EDMUNDS: 2011 Chevrolet Volt: August and September Fuel Economy Update

[sgc]

http://blogs.insideline.com/roadtest...my-update.html

[Zod]

These things are so useless. It's one data point (one car) that happens to be driven by a lot of different first timers and taken on a lot more long trips that the average person (more CS miles). It's worse that useless, it's misleading to people who don't understand the Volt. The only extra bit of useful information they give over just looking at the better defined EPA numbers, are looking at min/max instances.

[stuart]

I agree completely with your analysis of the edmunds piece. I will say, however, that if one read's to the bottom of the article, where it says:

"The Volt's net fuel cost still floats somewhere between the Prius and a Fusion Hybrid, but it's clear that someone with a short commute, someone like Brent that could keep the Volt in EV mode most of the time, could achieve an operating cost well below that of the Prius.

Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing"

The problem is that impressions are formed before people get to the bottom of an article.

Stuart #B2209

[Steverino]

Like Consumer Reports, Edmunds will need to be dragged kicking and screaming to a positive review. Their approach is only applicable to someone considering using the Volt as part of a rental fleet.

[Zod]

I agree completely with your analysis of the edmunds piece. I will say, however, that if one read's to the bottom of the article, where it says:

"The Volt's net fuel cost still floats somewhere between the Prius and a Fusion Hybrid, but it's clear that someone with a short commute, someone like Brent that could keep the Volt in EV mode most of the time, could achieve an operating cost well below that of the Prius.

Dan Edmunds, Director of Vehicle Testing"

The problem is that impressions are formed before people get to the bottom of an article.

Stuart #B2209

I did see that at the bottom, but i don't think throw away comments at the end forgive the rest. It's like spreading a baseless rumor on the news about someone, then saying at the end, "allegedly"; it doesn't matter at that point, as you already put it out there.

To me the whole "analysis" is a waste of time. They're basically trying to re-create the EPA numbers but for one car in very uncontrolled tests. What's the point?

[stuart]

I did see that at the bottom, but i don't think throw away comments at the end forgive the rest. It's like spreading a baseless rumor on the news about someone, then saying at the end, "allegedly"; it doesn't matter at that point, as you already put it out there.

To me the whole "analysis" is a waste of time. They're basically trying to re-create the EPA numbers but for one car in very uncontrolled tests. What's the point?

That was my point. Edmunds throws a compliment in at the end of their review, but their review entirely misses the point about the kind of stats that the typical volt owner is experiencing. If you look at the Volt Stats data, where there are more than 600,000 miles driven by 120+ Volt owners have been aggregated, 70% of our miles are EV miles and our mpgs are extremely impressive.

EV MILES TOTAL EV% EV MPG MPGe MPGcs
487935.51 693574.23 70.4% 122.08 63.47 36.20

Stuart #B2209

[volt11]

I left my reply at the bottom of the article (as yamahr1).

[stuart]

My reply on the Edmunds site:

"trizity says:
11:47 AM, 10/14/11
In the 5 months we have had our Volt, we have driven 4230 miles. 70% of those miles are EV Miles. When the battery is depleted, and we run in generator mode, we are averaging 36+MPG a level of performance that is better than the mpg stats of more than 90% of the cars on the road. We have reduced our gasoline expense by more than 75% and when we add in the cost of electricity (approximately $50 per month ---high because Con Edison NY rates are among the most onerous in the US) we are still WAY AHEAD financially. The cost of operation of the Volt is a joy!

I am part of a group of Volt drivers whose stats are accumulated and aggregated at a site called Voltstats.net. More than 100 of us have driven in excess of 600,000 miles. Our results:

EV MILES 487935 TOTAL Miles 693574.23 EV% 70.4 EV MPG 122.08 MPGe 63.47 MPGcs 36.20.

This is the story that Edmunds should be telling...not the narrow inaccurate sample that you choose to provide."

Stuart #B2209

[sparks]

Nicely done! That says it all, and with high statistical significance. Move on, Edmunds, or step aside.