Finally replaced our 2004 Prius with a 2013 Volt

[Daox]

Our 2004 Prius has finally started giving us somes issues here and there (dang thing has been nearly bullet proof for so many years). It is my wife's car, and she really liked the car and wanted another one. I had my eye on a newer Prius because that is what she wanted, but then had this Volt come up in my searching. We went and checked it out and the thing has been taken care of extremely well. The interior looks brand new as far as I can see, and the exterior is in great shape too minus a few scuffs. This is all pretty amazing considering it has 190k miles on it.

So, I'm a big huge newb as far as knowing how to best use the car (besides trying to stay in the EV range), and also what can be done with it. We've only driven it a few times, but it seems like the EV range guess-o-meter pretty drastically underestimates the range it gives. When fully charged I've seen 26-29 miles. However, my wife just took it 30 miles yesterday and when she got back home it said it had 9 miles left. So, I guess it is still adjusting to her driving style? I'm also using the 120V EVSE that comes with the car. I think a 240V EVSE would be a nice upgrade and also would be more efficient. In any case, some help in getting me up to speed on this 10 year old car would be very appreciated.

[Daox]

Well, it appears my battery isnt too degraded. Just took a 49 mile round trip all on electric power. Conditions were very ideal, low 70F and probably around 40 mph average speed.





And even 3 miles to spare.

[me and my metro]

My brother in law bought Volt # 68. He preordered it a year before they finally came out. He is now a retired electrical engineer and the technology interested him. He loved the car and kept it until 2017, he used it in ideal conditions. Short trips at moderate speeds and off peak 240 volt charging. He put about 80,000 miles on it and it rarely used any gasoline. I think they wanted you to use some gas to keep that part of the system working properly.

[freebeard]

Congrats.

So, I'm a big huge newb as far as knowing how to best use the car (besides trying to stay in the EV range), and also what can be done with it.

I know the feeling. My 1990 Metro is mysterious compared to the 1971 Superbeetle.

[rmay635703]

Yeah if that Volt got the infamous “battery longevity update “ you likely get to look forward to
Much less battery capacity
Much less range
Much lower winter fuel economy

Generally your battery should show 10-10.5kwhrs new (on the screen)

The Volt is like the Insight in that you need the OEM tires and 50psi to get the best experience.

If you want to get some of this back I recommend finding Brian Baptista and the Volt diy repair, Volterado tune and diy programming facebook forums

Brian has enabled ELR mode in a diy setting which gives back some lost range and the Volterado tune although in beta enables lean burn on e30+ fuels with a tune.


As for “easy” mods any EVSE can be modified from 120vac to 220VAC if you cut out the neutral wire so you can choose a 110vac end or 220VAC end.

Thankfully most EVSEs these days don’t need that extreme of a mod, some have a switching supply and are 220 ready out of the box, others like the 2013 Voltec clipper creek EVSE require a minor internal mod.

Good luck and have fun with your new car

[MetroMPG]

I'm envious.

I haven't spent much time searching car listings in quite a while, but coincidentally the last time I did was to see where the used Volts were priced. (Still stupidly high!)

Congrats - you're going to have fun while saving gas!

[aerohead]

I have a recollection of an auto journalist who did a VOLT,USA cross-country , from East to West with his daughter. They drove around 65-mph, with AC, and averaged 37-mpg for the 2,900-mile trip.
AeroStealth has a friend in New Mexico with one, and for local commuting, the engine never fires, except for when the ECM determines that it needs to be exercised.
A neighbor had a Gen-2 VOLT, who traded it in on a new Ford Escape. She only got $ 10,000 on a trade in. If I'd known, I would offered her much more, and had the cash. It was rated at 53-miles EV-only. My average commute is 17-miles.

[Daox]

I've driven it a couple more times and I am really enjoying it. It rides a lot nicer than the Prius and has a bit more pep as well. The quiet driving (the Prius had an exhaust leak) is also so nice.

I'll have to check my KWH available on the screen after charging. But the range guess meter seems to have updated some as we had 32 miles of range when we took it out last night.

I've been so busy I haven't actually aired up the tires yet (cardinal sin I know!). But, I did notice that I'll be needing new ones before winter rolls around. I'll have to check out the OE ones I guess. Thanks for that tip!

[rmay635703]

https://m.facebook.com/groups/chevyv...9053635208328/

[Daox]

It looks like the battery seems to be in decent shape. This is a shot of the energy screen right when the engine kicked on today. I'm not sure where else to check the battery capacity?