Chevrolet Volt owners share their fuel-economy stories

Matt Stehouwer and his Chevrolet Volt
Matt Stehouwer and his 2011 Chevrolet Volt

Imagine how great it would be to live in a world where you could set your own fuel-economy, and adjust that figure accordingly in response to gasoline price fluctuation and whatnot. That is essentially what is happening to Chevy Volt owners around the country.

Given the fact that the Volt can run for a decent distance without using a sip of gas, its users are experiencing different fuel-economy based on the lengths of trips that they are taking. Mike DiPisa, of Lyndhurst, NJ has driven 1,485 miles since he got his Volt, and hasn’t filled up since he took delivery. 1,391 miles of DiPisa’s traveled miles have been powered by electricity, giving him a total economy of 231 miles per gallon.

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Similar stories are out there all over the place, with drivers reporting economy north of 100 mpg. GM said the following in a press release: By recharging their Volt regularly, owners are easily surpassing the 93 miles per gallon equivalence, or MPGe, on full electric operation and an overall 60 MPGe composite fuel economy during extended-range operation. The EPA ratings make the Volt the most energy efficient compact car on the market today.

“I really believe that over the long-term we have to have technology that is going to get us off fossil fuels and the Volt does that – I have the option of never buying gas again,” one Volt owner said.

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.

2011 Chevrolet Volt:

– By: Stephen Calogera