Will The Chevy Volt Really Get 230 Miles Per Gallon?
General Motors is trying to build momentum as it comes out of bankruptcy. The big news is it is claiming the Chevrolet Volt hybrid will get 230 miles per gallon in city driving. That is a simply staggering number, but is it accurate?
The Chevy Volt is being touted as an electric car. Given this, you might be wondering why there is any discussion of miles per gallon. More specific, gallons of what? Well, the truth is the car is a hybrid that is primarily an electric vehicle. The Volt will run on electricity from batteries until they go dead. Once they do, a small internal combustion engine will fire up and provide power to the wheels while also charging the batteries.
So, will the Volt really get 230 miles per gallon? No. There is a slight chance, but it is just that - slight. The 230 figure is derived from the fact the car is primarily electrical and not a classic hybrid like with a Prius or Honda Insight. The number is also the result of a controversial calculation be proposed at the EPA that determines miles per gallon in a hybrid in a skewed manor if the car runs more on the electrical motor than the internal combustion engine, exactly what we have here. To give you a feel for how odd this measurement is, the Volt is estimated to get over 230 miles per gallon in the city, but only just over 100 miles per gallon on the freeway.
So, has GM tried to pull a fast one on us? Well, let's just think of it as aggressive marketing. The funny thing is GM really didn't need to go this route. The fact the Volt will easily get well over 100 miles per gallon is more than enough to get plenty of people excited. There was no reason to push towards the 230 figure.
The Chevy Volt isn't due to hit the market until the latter quarter of 2010. This effectively means the car isn't remotely ready for the road in the middle of 2009. With a base price tag rumored to be in the $40,000 range, General Motors better get moving. It has a lot to prove!
The Chevy Volt is being touted as an electric car. Given this, you might be wondering why there is any discussion of miles per gallon. More specific, gallons of what? Well, the truth is the car is a hybrid that is primarily an electric vehicle. The Volt will run on electricity from batteries until they go dead. Once they do, a small internal combustion engine will fire up and provide power to the wheels while also charging the batteries.
So, will the Volt really get 230 miles per gallon? No. There is a slight chance, but it is just that - slight. The 230 figure is derived from the fact the car is primarily electrical and not a classic hybrid like with a Prius or Honda Insight. The number is also the result of a controversial calculation be proposed at the EPA that determines miles per gallon in a hybrid in a skewed manor if the car runs more on the electrical motor than the internal combustion engine, exactly what we have here. To give you a feel for how odd this measurement is, the Volt is estimated to get over 230 miles per gallon in the city, but only just over 100 miles per gallon on the freeway.
So, has GM tried to pull a fast one on us? Well, let's just think of it as aggressive marketing. The funny thing is GM really didn't need to go this route. The fact the Volt will easily get well over 100 miles per gallon is more than enough to get plenty of people excited. There was no reason to push towards the 230 figure.
The Chevy Volt isn't due to hit the market until the latter quarter of 2010. This effectively means the car isn't remotely ready for the road in the middle of 2009. With a base price tag rumored to be in the $40,000 range, General Motors better get moving. It has a lot to prove!