The Chevrolet Volt has reached its third model year and it will carry the same starting price of $39,995. The car has received a higher efficiency rating from EPA, growing from 94 to 98 MPGe which is understandable since the car comes equipped with a battery pack that can hold a little bit more energy – 16.5 kilowatt-hours as opposed to the 2012MY which holds 16 kilowatt-hours. The car will be able to draw 10.8 kWh from that total, as opposed to the 2011MY and 2012MY that are drawing 10.3 kWh. These modifications for the better were possible thanks to some modifications in the chemistry of the lithium-ion cells that are made by LG Chem.
These updated cells benefit from a modified composition of materials in their manganese-spinel chemistry. Since there’s more energy available, it’s understandable that the charging time has increased a little bit. The automaker says that to fill the battery it takes ten and a half hours while using a 110-Volt household socket or 4 hours and 15 minutes when the charging is done with the help of a 240-Volt Level 2 system.
The 2013 Chevrolet Volt also comes with a Hold Drive button which will allow the driver of the vehicle to conserve the energy from the battery pack which can be used for a particular time or when it makes the Volt most efficient. It is just about the same function as the Opel/Vauxhall Ampera has, the model sold in Europe in which this feature is called the charge-sustaining button.
As far as the design is concerned, the car looks virtually the same except for the fact that the roof and the liftgate will have the color of the body rather than black as they are on the 2011MY and 2012MY Volt. On the inside clients will be able to get the car with a new Pebble Beige color which is available not only for the leather seats but also for the cloth upholstery. Those who get the Premium trim package will also be offered a rear-seat center armrest that can be removed.
The 2013MY Volt will be able to offer a total range of 380 miles. As you probably know, after the battery is entirely depleted, the car will start running on the 1.4-liter gasoline engine which turns on a generator that provides the necessary electricity to the 149 hp electric motor which is the one that motivates the wheels.
The car is scheduled to go into production in July at the company’s Detroit – Hamtramck assembly plant while the first units will hit the dealerships in August.
Source: Chevrolet via Green Car Reports
