The 2016 Chevrolet Volt will have an EPA-rated electric range of 53 miles when it goes on sale this fall, a 39 percent boost from the outgoing model.
When the second-generation of the plug-in hybrid was unveiled in January, GM officials said they expected it would get at least 50 miles on a single charge. The current Volt’s EPA rating is 38 miles.
The 2016 Volt is scheduled to go on sale in early fall.
The Volt’s overall range also will increase, to 420 miles from 380 miles on the current car, thanks to a more fuel-efficient gasoline-powered generator. The redesigned Volt will use a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder engine rated at 42 mpg. The outgoing Volt’s 1.4-liter engine has a 37 mpg rating.
Overall, the redesigned Volt’s miles per gallon equivalent (mpge) rating will be 106, vs. 98 for its predecessor.
GM fully redesigned the car’s drive unit and battery pack to wring out more efficiency while boosting power.
GM created an electric transaxle that uses two motors to drive the 2016 Volt, in both EV and gasoline modes. The previous transaxle used one big electric motor.
The new transaxle uses one motor at low speeds, a combination of the two at less than full power at cruising speeds, and both motors at full strength during rapid acceleration.
A small third motor lubricates and cools components.
The 2016 Volt will have a sticker price of $33,995, including destination, down $1,115, including destination, from the ’15 model.
