As the first mass-production extended range electric vehicle, the Volt represents an American solution toward sustainable transportation.
Recently Chevrolet documented that the total number of Volts on the road have surpassed two million miles, and two-thirds of these miles were on all-electric power.
Some have said they are waiting to hear of a Volt driver somewhere who will be shown to have used the car as a conventional petrol car, and rarely or never plug in.
Another Chevrolet Volt using no gasoline.
It would appear the majority are at the opposite spectrum and this makes sense, as the Volt was first heralded by forward-thinking people, and they have been first to begin logging miles.
As a fairly typical case example, Chevrolet highlighted the story of Kory Levoy, a manufacturing manager from Yorba Linda, Calif.
His previous car was an Audi TT Roadster and his gasoline bill was $50-60 per week.
Since owning a Volt for the past six months, he has only filled up the gasoline tank three times in 7,500 miles of driving.
“I was tired of spending roughly $200 plus a month on gas,” Levoy said. “The ability to not even consider finding a gas station or worry about fuel pricing is a phenomenal experience.”
His commute is 25 miles each way, and he is getting about 40 miles of all-electric range, he said.
While detractors have been quick to point out the Volt before subsidies costs about twice what the Cruze does, cost of ownership is another matter.
Levoy said the amount he pays per month in electricity to charge his car is $25, and estimates he could save $2,000 per year in gasoline costs.
A similar story comes from Carey Bailey, an electrical engineer from Cottage Grove, Ore., who has had his Volt since January.
He estimates he cut his monthly transportation energy bill by about $100 per month, and expects it to be further reduced.
Bailey said he used to spend $500 per month for his 75-mile round trip, and now spends about $1.10 per day to charge his Volt.
“Each day, I use about a quarter of a gallon of gas to get to work, which is hardly anything,” said Bailey. “Being able to charge at work is an added benefit and I love the fact that I am reducing my carbon footprint by not consuming as much gas.”
Chevrolet said it is collecting this kind of Volt owner data, and is sure the car is a success out of the gate, and where the company wants it at this point still early since its introduction.
“About two-thirds of the more than two million miles driven by Volt owners to date have been powered by domestically produced electricity,” said Cristi Landy, Volt marketing director. “We are hearing from owners like Kory and Carey who are able to charge both at home overnight and at work during the day. These owners are able to maximize driving on electricity alone, seeing real saving at the pump and in their wallets.”
Invitation
How about you Volt drivers? You know GM is trying to jump start the anecdotes by posting these kinds of stories, but I bet some of you may have your own story to tell.
Yesterday we read a story offered by Bill Destler, and the week prior, we heard from Kurt – A.K.A. Captbently – who shared his solution for fast charging at work and his son’s house.
People sharing from the heart with other people is powerful.
If you have a factual Volt-related anecdote to tell, you have a couple options: You can either write a complete story (subject to edits as needed), or you can email or talk to me and I can write the story as I did about Kurt.
These kinds of owner accounts, as GM has said, are the most authentic, and among the best ways to support the Volt. They are also clinically proven to give forum trolls migraine headaches.
OK, just kidding on the last part, but you never know!
And, whether you are interested in telling a story or not, that is fine. As always, feedback is welcome in the readers’ comments section as well. Thank you.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 12th, 2011 at 5:55 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (6:14 am)Hey guess what guys! I was reading on my Wii and you know that you always say bring over the diesels! Well guess what GM may after all bring over the Chevy diesel Cruze by 2013. I repeat 2013 this is no rumor at all and if they do bring over more clean diesels over here to the US you never know we could get plug-in diesel hybrids in the future and best of all this vehicle could be a true Prius competitor so that means Toyota could have the last laugh and play hardball with GM and here’s the article if you want to give it a look enjoy everybody. http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/11/2309272/ap-sources-gm-to-sell-diesel-chevy.html
No plug no sale!
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (7:34 am)In another post about the Cruze, I commented that if GM added the eAssist to the Cruze, with a Diesel or a gas engine, then it would be an excellent vehicle, second only to the Volt. Since biodiesel can be produced domestically (and some owners could produce their own biodiesel), then we will have a true independently fuel vehicle. Next, the Volt should have the Diesel-powered assist engine, and become the superb vehicle.
Then we need the SUV and the pickup versions!
Raymond
+3
Jul 12th, 2011 (7:38 am)With “OnStar MyLink” the money saving news is as close as the iPhone. Currently 125 mpg, 2890 EV miles, and 4039 total miles since 12/30/10. The pleasure of experiencing the EV drivetrain of the Volt is priceless. Now I know why the EV-1 drivers were so upset when this pleasure was taken away. Being able to feel the smoothness of the electric drivetrain makes all the difference.
