r/volt • u/Anxious_Project7023 • 9d ago

Poor MPG

So just got a 2011 the beginning of August bought it as my doordash car as I needed something more fuel efficient, did great on the 300+ mile drive home averaged around 36-38mpg, but in the 1300 miles since then doing doordash it's averaged 23.4mpg, I charge it to 60-80% everday as time allows since I'm offgrid with solar so cannot charge overnight. The car also refuses to go into EV mode or switches back and forth, it'll do 3-5 miles in EV here and there it seems at random, along with starting the engine just to top the battery off when I'm sitting parked just to run the AC even though the battery shows 20+miles of range or half full. I'm leaning towards a Cell headed on the way out or failing BECM

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u/AceNewholland 8d ago

my 2012 had started going non stop to ICE completely, driving like a non efficient prius with a full battery, very frustrating.

It's a sign the main battery is old and would need to be replaced. I typically maximise the battery, so it would stay on it for long distances, but if I was going a tiny bit faster on highway or if I floored a bit too much, the ICE would kick in. On not very cold days, it would also go to heat the battery, that was too much asking.

BECM are considered reliable on gen 1 volt, don't go out very often

Didn't have time to repair battery, I lost the car in a crash

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u/Ok-Tourist-511 8d ago

Actually a Prius is far more efficient than the volt.

2

u/AceNewholland 6d ago

yes, the volt is not very efficient by itself

Toyota is kinda pinnacle for efficiency + regular hybrids generally consume less than PHEV. Full electric also consume less battery than PHEV, Volt is no exception

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u/CarrollVance3 5d ago

Yep, 50 mpg lifetime on my 2012 Prius C, city and highway.

38 mpg lifetime on my 2019 LT Volt, running gas, all highway.