One year behind the wheel

Today is the one year anniversary of when I took delivery of my Volt.

Here are the stats:

21,035 total miles traveled
14,132 EV miles
6,903 gas miles
EV UF = 67%
Displayed mpg = 107 mpg
total actual gallons consumed = 197 gal
CS mode mpg = 35 mpg

I don't measure kwh used and the 2011 doesn't display it, but assuming EPA consumption rates (36 kwh/100 miles) it used 5,087 kwh. At my electric rate (12 cents per kwh) it consumed $610 worth of electricity. I note that about 1/2 of my charging is at work so I only paid for around $300 of the electric cost.

My displayed oil life is still at 55%, I have not changed it yet at all. The only routine maintenance costs were two tire rotations at 7,500 and 15,000 miles.

It was in twice for warranty coverage, the first time to replace a squeaky panel in the dash which probably wouldn't have been noticed if the car wasn't so incredibly quiet in the first place. The second was to investigate a problem I had with the original 110v EVSE overheating, it was replaced with a beefier unit, likely the one that is being swapped in from the latest recall.

My daily commute is generally gas free. I get free charging at work. I have longer trips about once a week on average that would make a Leaf impractical for me.

During last summer I was routinely getting AER readings around 38-42 miles. When temps dropped below 50 degrees or so I started to see marked reductions in range with the lowest being about 28 miles when the temps were below freezing. This winter was fairly mild in Delaware and I only had the ICE start due to extreme cold twice the whole year. I never had the ICE start for engine maintenance mode, but like I said I use a little gas at least once a week. As temps have been rising this spring the AER has been increasing again.

I am a big guy and it took a little getting used to how to get in and out of the car. Once in the drivers seat I find it comfortable and roomy. I have a family of four and my kids (7 and 8) fit perfectly in the backseats, adults not so much, although I have had some shorter adults back there tell me it is fine. The hatchback is very roomy for storage, remarkably so with the rear seats folded down.

I did not renew the XM after the free three month trial period. I have free Onstar for 5 years and use it all the time. My favorite feature is I can have the operator download directions directly into the in dash navigation. I used to get frustrated with the specificity needed in my old Toyota navigation system and much prefer being able to talk to a person about where I want to go.

The car's performance and handling are difficult for me to explain to anyone that hasn't experienced high power silent EV acceleration and highway travel. There is nothing quite like it. Its intangible or quantifiable, but one of my favorite things about the car. When asked how sporty it is I usually tell people "its not a porsche or anything but it is very sporty, sort of like my old pontiac was".

The volt has lived up to or exceeded my every expectation. The personal Volt advisor assigned by GM was wonderful customer service the first 6 months proactively checking up with me and answering all my questions and helping with the two warranty items mentioned above. I also got a really nice welcome gift with a commemorative book and a digital camcorder from Chevy.

I will never purchase another conventional car again, nor another that does not plug in. Gas is for chumps and the sooner I can be totally free of it the better.

I have endeavored to fairly and objectively share my experiences here on PC to help others learn about this revolutionary new vehicle. I sometimes feel like I've had the same conversations many times and grow weary. It is my intent to withdraw from posting in the future and leave you all to your prii discussions. I will respond to this thread if anyone has any questions about my first year with the Volt.

 

Whether anyone else is buying them,or what political ramifications may swirl around the Volt are of no concern to me. I bought the car because I believed in what it could do and it has delivered.

Basically gas free daily driving and no restrictions on where I can go or how fast.

 

Thank you. Its nothing personal to anyone here for the past year I have enjoyed the vigorous debates here. For the most part I find posters here to be respectful and courteous, if a bit entrenched in their opinions.

Its just that now that all the numbers are out for direct comparisons between the systems involved in the PiP and Volt, a lot of the debate is gone and its just the numbers are what they are, and opinion. It is becoming less enjoyable for me.

I love my Volt, but I think the Pip is a great car too. I think they appeal to different consumers and thats a good thing. I have owned a prius before and may own one in the future (but would prefer a BEV in the future).

 

At the moment my AER is on the increase because of the seasonal shift and rising temperatures, I would say its about where it was at this time last year, but there wasn't any history back then for it to base it on either.

The best I can say is it is too early to tell if I have a change in battery performance, I don't think I do. If this summer I'm not getting the 38-42 miles indicated again I'll know better.

Should also note that most of my cycles are half cycles. I leave home at full charge, get to work at half charge, charge at work, leave work at full and get home at half, rinse and repeat. I would guess my number of "full" cycles is closer to 100 (about 2 a week on average).

 

I will say I have posted on GM-volt a bit too, but I much prefer the heated discussions here over the mutual admiration society over there. As an attorney I appreciate civil yet zealous advocacy.

When I started posting I felt there was a need to share my experience since there was so little out there on these wonderful cars. My Volt is #1883. Now there are ten thousand or more out there and information is more widely available.

 

There was a software update I got at some point (during a tire rotation I believe), but it did not start displaying kwh's.

I am leasing, I have 15k miles a year and pay 18 cents a mile above that so the 6k miles are going to be $1080, unless I cut way back the next two years. I've pretty much decided I'm going to buy at the end of the lease so I am not too concerned about it anymore.