Chevy Volt Drivers Tell Their Fuel Economy Stories

Three Chevy Volt owners shared their fuel economy stories on the Chevrolet website:

Three Volts. Three distinct fuel economy stories. Unlike most cars, where mileage differences vary slightly from driver to driver, the Volt defies conventional MPG measures because it runs approximately 35 miles on a single charge of electricity to its 16 kWh battery, and then can travel another 344 miles on an onboard gasoline-powered electric generator that seamlessly kicks in when the battery is drained.

By recharging their Volt regularly, owners are easily surpassing the 93 miles per gallon equivalence, or MPGe, on full electric operation and an overall 60 MPGe composite fuel economy during extended-range operation. The EPA ratings make the Volt the most energy efficient compact car on the market today.

“I really believe that over the long-term we have to have technology that is going to get us off fossil fuels and the Volt does that – I have the option of never buying gas again,” McCarver said.

Said Volt marketing director Cristi Landy: “The Volt is great for any lifestyle and can handle the driving demands of daily life. The majority of Volt customers are finding that by recharging their cars daily they are seeing exceptional real-world fuel economy. ”

Read their stories here. 

Stop by Tyrrell-Doyle Chevrolet to learn more about the Chevy Volt.

What is So Special About the Chevy Volt Gas Tank?

The Chevy Volt offers a special pressure-sealed gas tank:

For the last several decades, new vehicles have been equipped with charcoal canisters to trap evaporating gasoline and then feed it back to the engine. Since the Volt’s engine may not fire up for extended periods, hydrocarbons potentially could build up in the canister, so the sealed tank contains the vapor. The extra pressure meant that a lightweight steel tank had to replace the lightweight plastic tanks used in most modern vehicles.

Volt engineers and supplier Spectra Premium Inc. developed the tank from 1.4 millimeter thick hot-dip tin-zinc coated steel to resist corrosion from both inside and outside. Despite the strength of the tank, it has a mechanical pressure relief valve that begins opening at 3.5 psi and a vacuum relief that opens at -2.3 psi, levels that are rarely exceeded.

Even with a tank that resists fuel vapors escaping or humidity getting in, the gas inside still needs to be used up and replenished periodically. That’s where the Volt’s “maintenance mode” comes in. If the engine hasn’t started after six weeks, the powertrain controller sends a message to the driver telling him the engine needs to run for maintenance.

Volt drivers can defer the engine maintenance mode for up to 24 hours, after which the engine will run for a while on its own to use up some of the gas and keep the internals lubricated and ready for use. If a driver manages to go a full year between fill-ups, the fuel maintenance mode will run the engine until the old gas is used up or the driver adds fresh fuel.

Read entire article here.

Learn more about the Chevrolet Volt at Tyrrell-Doyle Chevrolet.

More Info About the Chevrolet Volt Battery

Engineers of the four-seat Chevrolet Volt electric car often refer to its 435-pound battery pack as the fifth passenger. Given the care taken to keep the pack at just the right temperature in all temperature conditions, there is a lot of truth to that.
The Volt’s ability to operate gasoline-free on a day-to-day basis and carry an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty is due to active thermal management of the advanced lithium ion battery pack.
“Every battery has a temperature sweet spot where it provides the optimal blend of power output, energy capacity and long life and we keep the Volt right on that target,” said Bill Wallace, General Motors director of Global Battery Systems. Batteries that are too cold are reluctant to release electrons while batteries that run too hot can see a significantly shorter life.
The Volt’s T-shaped battery pack consists of 288 individual cells arranged into nine modules. Plastic frames hold pairs of lithium-ion cells that sandwich an aluminum cooling fin. The design and construction of that aluminum plate is critical to ensuring an even temperature distribution with no hot or cool spots across the flat, rectangular cell. The battery pack has its own cooling circuit that is similar to, but independent from, the engine cooling system.

Read entire article here.

Learn more about the Chevrolet Volt at Tyrrell-Doyle Chevrolet.

Chevrolet Suburban and Traverse Named Top 10 Family Cars

The Chevrolet Suburban and Chevrolet Traverse have both made Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com's list of top family cars:

Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com has named the Chevrolet Suburban and Traverse two of their Top 10 Family Cars for 2011. To compile their list, kbb.com editors examined family-friendly considerations such as safety, comfort, economy of operation, child-friendliness, purchase price and resale value.

In naming the Chevrolet Traverse a top family car,editors wrote:

“No stranger to this list, the Chevy Traverse remains among the most family-friendly vehicles on the market. Practical features like seating for up to eight passengers, abundant cargo space, impressive fuel economy and a five-star overall crash rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) appeal to our pragmatic side, while the 2011 Chevy Traverse's attractive exterior styling and surprisingly nimble handling help win over our emotions.”


