![]() ![]() ![]()
The 2014 Chevrolet Volt just may be GM’s best car for the money when you consider price, options and fuel economy. ![]() After about 10 minutes on the freeway of our 1,300 mile trip, she looked at me and said, “This is really a nice car.” I could not agree more. My wife has the honor of riding in all the cars I review. There is very little wind noise and no transmission shifts, so the ride is smooth and quiet. While not a sports sedan, takes corners without body roll and with confidence. The electrically assisted power steering, four wheel ABS and disc brakes, GM’s StabiliTrak electronic control system and front MacPherson Struts deliver a smooth highway ride. The car does not feel heavy since the weight is well distributed due to the under-seat battery placement, resulting in a low center of gravity. The five-door hatchback Volt weighs in at a seemingly hefty 3,800 lbs, but since electric motors provide instant and maximum torque, the Volt does not suffer any performance issues. Volt supplies power and efficiency Driving Experience: On The Road 2014 chevy volt range city full#The primary method to replenish the batteries is by plugging in: 120V–nine hours: discharged to a full charge 240V–four hours: discharged to a full charge The Volt does not come with a 480V Quick Charge option. The Volt has four drive modes, one of which, “Mountain,” recharges the battery at a faster rate when coasting downhill. As with the electric-only Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Spark we tested recently, the Volt’s 16.5 kWh Lithium-ion battery is charged by plugging-in, augmented by the Regenerative Charging System that converts kinetic energy into electricity when applying the brakes or coasting. Other than the center stack gauge showing the energy flow, you will not sense the change. The transition between battery-only power and when the gasoline engine turns on is quiet and seamless. 2014 chevy volt range city driver#The gasoline engine kicks in when the battery is out of charge or when the driver has selected the “Hold Drive” mode, which forces the car to not use any of the battery charge. 2014 chevy volt range city generator#This is where the electric motor and the gasoline engine deliver all the power through the electric motor, whether directly from the battery or the 54 kW generator driven by the gasoline engine. 2014 chevy volt range city series#The Volt is a series hybrid, or in Chevrolet terms – a Range Extender. The 149 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque get the Volt to 60 mph in about 9 seconds, which is perfectly acceptable when driving Southern California freeways. In my 1,160 miles, driven mostly on highways (remember, the EPA figures are based on 55 percent city driving and 45 percent highway), I got a very impressive 40.7 MPG. The gasoline engine alone is rated at 37 MPG combined highway and city. The “e” is for “equivalent” which is an EPA blended mileage using gasoline and electric power. The package delivers 98 MPGe in EPA testing. The front wheel drive 2014 Volt is powered by a 111 kW electric motor backed up with a 1.4L gasoline engine. ![]() Case in point is the 2014 Chevrolet Volt which uses a plug-in battery and gasoline engine technology to deliver a smooth, quiet and comfortable driving experience that will most likely get you to work and back without buying any gasoline, but then can take you across the USA – all while delivering in excess of 40 mpg. Nothing wrong with gasoline-powered cars, but times are changing and the alternatives are becoming more prevalent and should be on your shopping list. Doing so muddies the picture of the benefits and limitations of each technology and may result in some consumers giving up and retreating to the tried-and-true gasoline-only engine. We all know about hybrids, plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars, but please don’t lump them together. GM’s Best Car for the Money All Electric Locally But With Range To Go Beyond Chevy Volt – Bargain Charger ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |