Thousands of stories have been written about the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, but if you read many of them with a keen eye, you realize the author doesn't quite have all the facts about this series hybrid car (with plug-in capability) -- and often inaccurately called an electric car. It's no wonder given that information has been released in fits and starts, and then revised, and revised again.
Fortunately, John O'Dell, our resident Green Car Advisor, has put together an A-to-Z guide to the Volt that provides answers to nagging questions.
For instance, writes O'Dell, "the engine-generator automatically kicks in when the battery charge is 70 percent depleted, proving the juice the electric drive system needs to keep operating.
"[But] contrary to what you might have heard elsewhere, the Volt's engine-generator doesn't recharge the battery pack. It can trickle a little excess juice into the pack from time to time, but its primary job is to keep the electric motor fed."
Green Car Advisor: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: Our A-Z Guide to the Volt as We Know It Today
firstwagon says:
09:12 AM, 11/26/09
While it is interesting I still have many serious concerns as to whether or not this car has a chance of being considered acceptable transportation.
A 71 hp 1.4 can not be expected to produce reasonable performance in a car that may weigh 3800lbs. Since it doesn't recharge the battery that's all the power you have once the initial charge is gone.
That 1.4 will have to work hard most of the time, does that mean it will be spinning at 4000rpm the majority of the time to produce enough electricity just to keep up with traffic.
Will it go 40 miles on electricity? I remember the claims that the MiniE will go 160 miles when I first heard about it. Later that was revised to around 100 miles in the real world. Will the Volt be revised down to 25 miles?
Will people really pay that much money for a car that's fun to drive for the 1st 20 or 30 minutes and then becomes very slow and noisy?
Can Edmunds get one of the 1st Volts for a long terms test?
brn says:
09:28 AM, 11/26/09
This is the first I've heard that the generator doesn't charge the battery. Can some references be provided on that?
Not only does it contradict everything I've heard, it's counter intuitive.
brn says:
01:37 PM, 11/26/09
OK, here's a quote taken from http://gm-volt.com/chevy-volt-faqs/
"the gas engine is just a generator, making electric to keep the batteries in a steady state of charge after 40 miles."
This flat out says that the generator is charging the batteries. It also MAKES SENSE. I'd really like to see Edmunds' source to the contrary.
inlinesix says:
02:08 PM, 11/26/09
I understood this to be the same.
In IL's words the gas engine's job:
"is to keep the electric motor fed [after 70% depletion]."
Chevy says the gas engine:
"is just a generator, making electricity to keep the batteries in a steady state of charge after 40 miles."
If the Volt's gas engine "recharges" the electricity pack why the need to plug it in? Am I off here?
2010_ffhowner says:
07:27 PM, 11/26/09
"If the Volt's gas engine "recharges" the electricity pack why the need to plug it in? Am I off here?"
I think to get a full charge you would need to plug it in. Plus there pitch is that by plugging it in you will be using the battery and no gas when driving. In the 40 mile range...of course. : )
billt9 says:
10:46 PM, 11/26/09
inlinesix,
IL and Chevy says the same thing.
For the first 40 miles, the battery discharges from ~100% to 70%.
Then it's out of battery. 70% = out of battery. Car batteries cannot be used below 70% for its lifespan's sake.
After 40 miles/70%, something has to keep the car moving. The amount of power the engine generates is equal to what the car sucks up to keep moving.
Let's say the engine can generate +5% of battery per hour.
But driving the electric motors of the car also uses -5% of battery per hour.
So after the 40 miles, the generator engine is burning gas to keep the car moving, but has no extra capacity to charge the battery above 70%. And the car's programmed not to charge the battery above 70%, so you'll save gasoline, and use wall electricity instead once you get home.
If the car was programmed to charge above 70% by burning gasoline, it would just end up getting regular hybrid mpg, and none of that magic wall electricity mpkWh.
inlinesix says:
12:22 AM, 11/27/09
billt9 and 2010_ff:
Thanks for the added info.
The basic system reminds me of a locomotive setup--a diesel engine/generator powering electric motors--but with batteries.