JT, what do you think the turn around time will actually be?-Kevin
@dagosa: I never claimed the Volt was a 100% pure series-hybrid, not sure where you got that idea. It is a “range extender”, but no, it is not ALWAYS a series hybrid:
From the Volt wiki page:
“Once the engine is running in this extended range mode, it may at times be linked mechanically (via a clutch) to assist the traction motor in propelling the car in order to improve energy efficiency.”
May at times. The key word being efficiency. For example, when driving at a steady state in extended range mode (at say 75 mph LOCKED in cruise control) it will occur. In practically every other type of driving, it won’t, the special clutch unique to the Volt has to “lock” the engine to the gears through the generator. It won’t connect, nor stay connected if the steady state is changed, ad it is more efficient just to let the 149 hp, 373 torque electric motor do its thing alone in that case. The “measly” 84 hp gas engine (sized correctly for its purpose) can’t propel the 3700+ lb in any useful way, it’s simply an efficiency booster in the 4th mode (like Honda hybrids use their teeny electric motors)
Whereas the Prius and all other hybrids (except the Hondas which as I said basically reverse the roles of the engine and motor) have weak electric motors (67 hp for the Prius) and rely on their gas engines (98 hp on the Prius), going in to parallel hybrid mode very frequently, at even a modest acceleration and/or hill. Very different than the Volt.
That is why the Volt’s engine rev never corresponds directly to any acceleration or hill climb, at least initially if your speed is changing (because its in series, not in parallel mode then) and the Prius always does, immediately, every time you accelerate, every hill you go up.
So tell me again, why its bad that the Volt has optimized extended range efficiency in this way?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Volt doing this. All the other cars tested by Popular Mechanics in their latest issue, including other plug in hybrids which the Volt is officially termed as, do it also. As I have said many times before. The Volt, nor the other cars in the test including the Accord plug in which ranks equal overall to the Volt, are perfect cars, especially for the money.
The Volt excels in some areas, like range and handling, the Accord and others excel in others with much better economy in the hybrid mode where the Volt is dead last. Most importantly, in the hybrid mode, the motor is used at highway speeds which any hybrid must do in order to avoid the loss of efficiency if you are only going to use it to charge the battery. Toyota has known that for years and no one, not even the Volt should use series hybrid mode exclusively and perhaps, that is why it is so inefficient…it does not use prarallel enough when the battery is depleted. The key to buying any of these cars is matching them to the sweet spot of their intended use. All of these cars can be excellent buys if you do that. None though is the perfect car, especially for the high asking price !
If you run the car more in the EV mode, don’t get a Volt, get a Leaf which is much cheaper and run exclusive on batteries for up to 100 miles in the new one.
Get the article…I think it reinforces what I have been saying…
Is this the article?
http://www.popularmechanics.com/_mobile/cars/motorcycles/reviews/2014-honda-accord-plug-in-hybrid-test-drive-15100260
Kevin, I think it will be 30 minutes. In the absence of proof, I’ll give then the benefit of the doubt.
@aventineavenue
No it is not. Usually when in print, the article may not be available right off on line. In the article tests are run on the the Accord, Volt, Prius and Ford plug in Hybrids along with rating them. No one says the article is perfectly written, but it does point out the compromises each makes to find their own nitch.
Add On
By the way; calling the gas motor a range extender as GM did for many months in advertising and implying over and over that it was an electric car was deceptive and an attempt to present it as something dramatically new and different from the other hybrids out there. As soon as any hybrid starts having enough battery and motor size to start running on their own, they all become a plug in hybrids and all work on several modes, EV only, series and parallel to varying degrees of each depending upon their hardware. Even those in this forum kept referring to the gas motor as a " range extender" with out saying the obvious…it’s a plug in hybrid, no more more no less. IMHO, with the advantage of Obama funding, it was able to use a more dedicated chassis to enhance battery weight storing for better handling and the longest range by far of the plug ins, instead of stuffing it into the trunk as others have down…thus packing in a bigger motor and battery more efficiently but being noisy as a consequence.
But, this is more evolutionary then revolutionary and it is still a compromise vehicle in the hybrid mode as they all are and not the best freaken car out there. It handles great and is responsive, but the Accord is better or equal, it brakes well but the Ford is better while the Accord is actually a more efficient charger while all other hybrids tested get much better mileage in the hybrid mode.
But what a surprise…advertisers are deceptive !
Thanks JT,about 3 times longer then the average fillup then?-Kevin
On behalf of all Chevy Volt drivers (except aventineavenue) I say, “Thank you,” to the American taxpayer.
I thank George W. Bush (for signing the tax code provision into law). 
How about thanking the American taxpayer for bailing out GM?
I agree that the Volt’s design “on paper” is evolutionary rather than revolutionary, as the iPhone was for the “smartphone” product.
However for both, what is revolutionary is the way these tools are now being used and proven by customers real-world. Even GM engineers are suprised by the way the Volt is being untilized and optimized by customers. Pete Foss: "
The Volt can be used to greatly reduce or even virtually eliminate gasoline consumption as any significant concern or expense, and without concern for range anxiety. No other “hybrid” nor EV to date was up to that task. And now the other car makers are scrambling come up with a product along those lines. And that is a good thing, let the plug-ins fill every niche - the Volt fits mine just right.