Quote:
Originally Posted by urarock76
Thanks for the post rob2299usa, but your info didn't clear this up for me. I thought the point of the gas engine was that it would be run at a constant, optimum rev while on. If that is so, isn't a whole bunch of gas energy going to be wasted when the Volt is stopped or traveling slowly and not using all the energy the engine is generating? Second, if the point of not charging the batteries with the engine is to reduce the charge/discharge cycles (a worthy endeavor), how does that true up with the use of regenerative brakes to charge the battery during engine on time...or is it that the regenerative brake system is turned off when the gas engine is on? Finally, not from your post, but other posters have said that while in engine only mode the car will get 50mpg? Is that true? That seems pretty high given GM's current models do not come close to that, and they don't carry the extra battery weight.
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stopped = engine off for sure. also i would imagine that the engine can run at a point low enough to just keep the vehicle moving. if you were coasting down a hill, then the engine would probably shut off. regenerative braking is not engine power, therefore that energy WOULD be used to charge the battery. That's why I said that I imagine a situation (mountain driving) where you get enough regen to switch the engine off and drive another small distance in engine off mode.
i imagine it is definitely possible to get 50mpg due to the superior aerodynamics, the ability to regenerate energy from braking, engine stop/starts, and the fact that you only run the engine at a few efficient points.