2019 Chevy Volt

Note ease of plugging.  Chord hangs when unpluged.

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I tried converting a Prius to a plug in, using the Engineer 4KW conversion kit. I was very unsatisfied. It had increased my mileage to 62 MPG as of June 2012. The system will go only 25 miles on blended gas and electric mode. It is not designed for all electric operation.

I bought Gen 1 Chevy Volt in 2012. When you eco-drive this Volt it will go 50 miles per charge (MPC) in the summer and 30 MPC in the winter, with snow tires. The Gen 2 Volt goes 70 MPC in the summer and 50 MPC in the winter. I favor the Volt because it is a great car and it is made in the U.S. The plug in Toyota Prius doesn’t go very far on all electric and you need to walk around the it to plug and unplug it, something I do four or six times per day in a crowded garage. The Volt is good for the environment, driving it has a low carbon footprint. It doesn’t depend on gas therefor I have a sure method of transport in the future and at known price since it is charged by PV on my house. A charge uses 16 kwh of electricity which costs $0.16/kwh. from the South Hadley Electric Light Department. The car travels 50 MPC for $2.24 even if I didn’t have PV. I use about a gallon of gas every 500 miles. It does have what I consider a gas back up engine. I have enough stress without “range anxiety.” It is a very safe means of transport. The Volt has all around airbags, ABS,  stability control and is great in the snow (with snow tires). It weighs 4,000 lbs. so it has a fighting chance against an SUV in a crash where a small car or a bike would not. The Volt has a lot of cool features: key-less entry, onstar, remote starting and on and on. The Volt is the culmination of 30 years of my environmental planning.

The Chevy Bolt has replaced the Volt. It is an all electric car or battery electric car (BEV). With the Mor-EV rebate and federal tax incentive it costs around $19,000 before trade it. The Incentive varies depending of make and model of the new car. See Here at bottom of the page. The Inflation, Reduction Act has extended the incentives for electric cars, but restricted their point of origin. This is a moving target, so check the EV Links Page – IRA to see updates.

Note that you can only get the full IRS tax credit if your tax liability is greater than the credit. The credit does not roll over to the next year the way a solar install credit will. This means that if your tax is $4,000 for the year in which you buy the car, you will only get $4,000 back and lose $3,500. The inflation reduction act will begin point of sale, rebates in 2024 which removes this problem.

The difficulty with EVs is their cost and their newness. The federal tax incentive is of up to $7,500. The Mass Drive Green Program rebate is currently $3,500 done by direct pay at time of purchase. Many other states offer incentives. See Here for more on EVs

We know the arguments against gas cars concerning air pollution, global warming and high gas prices. What is going to happen when the organic material hits the ventilating device and we have a real gas shortage? Too much of the world’s oil depends on too little. Economics, politics, conflicts, religious/sectarian differences or any of the other griefs of humanity which we seem not able to solve, will catch up with us. Governments do not prepare well for a crisis. But individuals can. There were cars waiting in long gas lines of the 70’s. What if the next one lasts for a month?

Our change away from oil could take ten or twenty years. The longer it takes the greater the chance that something will happen to destroy our oil based economy. We all have a stake in this. That is when government need to work to anticipate and fix the problem. Contact the politicians, work for them, Vote and Donate!

The miles you get per charge (MPC) varies depending on how you drive and temperature. I do “eco-driving” and get 70 MPC from my Chevy Volt in the summer but only 50 MPC in the cold of winter. All electric car batteries perform less well in lower temperatures. If you drive like James Bond, your MPC will be lower. For a complete list of Mass. EV rebates go to Here and for IRS tax deductions go to Here.

HOW MUCH CARBON DOES A GAS CAR PUT IN THE AIR (in MPG or tons per year) from Motor Week Road Tests and Reviews

EV Tips

Chevy Volt vehicle line director Tony Posawatz has lots of practice eeking the most out of his Volt’s 16kwh battery, and says that even during Michigan’s cold winter months he’s achieved high mileage using battery power alone. While he won’t share his actual fuel economy numbers, he did share a few of his battery-power maximizing tips.

By taking advantage of the Volt’s technology features, driving in low gear, and being smart about when and how they acclimate their vehicle cabins, drivers can get better gas mileage and go further on a charged battery before switching to extended-range mode.

Chevy Volt driving tips to increase fuel economy: 

1. Use the Volt’s instrument panel Efficiency Gauge for driving style guidance, and remember to gently apply the accelerator and the brake whenever possible. 

2. Use the heated seat feature and Eco mode in cold weather to reduce battery load. Blowing hot air to raise the cabin temperature and warm occupants uses a lot of energy, however, heated seats are the most energy-efficient way to warm the driver. Warm or cool the car using your OnStar MyLink mobile app. Remotely warming or cooling the Volt’s cabin while it’s still plugged in and connected to the grid saves the battery power for driving. 

4. Use Low gear. The “L” shifter position can help you engage in more aggressive motor braking, which recaptures more energy for the battery when coasting to a stop, during stop-and-go traffic, driving down hills, and even while driving aggressively. 

5. Use the waste heat from the engine when in extended range mode to heat the cabin, but remember to turn it down when in EV mode 

6. Keep the car plugged in for automatic battery conditioning (and low cost off-peak electricity). 

7. Practice ABC (Always Be Charging). Download charging station locator apps, and keep note of public and private places, such as your friends houses, that have accessible power outlets. Get as many charges in as you can.