Has GM Let You Down Again? Volt Target Electric Range Now 25-50 Miles

What is going on, now? It almost sounds like a bad joke but General Motors is now backing away from yet another claim on the car that has been undergoing testing for what feels like an eternity.

Since January 2007, GM has been touting the Volt as the car that would ensure buyers wouldn't have to go to the gas station to fill up nearly as much as they were used to. After all, it would get 40 miles on its electric charge, right?

Wrong.

According to a filing with the SEC for its IPO, GM is now saying that its acclaimed Volt will likely be able to maintain an electric charge between 25 and 50 miles. Does this make the past several years of claims about 40 miles bogus?

A Volt spokesperson, Rob Peterson, has gone on the record and said that GM is looking to "level-set expectations." Uh, expectations the company spoke about for years?

Jeez, what's next? Is GM going to go hold a huge press conference and announce the Volt can also get 230 miles per gallon?

Oh...wait...

While most in the industry understand that electric cars and their respective mileage is dependent variables like temperature, driving style and terrain, why would GM announce a figure they cannot entirely stand by? What's up with the word games, GM?


Forty miles of electric range has been the magic number for a very long time, in fact it was part of the Chevrolet Volt concept initial press release back in January 2007.

The idea is that about 75% of drivers drive less than 40 miles per day and will therefore not use any gas while driving the Volt.

GM has said all along that the Volt would achieve that objective but has made it clear that driving behavior and environment could change that number in real world situations; the generator will go on when the battery reaches about 32% state of charge no matter how it gets there...