And you’ll keep going until you empty the 35-litre fuel tank, at which point you’ll have driven about 500 km. If you still have some driving to do, just fill the tank with super unleaded and you’re off again.
Know that a lot of factors will influence the car’s EV range. Winter tires will obviously be one of those factors, as they create more friction than the standard-equipment, low rolling-resistance tires.
What range can I expect with the A/C, the stereo, the headlights and the navigation turned on?
Same deal; every power accessory that’s turned on while you drive will reduce the battery’s range. Turn everything off, roll up the windows and use your hypermiling talents, and you’ll likely squeeze about 80 km out of a full charge.
By the way, with a topped-up battery pack, the EV range displays about 66 km. While that may seem low compared to the 135-km range of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the 160-km range of the Nissan LEAF, GM says that data posted by the US Bureau of Transportation claims that the typical daily commute in the United States is 40 miles (64 km) or less for 78% of the population.
Do I need to install a 240V charging station at home?
You can, but you don’t have to. In a standard household, 120V output, the Volt can be fully charged in about 10 hours. If you live close to work and use up only half of the battery’s charge in your typical daily commute, it’ll take about 5 hours to recharge.
A 240V charging station provides a full charge in about 4 hours. GM offers one made specifically for the Volt and retails for about $500 USD. Ideally, you’d get it installed by a certified electrician.
How many years will the battery last before it starts losing capacity?
If you have any sort of handheld portable device or laptop—and resisted the temptation to change it every year—you know that the battery’s capacity diminishes over time. It will be the same for the Volt’s 288-cell battery pack, which will carry an 8-year/160,000 km warranty.
Capacity retention will vary from a bunch of factors, the most important one being ambient temperature. The active heating and cooling system prolongs battery life, but extreme heat is the worst factor.
Know that a lot of factors will influence the car’s EV range. Winter tires will obviously be one of those factors, as they create more friction than the standard-equipment, low rolling-resistance tires.
What range can I expect with the A/C, the stereo, the headlights and the navigation turned on?
Same deal; every power accessory that’s turned on while you drive will reduce the battery’s range. Turn everything off, roll up the windows and use your hypermiling talents, and you’ll likely squeeze about 80 km out of a full charge.
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| Photo: Michel Deslauriers/Auto123.com |
By the way, with a topped-up battery pack, the EV range displays about 66 km. While that may seem low compared to the 135-km range of the Mitsubishi i-MiEV and the 160-km range of the Nissan LEAF, GM says that data posted by the US Bureau of Transportation claims that the typical daily commute in the United States is 40 miles (64 km) or less for 78% of the population.
Do I need to install a 240V charging station at home?
You can, but you don’t have to. In a standard household, 120V output, the Volt can be fully charged in about 10 hours. If you live close to work and use up only half of the battery’s charge in your typical daily commute, it’ll take about 5 hours to recharge.
A 240V charging station provides a full charge in about 4 hours. GM offers one made specifically for the Volt and retails for about $500 USD. Ideally, you’d get it installed by a certified electrician.
How many years will the battery last before it starts losing capacity?
If you have any sort of handheld portable device or laptop—and resisted the temptation to change it every year—you know that the battery’s capacity diminishes over time. It will be the same for the Volt’s 288-cell battery pack, which will carry an 8-year/160,000 km warranty.
Capacity retention will vary from a bunch of factors, the most important one being ambient temperature. The active heating and cooling system prolongs battery life, but extreme heat is the worst factor.
 |
| Photo: Michel Deslauriers/Auto123.com |