from http://www.usnews.com/blogs/fresh-greens/2008/09/17/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-chevy-volt.html
Reports suggest the Volt can make it through the EPA test cycle—which from 2008 includes high-speed running, air-conditioning load, and cold-start tests in addition to the city and highway cycles—with the internal-combustion engine running about 15% of the time. The straightforward calculation gives the Volt an EPA fuel-consumption rating somewhere north of 100 mpg. But the EPA apparently wants to certify the Volt differently, insisting it finishes the test with the batteries close to full charge. *That drops the calculated fuel consumption to just under 48 mpg*, because the internal-combustion engine would have to be run essentially all the time to keep the batteries near full charge. as soon as that gets wide reports that will be the immediate downfall of the demand for the volt. There will be many that will be able to beat that but that will be the number one excuse by everyone putting down electric cars.... _______________________________________________ Florida EAA mailing list [email protected] http://www.floridaeaa.org
