Featured Volt gen II - 106 mpge aer 53 miles, 42 mpg.

Yes. It has a wider range of valve timing that it can adjust dynamically under computer control to achieve an "Atkinson" style cycle

The only thing it's really missing is an exhaust heat recirculating feature to help the engine heat up faster from cold starts or when operating intermittently and to help heat the cabin on cold days. The 2016 Malibu hybrid has that on its slightly bigger and different architecture new gas engine that gets 47 mpg combined but that engine probably costs more. The Prius has also done that for many years.

GM probably figured it wasn't worth the added cost as a rarely used range extender.

 

There is very little detailed public information about the design of the Malibu's 1.8L hybrid engine. It does not appear to be part of the same design family as the 1.5L engine in the Volt which is a new joint design between GM and its Chinese auto partner (SAIC). All we appear to know is that the Malibu engine is "all new".

The Malibu hybrid battery pack is completely different from the Volt pack other than being Lithium-ion based. It's made by Hitachi instead of LG Chem and is tuned and constructed to have a high power vs. energy ratio.

 

It's part of a new engine family just starting to come to market. The 1.5L 'core' will be used in the new Cruze and new Impala. It might already be in use in some overseas models.

Agree on the TCO v. hybrid premium, but many still see just the initial price, and only consider prices of fuel during the present.

Considering the popularity of the Cruze and other "compact" cars, I think people are realizing how much bloat has been added on to cars through the years, and the Camry of 20 years ago might have been big enough. Those with needs to haul people or stuff mostly go minivan or crossover instead of larger sedan.

I suspect GM is saving a sport mode for the upcoming Cadillac PHV.

 

I was expecting the gen2 ice to be 50 mpg - I guess not. If people climed to buy the Volt for the EV, they be better off with a BEV like the Leaf.

DBCassidy

 

Short term thinking like this is why there are so few investors as good as Warren Buffet.

The average age of cars on the road is 11-12 years. Mathematically, this means that there are many many cars 15-20 years old on the road (such as my original 2001 Prius still being driven by the person I sold it to). Hybrids cars cost more because they are worth more even when they are older (on average).
If you buy something of premium quality, use it for half its life and then sell it, you didn't "use up" its premium...it still has additional value beyond a basic item. Else a 10 year old Impala would sell for the same price as a 10 year old Corvette.

In addition, I dispute the basis for your claim that there is a $5000 premium for the Prius to start with. All the comparisons to cars costing $5000 less are missing one or more of: features, seating, leg room, head room, etc.

Mike

 

Very few people Hypermile - and no car needs to be hypermiled.
I agreed with you with respect to hypermiling over long distances - I tried to do it - but its way too hard for one driver for anything over 3 hours.
Hypermiling experts get around this by driving in pairs and switching drivers every two or so hours or keeping the trip under 3 hours.

The Volt simply needs to be recharged over night - but to keep the MPG up you need to limit the distance traveled between recharges because the ICE mpg isn't going to be more than 45 mpg even with hypermiling techniques. Personally - I don't have a way to recharge an EV overnight so a Plug in and EVs are a no starter for me... even if I did have a way to recharge - I did not qualify for the government incentives or tax credits back then or now. My cousin -however- did qualified for the clunker for cash thingy but he got a Ford Fusion Hybrid because he's a loyal to Ford.

When the local dealership had a exhibit for the Volt when it first came out I did test drive it - and I agree the Volt feels and drives more like a regular car than a Prius. At that time I was able to talk to the GM engineers and owners of the Volt.

Don't get me wrong - I don't hate the Volt or the Prius or the Leaf or any other alternative energy vehicle.
However, I am interested in what makes a vehicle *fit* into the market place

Despite all the Prius bashing - the Prius is the most popular hybrid in the USA - and in the DC area.
From what I've seen most Prii in the DC area are driven normally - jack rabbit accelerations and racing toward a red light.
While there are a few more Volts on the road now - they are still rare in the Washington DC Metro Area.
When I see them - Volt drivers appear to be over 50 years old and tend to drive less aggressive than most other drivers.
The age range of Prii drivers is much wider - Prius drivers can be very young.
Even if you group all the alternative energy vehicles in t he DC area as one kind of vehicle,
they would still be a minority when compared to the number of SUVs on the road here.

An SUV big advantage here is driving over bad road surfaces and driving over snow. when we have it.

 

Back in 2008-2010 before I bought my Prius - I did a break even analysis based on the fuel saving projections vs additional capital cost to buy an alternative energy vehicle - that was used by skeptics and critics of the alternative energy vehicles. Back then critics of the Prius also argued that the HV battery or hybrid component could or would go bad and this would be eliminate any financial advantage. While my spread sheet could analyze variations due to the average price of gas - it was not able to determine the impact or risk of HV battery failure - at the time my state was not a CARB state and because I usually drive my vehicles over 10 years - the Prius' HV battery lifespan was of great interest - which led me to Priuschat and the Prius yahoo group because I wanted to hear from Prius owner about their experiences with the Prius' reliablity and how well was the battery packs holding out.

 

Unfortunately, the Leaf isn't able to make a 127 mile run when necessary, at the drop of a hat.

 

So much of the Prius vs. Volt discussions center on the technical aspects of the vehicles. Yet I wonder how much of the buying decision is based on Toyota vs. GM reputation. Those are quite different.

 

Actually, I've gotten 48-52 mpg gas-only in my 2011 Volt on long trips driving at 55-57 mph using cruise control but it's a bit tedious without some good podcasts and old-time radio shows to listen to.

I averaged 45-46 mpg gas-only during a several thousand mile road trip last fall from California out to Ohio and back. That included some multi-hour stretches at 70 mph when I was running late to meetups with friends and relatives along the way.

 

I like both companies. Toyota was leading the way with hybrids, but I've fallen out with them specifically because they are backing hydrogen as the future. Their cars are also fairly lifeless to drive, they get you from A to B but have no joy or soul in them (or at least the ones I've driven don't).

As for GM they have re-gained a lot of my respect in recent years, the new post bankruptcy leadership is making all the right moves, their newer cars are well built, and they are finally leveraging their engineering talent properly.

Volt is fun to drive, significantly more fun than my Prius and the Gen 2 Volt is supposed to be better both performance and handling wise. Given the choice now, I am going with the Volt over the upcoming Gen 4 Prius. I would obviously have to test drive both first but GM has my favor at the moment while Toyota is stalling out.

Quite a difference from 6 years ago where GM didn't even show up on my radar when I was looking for a new car, which led to my current Prius purchase.

 

Bought both Toyota and GM products over the years - gave up on GM - way too many reliability issues. Took a chance on Toyota - never looked back. Yes, I had recalls done with Toyota, but the reliability and dependability and resale value is all there.

DBCassidy

 

which are those - CARB only?
.

 

2016 Chevrolet Volt Launch Timeline Fully Revealed

 

Fotomoto answered but basically yes, California gets it a couple months before the other carb states, other carb states get theirs a few weeks before nation wide roll out.

 

Cancelled

 

A Volt driver's initial impression on the Gen 2 Volt:

Volt Enthusiast Posts First Drive Review of 2016 Chevy Volt - HybridCars.com