It’s even still pretty efficient when running in range-extended mode, scoring 37 mpg combined.
#Used chevy volt range generator
If your travels take you beyond the battery-only range, the gasoline-powered onboard generator kicks in and takes you as far as you need to go. In the case of the Volt, you don’t even have to worry about running out of battery power. Then you charge overnight and you’re good to go again tomorrow-all without a drop of gas. The Leaf is good for 84 miles on its battery, while the Chevy Volt is good for about 40 miles on a charge before it turns on its on-board generator to keep the electric motors turning the wheels.įor most people, though, these smallish ranges are plenty to handle a day’s driving duties-the commute, the grocery run, the drinks with friends. Neither the Leaf nor the Volt have huge Tesla-like ranges on battery power alone. In fact, the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt may constitute two of the very best possible used car buys in America today-for the right buyer. There are plenty of great reasons to buy a used electric (or plug-in hybrid), and very few reasons not to.
After all, when your phone is a year or two old, the battery is pretty much toast, right?īut you should ignore those sky-is-falling fear mongers. But if the battery is rarely used, those costs can jump significantly.If you’ve paid any attention to the world of electric and hybrid cars over the past 5-15 years, you’ve probably heard horrific prophecies of the woes of long-term ownership, mostly centered around fears of the battery’s longevity.
#Used chevy volt range drivers
If drivers make good use of the battery then running costs are lower than a traditional petrol or diesel car. How much hybrid cars cost to run largely depends on how they are used. Instead, they rely on the combustion engine, which has to work harder and use more fuel to cart around the extra weight of the unused battery. Part of the problem with plug-in hybrids is that many owners rarely remember to plug their cars in to charge the battery. Other studies suggest that in worst-case scenarios, emissions from a plug-in hybrid can be higher than even a conventional petrol or diesel car. This would mean a plug-in hybrid would only reduce emissions by about a third, compared to a conventional petrol car. Official tests suggest plug-in hybrids emit an average of 44g of CO2 equivalent per kilometre, but tests under “real world” driving conditions see them emit 120g per km, the groups claim. However the verdict is less clear when it comes to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.Ĭarmakers promote their plug-in hybrids as a green choice for drivers not ready to embrace a pure electric model.īut research from pressure groups Transport & Environment and Greenpeace suggest plug-in hybrids often don’t live up to carbon saving claims made by carmakers. Repeated studies have proved that electric cars are better for the environment than petrol or diesel vehicles, even when they are charged from fossil-based electricity sources. They are promoted as the ideal solution for people who want a car for zero-emission driving around towns and cities that is also well suited for longer road trips. Hybrid cars essentially feature a back-up combustion engine, so drivers do not have to stop and plug in if they run out of battery range. But public charge points can be scarce and unreliable, making driving trickier for people without a private plug. For drivers with a private driveway and plug point, this is not usually a problem. What are the benefits of a hybrid car?įully electric cars need to be plugged in and powered up before they can be used. The battery – which like a fully electric car needs to be plugged in and charged – allows the car to be driven in zero-emission mode for up to 50 miles. But as mild hybrids mainly use petrol for normal driving, they do not cut driving emissions significantly.Ī plug-in hybrid contains a bigger battery alongside a combustion engine. There’s no need to plug the car in to recharge – it harvests the energy from braking to store in the battery for later use. That means it has no combustion engine under the bonnet, and it produces no exhaust fumes.īy comparison, a “mild” hybrid relies on an electric motor and tiny battery for starting and driving at low speeds. What is the difference between an EV, a hybrid, and a plug-in hybrid?Ī “pure” electric vehicle runs exclusively on battery power.
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