The Volt’s biggest appeal has always been its ability to drive farther than the other plug-in hybrids in the competition. But for 2017, the Volt’s driving range is even better than before, offering an electric driving range of up to 53 miles, and a combined (gas/electric) driving range of 420 miles. These figures are considerable for combined driving range, but even more so when it comes to the electric driving range. Given that a lot of plug-in models only experience a driving range of 10-20 miles, the Volt is most certainly one of the ones spearheading the plug-in hybrid market.
Driving Range
With plug-in vehicles, there are three different types of driving ranges to be aware of before you start planning your next road trip. The first is the all-electric range, which allows the vehicle to drive a certain amount of mileage based on the electric motor(s) in the vehicle. Second is the gas-powered portion. In the case of the Volt, the gas-powered generator/engine will kick in when the electric engines run low on juice and give you a typical EPA fuel economy rating. Finally, the combined driving range is what the vehicle will get when it has both a full charge and a full tank of gas.
For the all-electric driving range, the 2017 Volt is able to go up to 53 miles on a fully charged battery. Expect 42 mpg combined when operating in conventional hybrid mode after the battery pack has been depleted. Total, the Chevrolet Volt experiences 420 miles of combined driving range.
Electric Motor
Dual-electric motors work in unison to provide the Volt with its electric driving range and efficiency. They both work towards the same goal: conserving electric charge while still providing responsive power and torque.
The juice that powers these two motors comes from a lithium-ion battery, which is both lighter and able to hold more energy than the one offered in the first generation.
Gas-Powered Generator/Engine
The 1.5-liter gas-powered generator/engine kicks in when the battery’s power levels get low, and lets you make the final push to get you where you need to go. This is what gives you a total driving range of 420 miles on a full charge and full tank of gas.