Chevy Volt on the Road: 122 Miles per Gallon

The plug-in hybrid American automaker Chevrolet came up with last year is proving to be a wonderful car to drive in for those in the initial test markets. Regardless of the opinion Consumer Reports has about the model, regardless of the rumor surrounding possible fire hazards in the car, the Volt is proving to be a wonderful choice for those who have purchased one.

Several months since the launch of the model, GM started adding up the numbers and compiling testimonies of some sorts from Volt owners. Owners who say that, at times, they've managed to drive for about 1,000 miles before refueling, or for 30 days on a single tank of fuel.

Of course, it all comes down to how you drive the PHEV. The car itself can only provide so many electric miles, but the official range of the vehicle can be increased, just like in hypermiling, through a very carefully chosen driving technique.

Steve Wojtanek, one of the Volt owners from the first batch, has managed for instance, by driving carefully, to reach an average of 122 mpg. Officially, the car has an EPA mpg equivalent of 93.

“Volt owners drove an average of 800 miles between fill-ups since the Volt launched in December, and in March they averaged 1,000 miles,” said Cristi Landy, Volt marketing director. “When the majority of miles driven are electrically, gas usage decreases significantly.”

“Today in the U.S., 80 percent of drivers commute fewer than 40 miles a day, making the Chevy Volt a great daily driver. We’re hearing from customers like Steve Wojtanek and Gary Davis, who are seeing great daily results.”