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AUTOS: 230 MPG Claimed For Chevy Volt
General Motors said mileage for upcoming plug-in electric car would eclipse today's hybrid vehicles.
SPEED Staff  |  Posted August 11, 2009   Warren, MI
The Volt will be the first mass-produced plug-in electric car with onboard recharging. (Photo: General Motors)
The Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle is expected to achieve city fuel economy of at least 230 miles per gallon, based on development testing using a draft EPA federal fuel-economy methodology for labeling for plug-in electric vehicles, General Motors announced Tuesday.

The Volt, which is scheduled to start production in late 2010 as a 2011 model, is expected to travel up to 40 miles on electricity from a single battery charge and be able to extend its overall range to more than 300 miles with its flex-fuel-powered engine generator.

"From the data we've seen, many Chevy Volt drivers may be able to be in pure electric mode on a daily basis without having to use any gas," said Fritz Henderson, GM CEO. "EPA labels are a yardstick for customers to compare the fuel efficiency of vehicles. So, a vehicle like the Volt that achieves a composite triple-digit fuel economy is a game changer."

According to U.S. Department of Transportation data, nearly eight of 10 Americans commute fewer than 40 miles a day.

"The key to high-mileage performance is for a Volt driver to plug into the electric grid at least once each day," Henderson said.

Volt drivers' actual gas-free mileage will vary depending on how far they travel and other factors, such as how much cargo or how many passengers they carry and how much the air conditioner or other accessories are used, GM said. Based on the results of unofficial development testing of pre-production prototypes, the Volt has achieved 40 miles of electric-only, petroleum-free driving in both EPA city and highway test cycles.

Industry analysts at Edmunds.com were dubious about GM’s figures, contending that actual driving conditions would result in lower numbers.

“For most people, it is not realistic to expect that kind of mileage in real-world driving,” said Michelle Krebs, Edmunds.com senior analyst. “That being said, the Volt should easily get more than 50 miles to the gallon, and that will make it an industry leader.”

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