Sweater, gloves required when driving Volt in cold

ICE's are excellent at generating waste heat unlike EE's.
Unfortunately, the Volt runs on electricity further than any other hybrid out there.

 

Yes but EVs have been around for a while and somehow they always seem to get a couple KW heater coil in the dash to warm up the car somehow.

 

That's exactly the reason that the Prius plug-in warms up the cabin while it is plugged in.

 

I'm sad to say that as EV has now become real we're seeing some of its drawbacks that before we hadn't thought about.

I have wondered for months what the numbers look like for a Volt or Leaf in cold weather because batteries hate cold. But then on top of that how much worse they'll be when running the heat.

I've been slightly changing my mindset recently wondering if ICE-based hybrids are really better than thought. EVs have that incredible battery cost but even after that their cost of operation when compared to an efficient hybrid like the Prius is really not hugely better. Going from 25->50 mpg saves you a lot of money--much, much more than going from 50->100.

 

I drove a leaf yesterday in 2 degrees for two hours. The heater started off at about 1.5kw use, and once up to a comfy temperature it rolled down to about 800 watts. it seemed to me that it somehow tied heater use to vehicle speed, since pootling round at 30 not much heat appeared, but going up to 60 caused it to start blasting hot air.

 

Perhaps a redesign of the automobile is in order; add more insulation and pay more attention to cabin comfort. If you turn of the heat in any car you can feel the cold almost instantly. It is time to think outside the ICE cage that we have ridden in. These are exciting times indeed.

 

GM-General Menusha

 

Don't you wear them anyway? I do when it's cold, not sure it's THAT big of a problem. Frankly, when I was trying (successfully) to maintain 50+ MPG in the Winter with the Prius, I left the heat off on my 8 mile commute and relied on my coat and gloves.

This is a common "problem" with all efficient cars, Prius included.

Zhe Wiz

 

No gloves for me. In fact, 10 minutes into my drive I find myself turning down the heat from it already being too hot. 5 minutes to get out of the city from work (where the Prius sits outside all day) and 5 minutes on the highway is all it takes to get the coolant up to a toasty 193°F. And yes, I do have the lower-grille blocked entirely, but the upper is wide open.
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I never wear my coat in the car. On really cold days I'll throw it on the back seat on the odd chance that something happens on the road. As stated the Prius warms up nicely very quickly.
As for the Volt, if there's anything I hate about anything I buy it's finding out after the fact that the things I assumed would work don't. Simple things, you know, like the heater working properly (or the search function for the USB audio input but I'm over that now). Especially when I overpay for an overpriced vehicle. I would be absolutely livid over this.

 

Considering it takes 12 minutes to raise 10 degrees, that's the end of one way trip for most.

Volt will run the gas engine to keep the battery warm but not for the driver and passengers. Interesting design.

 

I agree, it's quite ironic.

The majority of energy in gasoline is burned off in an ICE as heat and simply thrown away into the atmosphere and yet in this case the system is so efficient that there isn't enough heat so it has to bring some back in.

That makes sense. Can you give us an idea of how much lower the mileage is when heat is on or off?

I wear a jacket in a car in winter never, ever, ever gloves.

I doubt you increased your mileage that much in the 8 miles because by the end your ICE was still at operating temp and shedding heat through the radiator, heat that otherwise could have warmed your cabin.

 

That's pathetic.

 

Just remember to always dress for the weather outside, not for the expected weather inside the car/building you are going to. When it is minus whatever outside, and you have no hat and no gloves you are not prepared for an emergency.

 

Toyota is taking a cautious approach towards electrifiying cars. If you can't get more than 15k / mo. in US to buy Prius', how you going to get them to buy Leafs which cost more and have much more limitation? Like Reiner (of Toyota) said, the Prius asks no sacrifice of its driver.

The Leaf is still thee first ever highway capable mass produced EV one can own. We are finding out right now, these days, just how viable it is and will be.

Volt? Too expensive for what it is. Can't even put 4 adults in it really. 2 adults, 2 children.

Prius v seems like a smart move if price is right and people like how it drives.