Sweater, gloves required when driving Volt in cold

Wheels Canada.com ^ | March 5, 2011 | John LeBlanc

[Oldeconomybuyer]

The potential popularity of electric vehicles has always been tempered in cold climates like here in Canada because of the concerns that freezing temperatures will reduce the range of an EV’s batteries.

And now a long-tem test report of the Chevrolet Volt, in the U.S. magazine Motor Trend, has confirmed that fear and also suggests you may have to keep your winter clothes on while driving the plug-in electric hybrid during colder days.

The magazine found that the Volt uses up a “considerable” amount of battery range to heat up its cabin on colder days, reducing its range to well below 30 miles (48 kms) before draining the battery and reverting to its gas generator to recharge the batteries and power its electric motor — much lower than the optimal 64 km estimate.

The result led to the review calling the Chevy EV as “a sweater and gloves commuter car for northern-tier Volt owners.”

[Oldeconomybuyer]

[Uncle Ike]

If you’ve ever driven on old VW Beetle in the winter, having to wear heavy clothing (and keep a scraper in the car for the INSIDE of the windows) is not a particularly novel experience....

[Free America52]

What a joke.

[Humble Servant]

A $41,000 plus taxpayer subsidy golf cart.

How nice.

I feel stimulated.

And very green. Or maybe blue.

[WHBates]

"The magazine found that the Volt uses up a “considerable” amount of battery range to heat up its cabin on colder days, reducing its range to well below 30 miles (48 kms) before draining the battery and reverting to its gas generator to recharge the batteries and power its electric motor — much lower than the optimal 64 km estimate. "

LOL, I hope the didn't spend too much money on the study? They could have worked that out on paper with an eighth grade science class project.

[353FMG]

Back to the drawing board.

Let’s build a car with a foldable windmill on top.

[oh8eleven]

reducing its range to well below 30 miles before draining the battery
And it's only $41K+. Such a deal!

[digger48]

I wondered that when they came out.

It only goes 40 miles on a charge, and that’s without running the heater or air conditioner.

What happens to the mileage then?

[super7man]

We had an air cooled VW Vanagon camper. In the winter, driving in the Sierra, we were nice and warm going up hill and froze to death going down hill.

[Iron Munro]

[lysie]

Been there. Done that. Mine had great traction in snow, though.

[NewHampshireDuo]

I had a Series III Landrover in the early 70s. The heater was totally inadequate but the hoses could be disconnected and run directly into our jackets.

[WestwardHo]

If you’ve ever driven on old VW Beetle

Or an old VW Bus!! Oh the memories, oh the laughter!
Need ice scraper to clean oatmeal from screen!! LOL!!

[oh8eleven]

having to wear heavy clothing (and keep a scraper in the car for the INSIDE of the windows)
I had a Corvair back in the day - same attributes - and it handled "great" in snow too.
Oh, to be young and foolish again. LOL ...

[Mygirlsmom]

They could have worked that out on paper with an eighth grade science class project.

Pssshhh! Eighth graders don't drive, silly!

And then again, with education being what it is these days, maybe they do :D

[Christian Engineer Mass]

"Let’s build a car with a foldable windmill on top."

"great idea! It can power itself!"

[Iron Munro]

Back to the drawing board.

[central_va]

I guess the volt belongs in the bad idea of hall of fame, right next to the mesh condoms.

[hal ogen]

I suggest not only with windmills but with solar panel covered windmill blades. Also, it would probably be smart to have a composting toilet underneath each seat to produce methane to help “power” the Dolt...or I mean Volt.

[Dr. Sivana]