As you probably know by now, we drove a close-to-production-ready Chevrolet Volt yesterday. You can read all about it in the Inside Line first drive and in the test drive over on the Edmunds site.
The Chevy Volt can theoretically run for 40 miles on electric power under ideal conditions. When the battery is depleted, it switches over to a gasoline engine that feeds the electirc motor like an on-board generator. The gas tank holds 8 gallons and GM optimisitcally claims it will run for another 300 miles.
So, my question for you today is this: Would you rather drive the Mini E that runs 100 miles on electricity only or the Chevy Volt that runs only 40 miles on electric power but can continue for 300 miles burning gasoline?
Donna DeRosa, Managing Editor
P.S. Our Green Car Advisor blog has some interesting articles about The Volt, too:
Chevy Volt Technical Updates From Chief Engineer Andrew Farah
2011 Chevrolet Volt Test Drive: Informative, But Far Too Short
2011 Chevrolet Volt: Our A-Z Guide to the Volt as We Know It Today
miraa says:
02:36 PM, 11/30/09
For the sake of argument, I'd rather have the Volt, with the better range. Who knows if/when you'll need it, but if you need it, you NEED it.
Of course, since the whole anthropogenic global warming cause is a scientific fraud and hoax, just give me a reliable internal combustion engine with decent gas mileage.
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/jamesdelingpole/100017393/climategate-the-final-nail-in-the-coffin-of-anthropogenic-global-warming/
greygabe says:
02:49 PM, 11/30/09
Volt. (Or am I allowed to say Cadillac Provoq?)
I personally road trip once every two weeks well beyond the range of an EV, but my daily commute is within the 40 mile range. For me, it's perfect. Though I do believe the Mini would be a fantastic car if I didn't have those road trips.
Now throw the Tesla's motors in there (I don't care that it'd be a 20 mile range) and now we're talkin'.
(though I'm sort of ditching the whole MPG thing and getting a MS3 in just over a week so...wvr)
allenychung says:
02:54 PM, 11/30/09
I would go with the Volt too, just because my commute is way less than 40 miles, and it's nice to know the option is there if I wanted to go on a road trip.
sabastian says:
02:58 PM, 11/30/09
I'd also go with the Volt...which is surprising since I have Mini key in my pocket. The generator mode on the Volt is the clincher here. When you run out of juice in the Mini, your trip is over, but the Volt actually makes the roadtrip a possibility.
subaru123 says:
03:09 PM, 11/30/09
Between the two I would take the Volt but because I agree with miraa, just give me a reliable engine regardless of mileage
drburke says:
03:14 PM, 11/30/09
Did you take this photo?
Its effectiveness would have been enhanced with a shot of the Volt.
That's OK, though. Nice sunset.
foxgtr says:
03:22 PM, 11/30/09
I'd take the Volt. You say it can go another 300 miles. But then you can stop at a gas station, fill up, and go another 300 miles like you would need to do in a regular car. You can drive it as far as you want, where with the Mini-E you're restricted to within the Point of No Return circle on the Navigation system. (Less than 50 miles each way)
dderosa says:
03:26 PM, 11/30/09
Yes, I took the picture. Thanks.
I didn't go to the Volt event, so I didn't have access to the car. But I traded cars with Scott over the weekend so he could take the Mini E to the Volt event. I'm sure he took some pictures. -- Donna
billt9 says:
03:30 PM, 11/30/09
Ya it's comparing a car with a 100 mile range, and a car with a 5,000 mile nonstop range.
I'll take the car with the 5,000 mile range, like most normal cars do. 37 mpg ain't that bad for a cross country trip.
One can worry about saving gas on a regular commute-to-work day with that crazy electro zap kapow thing those young inventors are coming up with.
brn says:
04:24 PM, 11/30/09
Even if you could get a Mini-e for about $35K, like the Volt, I'd still choose the Volt. With the Mini-e costing quite a bit more, it's a real no-brainier.
roadburner says:
06:00 PM, 11/30/09
I'd ride my Speed Triple.
Or walk...
tomm250 says:
06:09 PM, 11/30/09
In a perfect world, I'd have both. I'd primarily use the all-electric Mini for anything that didn't require the extra space or range and use the Volt for long trips. This would probably do 80% of my driving. I currently have a MINI-E and plan to buy a Volt in 2011. I do wish the Volt went further on battery only mode though. The 40 mile range was calculated using a similar road test that gave the MINI-E a range of 156 miles and that turned out to be 100-110 or "real world" driving so I'm guessing the Volt will probably go 25-30 miles TOPS in battery only mode, and that's in warm weather. Once the weather drops into the 20's or below expect 20-25 miles in battery only mode. The same goes for the Nissan Leaf. No way will it go 100 miles with a 24KWH battery pack, try 75-80 max unless you're driving a constant 25mph on a flat road. That being said, I'm still a big Volt fan and can't wait until they are available.
http://minie250.blogspot.com/
texases says:
07:27 PM, 11/30/09
Neither...Fusion hybrid's better in just about every way.
roadburner says:
09:17 PM, 11/30/09
If I was forced to drive a hybrid it would be the Fusion.
wrinklebump says:
10:01 PM, 11/30/09
I'd rather drive a horse than either. Lower emissions, depending on his diet.
the_big_al says:
11:11 PM, 11/30/09
Given the choice between the Mini and the Volt... I'd take the Volt. Pure and simply, I wouldn't have to worry about range. The battery dies? Well that's what the gas generator is for. ..
hybris says:
05:29 AM, 12/ 1/09
If I had to I would take the Volt but in truth if its not a truck or a H1 Alpha I probably won't be looking at this anyway.
ahightower says:
06:03 AM, 12/ 1/09
From a miles-per-dollar perspective, I'd probably rather have a Prius than either of these. Or a European VW Polo with their smallest diesel engine that gets 70 mpg hwy but doesn't meet our ridiculous emmissions or safety requirements.
minie183 says:
08:17 AM, 12/ 1/09
I'd take the Mini-E, but I am biased. Iv'e been driving one for 8000 miles on pure sunshine and I have access to a second car. If I only had access to one car it would be the Volt.
Choices are good, neither is superior or either is inferior depending on your life/driving/commute situation.
My ideal garage would be a Mini-E and a voltec drivetrain small suv to replace the wife's Ford Escape.
Cheers
Peder #183
acbayard says:
09:35 AM, 12/ 1/09
I'll take the Mini-E, then with the $ saved from the Volt's hefty price tag, buy a conventional high mpg vehicle for road trips.
brn says:
10:17 AM, 12/ 1/09
acbayard, I'm really confused. Your post comes across as the Mini-e costing quite a bit less than a Volt. The opposite would be true.
uncanny_man says:
02:13 PM, 12/ 1/09
Volt. I don't even have a garage, so no clue how to plug in the mini every night!
chunky_azian says:
11:31 PM, 12/ 2/09
Volt, an automobile is suppose to represent freedom and the Volt offers more of it. However, BMW, can we have a Mini with one of your diesel 4 bangers? Or maybe a diesel 1 series hatch?
tomm250 says:
06:24 PM, 12/ 3/09
Uncanny_man: If you cant plug in the MINI, you can't plug in the Volt either! You do know you have to plug in the Volt, right?