Chevy Volt to Get 230 mpg: Is it possible?

A summer 2009 announcement by General Motors that it expected the upcoming Chevy Volt to get a shocking 230 mpg in city driving certainly turned heads. The obvious response from the country: Is it true? The answer: We’re not quite sure yet. The announcement has made the arrival of the Volt in early 2011 one of the most anticipated car debuts in recent history, and has positioned the Volt to change the reputation and excitement surrounding American automakers.

How it works

The Volt will be a revolutionary electric vehicle that uses a new powertrain developed by GM. This “Voltec” system will use electricity to power the car. It can be recharged through a standard electrical outlet - just like a toaster or a coffee maker, but quite more powerful.

According to GM’s engineers, a normal driver will travel 40 miles before gasoline is even used. GM points to this fact as important because the majority of car trips are much less than 40 miles - meaning, the Volt is intended to be a solely electric vehicle for nearly all of the time. The Volt will be equipped with a smart four-cylinder engine that will kick on only when it “knows” you are running out of your battery charge. An internal GPS system will be able to detect how far you are from home and will disengage the gasoline engine when it has enough of a charge to get you home.

But really 230 mpg?

The GM estimation of 230 miles per gallon comes from internal calculations based on not only its internal data surrounding the 40-mile trigger to gasoline but also Environmental Protection Agency formulas used to determine average mileage. The automaker has not yet released highway calculations but it does seem likely that the showroom version of the Volt come 2011 will have a window sticker boasting at least 100 mpg of combined city and highway driving. Of course, that sticker is expected to have a hefty price tag nearing $40,000, too.

GM has not released a date for its announcement of estimated highway fuel efficiency, largely because the EPA is in the process of recalibrating how it will calculate fuel consumption for electric or other Volt-ish vehicles. Regardless of the final calculation, GM is quick to point to the fact that most drivers travel less than 40 miles in a day, which means Volt owners won’t be spending much time at their local gas stations for fill-ups.

The Volt began to get attention in 2007 when GM revealed it as a concept car, and estimated it would get a then-impressive 50 mpg. Many consumer advocates remain skeptical of the 230 mpg calculation issued by GM - but those same people also are extremely intrigued by the concept. What the Volt will actually be capable of remains to be seen. More calculations, estimations and pronouncements are likely to come throughout 2010 - and we’ll all know for certain by early 2011.