EPA backs away from GM claim of 230 mpg for Volt
2011 Chevy Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery
Apparently, we're not the only ones trying to figure out the exact methodology that was used to determine the supposed 230 mile per gallon city rating claimed by General Motors for the upcoming Chevy Volt. In response to a query from the boys at Green Car Advisor, the EPA issued the following statement:
Although it deserves noting that GM CEO Fritz Henderson didn't exactly say the 230 mpg rating was an official figure from the EPA, it sure is being bandied about as if it were gospel in the huge marketing campaign launched ahead of today's announcement.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.
When contacted for comment, GM told AutoblogGreen that the EPA is not backing away from the 230 numbers and that it's unlikely that the EPA will come out with a much lower number when they actually get to run a Volt through the official cycle. Further, GM believes that coming out with the 230 rating at this point in time is one way to change people's perception of what kind of car the Volt is.
Gallery: 2011 Chevy Volt
[Source: EPA via Green Car Advisor]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
marc 8:08PM (8/11/2009)
One govt. agency not agreeing with another govt. agency. Whats new?
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Westside T.O. 8:10PM (8/11/2009)
LOL
Temple 10:46PM (8/11/2009)
Let's be honest, if GM wasn't part of the current administration's thumb. Where in less then four years, Obama will need to justify a $100 billion bailout of GM, this questionable "230 mpg" hyberbole rating system likely wouldn't have been passed.
Obviously it does GM a lot of good, but more-so it gives current politicians that supported billion dollar bailouts of Detroit automakers a chance to say, "see, your taxpayer dollars have made 'green' vehicles".
Even though, the major Li-on battery components that makes this vehicle cost $40k is made by LG, a South Korean company, and that expensive component will be largely supplied from Asia.
turbomonkey2k 12:39AM (8/12/2009)
"car that will save families money"
Can't wait to see the fuzzy math that allows the EPA to come up with that one.
Santosh Tiwari 8:08PM (8/11/2009)
GM never said EPA certified this rating. They merely used EPA draft methodology (it is not final yet) to compute the expected CITY mpg equivalent.
It is a little premature on GM's part to announce the fuel economy. They should have sent a pre-production model to EPA and asked to run the tests.
EPA however is definitely excited (as am I) with the Chevy Volt.
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Cameron 8:18PM (8/11/2009)
OMG the first comment is intelligent! Thank you!
I too am excited for the Volt. Right now I can say that between Ford and GM I would be content with either a Fusion hybrid and a Mustang in my garage, or a Volt and a Vette. Both American companies satisfy my needs and wants with desirable cars that real people can afford!
J.Crew 8:59PM (8/11/2009)
I hear you! GM did this to grab some positive press... Me thinks Bob Lutz and his new tactics are taking hold at the new GM. It was an entire blitz today of hypotheticals in the furture, but it seems to have worked. I see this hitting all the news channels as well as websites. Good job New GM in grabbing the medias attention in a positive way. I do believe the new products will be as good as stated and feel that this is one of the first bombs Maximum Bob launches in his new PR campaign to change the consumers perception of GM. I am sure even the biggest GM hater looked at the 230 statement and thought...WTF? All I can say is that they better hit that target as a minimum or it will be a total PR FUBAR.
Paul 11:03PM (8/11/2009)
Worst. Ad agency. Ever.
For them to turn that number -- a huge over-promise if there ever was one -- into an entire campaign is pure marketing foolishness. It's Chevrolet's agency's job to warn them off of this, not make it the center of a national campaign!
naggs 11:08PM (8/11/2009)
the article is titled
"EPA backs away from GM claim of 230 mpg for Volt"
then later states
"...the EPA is not backing away from the 230 numbers..."
uhm, ok...
Michael 11:29PM (8/11/2009)
A follow-up post from the geniuses at Edmunds:
http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2009/08/gms-230-mpg-estimate-for-volt-works-or-not-depending-on-the-drive.html
"... just wait 'til I try to explain to you how GM came up with its 230 miles per gallon city driving figure for the Chevrolet Volt - apparently WITH the tacit agreement of the EPA, despite the agency's stated inability to confirm GM's news-making fuel economy claim for its four-place, extended-range hybrid."
The EPA can't confirm the Volt's results because the EPA hasn't physically tested the car - but it's likely there's an agreement on test methodology.
ij70 1:57AM (8/12/2009)
Not excited.
Carlos 7:08AM (8/12/2009)
I really do hope that the Volt is a smash hit for GM. They've invested so much into this car.
Neil Schelly 8:27AM (8/12/2009)
The article was pretty clear to me. GM says the EPA isn't backing away from the claim, because they don't want to look foolish having just spent so much money showing off the number 230 and ingraining it into people's minds. However, the EPA is backing away from the claim, making it clear that it's not their rating because they have none.
-N
TigerMil 9:03AM (8/12/2009)
LOL. Roughly 100mpg equivalent at $2.75/gal and 25KwH per 100mi (it also may take more than 25KwH to charge a battery rated at KwH...see 2nd Law of Thermodynamics). Note that at $5.5 per gallon (and no change to $.11/KwH electricity) it goes to ~200mpg. The trouble is that electricity probably won't stay at $.11/KwH.
EPA and DOE need to pull their heads out of their (>) as well as GM.
Bobmarley 9:16AM (8/12/2009)
This could possibly be disastrous for GM if the EPA comes out with rating much lower than their claim
Mr. H 8:11PM (8/11/2009)
The whole argument is silly. Plain and simple, you can't measure a car in miles per gallon if one of its primary fuel sources isn't measured in gallons. The "230 mpg" claim is just more green hype they're hoping the public, the majority of which don't even understand why this argument is stupid, will buy into.
I'm still wondering how this car will "save families money." Isn't this car going to cost well over $40,000?
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KeatMP 8:22PM (8/11/2009)
I agree. I don't understand how you can put an MPG number on a car that can go without using any gasoline at all, or that uses gasoline.
My suggestion:
Have 2 numbers on the window sticker; one for the efficiency running on electricity, I think they already said thats 25kwh per 100 miles? Then have the actual miles per gallon used after the battery is depleted and in charge sustaining mode.
Just my $0.02.
RayJ 8:45PM (8/11/2009)
Lord help this country please! It I use a generator to power my fully electric car and the generator can power the car for lets say 230 miles ok. The generator does not drive the car but can provide driving power for that length of time. Now lets say that the fuel tank it 2 gallons right. So I would tell you the MPG is 115 MPG. That is totally logical and I don't understand why people take issue with it.
Why would GM say something that does not use EPA standards and say 60 MPG as someone posted? My goodness how the education system in the country has failed us.
Willem B 8:48PM (8/11/2009)
Fritz said this morning that no price has been set for the Volt. The 40k number is just speculation at this point. He said something along the lines of "the price will be set based on the market conditions at the time".
Also, don't forget that the Volt will be eligible for a tax credit of 7500$, CASH, so even if the selling price was 40k, you would really only pay 32.5k...... which makes it a lot more affordable.
Finally, if you live in the city, and drive less than 40km per day, your daily electricity cost increase will be about 40 cents or so....
mitchgarner 9:13PM (8/11/2009)
Mr. H is spot on. This type of measurement could be very misleading to consumers. Some Volt owners with short drive cycles between charges, may use very little or no gasoline. While others may never plug the thing in and run primarily on gasoline.
Once PHEV are the norm, as a consumer, I will expect meaningful efficency measurements. These should include measurements of the efficency of the electric drivetrain, plug-in charging system, and the on-board gasoline generator. All will affect the overall efficency of the system and the cost to the consumer.