided five interesting facts about the first-generation Volt that, in our opinion, any self-respecting GM enthusiast should know. The facts are these:
- Since the Volt was launched in 2010, owners driving in pure electric mode have helped reduce gasoline consumption by more than 25 million gallons.
- Based on a GM study of more than 300 2011-2012 model year Volts in service in California, many owners exceed the EPA-rated label of 35 miles of EV range per full charge, with about 15 percent surpassing 40 miles of range.
- Volt owners who charge regularly typically drive more than 970 miles between fill-ups and refuel less than once a month. The 2014 Volt provides owners with EPA-estimated fuel economy of 98 MPGe (electric) and 35 mpg city/40 mpg highway on gasoline power.
- Volt is the most successful plug-in electric vehicle in the United States, with cumulative sales of more than 69,000 vehicles.
- And now for the topping on the cake: nearly 70 percent of Volt buyers are new to GM, and the Toyota Prius is the most frequently traded-in vehicle for a Volt.
We expect that the launch of the all-new 2016 Chevy Volt will boost the above stats thanks to the new model being lighter and more efficient while packing a longer range in both pure electric and range-exteded modes. The 2016 Volt will revealed at the 2015 North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, and will become available for purchase later on in the 2015 calendar year.
Comments
One final fact:
After five years of promises, GM has not allowed flex fuel capability to the Volt. E85 would have enhanced performance and eliminate 85% gas which would have been the first EREV and hybrid flex fuel car ever produced. Let’s hope the 2016 model offers this great combination.
You forget that GM used a stock engine for the Volt range extender that will not run as often as a regular engine, and that is why GM only recommended premium gasoline. If the Volt owners had a ethanol mix, it can age and get bad from unusage. Put ethanol in your gas tankk, then let it sit for a year and see what I mean. GM has intelligently programmed a fuel burning cycle (called ERDTM) for those Volts that never use gas. It is a waste but prevents the gasoline from getting too stale.
GM’s goal is to eventually eliminate all fuel burning, and the future Volt will become a full battery driven vehicle. No flex fuel needed at all!
Like stated above, ethanol is an alcohol and alcohol contracts moisture. So it won’t be good for a vehicle to sit there with moisture built up and cause the inside to rust. Unless you use stabilizers
Elon Musk figured it out. Why is it taking so long for GM to produce an all-electric car?
GM produces the Spark EV with a first-in-the-USA Level 3 charging standard.
You may think that’s not suitable competition, but it’s targeting different markets. What we really need a Level 3 charging network that will reduce the need for “supercharger” stations.
@ atp1 They did that 20 years before tesla
And sadly they killed the entire program and shredded every car. Being first means nothing if you can’t make it a market success. The nerds from silicon valley are teaching Detroit how to build cars.
GM’s current market cap is 50B VS 30.23B for Tesla who only builds approx. 35,000 cars per year. Another model success and they would be in a position to buy GM, but why would they. The future is electric and I’m not talking ignition key… Lol
The next Volt should be 100% electric with a 300-500 mile range. It’s time for revolution not snail pace evolution.
Will Tesla’s market cap need to exceed GM’s before the old boys in the corner offices wake up?
A few important point about the Volt that GM has done a poor job of promoting. First, the Volt can be driven indefinately as long as you keep filling the tank (just like a regular car) because the gas engine will power the drivetrain while also charging the battery like a standard hybrid. Second, the EPA milage figures are misleading, but they are actually an underestimate in many cases. If you plug in your Volt over night and run it for less than 35 miles a day (38 miles for the 2013 and over 50 for the 2017) you will use no gas at all! Your only fuel costs are charging the battery which is way cheaper and way better for the environment than running on gas. Using heat or AC will lower your battery range but not by much. So if used as a commuter car (which mist of us do most of the time) then the Volt is far more efficient than any other hybrid. It’s only when you drain your pre charged battery that the mpg drops below that of a Prius.