400k miles on a Volt, no battery degradation, original brake pads - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Daox · 10-18-2017, 10:58 AM

While I might argue the vehicle choice and even more so the given commute of 110 miles each way (seriously this is just ridiculous, ~3.5 hours of driving a day! not how I want to spend my life), it is quite impressive to see that the Volt is holding up so well under the circumstances. He does have nearly 150k EV miles on the Volt, so he is plugging in quite a bit.

https://insideevs.com/chevy-volt-400...y-degradation/

Stats:
400,000 miles
EV %: 35%
MPG: 59
MPGe: 48

cowmeat · 10-18-2017, 01:32 PM

I'm sure if I keep my Volt 400,000 miles I will also still be on the original brake pads. I pretty much drive this car without ever touching the brakes!

I'm wondering about a Volt as his choice of vehicles for a 220 mile commute though. But then again I'm also wondering about his choice of jobs that would require him to have a 220 mile commute! Seems there would be better vehicles to make that commute, better jobs closer to home, or better homes closer to work

samwichse · 10-20-2017, 10:13 AM

Why is his MPGe so low?

His car was rated at 98 MPGe when new IIRC. And he's only getting 48? Is that a miscalculation, or what?

EDIT: Never mind, his comments thing on the Volt stats page says "Drive it like you stole it!" He's probably doing 85-90 on the highway.

oil pan 4 · 10-20-2017, 11:35 AM

They probably engineered so much cush in the battery system for how much they thought the battery would degrade and it hasn't come any where near that.
I'm sure the battery has worn, it's just not showing up, which is a good thing.

My wife has 230,000 miles on hyundai OE brake pads and they are still have at least 2/3 the pad left. So 400k on a mostly highway driven car does not surprise me at all.
Really all it takes is for you to pull in for an oil change and the shop to say "you need mew brakes" and 90% of people will get them because they have no idea how to judge remaining brake life.

rmay635703 · 10-20-2017, 04:06 PM

He does drive 85-90mph the whole way

His vehicle choice is completely reasonable considering he won't alter his driving technique

Many PRII are in the 30's driven how he drives.

Only better car would be a 2000 Insight.

Also it is a myth that the Volt will open up the battery window on its own,
A GM tool and a Volt technician can open it up if the owner notices loss of range.
his battery (if you look carefully at his stats) has degraded a couple percent

Which just goes to show how well engineered and babied the volt battery is.

oil pan 4 · 10-20-2017, 06:55 PM

If that's what it takes to make a battery last a crazy long time the other OEMs should take notice.

rmay635703 · 10-20-2017, 08:05 PM

Most BEV OEMs want to use more than 60% of the battery capacity and don't want to actively cool in the heat

California98Civic · 10-21-2017, 07:11 AM

I wish I had a volt, often. But I use my brakes a lot less than might be expected, even for a hypermiled Civic with an ICE. DFCO + turning on the alternator is my regen braking. I control speed on the freeway & hills with DFCO/regen when normally most people use brakes. I frequently bring the car nearly to a stop before tapping brakes even once. Wish I had an actual regen system. Test drove a co-worker's I3 BMW and the regen was powerful!

jamesqf · 10-21-2017, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmay635703

Only better car would be a 2000 Insight.

Except he isn't going to get an Insight to consistently do 85-90, unless his route's downhill both ways :-)

hayden55 · 03-19-2018, 05:27 PM

Did anybody else notice his cost per mile was almost not cheap at all? How do you get 48 mpge? And if you break down the numbers that was 38.4 lmpg. At my local 0.08749c/kWh and $2.15/gal that works out to a whoppin $0.05794/mi.
My 2010 prius gets $0.04479/mi.
O.O
Sorry for bringing this back but i've been researching volts.