+5
Jul 12th, 2011 (8:06 am)As GM ramps up production, you will get lots of these types of stories!!!
My dealer called me to tell me that by the end of the week, my Workbench order number will be upgraded to a confirmed order number from GM. That will be the beginning of the end of my long wait for a Volt! I have to say that these last few months will be a killer…………
But once it arrives, it will really be nice not to just read what the lucky owners have to say, but to contribute first hand experience!!!
And the trolls? They just have Volt Envy Syndrome!
+4
Jul 12th, 2011 (8:08 am)2261 EV miles, 156 gas miles here. Works very well for me.
+3
Jul 12th, 2011 (9:07 am)I would like to know who has the record for:
Most Miles total
Most EV miles
Highest percentage of EV miles (min of 1000 miles total driving)
(just for fun)
At this rate how long will it take the Volt to surpass any hybrid on the road for most accumulated pure EV miles?
+4
Jul 12th, 2011 (9:57 am)That was me for a few weeks. My apartment complex took forever (over 1 month) installing an outlet near my parking space… I drove my Prius until I sold it, but then only had the Volt for the last 1 – 2 weeks. I was getting 35 – 40 MPG in charge sustaining mode.
Because of those few weeks, my stats are rather low. But they’re improving every day now that I can charge every night.
According to OnStar: 1384 miles, 566 EV miles, 62 MPG
Since I began charging it every night, I’ve gone about 554 miles on 1.2 gallons. Or 462 MPG.
+2
Jul 12th, 2011 (11:19 am)67% of miles driven on electric is somewhat less than what GM figured back when the Volt concept was born. Must not have counted on those long trips owners have been taking. I wonder if Volt owners have more time on their hands than the average Joe and Jane, and are thus able to pick up and go long distances when they want to.
If so, this 67% figure stands to increase even if GM does nothing to improve the Volt’s EV range.
Jul 12th, 2011 (11:56 am)There are probably a lot more non-trolls with VES than trolls, myself included. Been nuked with $3k in repairs on my Honda Civic Hybrid (216k miles so it’s due). May have to reposition to a Cobalt till the Volt’s feasible for me. $4 gas, cash for clunkers, financial meltdown, earthquake, and other calamities have raised used car values sky high. Good for sellers and dealers, bad for buyers.
Getting the Honda detailed at a Michigan Chevy dealer today. Irony is having a Volt in the parking lot there.
Meanwhile, driving the IROC-Z and camping out at work (old railroad depot in Baldwin, old yard office in Ludington, and an old carferry in Manistee). At least the wife’s finally got with the budget program, and her Mercury Mariner Hybrid has been flawless.
Keep up the good work GM, including the Cruze diesel. Keep the stories coming Volt owners. Now where did I put the aspirin…
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (12:17 pm)Does any one else feel that the early numbers may be a skewed for a while. Buying a new car is often the most gasoline use intense period conventionally, and with the Volt there are added variables.
People taking requests for friends and family to see the new car and the change-over to charge sustaining. Long trips are being planned. Driving to get to know a new car. Even the trip home after dealers have depleted the batteries plus the cars first sold in the winter. Add in situations like Montgoss’ above and it seems like the highest percentage of gasoline use the Volt may ever see is happening at it’s introduction.
+9
Jul 12th, 2011 (12:28 pm)Coincidentally, I looked at my trip odometers for the first time in quite awhile this AM. Since the last time I had reset the A odometer, I have gone 4261 miles on 7.7 gallons for 553 mpg, LOL. Not too shabby.
I heard on the radio on the way in this AM that our negative balance of payments had shot up again last month, largely as a result of imported oil. So I couldn’t help but smile and think that we at least are trying to do our part. I didn’t buy any gas for the Volt in June. So there, OPEC!
+2
Jul 12th, 2011 (12:28 pm)Great to hear all the good stories from happy Volt owners. Keep them coming!
Jul 12th, 2011 (12:33 pm)#10
That was certainly true in my case. I took a trip to Palm Springs the first month I had the Volt and used up most of a tank of gas. Also my mother was in the hospital outside of the AER round trip range and we went to visit her several times. Although I may take a bit of a road trip in August which will bring it back down.
Speaking of road trips, is anyone having any luck getting hotels/motels to let us plug in overnight?
