So I tootle around town most of the time in my Volt less than 40 miles a day. Once in a while I want to see the USA in my Chevrolet. Is it going to be more expensive than an ICE car or less? Especially on premium gas? I know GM is staying tight-lipped on the gas mileage. I really would like to know before I spend that much on a car.

I do suspect that pretty soon motels and other places will offer charging so I can cut down on some of the gas expense.

So I tootle around town most of the time in my Volt less than 40 miles a day. Once in a while I want to see the USA in my Chevrolet. Is it going to be more expensive than an ICE car or less? Especially on premium gas? I know GM is staying tight-lipped on the gas mileage. I really would like to know before I spend that much on a car.

I do suspect that pretty soon motels and other places will offer charging so I can cut down on some of the gas expense.

We will see "CHARGE SUSTAINING MODE MPG" soon. It will probably come from the press and not the EPA---

Stay tuned.

GSB

Oh, that's what "CS Mode" means. I kept seeing it in the posts here but couldn't figure it out. Thanks.

Earlier posts have indicated a new ICE GM has been working on may be the CS generator for the VOLT. If that rumor is true the extended MPG from that ICE will be quite high.

It is an interesting and exciting speculation.. :)

Yeah, as Lyle said in a recent front page post, the two huge questions remaining about the Volt are A) the pricing, now mostly known, and B) the charge sustaining (CS) efficiency. CS mode starts once the battery has reached some low threshold, apparently 30% SOC (state of charge).

Lots of people want to know what the CS mode number will be. Personally I think it (the highway MPG, anyway) is going to be higher than the 50 MPG you hear bandied about. The drivetrain is simply more efficient, even with the two stages, than a comparable ICE-only drivetrain can be. More efficient operating points, for one.

I think it (the highway MPG, anyway) is going to be higher than the 50 MPG you hear bandied about. The drivetrain is simply more efficient, even with the two stages, than a comparable ICE-only drivetrain can be. More efficient operating points, for one.

Please enter our pool:

http://www.gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4177

It's CS mode EPA HWY sticker mileage. Click on the link then go to the last post and enter your engineering estimate!!

GSB

Wow, that is a great thread! I'm new here so hadn't seen it. I think I will bow down to the fine analysis displayed in that thread. My 50+ guess is really just optimism (and me rooting for EE world domination). Thanks!

Ok, another dumb question: Anyone know if a Volt will run with no gas in the tank? Can you drive forever as an EV only if you stay under 40 miles per trip?

Premium gasoline weighs 6.1 pounds-per-gallon.

That is the weight of 2 pairs of shoes.

I think keeping a gallon in the tank might be a good idea.

A full nine gallon tank would add 55 pounds to the weight of the car.

Keeping 1 gallon in the heel of the tank means that you have 8 gallons to burn. 340-40=300 miles on a usable tank.

300 miles / 8 gallons = 37.5 MPG. This is my guess.

I won't have a problem carrying a full tank around. The car is so much fun to drive it will be hard to stop me after 40 miles on electric-only propulsion.