Volt owners averaged 1000 miles between fill-ups in March

So if we assume they use about 8 out of 9 gallons, they are averaging 125 mpg, not counting electricity.

This means they rolled about 700 miles with electricity, using about 252 kWh, or about 7.55 gasoline equivalent (per EPA, 1 gallon gas = 33.4 kWh).

So in total they used about 15.55 in gasoline equivalent. Giving MPGe of 64.3.

Did I do that right?

 

I think you did, although I don't really like "MPGe" as a metric once you mix in real gasoline usage. It's interesting in a thought-exercise way but I prefer to convert to what kind of MPG would cost the same at current rates. Determine total cost, divide by 3.75, then divide the miles by that.

So, in NJ: 8 gallons * $4 (premium) = $32. 252kWh * .17 = $42.84. -> $74.84 / $3.75 (regular) = total cost of 19.95 gallons of gas.

Soooo... 1000/$19.95 = ~50. At my electric rates, the 70% EV utilization you're guesstimating costs about the same as a car that gets 50MPG.

I was 100% EV last week for 223.6 miles on 75.7 kWh. It's cost equivalent to a 65MPG car for me. 85MPG if I switched to time of day metering.

 

^ I do like to use your method of calculation as well

IMO "MPGe" is not a great metric. It's like saying 2 apples + 3 oranges = 5

 

I think you got it mostly right. It means that the fear mongers about the volt are wrong and it does run mostly on electricity. Let's break it down a different way and say those were highway miles so 8x40mpg = 320 miles on gasoline, leaving 680 miles on electricity. This is a self selecting group and we will see how these miles fall but even if you compare to a prius these volt drivers would have used 60% less than in a prius. If you are worried about gas running out I would say that is a big win.

When you get to Mpge i think there will be wide disagreement. Let's not use it but the electricity and gas we are using and what we care about most. Some care about energy cost and this again is kind of a red herring trying to estimate future costs.

To me 68% is good but 90% would be much better. Some volt drivers are over 90%. I wonder if gen II and competitor models can get us there for the bulk of drivers of phevs ;-)

 

well two pieces of fruit added to three pieces of fruit are five pieces of fruit. The trouble is how do you compare watermelons to kiwis, and some people will only eat organic so if its not organic that really screws things up. What if poorly treated illegal immigrant labor picked the fruit. Ummm its really a problem. So I agree with your point, I can't even come up with fruit equivalence and energy equivalence is much tougher. The epa would have just picked the number of calories and that does not account for taste, or location, or sweat, etc. I think the epa did a good first stab at it, but there will be strong disagreements on how to value solar versus coal electricity versus Persian gulf oil.

 

^ lol. nice analogy

I think there are many people whose primary concern is using less gas. In that case the 125 mpg figure is the figure they will want to use.

Its like, for instance, if I wanted to reduce my meat intake. In order to do that, I have to substitute something, probably vegetables. My only concern is the amount of meat, let's say in ounces, that I eat. I'm not going to be concerned about the meat equivalent of vegetables, even though vegetables also cost money and have calories.

 

I can confirm that the first tank of gas I bought for my Volt went 1001 miles. (7.6 gallons)

 

How many days of travel does that represent?

With EV capacity limited to 25 miles during the cold season and 35'ish the rest of the year, benefit drops off for those who drive more than 12,000 miles per year.
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about 3 weeks, I could have gone longer but I had to go pick up my nephew from college (about 300 miles round trip). Most days I am gas free.

My lowest AER to date was 32 miles, highest 41.4, its between 34-38 pretty reliably for me.

 

I don't see what the big achievement is. If most of your trips are under 40 miles you'll never have to buy gas, we already knew that. Nobody's putting a gun to these people's heads to buy gas.

 

Many people said it could not be done and quoted pretty off 'projections' of how the Volt would do in the real world.

The Volt has NOT lived up to the hype but it has lived up to the final lowered specifications.

 

It's an intriguing paradigm shift to use such little gas, even though the energy is coming from somewhere else.

Interesting to see the cost equivalent, mfennell, thanks for that. And sipnfuel, you're just doing math all over the forum the last couple days

Sipnfuel (and others), I'm not sure how you calculate kWh the way you do when you say 700 miles is thus 252 kWh...could you explain that?

 

Many people said what couldn't be done? 30-40 mile electric-only outings with occasional gas usage for longer trips?

 

good for those using it as a commuter. I am very happy for them.

Hope GM can build and improve on the Volt, and can get more out there!

 

The hype wasn't a range, it was a minimum of 40 miles EV.

The hype pushed a belief that 50 MPG after depletion was realistic.

The hype claimed operation would be the green, not ULEV rated.

The hype emphasized success from immediate high-demand sales.

The hype stressed the importance of a price "nicely under $30,000".

So, it should be easy to understand the frustration from the hype and the desire for real-world data instead. This includes finding out more about buyer information, like how much they drive annually and the distances they drive not commuting.
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Here are my calcs:

OK, let's say they burn 8 of 9 gallons (the tank is 9 gallons). Chevy Volt is rated 37 mpg by the EPA. 8 gallons x 37 mpg = 296 miles. Round up to 300.

So I take the difference as 700 miles in CD mode (charge depleting). Then using the EPA's rating of 0.36 kWh per mile, you see you consume 252 kWh (700 miles x 0.36 kWh per mile) of electricity to travel 700 miles in the Volt.

Some miles will be blended/hybrid, but it's the same difference as above (or I hope so).

You can also weigh the averages:
1000 miles / (700 miles / 93 MPGe + 300 miles / 37 MPG) = 64 mpg
Due to rounding, it is off by a few tenths.

 

Nevermind, I see on Wikipedia the estimates of 36 kWh per 100 miles, times 7 for 252 kWh over 700 miles.

Even using slightly different figures for the gas engine mileage (reviews I saw were between 31 and 35), it's the cost equivalent of a 51.5 mpg car here in Rhode Island. I hope it ends up being the first stepping stone for other cars, but for the time being my used Prius for under $15k is still more cost efficient to operate than a $41k new car. Even if a Volt user uses all EV, it's the cost equivalent at current prices here of a 68 mpg vehicle. Would be saving a few dollars a month for me - $8, actually.

That being said, while the Prius certainly is more cost-efficient and just cheaper, if someone has the money for a Volt, I can't knock them. Hybrids being 3% or so of all cars on the road right now, anyone getting 50 mpg is probably in the top percentile range of that already small group of drivers, and the Volt is certainly up there. It's good Prius owners have Prii, and it's also good that Volt owners have their Volts.

EDIT: thanks for the explanation, Sipnfuel, I'd already typed "nevermind" since we were responding simultaneously, don't want you to think I'm gettin' flippant or anything

 

Volt owners averaged 1000 miles between fill-ups in March

I thought each fill-up is about every 35 miles.

When is GM going to start reporting the primary fuel consumption?

We can go that misleading route as well. My Prius gets 500 miles per gallon (ethanol).

 

It's quite hypocritical that both enthusiasts and automaker claim Volt is an EV with a range-extender, yet they only quote gas consumption.

No mention of the amount of electricity consumed is just plain wrong, blatant greenwashing. You can't omit vital information like that and expect to be taken seriously.
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