Are these the official 8 times the engine comes on when battery still has range?

[MrEnergyCzar]

I want the official final clarification as to how many scenarios the ICE will come on despite the battery having range left in it and the car being on. I'm making a video about it. Please add to this list if you know of any other scenarios:

1. Engine Maintenance mode - if you've been only using electric for about 6 weeks it will run the engine for a few minutes to lubricate it.
2. Fuel Maintenance mode - it will eventually burn the whole tank after a year to prevent stale gas.
3. If you open the trunk the engine comes on to alert you the car is on.
4. If it's below 26F outside.
5. If you are driving above 72 mph for a certain amount of time (anyone know how long?)
6. If you put it into Mountain Mode.
7. If the battery temperature is too hot (anyone know the trigger temp?)
8. If the battery temperature is too cold (anyone know the trigger temp?)

MrEnergyCzar

[Ron C]

3. If you open the trunk the engine comes on to alert you the car is on.

You mean the hood, right?

[stephent]

1. Engine Maintenance mode - if you've been only using electric for about 6 weeks it will run the engine for a few minutes to lubricate it.
2. Fuel Maintenance mode - it will eventually burn the whole tank after a year to prevent stale gas.

Supposedly it wants "average age of fuel < 1 year" so this can be prevented by adding fresh gas periodically.

3. If you open the trunk the engine comes on to alert you the car is on.

You meant open the hood, with the power on. Both as an alert and for testing/maintenance.

4. If it's below 26F outside.

I think it's the coolant temp not the outside ambient temp, depends if it's been outside long enough to equalize yet.

5. If you are driving above 72 mph for a certain amount of time (anyone know how long?)

Engine never comes on due to speed, only due to battery being drained or the other scenarios on this list. You can go 100 mph on battery only until you run down the battery. Of course at 100 mph you'll be running down the battery pretty fast!

6. If you put it into Mountain Mode.

AND the battery is below or drops to the MM CS point, which is about 14 miles range in normal mode.

7. If the battery temperature is too hot (anyone know the trigger temp?)

Engine doesn't come on for cooling battery. The cooling systems are electrical.

8. If the battery temperature is too cold (anyone know the trigger temp?)

This is identical to #4, it's 25 degrees F.

[tboult]

I've found if you drive 72mph for about more than 75miles the engine comes on, maybe a little sooner if you are not going down a big hill.

And at 101 (where my car limits the speed), its about 24 miles and then the engine seems to come on. Seems the little batter on the left of display drains about the same time -- maybe the events are related.

[RobertSullivan]

Are you saying you have driven a Volt at 101 miles per hour for 24 straight miles? Where on earth is that possible?

[Selling Volts At Sundance]

I've found if you drive 72mph for about more than 75miles the engine comes on, maybe a little sooner if you are not going down a big hill.

And at 101 (where my car limits the speed), its about 24 miles and then the engine seems to come on. Seems the little batter on the left of display drains about the same time -- maybe the events are related.

Gawd I love your wit and brillant humor !! Please keep it up !

'The Amazing Chevy Volt EREV-Facts Guy'

[Selling Volts At Sundance]

Supposedly it wants "average age of fuel < 1 year" so this can be prevented by adding fresh gas periodically.


You meant open the hood, with the power on. Both as an alert and for testing/maintenance.


I think it's the coolant temp not the outside ambient temp, depends if it's been outside long enough to equalize yet.


Engine never comes on due to speed, only due to battery being drained or the other scenarios on this list. You can go 100 mph on battery only until you run down the battery. Of course at 100 mph you'll be running down the battery pretty fast!


AND the battery is below or drops to the MM CS point, which is about 14 miles range in normal mode.


Engine doesn't come on for cooling battery. The cooling systems are electrical.


This is identical to #4, it's 25 degrees F.

Outstanding breakout-Thank You!

[tboult]

Are you saying you have driven a Volt at 101 miles per hour for 24 straight miles? Where on earth is that possible?

That would be Colorado. (Same state where I did the 75miles on a single charge, though the first 10 miles were up hill and the next 10 were downhill at much less than < 70mph, the next 55 were highway speeds).

But the 24@101 is a bit of exaggeration: I guess it was probably only 14-17 miles at full speed; I just remembered the 24 because that is when we cut over to CS as that was, by far, my lowest CD range ever. But I did have to drive to get to the deserted highway/hill, which is maybe 7-9 miles from the house. (There is too much in the first section to seriously exceed the speedlimit.) This is a deserted section of highway, 4:00am on the way to the airport, and I'm not the only one going fast on that stretch of road, I got passed by 2 cars while doing it too.

[Rusty]

Are you saying you have driven a Volt at 101 miles per hour for 24 straight miles? Where on earth is that possible?

Have you ever been to west Texas?

Or for that matter, any number of places in the desert southwest.

[ewiggins]

You may want to search YouTube for "Chevy volt deep drive". There Are several videos that explain the power train. I think in one of them the presenter speaks about the ICE helping to drive the volt's wheels. It has something to do with cruzing at a constant speed and it being more efficient to use the ICE to assist in driving the wheels.