Chevy Volt?

for anybody in/near Blythewood, SC there is an EV demo day on Saturday from 10 am 'til 2 pm celebrating the installation of 5 charging stations at businesses right off of I-77. Based on the info I've found, there will be several different commercially available EV models available for test drives provided by local dealers including the Volt, Leaf, BMW i3 thingy, Mitsubishi golf cart & something else I don't recall.

FYI

Registration - may or may not be required

If you really don't want to meet/see me don't bother showing up because I will be there at some point. ;)

I searched briefly, but I'm missing the existing threads, I seem to recall that we have a few owners (besides actual GRM staff, but GRM staffers please provide any feedback you can/will). I have a couple of questions about this vehicle. A coworker purchased a used one and this has pushed my curiosity near the edge so I'm contemplating purchase of a 2015 model next year. Looking to reduce fleet by 2 or 3 vehicles by adding EV. My normal commute is 25-30 miles per day. Occasionally I have additional travels that might put me out of full electric mode on work days, but not regularly. Once per month or so, we take a 200-300 mile trip that would go outside the EV mode.

How are the Volt's seats for an extended drive? They remind me of the 1st gen Saturn Vue seats which were horrid for me.

Anybody set up a spreadsheet for comparison of life cycle costs compared to other EVs, hybrids, or conventional petrol cars?

Or got a link to a cost comparison/evaluation site that lets the user compare alternatives and customize based on actual location and useage?

Thanks!

I've used mine as a daily commuter for the last year and a half, plus Iv'e taken it on extended drives (4 to CT and back here to Baltimore, and one up to Maine and back). The seats were comfy enough for all of those trips.

secretariata wrote: I'm contemplating purchase of a 2015 model next year. Looking to reduce fleet by 2 or 3 vehicles by adding EV. My normal commute is 25-30 miles per day. Occasionally I have additional travels that might put me out of full electric mode on work days, but not regularly. Once per month or so, we take a 200-300 mile trip that would go outside the EV mode. How are the Volt's seats for an extended drive? They remind me of the 1st gen Saturn Vue seats which were horrid for me. Anybody set up a spreadsheet for comparison of life cycle costs compared to other EVs, hybrids, or conventional petrol cars? Or got a link to a cost comparison/evaluation site that lets the user compare alternatives and customize based on actual location and useage? Thanks!

The Volt has a "HOLD" mode which locks the vehicle into the engine powered battery mode. This is what the car would feel like when the main battery runs out of charge.

The seats are comfy.

I have a 130 mile round trip commute some days. The battery usually nets me around 36 or so miles of highway use in my traffic / speed combination. I typically get 40-50 MPG in this trip. I switch the car from HOLD for extended, faster (~70-80 mph) highway cruising to main battery for stop / go and residential use to maximize my mpg. It's kinda cool.

Try using google to find other threads on the topic.

Yea! The weekly Volt thread is here.

BTW, why would anyone here want to not meet you?

In reply to T.J.: I was joking, but you never know I may have accidentally offended somebody that I've never met because of something I posted. I'm sure such things happen...

In reply to amg_rx7: I realize that I probably used the wrong terminology for the Volt. I probably should have said something like "use gasoline" instead of "go outside the EV mode."

Glad to hear the seats aren't bad. I think it is the fabric upholstery that looks like the 1st gen Vue more than the shape.

In reply to secretariata:

Just as a word of caution, the base cloth seats seem to be less comfortable than the premium leather and suede seats for some reason...

Just post ho'in' here, but we drove a 2014 Volt this morning at the EV Demo I linked to above. Nicest Chevy I've ever driven. Very interested, just need to make some adjustments to the fleet and one potentially major housing adjustment before getting really serious.

Chris_V wrote: In reply to secretariata: Just as a word of caution, the base cloth seats seem to be less comfortable than the premium leather and suede seats for some reason...

And I like my cloth seats MUCH better than the leather ones I've sat in. Not saying Chris is wrong, just that it might be worth it to test your options before committing.

Ten months left on my lease. I'll have a hard time not just swapping it for a new one and doing another three years—especially if the deal is sweeter. It looks like my lease will be running out right around the time that we may be seeing the new models, though. Not sure if that means going with the second gen, or getting an insane deal on a leftover first gen. Lots to think about.

In reply to JG Pasterjak:

I prefer cloth to leather seating, so I will probably look for one without leather as a requirement when the time comes.

secretariata wrote: In reply to JG Pasterjak: I prefer cloth to leather seating, so I will probably look for one without leather as a requirement when the time comes.

There's two leather interiors, the pebble beige leather and suede has a much nicer finish on the seat bases and backs with suede in the seating area that feels better than the leather on the black interior. It also had suede on the cutouts in the door panels instead of hard plastic. The suede is cooler in the summer.

Black:

and my Suede beige:

In reply to Chris_V:

Not a fan of leather or light colored interiors. Too much sweating, grease, dirt, red clay, pet hair, etc. round here for light color suede...

Edit: Do like the blue exterior though!