Cold weather and Chevy Volt fuel economy
Cold - Just another barrier to overcome
Juice sucking temperatures
It has been known for a long time that cold weather and driving conditions can have a a great impact on the electric range of battery-powered cars. But how much of an impact?
While it will take years to fully understand that question via reliable real world evidence, preliminary data is starting to flow in, such as MotorTrend’s recent cold weather experiences with the Chevy Volt.
Most important, MotorTrend has found that the Volt is reliable in cold weather, both in terms of starting and handling, even in snowy conditions.
However, cold weather can have a pretty big impact on Volt fuel economy and energy efficiency, and if used for winter highway driving, the numbers can be somewhat unimpressive. Fortunately, MotorTrend’s testing was carried out during some pretty extreme winter weather, meaning this should pretty much be worst case scenario cold weather driving since these conditions only last a few months at most.
Anyway, if you’re interested in more on Volt performance in winter weather, check out MotorTrend.
No solid data yet, but lots of speculation regarding the warm weather performance, Smurf. We should get some good data this summer though.
I don’t think battery-only cars are going to be considered reliable by most consumers if the “miles left before you’re screwed” instrument panel warning – varies with temperature.
That’s why Chevy put a gas engine in the Volt.
I think it’s interesting in that Hybrids ADD to the ICE engine an electric engine but pure plug-in hybrids are misnamed.
they are “plug-ins” – and not “hybrids” if all they have is one power source – right?
only the Volt is truly a plug-in “hybrid” because it still relies on two engines are not one engine.
the Volt is much more like a conventional Hybrid than a pure “plug-in” like the Leaf is because the leaf has but one kind of engine whereas Hybrids usually have two.
Being from Phoenix, I’m interested in the extreme warm weather performance.
Do we have any data on that yet?
Isn’t this one of the advantages of Volt over Leaf? When it’s -20F and icy, I’m not that concerned with fuel economy. But I’d like to get to where I’m going and feel like I can turn on the heater.
Unless there is something unique and different about Volt battery – wouldn’t this be not untypical for most batteries including the Leaf?
I wonder if the electric cars need an additional entry on the window sticker that tell you what the range of the battery is at various temperatures?
I read one review of the Leaf where the low temps really changed it’s range.