EPA rates Chevy Volt all-electic mpg at 93mpg
Gas-only mpg pegged at 37; total driving range estimated at 379 miles
Automotive News
Rick Kranz
November 24, 2010
The 2011 Chevrolet Volt, an innovative plug-in hybrid, got not one but three different mileage ratings from the U.S. EPA today.
On electricity alone, the Volt achieves the equivalent of 93 mpg.
Powered solely by the gasoline engine, the Volt gets 37 mpg.
Running on a combination of electricity and gasoline, the Volt gets the equivalent 60 mpg, the EPA determined.
Additionally, the EPA said the Volt has a 35-mile range on electricity alone and a range of 379 miles with gasoline and electricity.
General Motors Co. had been saying that the Volt had a range of 35-50 miles on one full battery charge.
“We have said that the range is variable on how you drive,” said Doug Parks, GM’s vehicle line executive in charge of the Volt.
The Volt falls into the EPA compact vehicle segment, which includes such vehicles as the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze and Toyota Corolla.The Volt’s mpg rating was rated as best in the compact class by the EPA.
The new mileage label was created by the EPA with input from GM.
“The label helps customers understand the uniqueness of the Volt and how it applies to their routine,” said Scott Miller, vehicle performance manager for the Volt.
The Volt is the only 2011 vehicle that will use this label. However, although it has not been determined by the EPA, the label is expected to be used by automakers in the coming years with similar powertrains, Parks said. The label is not expected to be used for one model year and replaced with something different for 2012, he said.
“We are quite pleased with the numbers and the label,” Parks said. “If there was a simpler way, we would have done it.”
Earlier this month, Tom Stephens, GM’s global product chief, said Chevrolet would begin shipping the Volt to dealers as soon as the EPA issues a mileage label for the vehicle.
Parks declined to say when shipments would begin, however.
GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant has built Volts for shipment since early November. Parks would not provide a number.
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