Driving a Chevy Volt for a week opened my eyes to life with a plug-in electric hybrid.
First, the electric motor’s near-silent acceleration made the cabin pleasingly quiet. Second, plugging in every night when the car had to sit outside my garage was a bit of a hassle, especially in the rain, and third, I got a kick out driving 266.5 miles on 2.5 gallons of gas. The car’s computer said I averaged 106.3 mpg for the week.
Charging the Volt takes about 10 hours with a 120-volt line or perhaps as little as four hours with a dedicated 240-volt line. Most Volt buyers would have the 240-volt charger installed in their garage and that would simplify the charging routine. The car can be set to charge during off-peak hours when prices are lower.
Electricity is not free, of course. Chevy estimates a night’s charge to cost about $1.50 depending on local electrical rates. Figuring gas at $3.70 a gallon, I spent about $18.50 to drive 266.5 miles. Driving the same distance in a car that gets 30 miles per gallon would be $32.86.
The Environmental Protection Agency calculates the car’s mileage at 93 MPG equivalent on batteries, and 37 mpg when the gasoline engine is recharging the batteries.
Even though the Volt has an electric drive system, it is technically a hybrid because it has a gasoline engine to charge the batteries.
The test car was from Chevrolet’s national press fleet. Volts were launched in California, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C. Already in tight supply, the number of Volts available for delivery to retail customers will be further restricted over the next few months. General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly plant, where the car is built, will close for four weeks in June for planned upgrades to prepare for a significant increase in Volt production, along with assembly of the 2013 Chevrolet Malibu midsize sedan.
The Volt’s base price $41,000 is considerably higher than all-electric Nissan Leaf or Toyota Prius hybrid. A $7,500 tax credit brings the effective price to $33,500. The Volt can be leased for a surprisingly low $350 a month for 36 months with a $2,500 down payment.
The Volt’s unique drive system uses a 111-kilowatt traction motor to launch the car from rest. At highways speeds a smaller 55-kilowatt motor-generator either adds drive to the wheels or recharges the battery.
The 5.5-foot long, 435-pound lithium-ion battery pack in the center of the Volt consists of thin, 5-by-7-inch cells that are heated and cooled by a water and antifreeze liquid. The battery has an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty.
To relieve range anxiety, a 1.4-liter gasoline engine sits under the hood next to the electric drive unit. When the batteries reach a minimum level, the gasoline engine kicks in to make more electricity. The car then is capable of being driven about 300 miles on a tank of gasoline. You can take it coast to coast without ever plugging in if you desire.
The battery is recharged in 10 to 12 hours by plugging into a standard 120-volt outlet, and I had to run the cord under my garage door. A special 240-volt charger does the job in four or five hours and it is the most sensible option for charging. It lists for $490 and Chevy estimates it will cost about $1,475 for installation.
The Volt’s styling drew positive comments everywhere I drove it. The interior is nicely finished, and the dual LCD screens display tons of information about the car, its mileage and power usage. It was tempting to pay too much attention to them at first, but with time I found them to be useful without being distracting. Navigation, Bluetooth and Bose stereo are standard.
Electric motors deliver torque right from rest. Chevy says the car can accelerate to 60 miles per hour in about nine seconds and has a top speed of 100 miles per hour. Heavy use of the throttle hurts mileage, however, so smooth acceleration and plenty of coasting are the order of the day. Coasting and braking recharge the batteries, and using Low range in traffic adds even more regenerative braking. There are three drive modes: Normal, Sport and Mountain. The Mountain mode raises the battery’s reserve level to assure there is always adequate electricity for climbing hills.
The back seat has space for two because the battery pack runs down the center of the car. The rear hatch is large and the seats fold to make a good-sized cargo space.
The Volt is thriftiest when used as a commuter, but the gasoline engine means you can drive long distances without worrying about plugging it in. That versatility separates it from other electrics and makes it viable for someone who wants it as an only car.
Price:
The base price is $41,000. The test car was equipped with the premium package of heated leather seats and tricoat paint. The sticker price was $43,390.
Warranty:
Three years or 36,000 miles, with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the battery.
To reach Tom Strongman, send e-mail to [email protected]
Specifications:
2011 Chevrolet Volt
- Motors: 111-kW drive motor, 55-kW generator motor
- Engine: 1.4-liter, four-cylinder
- Front-wheel drive
- Wheelbase: 105.7 in.
- Curb weight: 3,781 lbs.
- Base price: $41,000
- As driven: $43,390
- MPG rating: 93 MPG equivalent