In naming the Chevrolet Suburban a top family car, editors wrote:

“In addition to seating for up to nine passengers, the ability to tow up to 9,600 pounds and a whopping 45.8 cubic feet of cargo space – behind the third row! – the 2011 Chevy Suburban returns better-than-Expedition fuel economy of 15 city and 21 highway miles per gallon. Add to this people- and cargo-moving mix a pleasant ride and all manner of creature comforts, and it's easy to see why the Suburban made our list of Top 10 Family Cars again this year.”

Read entire article here.

Stop by Tyrrell-Doyle Chevrolet to learn more about the Suburban and Traverse.

Chevrolet MyLink Brings Smartphone Capabilities to the Vehicle

Chevrolet's new MyLink will bring Smartphone capabilities to the Chevrolet Equinox and Chevrolet Volt starting in the fall:

Consumers who seek a higher level of in-vehicle wireless connectivity and customized infotainment options, plus the unmatched safety and security of OnStar need look no further than the 2012 Chevy Volt and Equinox.

When these vehicles go on sale later this year, they will be the first to offer Chevy MyLink – an in-car infotainment package that builds on the safety and security of OnStar and seamlessly integrates online services like Pandora® internet radio and Stitcher SmartRadio® using hands-free voice and touch-screen controls via Bluetooth device connectivity.

“There is a new generation of car buyers who don’t want to settle for mass market radio,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet Marketing. “They want to create their own individual stations and have access to them wherever they are. Chevrolet vehicles have offered customers the ability to use portable media devices since 2006 and the introduction of MyLink takes media personalization to a new level. ”

MyLink adds stereo audio streaming and wireless control of smartphones, building on the voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free calling capability already offered in most Chevy vehicles. MyLink also includes a seven-inch, high-resolution, full-color touch screen display that makes media selection easy to navigate.

Read entire article here.

Introducing the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

Chevrolet presented the 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 at the recent Chicago Auto Show:

■LSA 6.2L supercharged engine will produce an estimated 550 horsepower (410 kW) and is matched with a six-speed manual transmission with a dual-disc clutch system


■Packed with performance technologies, highlighted by Magnetic Ride Control, and advanced materials – including a vented carbon fiber hood insert. Extensive aerodynamic development designed for high-performance driving

■Development ongoing, targeting launch at the beginning of 2012

The 2012 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 debuted today at the Chicago Auto Show. It is the highest-performing Camaro and the most technically advanced car ever developed in its class. The new ZL1 continues the momentum of Camaro, propelling it into an entirely new realm of leading-edge performance technology. It is planned to launch at the beginning of 2012.

Motivated by a supercharged V-8 engine producing an estimated 550 horsepower (410 kW), the Camaro ZL1 will be the fastest Camaro ever offered by Chevrolet. And more than just power, the ZL1 features technologically advanced and highly developed chassis and suspension systems that help it deliver balanced, track-ready handling and braking power to complement its high engine output. Rigorous development of the ZL1 is ongoing, and official estimates of the car’s capabilities will be released later in 2011, as testing nears completion.

“Camaro ZL1 is about high-tech performance and design, and is a type of car no one has ever brought to this segment previously,” said Rick Scheidt, vice president of Chevrolet marketing. “It’s the most technically advanced Camaro ever, so we’ve chosen a name from the most elite and exclusive Camaro in history.”

Read entire article here.

Learn more about the current line of Camaros at Tyrrell-Doyle Chevrolet.

Chevrolet Launches Certified Services

Certified Service, a new approach to help make customers so satisfied with service at the dealership that they won’t want to take their vehicle anywhere else, is now available at all U.S. Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac dealerships.


“The purchase of a vehicle is only a portion of the customer’s full experience with their vehicle, which they will drive for several years,” said Steve Hill, GM North American vice president, Customer Care and Aftersales. “For GM to fulfill its vision to design, build and sell the world’s best vehicles, we must provide a truly exceptional ownership experience from the first day of ownership until they buy their next vehicle from us. Our customers expect and deserve this.”

Certified Service elements include a new service look and feel, national retail programs offering competitively priced, convenient service performed by trained experts who best know these vehicles, and a new focus on the total vehicle ownership experience.

“Certified Service brings together many of the necessary elements for creating positive, long-lasting relationships with our customers,” Hill said. “It’s more than a name change - it’s a commitment from the highest levels of this company to provide superior treatment, convenience and value during every service visit.

Visit Tyrrell-Doyle Chevrolet for more information.