The engine only helps to power the drive train in mountain mode. Otherwise it charges the battery, which drives the electric motor. The Volt is a pretty awesome car. I would still be driving it if I didn’t need something more rugged, or could afford two separate vehicles. But I loved owning it. I even took it on a long distance trip over the mountains and it did great! I barely had to put gas in the thing unless it was freezing outside and I had a lot of driving to do that day, or for long-distance trips. The first year I owned it I only put gas in it twice, and the gas tank is only 9 gallons.
And that still connects the engine directly to the wheels because old car makers loathe our dreams of real serial hybrids…
The engine only helps to power the drive train in mountain mode. Otherwise it charges the battery, which drives the electric motor. The Volt is a pretty awesome car. I would still be driving it if I didn’t need something more rugged, or could afford two separate vehicles. But I loved owning it. I even took it on a long distance trip over the mountains and it did great! I barely had to put gas in the thing unless it was freezing outside and I had a lot of driving to do that day, or for long-distance trips. The first year I owned it I only put gas in it twice, and the gas tank is only 9 gallons.
Some people would put fuel stabilizers in it since the fuel would go bad.