I am finding it really fun to see just how far I can go without the purchase of gas. Can someone explain the KWatt per 100 miles reading. I know the lower the better. But what is the range and how does that correspond to EV miles driven. Thanks.

Assuming your charging is 13kWh for a full charge (depends on temps but its my average) then the following kWr/100mi to EV range conversion



kWh/100m 45.0 43.0 41.0 39.0 37.0 35.0 33.0 31.0 29.0 27.0 25.0
EV Range 28.9 30.2 31.7 33.3 35.1 37.1 39.4 41.9 44.8 48.1 52.0



At 36kWh/100miles (EPA for Volt) this suggests 36miles.. but EPA is 35, so they probably used a lower kWh per charge maybe because they charged at 240v, or because temps were different.

I've posted a shreadsheet you can use to compute your actual kWh usage based on data you download from voltstats.net
http://innovation.uccs.edu/~tboult/VOLT/voltdata_withMPGe.xls

Last month my diag showed average of 29 kwH per 100. Beating the hell out of the EPA estimate. My average is 32 since I am working off the winter.

I wonder why the Volt doesn't have a miles/100*kWh disply on the dash or nav screen. It is the most direct analog to MPG, so it seems an obvious metric to show. I realize that the instantaneous reading would be SUPER jumpy, but they could be smart about smoothing the displayed number to still provide helpful info. I guess the decided to show the "green ball" instead, what is handy--- but I'd like to see the real data as well.

Instead, we're forced to glance at the "kWh used this charge" screen and doing the math in our heads. This is OK for the first trip after a full charge, but becomes unhelpful pretty soon.

I prefer the kwH per 100 miles (or the metric kwH per 100 KM) instead of the misunderstood MPGe because it can be converted to cost per 100 miles easily (with the kwH rates from your utility company) and it can be reduced by efficient driving, where the ideal EV is zero kwH per miles. Besides, every electric device is rated in watts as generated, stored, or consumed, making the use of the Volt easy to compare with your other home appliances.

Yeah I really wish I could have it automatically calculate the miles/kwh for me, instead of me having to get out the calculator on my phone every time I exit the car. Maybe in a future software update...

Now that everyone is mentioning this, there should be a per trip and lifetime kWH/100mi display on the "Energy Info" page?

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but the omission is so odd that it seems intentional. They WANT people to focus on the obfuscated "blended" MPG in giant font "250+" That doesn't communicate ANY helpful information. It would be ideal to be able to plug in a rough gas price and a rough electricity price (OnStar could pre-populate a reasonable regional proxy by default) and then show you a dollars per mile display (could show per EV mile, per gas mile and blended).

I know some people here are religious about NOT focusing on economic efficiency, but the clearly presented true facts form a SUPER compelling story from a cost perspective.

Not to be a conspiracy theorist, but the omission is so odd that it seems intentional.
...
I know some people here are religious about NOT focusing on economic efficiency, but the clearly presented true facts form a SUPER compelling story from a cost perspective.Why pick on this display? There are plenty of lame displays that could show far more information. This was in fact noted by Chelsea Sexton as soon as she saw the car. Hopefully they'll do a better job going forward.

FWIW I don't know of anyone opposed to economic efficiency measures. It's treating MPGe as though it were a measure of economic efficiency which many find objectionable. Also, even if the Volt cost nothing to operate you'd still get the same arguments about why it makes no economic sense. The argument against the Volt is always predicated on the claim that it's a $40K Cruze. If you accept that there will never be an operating cost story that is compelling.

FWIW I don't know of anyone opposed to economic efficiency measures. It's treating MPGe as though it were a measure of economic efficiency which many find objectionable.....The argument against the Volt is always predicated on the claim that it's a $40K Cruze. If you accept that there will never be an operating cost story that is compelling.

I'm not saying the display is "bad" compared to average displays on cars-- I just always like the option for more and more meaningful information. With virtual displays, the *option* to show more need not complete with clean/simple alternate views. My favorite car display is the Nissan GT-R. Very very configurable.

My argument against the Volt has nothing to do with the Cruze.

My bias would be to have the display information that is meaningful. In the spots reserved to show efficiency, they chose to show an animated green ball (directionally interesting, but an instantaneous measure) and a blended MPG which is almost completely meaningless. For most people, it will say 250+ all the time. For others (besides people who never charge) it will forever should some (effectively) random number between 30 and 250+.

Finally, I don't think the Volt needs to justify itself solely on a eco-friendly or economic basis. It's a nice car which (particularly given the effective price to consumers) is a bargain, IMHO. As I posted elsewhere, if I were GM I would try to market it as a great and unique car at an attractive price. More focus on driving experience, styling and gadgetronics.

This info is available on myvolt.com has this info5594