Back on Augest 12th I reported that GM was claiming an astonishing 230 miles per gallon (mpg) for the Chevrolet Volt plug in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV). (I also went on to say that even at that mileage the Volt was not worth the price.)
Now GM is hinting at the mileage the Volt may get when the battery has ran out and you have to run on the gasoline engine. The result: somewhere between 32 mpg and 50 mpg. Fox News reports (links original):
In an interview on FoxNews.com's Fox Car Report LIVE! webcast, Volt Vehicle Line Director, Tony Posawatz revealed that the fuel economy will be "better than any conventional car, and we're trying to figure out how close, or if it will actually be better than any hybrids."
Currently, the most fuel-efficient non-hybrid or non-alternative-fuel vehicles are the much smaller Toyota Yaris and MINI Cooper, both with an EPA combined rating of 32 mpg. The Toyota Prius is the reigning efficiency king at 50 mpg. Posawatz's statement would put the Volt's extended-range fuel economy squarely between those two figures, and possibly slightly higher than that of the Prius. But he added that the software that controls the car's powertrain is still being tweaked, and a final number is still to come.
So that's a little bit more realistic number. Which means if you drive a Volt more than the 40 miles range of the battery (and I'll bet you that range will shrink considerably if you have to use the AC or heater) you'll be getting mileage somewhere between a typical gasoline-powered small car or a Prius.
So the Volt is still not worth what you'll pay for it.
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