A tale of two new Volts (interesting stats)

[Cheezmo]

I took delivery of my 2nd Volt yesterday. It was driven from a dealership >150 miles away so it came with 210 miles on it. I was comparing the initial stats from the download on Volt-stats.net compared to the other Volt we took delivery a month ago and it is kind of interesting.

Volt 1 (June 29)
EV Miles: 42.1
CS Miles: 41.6
Oil Life: 98.3
Economy: 64.9

Volt 2 (July 31)
EV Miles: 25.9
CS Miles: 184.3
Oil Life: 98.8
Economy: 63.7

What I found interesting is that the Lifetime economy is almost exactly the same where one car has 50/50 EV/CS and the other is only 14% EV. Also, the oil life on the car with less miles is lower.

That seems to imply that the lower mileage car got really bad economy on gas before we took delivery. My theory is that it may have sat idling for a long time? Any other theories?

I'm not complaining about anything, just thought it was interesting that they both started out with the same economy with such different backgrounds.

[montgom626]

2012 Blue Topaz Metallic Volt delivered 7/31/12
2012 White Diamond Tricoat Volt delivered 6/29/12
2012 Cayenne Red Leaf delivered 3/29/12

My comment? I want to be you!

[Cheezmo]

My comment? I want to be you!

And me you. My 6KW Array should be going up in the next couple of weeks!

[QB 45]

Wowee. Nice!

Given that the Volt doesn't allow the engine to idle, I can only think that maybe the first only got a little bit of bad fuel mileage, and the second got lots of great fuel efficiency. Or the guess-o-mo-tron is just incorrect, but I doubt that.

Two Volts, a Leaf, and a soon-to-be PV array? I hope I can get there someday!

[montgom626]

And me you. My 6KW Array should be going up in the next couple of weeks!

Ground mount? ????? Pictures of the install always welcome.

[tboult]

Yes it could be idle.. my car had more gas used and I eventually confirmed with the dealer they had idled it at the shoppe in MM to charge for some demos.. Can really eat up the gas that way, with no cs miles being added.

Also could be car had a few test runs at the dealer with a lead-foot driver testing 0-60 in CS mode.. The algorithm for oil is supposed to reflect how hard the engine goes. MM and high-speeds can push the RPM into the 4K range which is much harder on the engine and much less efficient.

[DonC]

I suspect it is the idle. If it's just idling then your MPG is 0. When the miles are so long just using a gallon makes a huge difference.

[Cheezmo]

Ground mount? ????? Pictures of the install always welcome.

No it will be on the roof. Just had a major hiccup though as we have power company choice here in North Texas and apparently my cut rate company (Pennywise) is trying to say that they don't support solar installations for their customers (never mind that they are owned by the same company writing the lease on the solar!). Having to change to a more expensive energy company in order to "save" money with solar isn't in the cards. Hopefully it will be worked out but this isn't the thread to discuss it.

[scottf200]

Volt 1 (June 29)
EV Miles: 42.1
CS Miles: 41.6
Oil Life: 98.3
Economy: 64.9

Volt 2 (July 31)
EV Miles: 25.9
CS Miles: 184.3
Oil Life: 98.8
Economy: 63.7

Volt 1 definately got poor MPG in CS. Consider 40 miles EV and 40 miles on gas at 40 MPG is "80 MPGused'. A frequent comment I make when folks tell me they need to go over 40 miles on their daily round trip/RT.

[cab]

I am seeing what I consider to be REALLY poor ICE mileage on my Volt based on how the ICE gets used. I often run just a few miles over my charge range each day and that has me burn some gas for sometimes as little as a a few hundred yards, and other days as much as 4 or 5 miles. I don't know what it is, but those few miles (almost always city and low speed) use an inordinate amount of gas. Comparatively the few days I end up blowing past the electric range and burning a full gallon show the full gallon's number to be much better. Those little short bursts seem to hurt. Admittedly, it may average out over time. I only have 652 miles total on the car with 88 miles being ICE. I have gotten about 23 mpg ICE for those 88 miles. While any ICE gets worse mileage in city vs. highway driving, that is a pretty big delta.