With a little preparation and the built-in safeguards, you can confidently drive through any season knowing that your battery is operating without a hitch. So don't worry the next time the forecast appears outrageous. Your EV is there for you. Although it doesn't charge as quickly as a fully electric car, it is essentially built to run entirely on electricity. It will still occasionally require gas, particularly when traveling long distances quickly.

For the most part, the Chevy Volt will run on electricity while you're behind the wheel. When you return, the cabin will be more comfortable and the thermal management system will have less work to do. Over time, you will learn your vehicle's rhythms and plan accordingly. A little extra buffer before a how long do hybrid batteries last trip in January or July is simply smart practice, just like packing an umbrella. When temperatures are extremely high or low, try to find a garage or a shaded area.

Parking is another issue. One of the many distinctive features of the Volt is that it can be charged while parked outside for up to 16 hours, so you can plug it in wherever you are and drive as far as the tank will allow. Why haven't I heard of the Chevrolet Volt yet? This is just one of the factors that led Car and Driver to rank the Volt among the top ten vehicles of 2016. Although it hasn't been around as long as other EVs like the Nissan Leaf, the 2016 Volt has received a lot of attention lately because it's the only electric car with a hybrid combustion engine as a backup.

Does Chevrolet offer a way to charge my car while I'm out at the mall or on a road trip? Fast charging is convenient and valuable on long journeys, but using it for every charge can place more stress on the battery over time. Recent data found higher degradation among vehicles that frequently used very high-power charging. Home charging ordinary AC charging is generally gentler than relying exclusively on high-power DC fast chargers.

Some cars even have heat pumps that scavenge waste heat to keep things efficient, sipping rather than gulping electricity. A sudden downpour or a splash from a passing truck is unlikely to cause problems, but it is never advisable for any vehicle to drive through a deep puddle. That way, you leave with a toasty interior and a battery ready to perform. A further layer of security is provided by the high-voltage system's safeguards, which shut everything down in the event of an anomaly.

EVs are surprisingly well sealed. The onboard computer can effectively recycle power back into the system thanks to smooth acceleration habits, which also reduce electrical strain.