High Voltage claims from GM about Chevy Volt mileage
Autotopia from WIRED reports that GM is claiming that the forthcoming Chevy Volt will get 230 MPG.
That’s more than four times higher than the Toyota Prius, the current EPA fuel-efficiency champ.
The figure is based on development testing using methodology drafted by the Environmental Protection Agency for plug-in hybrid vehicles. Company CEO Fritz Henderson offered no details on how GM arrived at that figure, but he predicted the Volt will be the first mass-produced vehicle to top 100 mpg in combined city and highway driving. Coupled with the car’s expected electric-only range of 40 miles, Henderson said the Volt could all but free consumers from petroleum. According to the Department of Transportation, nearly 80 percent of Americans drive less than 40 miles each day.
“From the data we’ve seen, many Chevy Volt drivers may be able to drive in pure electric mode on a daily basis without having to use any gas,†Henderson said. “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.â€
There’s some interesting discussion about whether or not that’s possible after the article and also at Slashdot, where they note that this is what’s behind the cryptic “230” ad campaign that pointed to today as the date when everyone (anyone?) who has been wondering about this would finally be able to sleep at night and know what is 230? (also has a link to the Chevy Volt Facebook if you want to befriend this potentially game-changing car.
If you have other questions, maybe Chevy Volt Co-Creator Jon Lauckner can answer them in this video below.