+2
Jul 12th, 2011 (1:14 pm)Obviously not complete but gives some indication: http://crichton.sacknet.org/volt/
+5
Jul 12th, 2011 (1:42 pm)This entire approach seems pointless to me. I don’t think a rational person would buy a $35K car to save money on gas. It’s a nice side benefit but it simply can’t even be the secondary motivating reason. You can get a Fit or a Sonic for $20K less, and $20k will buy more gas than you’ll use over the lifetime of the car.
Fascinating new technology. Check. Fantastic smooth ride. Check. Fantastic quiet ride. Check. Great not being a serf to OPEC. Check. Great not polluting. Check. Fun feeling like George Jetson. Check. Saving money. Not so much.
Now it is true that it’s fun and satisfying not spending $200+ a month for gas, but it’s actually more satisfying knowing that we’re getting roughly the same performance out of a car that costs less than a competitive car — in our case we wouldn’t be buying a Fit or a Sonic and the Volt is a less expensive car than what we’d buy. We’re ahead of the game to begin with and we get the gas savings as well. To sum up, it’s more about technology and a satisfying ride at a good price than it is about gas savings.
Having said that, the Volt is one very inexpensive car to operate. So inexpensive to run that I don’t bother conserving in a serious way. I could save by making sure I only charge between midnight and five in the morning, but the cost difference is just a few pennies per kWh so I don’t bother. Worrying about how much electricity costs seems pointless since we literally can spend more on a couple of cans of nuts (Chipolte Almonds at Williams Sonoma) than we spend fueling the Volt for a month.
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (1:49 pm)As I’ve stated in another related post, my numbers are in line with GM’s stats, but are skewed because of the long drive back from the dealer. Many others have been similarly impacted. Otherwise my stats would be outstanding.
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (3:29 pm)Cool site.
18/44 get better than the infamous 230mpg!
Shows up as the 4th hit on Google as well when searching for ‘volt stats’.
I see a few people posted here as well:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (3:35 pm)I have used a couple of sources to get at some information on the efficiency of using my Volts EV only capabilities. I joined the Volt Stats! Site http://crichton.sacknet.org/volt/ at the beginning of June (actually June 7) This site provides a great service by pulling in info from OnStar several times a day an posting in an online leaderboard. My electric only mileage for June was 699.5 miles (it was actually a little more since the record started recording data on June 7). My Coulomb Technologies charger record says I used 218.7 kwh in June charging the Volt. That comes to $28.43 for electricity to charge the Volt in June if you figure 13 cents per kwh (my current rate). Or, about 4 cents a mile. Or, about 3.2 miles per kwh.
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (4:10 pm)Considering the price of a 5 series BMW, $2000 gasoline savings yearly over the next ten years, and the low maintenance requirements of electric cars, there seems to be some rationality there for me. If you are in the market for that type of car, and you keep cars for longer time periods, the costs are extremely favorable, yes.
If you are mulling over the advantages of a 7 series BMW over an 80′s Metro, and the cost advantages of the Metro win you over, probably not.
Jul 12th, 2011 (4:17 pm)Thanks for the link. Are you registered? I saw Voltaire on there with ~14K miles on his Volt already.. wow.
Jul 12th, 2011 (4:55 pm)I totally agree.
However, there are many different points of view about AGW and conservation that I don’t agree with. If they motivate people to do the right thing for the wrong reason, then, it’s a plus.
My motivation for interest in the Volt and EVs in general is the performance side. An electric motor (two or four is even better) is way more matched to the needs of moving a vehicle down the road than an ICE.
EV’s will eventually be able to exceed ICE performance (I’m talking 0-60 times not MPG.). I couldn’t care much less about gas mileage and other mundane trivial pursuits. I got places to go and things to do without worrying excessively (or obsessively) about my consumption.
Make a Volt SS with the right specs and ya got an instant sale.
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (5:08 pm)Why is every car I want always two years away from selling?
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/11/2309272/ap-sources-gm-to-sell-diesel-chevy.html#ixzz1RvZ4MBwa
+4
Jul 12th, 2011 (5:25 pm)As it has been pointed out before on these forums, you could also buy a bike for about $200 and you won’t even use use any gas ever. With the $34800 saved you could buy 174 additional bikes. But you’ve got to compare it with an equivalent vehicle. When you do, you’ll find that the total cost of ownership is on par with other similar cars, if not cheaper. So yes, I do believe that getting a Volt makes sense even from a financial standpoint. I think by saving money people usually mean getting a better deal, not necessarily getting less of something or of lower quality. The only drawback with the Volt is that you pay a higher up-front cost (which can be eventually recovered over its lifetime), but that’s not much of a drawback considering most people don’t pay the full sticker price upfront anyway choosing to finance instead. If anything the upfront cost may even be a benefit, because at least you know how much it was, it can’t change over time like gas prices do. Electricity prices do change, but much more slowly than gas prices.
