# Volt on Schedule After 4 Years; Gets 93 MPG Sticker!!!!!  By Felix Kramer

- Link: https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/12/volt-on-schedule-after-4-years-gets-93-mpg-sticker-by-felix-kramer/
- Published: 2010-12-03T15:54:23-05:00
- Author: greenlivingguy

_**Source: Felix Kramer and CalCars.org**_

Lots more news on the Chevy Volt: the EPA fuel efficiency sticker confirms the car’s
performance; the company meets its November deadline; plans for the first vehicles;
reports from the first drivers; a Southern California Volt event this weekend. Plus:
a British study validating PHEVs; news about the European Ampera; and another encouraging
development for conversion of gas-guzzlers, this time in Iceland.

 Shortly after it goes out on email, this posting will also be viewable at [http://www.calcars.org/news-archive.html](http://www.calcars.org/news-archive.html)—
there you can add CalCars-News to your RSS feed.)

 EPA RATES CHEVY VOLT AT 93MPGe: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued
its ratings on the Volt. The car came in at 93MPe (equivalent) combined city/highway
in all-electric mode. (“Equivalency” attempts to compare vehicle efficiency by calculating
the electric [ energy](https://greenlivingguy.com/2022/08/10-largest-wind-project-development-2022/)
equivalent of a gallon of gas.) The Volt rated a respectable 37 MPG when the battery
is depleted and the car runs as a hybrid. The EPA also confirmed a 35-mile electric
only range, four-hour charging at 240 Volts, 379 total range, and an overall combined
MPG and MPGe number of 60, based on assumed driving patterns. (A week before, the
EPA rated the all-electric Nissan LEAF 106 MPGE city and 92 highway.)

 The stickers have been a subject of great controversy — and negotiation with carmakers.
The results are good enough to demonstrate the plug-in’s enormous advantage over
conventional gasoline-only and conventional hybrid vehicles. And they effectively
silence those who’ve been skeptical of the message from CalCars and other advocates
that PHEVs can get “100+MPG of gasoline plus a penny a mile of electricity.” You
can read thoughtful analyses and discussions at the usual news sites; also see Ron
Gremban’s technical comments at [http://www.plugincars.com/epa-rates-chevy-volt-93-mpg-or-60-mpg-or-35-mpg-depending-106498.html#comment-2729](https://web.archive.org/web/20190827150022/https://www.plugincars.com/epa-rates-chevy-volt-93-mpg-or-60-mpg-or-35-mpg-depending-106498.html).

 GM DELIVERS FIRST CAR IN NOVEMBER: GM announced the Volt on January 7, 2007 as 
a concept vehicle. Within a few months, the company said it would be produced by
November 2010. While every other plug-in car-maker has found its schedules slipping,
even with a delay to follow GM’s IPO, the company coasted to a last-day-of-the-month
finish line. (Of course, it’s actually a starting gate!) The first car went to the
company’s Heritage Center exhibit. And now that the fuel economy sticker can be 
put on car windows, we’re looking forward to consumer deliveries, perhaps in December.

 VOLT #2 UP FOR AUCTION: The second production vehicle is being auctioned at [http://www.bidonthevolt.com](http://www.bidonthevolt.com/)
ending Tuesday December 14. The proceeds in two weeks will benefit the Detroit Public
Schools Foundation, supporting science, technology, engineering and math programs.
Bidding for this unique vehicle has already reached $180,000.

 GM CONSIDERS EXPANDING PRODUCTION: Currently GM plans to produce 10-15,000 Volts
in 2011 for delivery in seven states, then 45,000 in 2012 nationwide. 240,000 interested
buyers have signed up on its website. To start paying off development costs and 
build profitability through economies of scale, GM’s CEO Dan Akerson said at the
launch ceremony that GM is considering doubling or tripling the Volt’s volumes; 
Vice Chairman Tom Stephens said increases could begin in 2011. [http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-30/general-motors-said-to-hire-1-000-electric-vehicle-engineers-in-michigan.html](http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-11-30/general-motors-said-to-hire-1-000-electric-vehicle-engineers-in-michigan.html)

 GM COMMITS FURTHER TO VEHICLE ELECTRIFICATION: At the Volt launch event, GM spokesperson
Rob Peterson said the company will increase its 2,000 EV engineer team by another
1,000. Clearly the Volt is the starting point for plug-in models throughout the 
company’s line.

