Redrant: The ludicrous 230 MPG claim for the Volt is a way for GM to get more low MPG vehicles under the CAFE. I suspect that someone will challenge the 230 MPG Volt claim in court. They should win. If you want a true electric primary with engine backup get a Ford Ranger electric conversion with deep cycle lead acid batteries and add a generator in the cargo box. The generator is, well, a generator/arc welder if you want and it can recharge the batteries and get you home (or cross country).
The basic economics of the battery only part of the volt is highly questionable. I did the math a while back on the 40/20 range figuring a once a day (night) recharge. It was around 14,000/7,000 miles per year driving on electricity. That is tapping it out 365 days per year. If you compare that to the gas engine Volt equivalent that is not a lot of gasoline used even if we calculate at $3 per gallon.
A big question is why this hybrid and electric technology is introduced using the "idiot light" consumer public market? Why not commercial first? Greg Lang
GM originally claimed the Volt would have an electric-only range of 40 miles (65 kilometres) which has now been revised to "between 25 and 50 miles". Several real world tests by industry website Popular Mechanics have resulted in an average of just 33 miles.
Further testing by Popular Mechanics has also seen GM's claim of "230 miles per gallon" (1 litre per 100 kilometres) quashed, with both city and highway testing of the Volt seeing an average consumption six times higher than GM's claim - 6.2 litres per 100km. (SMH)
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