VOLT
2011 VOLT
FACTS
Who will get the most benefit from driving Volt?
Is a special outlet required to charge the Volt?
According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, more than 75% of people
commute 40 miles a day or less. If you plug in frequently, you’ll experience the
greatest gas savings and reduced emissions. Per mile, electricity is less expensive to
use than gas, so if you can plug in before or shortly after the electric charge runs out,
you’ll get the maximum benefit out of Volt.
No, you can plug it into any standard dedicated 120V household outlet. Or you could
have a 240V charging station installed in your garage — it would require a dedicated
electrical circuit similar to what is used for your clothes dryer or stove.
Will I always get 40 miles on an electric charge?
No. Like every electric vehicle, electric miles per charge, day-to-day, will vary based on
Terrain, Temperature and Technique. Like all vehicles, electric vehicles are less efficient
driving uphill or in extremely hot or cold temperatures. In addition, personal driving
style, use of features like air conditioning and heat, additional cargo in the vehicle and
the age of the battery will affect the electric range.
Is it easy to use?
Yes, the Volt is very easy to use. You can drive Volt just like a conventional car and
charge up in your very own garage. Volt has intuitive LCD displays that even provide
helpful hints on how to drive most efficiently.
How long does Volt take to charge?
In about ten hours, you’ll have a fully charged Volt waiting for you, ready to go. You can
also install a 240V outlet, which can charge Volt in as little as four hours.
How much does Volt cost to charge?
Electricity is an extremely affordable way to power a car — the average American
pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. If the car is driven less than 40 miles, it will
cost about $1.50 a day for electricity. That’s about the same annual cost as running a
common household appliance. To save even more, some utility companies recommend
charging overnight for off-peak rates and may even offer incentives to customers who
do so.
What is it like to drive Volt?
If you can’t plug in, no worries. You’ll probably spend more money on gas than you
need to, but Volt will run just fine. Volt uses gas to generate its own electricity, enough
to power the car for up to 300 miles on a single tank of gas. Just remember that you’ll
get the full benefits of owning a Volt if you charge it routinely.
Those who’ve had an opportunity to test-drive Volt have noticed how easy it is to use.
Steve Parker, blogging on Huffington Post, commented on what it’s like to drive Volt:
“Push the ‘start’ button and Volt springs into life… All in all, it’s an intuitive area for
the driver…The car is quiet, smooth and fast off the line (electric motors have all their
torque at start-up, unlike gas engines which need time to build power).” On top of
that, Volt can also accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in less than nine seconds.
What happens if the battery is not fully charged?
How much interior room does Volt have?
What happens if I never charge the battery?
You won’t have to worry about having enough time to fully charge Volt. A partially
charged battery will propel the car until it is depleted, then the gas-powered electric
generator will seamlessly turn on to provide electricity and extend your range up to
300 miles until you can plug in again or you can refuel.
Why electricity?
Electricity runs clean in a vehicle — that means zero tailpipe emissions. And if the
electricity is generated using wind, hydro, solar or biofuels, there is the potential
to significantly reduce the emissions associated with personal transportation. So
advancements in electricity production along with reduction in emissions from
electric-powered driving could help make our world a cleaner place.
Are there other advantages to electricity?
Since electricity is produced domestically by multiple energy sources, it’s a great way
to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. The U.S. has a variety of energy sources
used to produce electricity, all with the potential to help us become more energyindependent. Electricity is also an affordable way to power a car as the average
American pays less than 12 cents per kilowatt hour. In other words, it will cost you
about $1.50 a day to drive 40 miles or less. And that can add up to big savings.
What happens if I travel more than 40 miles?
Once the charge in the Volt battery is depleted, the gas engine will turn on to
seamlessly generate enough energy to continue to power the car for up to 300
additional miles.
Volt will carry four adults comfortably. The hatchback design provides surprising
flexibility for larger cargo.
What kind of battery will Volt use?
The Volt is powered by a 16-kWh Lithium-ion battery. While there are many different
kinds of lithium batteries, the Volt cells are specifically made for vehicles. The Li-ion
battery holds its charge efficiently and has no memory effect, which means you don’t
have to run it down completely before recharging.
What makes the Volt battery better?
The Volt battery is designed for long life and to be reliable. Each battery pack is made
up of more than 200 rectangular cells arranged in a series-parallel configuration.
Computer systems monitor the battery cells to make sure everything is working
correctly. Also, the Volt battery is liquid cooled to help ensure a longer life.
How much will Volt cost?
The purchase price is yet to be determined, but the Volt will qualify for the maximum
federal tax credit for electric vehicles — $7,500. Visit chevrolet.com/Volt for updates.
VOLT
2011 VOLT
FACTS
HOW DOES VOLT COMPARE?
ELECTRIC
HYBRID
GAS
Electric vehicles are propelled by an electric motor
powered by rechargeable battery packs. These vehicles
have several benefits, including energy efficiency, lack
of tailpipe emissions and quiet operation. Electric
vehicles also help reduce our dependence on petroleum.
Unfortunately, electric vehicles suffer from range
limitations — even with advances in battery technology.
Meaning once the battery is run down, you must stop to
plug it in and charge it. Unless you have a Volt.
Hybrid electric vehicles can typically drive 40 to
60 miles on one gallon of gasoline. Unlike electric
vehicles, today’s hybrids do not need to be plugged in
to recharge — instead, they recharge by capturing the
energy from braking and with the help of generators.
At low speeds, some hybrids can run on electricity
while switching over to gas power for high speeds or
when more power is needed. Hybrids do not typically
achieve the same efficiency as electric vehicles — nor do
they generally offer the same environmental benefits.
The internal combustion engine (ICE) is the most
common type of vehicle on the road today. It has an
engine that uses high-energy fuel (like gasoline) in a
small, enclosed space and ignites it. The energy that is
released from this combustion results in an expanding
gas. Vehicle engines create a cycle that allows for
thousands of such explosions per minute, and this is
the energy that propels gas-powered vehicles. Because
internal combustion engines have been around for so
long, they are easy to fuel and there are more choices and
models available to consumers.
THE INNOVATIVE EV THAT GOES FURTHER
One of the most commonly asked questions about the Volt is how it compares to other offerings in the marketplace. Beyond the enjoyable experience of driving electrically
(quiet, smooth acceleration, impressive torque, no tailpipe emissions), the Volt’s advantage over typical gas-fueled vehicles and hybrids is that it uses significantly less gas.
This translates into fewer trips to the gas station and a lower operating cost per mile. The advantage of the Volt to a pure electric vehicle, such as the Nissan Leaf, is there
are no driving limitations — you don’t need to worry about running out of electric range before you get to your next destination to plug in. The Volt can be used like any other
compact car — you can take it on a long trip and never plug it in or plug it in frequently and enjoy most of your driving electrically.
Category
EV Miles
Total R ange
Top Speed
Charge Time 120V (Hours)
Charge Time 240V (Hours)
Availability
Timing
CHEVROLET VOLT
Electric Vehicle (EV)
40
300+ miles
100
10
4
R etail
Late 2010
NISSAN LEAF
Electric Vehicle (EV)
100
<100 miles
90
16
<8
R etail
Late 2010