2013 MPGe AER & Price released

[mbepic]

Sometimes if you use more sugar and less vanilla you get a better tasting cake.

Ya, and I guess, more appropriately, you would get an incremental increase in energy from more sugar and less vanilla???

[mbepic]

And even on the hwy in CS mode I can get 44 mpg no problem (don't pay attention to my stats for CS as lots of the low numbers were due to my engine firing on due to cold temp while I was sitting at stop lights during the winter or preconditioning! - hopefully fixed for the 2013 version).

My guess is that you're using the larger CDN gallon for that result of 44mpg and of course not relative to the Voltstats figure.

[leeG]

The Volt concept is a car that gives an electric range that covers 80% of the population's normal commute (35 to 45 miles) from an overnight charge on a 120v 15a circuit. No fancy charger needed, no new infrastructure required. A gas engine is there if you need to go farther.

Consistent with this concept, I would like to see battery improvements go into keeping the same capacity while making the pack smaller so we could get more interior room for a fifth seat. I would also like to see improved ICE performance to make the Volt mileage competitive with the Prius on longer trips.

[tboult]

The Volt concept is a car that gives an electric range that covers 80% of the population's normal commute (35 to 45 miles) from an overnight charge on a 120v 15a circuit. No fancy charger needed, no new infrastructure required. A gas engine is there if you need to go farther.

Consistent with this concept, I would like to see battery improvements go into keeping the same capacity while making the pack smaller so we could get more interior room for a fifth seat. I would also like to see improved ICE performance to make the Volt mileage competitive with the Prius on longer trips.

An 8% reduction in battery size, would do virtually nothing of use and cost a lot to do. Maybe Volt Gen 2 can have a reduction, or some size options.

I think its great they changed the chemistry, added range and efficency and kept the price the same. For now this is a positive statement and will show people that GM is really committed to the volt.
Already saw a post on prisuchat on exactly that.. someone that said

I have expressed my worry that the Volt was a statement car, not a production car, I am glad to be wrong!

[adric22]

The Volt concept is a car that gives an electric range that covers 80% of the population's normal commute (35 to 45 miles) from an overnight charge on a 120v 15a circuit. No fancy charger needed, no new infrastructure required. A gas engine is there if you need to go farther.

Consistent with this concept, I would like to see battery improvements go into keeping the same capacity while making the pack smaller so we could get more interior room for a fifth seat. I would also like to see improved ICE performance to make the Volt mileage competitive with the Prius on longer trips.

As much as I'd like to see the EV range increase, I must confess that you are correct in your line of thinking as far as the overall purpose of the car. However, I can say something constructive. I think any future battery improvements should go into lowering the cost of the vehicle. If the Volt had an MSRP competitive with the Prius, that would do more for sales than having a 5th seat or getting better fuel economy when running in CS mode.

[realdb2]

If the Volt had an MSRP competitive with the Prius, that would do more for sales than having a 5th seat or getting better fuel economy when running in CS mode.

Although I personally would rather see better fuel economy when running in CS mode, I agree with your statement above.

[kickincanada]

No that is the U.S. measurement. If I was using the imperial as we do in Canada I get 53mpg on the highway in CS mode at speeds of 60mph (100kph) or less

My guess is that you're using the larger CDN gallon for that result of 44mpg and of course not relative to the Voltstats figure.

[Raymondjram]

What to do??????

This is just like when you buy computers and smartphones. The best technology is what you do with what you have in hand, not what will come in the next generation. If you buy now, you begin enjoying the Volt and save money. If you don't, you will suffer tech envy of those who already have one, and at the same time spend more money with your present vehicle.

Technology will always be improving, so there will never be a "right time to buy". Buy the present technology and get the maximum use of it. I don't have a Volt because GM hasn't distributed the Volt here in my area, and I have waited over two years, but when it arrives, I will buy the present model year.

Buy your Volt now! It will probably be the 2013 model year anyway....

[DonC]

For example, a very senior member of the Volt engineering team told me at the Woodward Cruise last year, that living in Michigan, without hot parking lot soaks, I could expect a 16 year life from my LiIon battery.

Do you know the criteria/criterion for determining end of life? Usually for batteries EOL is defined as 70% of the original capacity. If that is what they're talking about in the Volt, then even with the overhead reserved I would guess that you would still have some use left.

On longevity, it's pretty clear that on this score the batteries have surprised GM. Originally there was talk about having to price in two batteries over the course of ten years. That was replaced with an eight year warranty. Then that warranty was extended to ten years for Volts in CA (and other CARB states I'd guess). Then the word was twelve to fifteen. Now we are at sixteen with some rumors about twenty years, though that may be with the new chemistry. In any event. it seems that battery life is not going to be the problem GM originally expected. Since battery life is so central to the value of the car this is a truly significant development.

[nater]

Real EOL is when the power output is inadequate. Loss of capacity may be an issue, but when a battery "goes out" is when it can't deliver the power you need.

Nate