It's official: most Volt owners drive in EV mode

Most Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars are likely to be running on the smell of a coal-fired power station when the vehicle goes on sale here as a Holden from next year.

More than two-thirds of Chevrolet Volt customers never use their petrol engines, driving to work and back on electricity only, a US study has found.

The data – taken from more than 8 million kilometres of customer driving in North America the first six months of 2011 – should partly allay fears about "range anxiety" among detractors of electrics cars.

The Chevrolet Volt – to be sold in Australia as a Holden next year priced at about $60,000 – can travel up to 64km on battery power alone before a petrol engine kicks in for a further 400 kilometres of driving range.

However, some enthusiastic customers have travelled as far as 80km on a single charge. The worse-case scenario, the data showed, was 50km of petrol-free driving in severely hot or cold conditions (which can inhibit battery performance).

"What we're finding is that … people are using the vehicle as we expected," said Volt communications manager Rob Peterson, visiting Australia to help Holden launch the Volt here next year. 

Having cited a study in North America that showed the majority of motorists (78 per cent) travel less than 64km in their daily commute to and from work, General Motors used that distance as a target range for the Volt when running on battery power.

"Most people are going 1400 to 1500 kilometres in between stopping off at a gas station. They're charging up at home … and filling it up [with petrol] about every 30 days."

He said customers were comparing their Volt driving range online.

"These people are so passionate about their vehicle that they're out there trying to get more out of it, whether it's by driving style or by using the technology, they're constantly pushing themselves to get more."

As technology improves, General Motors is faced with a tough choice: use smaller and lighter battery packs (which would create more cabin and boot space) or maintain the battery size but increase the electric driving range?

Peterson says that dilemma is what GM is wrestling with now.

"I think we've got a little more work to absolutely define it, but that is the decision. Do you go to a smaller battery pack … or do you go to a same size battery pack with higher [driving] range? 

"The customer data tells us that … we're pretty close to the sweet spot."

He said if only 25 per cent of drivers took advantage of the vehicle's electric-only range, GM would look at increasing it. Conversely if 90 per cent of drivers never used the petrol engine, the company would consider removing it.

"But we fall in that 67 per cent [of drivers who only use electricity]. It starts to signal strongly that, 'Hey, you know what?  You might be right where you need to be'."

GM was able to capture the data through its OnStar system, a satellite-based customer assistance service.

More than half of all Volts sold so far have come with the extra-cost option of OnStar; customers who wish to participate in the study sign a waiver allowing GM to collect vehicle energy use and other data.

"Because these guys are early adopters, they actually want to share that information," Peterson said.

OnStar is unlikely to be available on Australian versions of the Volt and Holden is yet to establish how – and if – it will collect customer energy-use data.
"Obviously we don't have OnStar, so that's going to restrict us a little bit," said Holden spokeswoman Andrea Matthews.