I keep hearing this argument made with the Prius as a comparison. Sure, you may not be able to beat the Prius’s TCO with a Volt (though you can come awfully close!), but the Prius is a much lesser car than the Volt. The way I see it is the Volt is “cheaper” than the Prius in the sense that you get more car for about the same amount of money. Perhaps GM should change it’s slogan. “Volt: It’s more car than the Prius”. LOL
Jul 12th, 2011 (5:39 pm)#22
Ain’t it the truth, LOL. +1
Jul 12th, 2011 (6:28 pm)I didn’t see the original GM post, but something about 2 million Volt miles doesn’t calculate for me. There are now over 2500 Volts sold retail, and 2 million miles would be about 800 miles per Volt. As I doubt there are many folks out there with just 800 miles on their Volt these days, the total number of Volt miles is more likely to be 10 or 15 million miles, not 2 million.
But 800 miles in one month would be a reasonable average mileage for our Volts.
Could GM have posted just one month’s worth of OnStar data to come up with their 2 million mile calculation? Should the marketing guy have had an engineer check his numbers?
Note that this comment has nothing to do with the ratio of miles electric to total miles that the article talks about. Or any conclusions that can be drawn from the ratio of CS vs. CD miles. I just think the time period is just one month, not the life of all Volts.
WVhybrid
Jul 12th, 2011 (6:29 pm)NYPD to buy 50 Volts….
http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/07/12/nypd-deputizes-chevrolet-volt/
Jul 12th, 2011 (6:38 pm)Being in Nevada I can’t get a Volt yet but I’m looking forward it. My commute is 12 miles each way, about 95% expressway. I can charge at work as well as home. So the only gas I would burn would be on the weekends. I’ll also be interested to see how having the AC on all the time affects the range, normally over a hundred degrees here.
Jul 12th, 2011 (7:04 pm)wonder what is holding the production of Volts at the GM end? is it at the plant or GM is carefully controlling the production? If buyers are out there .. sell the Volts… Dont let the other auto makers catch up with GM?
+1
Jul 12th, 2011 (7:41 pm)Well some fairly recent buyers of Volts have been driving VINs that are at about the 4000 figure so there are probably even more Volts out on the road than you estimated. What I would take this report as is that for the first 2 million miles driven GM says the stats are…… And remember that a not insignificant amount of those miles are during the winter months thus hurting performance.
One thing I wish more people on this site would do is go ahead and sign up for that website (http://crichton.sacknet.org/volt/) so that we could get a more robust data set rather than 45 out of around 4000 Volts. I signed up yesterday and find it very interesting to see where I rank.
Jul 12th, 2011 (9:37 pm)Also I forgot to tell you that the city I live in is getting charging stations just today and a couple of weeks ago in the parking deck at the Landing. here’s the article enjoy. http://renton.patch.com/articles/renton-launches-electric-vehicle-charging-stations
Jul 12th, 2011 (9:45 pm)In addition to my asking you all for your stories (so far no takers today), I would hope everyone would understand that my door is always open, and you can always e-mail me at jcobb@verticalscope.com with things you wish GM-Volt would do.
I am looking into a couple things, and if it is feasible, would be willing to do more.
If this site lacks valuable services (like a Volt tracking database), and they are practically able to be implemented, you can let me know.
Jul 12th, 2011 (10:28 pm)I’m diggin’ on that! Nice slogan, +1!
Jul 14th, 2011 (10:13 am)DonC,
DonC – valid points, but you are missing one giant one: the folks lining up to buy a Volt are doing so rather than buying a $40,000+ luxury car – they are not skipping out on buying a Cruze or Fit or Sonic. They are passing up their next Mercedes, BMW, Audi, or any other expensive sedan. The Volt is surpassing every customer’s expectations for real world operation, economy, and features.
Sure, there are a few common tweaks that folks mention – like the over sensitive HVAC and Radio buttons; the lack of seperation between climate control, navigation and radio (they all need to be on to work any one of them since they share a common screen), the lack of a power driver’s seat – but these are relatively minor when you are driving past gas stations and getting 150+ mpg.
I am at 2,547 miles on 12.9 gallons of fuel; or 197.4 mpge to date.