Comparison Test: 2011 Chevrolet Volt vs. 2010 Toyota Prius PHV

Na, I just believe in and support a well designed / engineered product that took everything into consideration. I don't think Prius is perfect but it is the best we've got (so far).

Isn't it what "being green" is all about? Prius is the king of it. The Volt is neither clean or green in the hybrid tailpipe emission standard. Volt emit the most smog emission in any hybrid (start/stop system is not hybrid). It consumes the most electricy in the electric car standard. EPA rating comparison with the electric cars:

Tesla Roadster - 28 kWh/100 miles
MiniE - 34 kWh/100 miles
Leaf - 34 kWh/100 miles
Volt - 36 kWh/100 miles
PHV Prius - 22 kWh/100 miles (based on CCSE actual numbers)

 

It will be nice to have more quiet, emissions free cars around. ICE cars smell bad. We have a Mazda 626 in the household that needs a coolant leak fixed. It stinks right now.

 

That survey was taken 9 years ago. 35 miles EV range would fit about 72% of the commute. Remember, it doesn't account for other trips before or after the typical commute.

 

So do you have some new statistic, or are you just guessing? Surely there are a large base of people driving that distance. I was saying around 3/4s until usb corrected me with a more exact statistic. Most of those are less than 35 miles, but throw in the 5 miles x 250 working days a year and you add 1250 gas miles or 35 gallons a year. I was going to add a few thousand for long trips any way, 80 gallons a year.

definitely want to include extra cs milea s as people will go extra distance. For me the bulk of my mileage would be electric, for standard work. But there are definetly trips and I might go to san antonio and not charge, about 140 miles rt, or as far as New Orleans.

 

Question: Does the Volt's interior heater use radiator water or electricity?

This morning, it was 10 degrees F when I started on a 50 mile (each way) trip in my G3. Naturally the ICE started, but after a warm-up, functioned normally. The ICE cycled on and off (normal) and maintained the heater and kept the pollution control system hot. Again, nomral. My average fuel efficiency was 48.8 mpg.

I assume in similar conditions, the Volt's ICE will need to start immediately to warm heater water even if the battery is fully charged?? The Prius ICE is not only heating water, it is providing energy for movement at the same time. Might the Volt ICE be running solely to provide heat? I assume it will need to cycle on/off often to maintain a hot pollution control system?? Where is the fuel efficiency in that mode??

OTOH, if the Volt's cabin is heated electrically, that will be a drain on the battery?? Volt "die-hards" will say just don't turn on the heater. RIGHT!!

Does the Leaf heater function on electricity?

 

See answers inside quoted text.

 

Not to get off subject on the loved/hated Volt, but the Leaf does not heat the cabin air (you should keep your jacket and gloves on) The Leaf heats the passengers instead. The Leaf has very efficient heated seats and a heated steering wheel. For anyone buying a Volt, I would highly recommend heated seats (and I'm surprised GM didn't make them standard.

 

I didn't know that about the Leaf. That's kind of a bummer, not a huge one but potentially kind of a drag. I assume it cools the cabin air...I mean, besides opening the windows...?

So it must have an electrically heated windshield, too, for the defrost function? Too lazy to do the research.

 

Yeesh! If that's accurate, the leaf ain't gonna be a popular car in northern climates! Yes, your butt will be warm while your feet and face freezes!

 

PHEV Prius, once in HV mode, performs in FE even better than standard Prius.
Better than this?
:rockon:

 

Here's one for ya that I've not heard talked about much -

When Volt battery depleted, in CS mode, does the ICE consistently shut off and stay off when stopped?

Doesn't Volt act like a series hybrid (a Civic hybrid) in CS mode where ICE shuts off at a stop and restarts when you lift the brake?

Note - just read the 2nd MG is clutched to ICE in CS mode, so it should restart ICE when lifting off brake from stop.

 

fotomoto - Thank you for your reply.
Erikon - I agree with your comment as well.

Perhaps ..... if these comments are accurate, it might explain why the Volt is not very fuel efficient .... and even less-so in cold weather?? It would be interesting to know the temperature where the ICE starts solely to provide cabin heat. I just envision that in cold weather (6 months of the year in many areas) the ICE would be running very in-efficiently solely to provide cabin heat.

I am thinking this may be the biggest fault of the Volt I have heard to date? The ICE will come up to operating temperature very slowely if all it is doing is warming water (not working). If the commute is only 10-15 frigid miles, the ICE might run most of those miles even if the battery is fully charged. Pollution will be greatest during the warm-up period as well.

Has anyone read a review of the Volt in cold weather??

 

nope - heated seats, "in addition" to electric (air) heat:

Nissan Leaf Test Drive and First Impressions

. . . . because who wants to breath frosty air?

 

Thank Gawd! I wondered how any car could be sold in a country that has winter without a cabin heater!

 

Not while in EV mode.
I'm just highlighting an hypocrisy. If you are going to complain about Volt drivers ignoring electricity used in mpg calculations, don't turn around claim the PHV Prius got x miles of EV when it might have used gas during the drive.

Yes, the Prius is more efficient overall. That, and emissions, aren't the end all and be all of car shoppers.

As pointed out, an EV has less parts than a hybrid, and Nissan went with a simpler design. So that explains for it being cheaper than the Volt. Once available, the BEV Focus will make for interesting comparisons between it and the Leaf. Ford is projecting a 100 mile range, as Nissan had done, but it has a liquid cooling and heating system for the battery. The Leaf has a simple and cheaper air cooling one. While it adds weight and cost, an active liquid system can keep the battery at the ideal temperatures for charging and discharging.

So, as I said, it will be interesting to see the comparison between cost, real world range, and battery lifespan between the two.

I'm surprised the Leaf has an electric heater for cabin heat. I thought EVs made use of a heat pump for cabin climate control. Is it in supplement to a heat pump, or is it another way to keep the cost down?

I believe the Volt has an active heating/cooling system on the Volt. Couldn't that also be used to preheat the cabin during the winter? To be efficient, it would require a timer to be programmed. So I'm thinking the idea was skipped. Of course, with the battery sitting between the seats, there might be some heat getting into the cabin.

 

One of the most stupid things GM has done is that Volt requires premium gas as I read from car magazines. So, shouldn't we put this into consideration calculating fuel economy? I would. MP$ is more realistic than MPG.

 

Hi Shelly,

Heat pumps loose efficiency below 32 F rapidly. That is why heat pump systems in houses use ground sourcing, rather than air-sourcing in northern climates.

For true cold-weather driving, a nice diesel fueld heater would have been ideal in the Leaf, and it could be made 75% efficient or better.

But there is a huge market ready and waiting for the Leaf outside cold weather driving areas - so I am sure Nissan said to itself - "Why screw up perceptions for our majority markets, and make them pay more for something they would never use?". "Lets get the basic success done first, and step on over to the cold weather areas later". Makes perfect sense to me....

 

Just curious what the specs of the electric heater are.

Surely even if its 500w, 1kw or 3kw it's a drop in the ocean for a 26kwh battery?