Traded in the PIP for a new 2014 Volt...

Yes, same here. In my case also add a less than exciting test drive at my local Chevy dealer (I didn't realize how little that dealer cares about selling cars until I started Volt shopping last month), a longtime Toyota loyalty (promising myself for 10 years that when Toyota made a PiP I'd buy it), and an undeserved (or pre-Volt deserved) disrespect for GM products.

This video about the Voltec power train, presented by their Chief Engineer (a woman ) in 2010, explains why.

The propulsion motor becomes inefficient at high RPM, due to friction losses, etc. So in high speed, low power EV situations (freeway cruising), the smaller motor-generator clutches to the planetary gear ring and starts turning it. Then both motors, turning more slowly, provide energy to the wheels. This yields about 15% more efficient high speed cruising IIRC.

I'm not sure whether MG1 ever powers the wheels in the PiP; maybe someone can enlighten. But clearly Toyota didn't design for high EV speeds like GM did, since the ICE comes on at 62 mph and the manual cautions that driving in EV at freeway speeds is inefficient.

 

ny_rob, please stick around these forums and feed your stats! I like that I **almost** feel that these forums are agnostic but would love to hear more about your experience with the Volt and how the switch from the PiP and Volt worked.

I'm almost tetering on the edge of getting the next gen PiP or perhaps waiting a bit for the Volt 2.0....Not sure which way to go yet but I think Plugin Hybrids are definitely the way to go!

 

Well, congrats in your trade in for a better EV range vehicle. Now it will be very difficult to spot you in the LIE.

 

That's all fine but warranty does not equal reliability. Take Hyundai for instance.


iPad ? HD

 

While I can't speak for the OP, his opinion is in post #25 above. I can give my thoughts. Sad to say, I haven't been a big American car fan or supporter in my adult life. My wife was in the market for a new vehicle. Everything was a option. I suggested the Buick Encore SUV. We both liked the size and styling, features and quality. The owner reviews where majority positive. It won out over the Toyota RAV4. Still a little skeptical, we decided to go with a two year lease to see how it works out. Really pleased with everything so far. She's happy, I'm happy.

 

Me neither, and that was a factor in my PiP purchase.

However, ConsumerReports shows frequency of repair for the 2012 PiP best and 2013 poor(!). The Volt was good in 2011 and average since.

Owner satisfaction for the PiP is good and the Volt best.

 

Rob, I just got my latest PSEG bill, and the cost has gone up again - price per kWH was almost 24 cents, and I assume you're paying about the same. At that price, how does the cost of running the Volt on electricity compare with gasoline?
On my C I'm getting almost 50MPG year round average here on LI, so with gas at about $3.70 that's 7.4 cents per mile.

 

There is something seriously bogus about the CR rating, since the 2012 and 2013 PiP are identical models. This has been thrashed around here quite a bit. No one has been able to explain how there could be a difference in their reliability, other than more non-enthusiasts buying in 2013 and reporting behavior they don't understand as defects (like the ICE turning on). If there were a real decline in reliability, one would have expected to see a rash of complaints in forums like this.

 

OK, the 40 free EV miles makes it a good deal! I'd have to do all the charging at home, so it would be just about a wash for me.

 

Remember that calculations of cost per mile need to based on the actual power consumed at the electric meter. A 2013+ Volt uses about 10.8 kWh from the battery but at 240v it probably takes about 12.25 kWh to fully recharge it due to various charging inefficiencies of 10-15% which are common to almost all EVs charging at 15-40A and 208-240v. Charging inefficiencies at 120v tend to be higher.

 

Not sure whether your concern is getting ICEd or another EV. But Chargepoint stations have a second, 110v outlet around the back, so if you carry a long extension cord and a spare J1772 cord, or if work will designate a second charging spot, you could still pick up enough charge to make it home.

The day I bought my Volt, I drove to a nearby friend's house and we went out to lunch. The Chargepoint station was Leafed, but since I had the charging cord along I was able to park nearby and use the 110 volt outlet. I was worried about making it the 38 miles home since it was only showing 37. (Turns out I would have made it easily anyway.)

 

that's helpful, never knew about the plug option in back - thank you!

 

Some Chargepoint stations have one 240v J1772 port and one 110v outlet, but most of them around here only have two 240v J1772 ports.

 

I'd park behind them and run an extension cord to the power station.