1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

With full charge, do Volt drivers EV on freeway (65 mph+) during 20ish mile commute?

Discussion in 'GM Hybrids and EVs' started by cycledrum, Feb 22, 2015.

  1. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Posting Q here cause I don't want to register on a Volt forum. Hoping someone here owns a Volt.

    Let's say you have a 20 mile commute and you're on the freeway for 15 of those miles. Let's say you're able to keep 65 mph on freeway. Are you typically going to EV it down the freeway?

    Or, put another way, do you typically charge it full and EV it til it runs out, or do you some range saving depending on your access to charging, commute distance?

    I guess the reason I'm asking is because on freeway at 65 in PiP, you will be on ICE. What about Volt?

    signed,
    Curious George
     
    #1 cycledrum, Feb 22, 2015
  2. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    I do 65-70 mph on the way to work, which is about 16 miles one way and the only time the ICE comes on is at 15F and that's just to protect the battery.
     
    #2 El Dobro, Feb 22, 2015
    cycledrum likes this.
  3. vskid3

    vskid3 Active Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2013
    773
    228
    0
    Location:
    Texas
    Vehicle:
    2005 Prius
    I don't know if the battery would last that far at that speed, but the ICE doesn't need to come on at any speed for the Volt. The Volt is more of an EV with a range extender and smallish battery, while the PiP is a hybrid with a big battery (compared to other hybrids).
     
    #3 vskid3, Feb 22, 2015
  4. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    The Volt has no problem going 20 miles on EV only at 65-70mph.
     
    #4 El Dobro, Feb 22, 2015
    cycledrum and vskid3 like this.
  5. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    20 miles on the freeway at 20 F with heat!

    (Our other car is a 2013 Volt)

    I do employ some ICE use below about 30 F to complete my 38 mile round trip.
     
    #5 css28, Feb 22, 2015
  6. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    You've probably been asked this a hundred times before, but what MPG do you typically get in Volt after the EV party is over (CS mode?)
     
    #6 cycledrum, Feb 22, 2015
  7. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    I got 42 mpg hwy on a road trip last May.

    There is no difference in power, max speed or accelerator response in EV vs. CS mode.
     
    #7 css28, Feb 22, 2015
  8. cycledrum

    cycledrum PSOCSOASP

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2008
    8,245
    1,202
    0
    Location:
    NorCal
    Vehicle:
    Other Non-Hybrid
    Model:
    N/A
    Does Volt MPG tend to be lower in city (non freeway speed) driving? With Prius when warmed up city mpg is higher than highway mpg. I'm not sure about downtown, buried in traffic mpg with Prius, how that is, but as soon as I slow under 60 mph on highway and exit, MPGs go up.

    Maybe I should look up Volt city/hwy MPG figures.
     
    #8 cycledrum, Feb 22, 2015
  9. css28

    css28 Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2012
    1,566
    442
    3
    Location:
    Suburban Detroit
    Vehicle:
    2011 Prius
    Model:
    Three
    The Volt is less efficient using gasoline at lower speeds than at highway.

    Below about 36 mph it's strictly a serial hybrid, with no coupling to the wheels.

    This is easily managed for MY 2013 and later by using Hold mode on the highway to reserve battery charge for slower driving later on.
     
    #9 css28, Feb 22, 2015
    cycledrum likes this.
  10. El Dobro

    El Dobro A Member

    Joined:
    Jul 12, 2011
    7,027
    3,241
    1
    Location:
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    Other Electric Vehicle
    Model:
    N/A
    volthwy.jpg
    Here's a screenshot I took last August.
     
    #10 El Dobro, Feb 22, 2015
    babybird likes this.
  11. berylrb

    berylrb Member

    Joined:
    May 6, 2006
    308
    10
    0
    Location:
    san francisco?
    Late to the party but I have a 52 mile commute, my first two weeks I would get about 47 miles on a single charge driving w cruise set at 69 as much as possible, some bursts to 73-75mph. I would let the range extender come on automatically. This week, or next tank, I'm going to switch to "Hold or CS(?)" mode with about 5 miles of EV range left. I'm serious to see what the difference for MPGcs will be (I use voltstats.com)
     
    #11 berylrb, Oct 30, 2015
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)