EPA Applauds GM Effort, but Says It Cannot Confirm Volt's Claimed 230 MPG
In response to a request from Green Car Advisor seeking clarification and confirmation of General Motors' claim that the Chevrolet Volt extended-range hybrid achieves 230 miles per gallon in city driving using tentative EPA test technology, the agency issued the following statement:
"EPA has not tested a Chevy Volt and therefore cannot confirm the fuel economy values claimed by GM. EPA does applaud GM's commitment to designing and building the car of the future - an American-made car that will save families money, significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create good-paying American jobs. We're proud to see American companies and American workers leading the world in the clean energy innovations that will shape the 21st century economy."
We at Green Car Advisor cannot be certain, but we strongly suspect that the person who wrote that statement was waving an American flag with one hand and holding a humongous slice of apple pie in the other. If the writer had used American in the statement just one more time, he or she surely would have qualified for some type of prize.
But seriously, we're still trying to figure out exactly how GM came to conclude that the Volt will get 230 mpg in city driving. And we're wondering what the automaker will say or do when initial Volt buyers discover - probably, but we're hoping we're wrong - that they aren't achieving anywhere near 230 mpg in city.
Details, details.
Scott Doggett, Contributor
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- Scott Doggett August 11, 2009, 1:22 PM
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- Batteries, Chevrolet, Emissions, Fuel Economy, General Motors, Hybrid, Plug-ins and Electric
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- 230 MPG, Chevrolet Volt, Chevy Volt, EPA, General Motors, Hybrid, Miles Per Gallon, PHEV, Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle
"But seriously, we're still trying to figure out exactly how GM came to conclude that the Volt will get 230 mpg in city driving."
Electric vehicle range and energy consumption are determined following SAE J1634 - Electric Vehicle Energy Consumption and Range Test Procedure.
The Department of Energy determines the Equivalent Petroleum Based Fuel Economy for alternative fueled vehicles. The procedure for calculating this number is provided at the following EPA web site link.
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2000/June/Day-12/i14446.htm
No doubt GM used these procedures to arrive at their number.