![]() ![]() The trip to Rogers Pass is one I could have done on a single charge earlier in the year. and off I went.Ģ017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car showing snow accmulation in windshield trough So I tossed my warmest sleeping bag on the back bench, put some food and drink in an insulated chest, loaded my ski equipment. I had equipped it with the meanest studded winter tires I could find. I was curious to see how my Bolt EV would perform in cold weather. It's a trip of 300 km (186 miles) from my home in the Kootenays to Rogers Pass, but there are no charging stations there-so I would need enough range to continue on or return to Revelstoke, a minimum of 370 km (230 mi). I decided to take a break from plowing and shoveling and go back-country skiing for a couple days at Rogers Pass in Glacier National Park. What follows are Gadotti's words, lightly edited by Green Car Reports for clarity and style, and photographs.ĭON'T MISS: 2017 Chevrolet Bolt EV electric car: owners' impressions after a yearĪround Christmas, there was a cold snap here in Western Canada, accompanied by abundant snowfall. It’s not the best pack mule in its class, but the Volt sacrifices very little cargo capacity to its electrified powertrain and will function much like any other car this size for road trips and airport runs.But what about more strenuous usage? Our reader D Gadotti of Western Canada put a white Bolt EV through its paces in some of the snowiest weather any electric car may have seen. Heated front and rear seats and a heated steering wheel are some of the few pieces of interior equipment that can be added to the order sheet. They may not be as pleased that those seats are manually operated even on the upper Premier trim. Front-seat passengers will be perfectly content in the Volt, with space to spread out, ample storage for small items, and a pair of comfortable seats. Creature comforts are lacking, too, and despite the car’s price, the Volt’s cabin never feels special. The Volt’s interior prioritizes function over form it suffers from a few dowdy design details and a criminally small back seat. Under the heading "Find & Compare Cars" click on the "Compare Side-by-Side" tool to find the EPA ratings for the make, model, and year you're interested in. For the latest and most accurate fuel economy numbers on current and older vehicles, we use the U.S. The Volt also handles well, reacts reasonably quickly to steering inputs, and expertly smooths out pockmarked pavement.ĮPA fuel economy testing and reporting procedures have changed over time. Acceleration feels quick, thanks in part to the electric motor with its instant torque delivery. We’d be happy to drive the Volt even without its future-friendly powertrain. When plugged in to a 240-volt outlet, that time shrinks to a more manageable 4.5 hours for a full charge. When it’s plugged in to a standard 120-volt household outlet, Chevrolet estimates, it will take 13 hours to recharge from empty. That big power source also translates to longer charging times than manyt rivals, however. The Volt’s large 18.4-kWh battery lets the car outstrip many plug-in hybrid competitors for range. There’s almost no noise from the powertrain during electric-only operation, and even the gas engine, once engaged, is usually so quiet that’s it’s easy to miss the transition. Its default power-delivery mode is to propel itself with electricity until its battery is depleted, at which time the gasoline engine kicks in to recharge the battery. The Volt’s powertrain uses two electric motors and a 1.5-liter gasoline engine to deliver quick, relatively powerful acceleration and impressive fuel economy. And there are three new exterior paint colors: Green Mist Metallic, Satin Steel Metallic, and Cajun Red Tintcoat. Some interior trim materials in the LT have been downgraded from leather to vinyl. There's a new driver-assistance package, which is optional on the entry-level LT model and adds blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert, and rear parking sensors. The Volt is almost completely unchanged for 2018. ![]() It’s also unexpectedly rewarding to drive, with solid dynamics, respectable acceleration, and relatively few compromises in the name of fuel efficiency. But the Volt's range is not its only strong suit. The Volt can manage an impressive 53 miles of fuel-free driving before switching on its gasoline engine to charge the battery. Although these models are getting to be more mainstream, Chevrolet’s once revolutionary Volt plug-in hybrid has remained a popular choice in a class that includes the Ford Fusion Energi, the Honda Clarity, and the Toyota Prius Prime. Since the first Chevrolet Volt was first sold in late 2010, hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and all-electric vehicles have become less of a novelty. ![]()
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