Patch Blog: Our Week With Volt, Epilogue

If you missed any of the previous posts, check them out here: ; Days , , , ,  and

Yesterday was our last day with the Volt. I wish I could report something fantastic, amazing, stupendous. But I cannot.

This car is downright predictable, which is actually a good thing!

• I know when I plug it in at night I'll have about 40 miles of guilt-free range the next morning
• I know if I don't exceed the battery range I will never (never?) use gasoline
• I know that by driving this car I am contributing to a cleaner environment (see Day 4 if you question the validity of that statement)
• I know that I'm not compromising my lifestyle or performance needs by driving this car
• I know that this is an EV, but I also know it doesn't feel like one

In summary, in 7 days we drove 380 miles, used 2.5 gallons of gasoline for an average of 150mpg.  When I returned the Volt, I had to top off the gasoline tank, spending around $11.  BTW, our estimated electric expense was somewhere in the neighborhood of $4 (assuming 25% charge remaining at the end of the day, some days were more some less).  Our usual week is about the same mileage which equates to about $65 in gasoline plus burning about 14.5 gallons of gasoline.  Definitely a marked improvement both fiscally and environmentally.

If we could afford this car right now, it would be sitting in our driveway right now. Unfortunately we cannot, at least not right at this moment. But we know what our next car is!