 BRITISH ENGINEERING PANEL ENDORSES PHEVS: A panel of nine leading British auto 
industry consultants has concluded that series PHEVs are the most practical bridge
to EVs for a decade or longer. See the 54-page report at [http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/publications/list/reports/Electric_Vehicles.pdf](http://www.raeng.org.uk/news/publications/list/reports/Electric_Vehicles.pdf).
An article from the US Society of Auto Engineers at [http://ev.sae.org/article/8612](https://web.archive.org/web/20101112213310/http://ev.sae.org:80/article/8612)
analyzes the report and quotes at length from Richard Parry-Jones, former top tech
executive at Ford.

 NEWS FROM EARLY VOLT DRIVERS: Members of the Volt Consumer Advisory Board are recounting
their experience at two independent websites: [http://gm-volt.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-VOLT-Consumer-Advisory-Board-Discussion-Forum](https://gm-volt.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?18-VOLT-Consumer-Advisory-Board-Discussion-Forum)
and the newer [http://gmvoltcab.com](http://gmvoltcab.com) . GM-Volt.com publisher
Lyle Dennis describes his first weeks at [http://gm-volt.com/2010/11/29/living-with-the-chevy-volt-the-first-1300-miles/.](https://gm-volt.com/2010/11/29/living-with-the-chevy-volt-the-first-1300-miles/)
And if you’re near Los Angeles this Saturday afternoon, you’re invited to the second
meet-up of Southern California Volt drivers. Chelsea Sexton explains why it’s especially
great that the event will be hosted at the GM Powertrain Advanced Technology Center
in Torrance, and that it will include a get-together with GM engineers and a tour
of the facility. Details at [http://www.gmvoltcab.com/journal/2010/11/23/next-socal-volt-cab-meet-up.html](http://www.gmvoltcab.com/journal/2010/11/23/next-socal-volt-cab-meet-up.html)

 OBAMA TOUTS EUROPE’S VERSION OF VOLT: While at a NATO meeting in Lisbon, the President
checked out the Opel Ampera, slated for sale in Europe a year from now. He was making
the point that plug-in vehicle technology developed in the U.S. will be a strong
contender for international sales. Largely because of value-added taxes, the vehicle’s
list price will be $17,000 higher than the Volt. [http://www.detnews.com/article/20101120/AUTO01/11200383/Obama-promotes-electric-cars-on-Portugal-visit&#8211](http://www.detnews.com/article/20101120/AUTO01/11200383/Obama-promotes-electric-cars-on-Portugal-visit&#8211);

 ON OUR OTHER FAVORITE TOPIC: PLUG-IN CONVERSIONS: We’re encouraged by the latest
from Northern Lights Energy in Iceland, a company with ambitious goals of converting
the nation’s entire fleet to plug in. It has a letter of intent to purchase 1,000
electric SUVs from Amp EVs [http://www.ampelectricvehicles.com/](http://www.ampelectricvehicles.com/),
the small public Ohio company that has begun selling all-electric retrofits of GM
Equinox SUVs and Solstice and Sky roadsters. AMP says it has a deal with an unnamed
carmaker to provide vehicles. Details on the Iceland deal at [http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/amped-up-in-iceland-1000-electric-suvs-on-order/2726](http://www.bnet.com/blog/electric-cars/amped-up-in-iceland-1000-electric-suvs-on-order/2726)

**More on Electric Vehicles From The Green Living Guy**

Return of The Electric Car

Why the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid is More EV Than Hybrid?

**More from The Green Living Guy:**

 1. Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman and Bob Brandt

2. Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman

3. Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel

**More About Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles from The Green Living Guy**

The Prius You Can Plug In

Events Rundown: National & California Plus New Global Campaigns by Felix Kramer 
from [CalCars](https://greenlivingguy.com/2010/09/the-conversion-scene-on-plug-in-hybrid-electric-vehicles-phev-calcars-update-with-the-green-living-guy-twist/).
org

Toyota and New York City will join the company’s U.S. Prius Plug-in Hybrid vehicle(
PHV) demonstration program.  

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 greenlivingguy

 The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living
expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author,
Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The
Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides
and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant
and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric
Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green
Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For 
Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke #
Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power
System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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