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Is the Volt really a "Hybrid" or not?

140 messages,  Last post on Apr 10, 2013 at 11:32 AM

You are in the Chevrolet Volt Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Volt, Electric Cars, Sedan

Messages Page 6 of 14

#50 of 140 Volt is electric. by brybry

Oct 22, 2010 (8:25 pm)

The volt is 100% driven on electricity. All you naysayers that claim only plug ins are electric better think about where their hydro is coming from. If it's coming from a coal fired hydro facility then I beleive that particular car would be an electric/coal fired driven vehicle. The volt is the most advanced electric car in the world. You can jump in a Chevrolet Volt and travel as far as you would like without being burdened by a plug-in-only electric car. Apparently the owners are claiming that the Volt is getting better mileage and a longer range on the battery than GM is advertising. It's also got some room and style. I'd buy one.

#51 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [gagrice] by dodgeman07

Oct 22, 2010 (9:31 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 22, 2010 2:57 pm)
I saw on the Chevrolet website that they estimate $1.50/day in electricity consumption for the Volt. I certainty hope that's not calculated using a $0.04/kWh industrial rate. Consumers in most parts of the country pay $0.10 - $0.12/kWh and as gagrice noted, you could push $3.00 per re-charge pretty easily.

#52 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [dodgeman07] by gagrice

Oct 23, 2010 (5:14 am)

Replying to: dodgeman07 (Oct 22, 2010 9:31 pm)
The issue I have with EV type vehicles is the radical utility charges in CA. At least in San Diego the price goes up incrementally the more you use. So an EV would be at the higher rates. I try not to use any AC unless it goes over 80 degrees in the house. Yet I almost always get up to the 34 cents per KWH rate using well under 1000 KWH per month. If a person worked in downtown San Diego they would need to charge at work as we are 35 miles from the city.
 
For me a straight EV would be fine for my errand running if the vehicle used less than the Volt to get around. It would have to be at least 80 miles on a 8 KWH charge to be at all practical.

#53 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [gagrice] by brybry

Oct 23, 2010 (5:31 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 23, 2010 5:14 am)
I totally agree. That's why the Volt is such a great car, you don't need to worry about charging your vehicle because the gas engine would take over until you got home to plug it in. I didn't realize that CA pays more for hydro the more you use, do other states do this?

#54 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [brybry] by larsb

Oct 23, 2010 (6:07 am)

Replying to: brybry (Oct 23, 2010 5:31 am)
I hope other states do that. It gives consumers an incentive to use less and to be smart about their usage.

#55 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [brybry] by gagrice

Oct 23, 2010 (6:13 am)

Replying to: brybry (Oct 23, 2010 5:31 am)
Not all CA has high rates. It is based on cost of buying energy from the producers. If you don't charge the Volt it does not get any better mileage on gas than any other car in it class. The typical Volt in my area is going for $43,685. Less $7500 tax credit if you fit the narrow band of tax payers it will benefit. If you are a victim of AMT don't count on the tax credit.
 
I would think a smart shopper would opt for the Ford Fusion hybrid for about $15k less. It has a lot more room for passengers. Even the Prius would be a better choice.
 
Calling the Volt a 4 passenger is a real push. Check out the back seat leg room. Not many people will be able to sit back there with any kind of comfort.

#56 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [gagrice] by brybry

Oct 23, 2010 (6:36 am)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 23, 2010 6:13 am)
I don't think the Prius would be comparable. It has less leg room than both vehicles, it's ugly and ha lots of quality problems. Try selling a Toyota! The Ford is a nice car but if you're going that route you should buy the Malibu, it gets better mileage on the highway and the same in the city.

#57 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [brybry] by gagrice

Oct 23, 2010 (7:44 am)

Replying to: brybry (Oct 23, 2010 6:36 am)
Are you referring to the Malibu Hybrid? I don't think they build them anymore. The standard Malibu mileage is not even close to the Fusion Hybrid. I agree the Prius is one ugly vehicle. It does have better back seat leg room than the Volt and is rated for 5 passengers. Though the 5 passenger rating in today's vehicles is very misleading. I took my daughter, son in law and grandson in the back seat of my rental Accord and it was not comfortable for a 25 mile ride. I cannot imagine squeezing four adults into a Volt.
 
I don't like subjecting my passengers to anything I would not like. And I can tell you most of the cars today are cramped in the back seats. The Volt is strictly for the buyer that wants to look green. Not sure it will stand out like the Prius.

#58 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [gagrice] by brybry

Oct 23, 2010 (1:51 pm)

Replying to: gagrice (Oct 23, 2010 7:44 am)
The Fusion hybrid ($28,800) gets 41 Hwy/ 36 city mpg and the Malibu ($24,0000) gas 4 cylinder gets 47.7 Hwy/ 30 city mpg. I think that is very close if you average them out and the GM Malibu isn't a hybrid. With this type of mileage I don't think it's worth buying a more expensive hybrid of any kind.

#59 of 140 Re: kWh re-charge? [brybry] by dodgeman07

Oct 23, 2010 (2:24 pm)

Replying to: brybry (Oct 23, 2010 1:51 pm)
The Fusion hybrid ($28,800) gets 41 Hwy/ 36 city mpg and the Malibu ($24,0000) gas 4 cylinder gets 47.7 Hwy/ 30 city mpg. I think that is very close if you average them out and the GM Malibu isn't a hybrid.
 
Huh? No Malibu gets 47.7mpg hwy or 30mpg city unless it's going down the side of a mountain. Where did you get this mis-information?

Messages Page 6 of 14

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