Environment

Chevrolet Volt Owners Surpass 100 Million Electric Miles

5 million gallons of fuel saved; $1,300 a year in fuel costs avoided
Dec 5, 2012 2:45 PM ET
Campaign: GM Greener Vehicles
Chevrolet Volt owners collectively have driven more than 100 million all-electric miles since the vehicle went on sale two years ago this month. The average Volt owner travels more than 65 percent of the time in pure electric mode as the car was designed – only using the gasoline-powered generator for longer trips.

DETROIT, December 5, 2012 /3BL Media/ - Chevrolet Volt owners collectively have driven more than 100 million all-electric miles since the vehicle went on sale two years ago this month. The average Volt owner travels more than 65 percent of the time in pure electric mode as the car was designed – only using the gasoline-powered generator for longer trips.

By charging regularly, Volt owners drive approximately 900 miles, or a month and a half, between fill-ups.  However, many Volt owners quickly exceed that average, based on an EPA-estimated 98 MPGe that puts electric-only range at 35 mpg city and 40 mpg on the highway. Andrew Byrne from Los Angeles is one of these drivers.

“Since my daily driving is all electric, I only really need to buy gas for long road trips,” Byrne said. “I drove over 1,900 miles on my last tank of gas.”

With each avoided trip to the gas station, Volt drivers continue to increase their return on investment. Based on EPA estimates and compared to the average new vehicle sold in the United States, Volt owners are saving about $1,370 a year in fuel costs.

“The best sign of a great product is when your customers are the most satisfied in the industry,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director. “Volt owners have found the Volt is not only fun to drive, but provides technology and performance where consumers need it most.”

This is the second year in a row the Volt has topped the satisfaction survey of one of the leading consumer testing organizations in the United States.

“My commute is 55 miles round trip, but with the Volt I use 80 percent less gas and save over $150 each month,” said Farris Khan from southeastern Michigan. “Plus the Volt is really fun to drive because of its instant torque; driving anything else feels like yester-tech!”

For the typical driver, the average Volt savings equates to:

  • Nine weeks of groceries at $151 per week
  • 228 car washes at $6 per car wash
  • 137 movie tickets at $10 per ticket

The 5 million gallons of gas saved is equivalent to $21 million in gasoline costs averted overall based on $4 per gallon of premium, or more than two supertankers of gas.

For the first 38 miles, the Volt can drive gas and tailpipe-emissions free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16.50-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank.

Founded in 1911 in Detroit, Chevrolet is now one of the world's largest car brands, doing business in more than 140 countries and selling more than 4 million cars and trucks a year. Chevrolet provides customers with fuel-efficient vehicles that feature spirited performance, expressive design, and high quality. More information on Chevrolet models can be found at www.chevrolet.com.