Our Volt is 2.5 years old now. It has about 17,000 miles on it. Our typical commute is 8.4 miles one way, (16.8 each day). If driven conservatively on a day of 70 degF, it takes 1.5 kwhrs to go 8.4 miles, which gives the car almost 60 mile range. In the winter this goes up, and below freezing it can take 2.2 kwhrs for the same trip with the heater on.
We will almost always take this car for daily driving, so as to avoid the high cost of gasoline. Our cost for electricity is .07 per KWhr (.04 at work), which includes taxes and other fees, so it's quite economical in this area. Cost will be going up next year, probably about 25%, which is still quite cheap. We have on-demand metering, so we get the lowest rate available, and the power company can turn off our air conditioner for up to 1/2 hour whenever it gets really hot and loads increase on their power lines.
According to our electric bill, a large portion of the electricity delivered comes from wind turbines located just south of here. Part of the power also comes from the local Com-Ed Nuke (none from coal). Here in our area we have the option to buy 100% of our power from wind if we if we so choose.
So here is a comparison of costs of several cars for this daily commute of 16.8 miles:
My Ford Mustang (requires premium) @ 21mpg = $3.28
Our Hyundai Azera (full size car) @ 27mpg = $2.24 (Gas = $3.60 per g.)
Friend's Fusion Hybrid @ 42 mpg = $1.44
Another friend's Prius @ 52mpg = $1.16
Volt @ 3kwhrs = $0.21 summer, $0.31 winter
Just one wind turbine needs to run only 11 seconds to provide the power to propel the Volt the 16.8 miles on my daily commute.
Rolando
We will almost always take this car for daily driving, so as to avoid the high cost of gasoline. Our cost for electricity is .07 per KWhr (.04 at work), which includes taxes and other fees, so it's quite economical in this area. Cost will be going up next year, probably about 25%, which is still quite cheap. We have on-demand metering, so we get the lowest rate available, and the power company can turn off our air conditioner for up to 1/2 hour whenever it gets really hot and loads increase on their power lines.
According to our electric bill, a large portion of the electricity delivered comes from wind turbines located just south of here. Part of the power also comes from the local Com-Ed Nuke (none from coal). Here in our area we have the option to buy 100% of our power from wind if we if we so choose.
So here is a comparison of costs of several cars for this daily commute of 16.8 miles:
My Ford Mustang (requires premium) @ 21mpg = $3.28
Our Hyundai Azera (full size car) @ 27mpg = $2.24 (Gas = $3.60 per g.)
Friend's Fusion Hybrid @ 42 mpg = $1.44
Another friend's Prius @ 52mpg = $1.16
Volt @ 3kwhrs = $0.21 summer, $0.31 winter
Just one wind turbine needs to run only 11 seconds to provide the power to propel the Volt the 16.8 miles on my daily commute.
Rolando
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