The Chevrolet Volt.......

[JLM]

That's actually a bit complicated, because the EPA doesn't really have a category for the Volt, and they don't think their test is fair, in that the fuel economy is very high. During the test, the Volt will complete 85% of the EPA test without ever using the gasoline generator. So in the test they end up getting a fuel economy of over 100 mpg. The EPA thought this unfair, and made a new test for the Volt, so that it would have to complete the test with it's batteries nearly fully charged, which is ludicrous. I mean how many people fill their gas tank every single time they drive?

I'm on 1/4 of a tank right now in my car...

So, the gasoline generator will get close to 50 mpg, but it's not used until the battery charge drops down below 25% or something like that. When you add it all up, you get close to 85 miles worth of pavement for one gallon of gasoline, assuming that you started your trip on a full charge, and your driving habits are close to that which Chevy used to test the vehicle.

Of course that goes the same for other vehicles too. My Echo doesn't get quite the same fuel economy as the sticker says, but that's because I have a heavy foot

If you continue to have a "heavy foot", gas mileage could be the least of your expenses and if it continues long you'll probably be trading in your Volt for a good pair of walking shoes.......:lol::lol::lol::lol:

 

[DaSleeper]

They tested in Kapuskasing, in temperatures ranging from -40 to +5 °C in the winter, that's 45 degrees of change...

And no doubt as the years go on, the batteries will be better. Swapping out batteries, I wonder how easy it will be on these first generation models.

After the warranty is over,that battery is a big out of pocket expense for a car buyer when you consider the depreciation of the vehicle after five year...and that depreciation is something to consider too.

But those engineers working at the cold weather test...Two years ago I'm at Canadian tire with the hood of my truck open pondering what to do because my truck is still idling fast and my heat gauge is showing that it is normal operating temperature, when one of those engineers parks besides me...(I guess they also shop at CTC for stuff)
He's looking under the hood with me, telling me that he's not really supposed to tell mechanics what to repair.....all the while tapping on a sensor with a pencil he has in his hand.
After he leaves.. I start fiddling around that sensor, and when I touched the wire plug-in, the Idling drops to normal. the only thing I had to do was screw that plug-in tight..(It had probably got loose, since it's a diesel)
Found out later that my truck has two heat sensor....one for the heat gauge and one that controls the throttle.
I left the parking lot as the engineer was leaving, so I dropped the truck in neutral and let it idle for a second while I gave that man a thumbs up and a thank you sign.

 

[ironsides]

To much money at the moment and I would wait till we see a lot of recharging stations throughout the country.

 

[Tonington]

If you continue to have a "heavy foot", gas mileage could be the least of your expenses and if it continues long you'll probably be trading in your Volt for a good pair of walking shoes.......:lol::lol::lol::lol:

The average speed on EPA highway tests is 48 mph. My heavy foot is relative. My average speed on the highway is higher than that, and I bet yours is too.

And I don't drive a Volt...

After the warranty is over,that battery is a big out of pocket expense for a car buyer when you consider the depreciation of the vehicle after five year...and that depreciation is something to consider too.

Depreciation is there for all cars. You can avoid that out of pocket expense by leasing.

 

[JLM]

Or better still by buying cars that are at least four years old. In 2009 I bought a 2005 Pontiac Vibe with 30,000 km and just like brand new for half the new price.

 

[DaSleeper]

A lot of people don't realise that gas mileage is measured from one full tank to the next full tank and the most accurate is the average of four refills....That's how I get 24 MPG highway with my diesel.

 

[Tonington]

I don't know if that's better, but it is another option.

 

[DaSleeper]

Depreciation is there for all cars. You can avoid that out of pocket expense by leasing.

Not all cars depreciate at the same rate..........

Or better still by buying cars that are at least four years old. In 2009 I bought a 2005 Pontiac Vibe with 30,000 km and just like brand new for half the new price.

