It’s not as seamless as the one I tested on the Mercedes-Benz S550, but it does the job extremely well. So is automated parking - the “Look Ma, no hands” feature that I adore because I’m such a clumsy parallel parker. Traction control and stability control are standard. Chevrolet supplies the charging cable, which tucks into a space that also includes a tire sealant and inflator kit in lieu of a spare tire.Īs is appropriate for a post-Jurassic vehicle, the Volt has some forward-looking safety features. Recharging time is four to five hours on a 240-volt system and about 13 hours on a regular household 120-volt plug. When the gas engine kicks in, the transition is gentle and the engine noise rises only slightly. On the freeway, it accelerates smoothly and confidently, even at higher speeds.Ī committed driver can even apply a regenerative hand brake, instead of the foot brake, which uses the motor to slow the car down and refreshes the battery at the same time.Īn over-busy dash displays charge level, fuel level, remaining electric range, remaining total range, and more. Capable of reaching 30 mph in 2.6 seconds, almost the same rate as a Tesla, the Volt zips through traffic free of engine noise or vibration. Like all electric cars, the Volt is torquey, smooth and silent. When the battery runs out of charge, a 1.5-liter gas “range extender” - in essence a generator - powers the car. I have a friend who plugs in his Volt every night when he comes home and says he has filled his gas tank only five times in three years.Ĭhevy boosted the electric range in the 2016 model to 53 miles by designing a more efficient electric motor, attached to an improved lithium-ion battery. But 30 miles was enough for some commuters. Electric range was about 30 miles, and total range was 10 times that.
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