Chevy Volt costs $20k-32k to produce

[LTC8K6]

The Volt has been out for three models years...this year, GM made changes to the battery's chemistry and was able to eek out three extra miles from the same size battery pack.

Yeah, I mentioned that extra battery capacity a couple posts up. Total range is only increased 1 mile. Probably within the error bars, so basically unnoticeable.

There are already all sorts of mods and hacks for the Volt.

They have even taken one completely apart.

I'm sure tunes and performance hacks are already out there, or soon will be.

 

[Doppel]

I'm pretty darn sure it limits use of the pack for the same reason Toyota's Prius only uses something like the middle 60% of its packs: helps battery life vastly. Nissan's leaf uses something like 90%+ of its pack to extend range (more important, given no gas backup), which probably will reduce life to some degree, although there's nothing stopping an individual user from simply always charging to only 80% (per Nissan's recommendation) and not letting the pack get too low, but then they have the benefit of nearly entire pack if they really do need it.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Yeah, I mentioned that extra battery capacity a couple posts up. Total range is only increased 1 mile. Probably within the error bars, so basically unnoticeable.

The all electric range went up 3 miles. Which is probably more important to people buying Volts than the total range. But I guess when you're grinding that axe its easier to say 1 mile and dismiss the improvement. It went from 379 to 380! Derp.

Not that 3 miles is a lot but every bit helps when the range is that low to start with.

 

[LTC8K6]

The all electric range went up 3 miles. Which is probably more important to people buying Volts than the total range. But I guess when you're grinding that axe its easier to say 1 mile and dismiss the improvement. It went from 379 to 380! Derp.

Not that 3 miles is a lot but every bit helps when the range is that low to start with.

The range is not low.

Ryan already noted the 3 mile figure, it is quoted in my post. It was really not necessary for me or you to repeat it. Since actual range varies greatly, both numbers are, as I said, within the error bars for the range of the vehicle.

 

[LTC8K6]

I'm pretty darn sure it limits use of the pack for the same reason Toyota's Prius only uses something like the middle 60% of its packs: helps battery life vastly. Nissan's leaf uses something like 90%+ of its pack to extend range (more important, given no gas backup), which probably will reduce life to some degree, although there's nothing stopping an individual user from simply always charging to only 80% (per Nissan's recommendation) and not letting the pack get too low, but then they have the benefit of nearly entire pack if they really do need it.

Yes, it's well known that that is the reason for using only the middle section of the battery pack's capacity. It was a feature of the Volt, and was already known from the Prius.

It's a well known way to extend battery life, along with maintaining a good temperature range for the pack, which the Volt also does, but the Leaf does not.