I wouldn't buy a used Chevy volt when the next repair job could cost 8,000$.....But usually you get more bang for your buck buying a (pre-owned vehicle):lol:

 

[Tonington]

A lot of people don't realise that gas mileage is measured from one full tank to the next full tank and the most accurate is the average of four refills....That's how I get 24 MPG highway with my diesel.

Whose gas mileage is that? The mileage you see on cars and trucks is tested in a lab, that is better than average conditions that you or I will drive in.

Not all cars depreciate at the same rate..........

Yes, I know.......

 

[JLM]

A lot of people don't realise that gas mileage is measured from one full tank to the next full tank and the most accurate is the average of four refills....That's how I get 24 MPG highway with my diesel.

Absolutely and also on a trip that starts and ends in the same place.

Not all cars depreciate at the same rate..........

Yeah, I wouldn't expect a Chevy Nova to depreciate at the same rate as a Cadillac Eldorado. :lol::lol::lol:

 

[DaSleeper]

My reason for averaging four trips is because on just one you might have a head wind or a tail wind and also one thing I do when I fill up because I do it myself on a diesel is I add 3 dollars worth after the valve trips. so I have as close as possible the same level in the tank .

 

[JLM]

My reason for averaging four trips is because on just one you might have a head wind or a tail wind and also one thing I do when I fill up because I do it myself on a diesel is I add 3 dollars worth after the valve trips. so I have as close as possible the same level in the tank .

Are all nozzles set to trip with the same back pressure?

 

[taxslave]

The Volt is just a poor persons Tesla. Tesla gets 280 miles to a charge and has a regenerative charging system.

 

[JLM]

The Volt is just a poor persons Tesla. Tesla gets 280 miles to a charge and has a regenerative charging system.

That being the case I'll never be buying a Tesla. :smile:

 

[Tonington]

The Volt is just a poor persons Tesla. Tesla gets 280 miles to a charge and has a regenerative charging system.

A poor persons Tesla? The Tesla isn't even being produced yet, they keep running out of money. And the Tesla looks like this:

The Volt is being produced, and looks like this:

 

[relic]

What my tired old brain can't figure out is,they go on and on about cars that have to give such and such milage{kilometerage?}but trucks,you'd think there was special energy source just for them 'cause they keep gettin' bigger,with more power than anybody that their trying to sell them to needs,The cars,that are pretty much relegated to life in towns,towns that are s'posed to be pushing public transit,who's the target for those sales ?And what's going to happen in five{?} years when these xpensive batterys die,whos yard are they going to be dumped in.I wonder?

 

[DaSleeper]

Are all nozzles set to trip with the same back pressure?

It doesn't work on back pressure, it works on vacuum and the absence of vacuum when the pipe going to your tank starts to run slow.....because your tank is getting full...another reason for taking an average.


The only way for a consumer to get an exact test would be to switch to a measured one gallon container once the vehicle is warmed up and drive till it runs out of gas ....... and do it on a calm day on a level surface:lol:

 

[ironsides]

What my tired old brain can't figure out is,they go on and on about cars that have to give such and such milage{kilometerage?}but trucks,you'd think there was special energy source just for them 'cause they keep gettin' bigger,with more power than anybody that their trying to sell them to needs,The cars,that are pretty much relegated to life in towns,towns that are s'posed to be pushing public transit,who's the target for those sales ?And what's going to happen in five{?} years when these xpensive batterys die,whos yard are they going to be dumped in.I wonder?

That will be another debate for some future date. :lol:

We are having enough trouble disposing of what small amount of lithium batteries we use now.

 

[Tonington]

And what's going to happen in five{?} years when these xpensive batterys die,whos yard are they going to be dumped in.I wonder?

They're under warranty for eight years...I doubt that GM would give you a 8 year warranty if they only expect the batteries to last 5 years.

And when the batteries reach the end of their useful life? They will probably be recycled for the lithium.

 

[YukonJack]

Would this be a competition to the Chevrolet Volt?

Nissan LEAF Electric Car