GM: Chevy Volt drivers driving 1,000 miles before needing to fill up

April 7, 2011May 4, 2011 Omar Rana 2011, Chevrolet Volt, Compact Cars, electric-cars, electric-vehicles, plug-in hybrids, Sedans, Volt

General Motors says that drivers of the 2011 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid have been traveling 1,000 miles before they ever need to visit a gas station to fill up. GM has sold 1,210 Chevy Volts in the United States in the first quarter, according to Autodata Corp. Since its launch in December, GM has sold 1,536 units.

“A sample of our early Volt customers suggest that they drive 1,000 miles before they fill up the gas tank,” Tony Posawatz, vehicle line director for the Chevrolet Volt, said at a conference in New York Wednesday.

The driving range estimates suggest that GM’s dream of selling viable alternative-fuel vehicles are getting closer to reality.

“Demand for the product is very, very high,” Posawatz said. Consumers “can’t get enough of them.”

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Refresher: The 2011 Chevrolet Volt is powered by 16-kWh, ‘T’-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which allows it to drive 40 miles on battery power alone. The system puts out 149-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, allowing the Volt to go from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes 4 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 10-12 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet. The Chevrolet Volt also carries an 84-hp 1.4 4-clyinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles while averaging a fuel-economy of 50 mpg. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will allow the Volt to travel 379 miles. The 2011 Chevrolet Volt gets an EPA estimated 93 miles per ’gallon-equivalent’ when driving under electric power only, 37 mpg when in gasoline mode and over the long term it is estimated to get 60 miles per gallon in combined gasoline-powered and electric-powered driving. Prices for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt start at $41,000 but with a full federal income tax credit (which range from $0 to $7,500), the Volt can cost a total of $33,500.