Chevrolet Volt

What is the Chevrolet Volt?

The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid built around electric drive. Chevrolet described it as an extended-range electric vehicle: it can drive on battery power, with a petrol engine available to extend its range. That blend gives it a distinctive place in Chevrolet’s move toward electric vehicles.

The Volt had two generations. The first was sold in North America and Europe; the second was sold in the United States and Canada. The later generation brought a redesigned battery and drivetrain.

Generations, engines and power

The first generation ran from 2011 to 2015. Official EU registration figures cover 2011–2014; UK figures cover 2013–2015, and French figures cover 2012–2014. The second generation ran from 2016 to 2019 in the United States and Canada.

European versions listed a 1.4-litre engine and power from 63 kW (86 PS) to 111 kW (151 PS). North American versions span 1.4- to 1.5-litre engines. The Volt’s electric drive and petrol engine are part of its plug-in hybrid system.

Fuel consumption and CO₂

Official consumption figures need context because a plug-in hybrid can travel using electricity as well as fuel. In the UK and France, the lowest listed weighted figure is 1.2 L/100 km on the NEDC test. It assumes some driving is electric, so it is not a petrol-only consumption rate.

The lowest listed figure is 5.6 L/100 km in the United States under the EPA procedure and 5.6 L/100 km in Canada under the 5-cycle procedure. These results are not directly interchangeable with European NEDC figures because the test procedures differ. Official EU registration figures record 2,843 Volts from 2011–2014; the 1.4-litre, 111 kW hybrid was among the leading configurations.

Where was the Volt sold?

The Volt was sold in the United States and Canada, as well as in the European Union, France and the United Kingdom. The second generation was sold in the United States and Canada.