What car gets 100 miles per gallon?

The 100 MPG Myth: The Chevy Volt and the Complexities of Fuel Efficiency

The headline blazed across news outlets: “100 MPG Car Arrives!” The Chevrolet Volt, GM’s groundbreaking plug-in hybrid, had seemingly achieved the impossible, promising a future free from the tyranny of the gas pump. While the Volt did receive a preliminary estimate of 100 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent), the reality of its fuel efficiency is more nuanced than that eye-catching figure suggests.

The Volt, launched in 2010, wasn’t a purely electric vehicle. It employed a novel approach, pairing a battery-powered electric motor with a small 1.4-liter gasoline engine. This engine acted as a range extender, kicking in to generate electricity once the battery was depleted, eliminating the “range anxiety” associated with pure EVs at the time. This setup allowed the Volt to travel significantly further than other electric vehicles of its era.

So, how did it reach that magical 100 MPG figure? The answer lies in the MPGe metric. MPGe isn’t a direct measure of gasoline consumption. Instead, it’s an attempt to compare the energy consumed by an electric vehicle to the energy contained in a gallon of gasoline. The EPA calculates MPGe based on the amount of electricity needed to drive the same distance as a gasoline-powered car using one gallon of fuel.

In the Volt’s case, its ability to run primarily on electricity, especially for shorter trips, resulted in the impressive 100 MPGe estimate. However, this number didn’t reflect the actual gasoline usage when the range extender was engaged. Once the battery was depleted, the Volt’s fuel efficiency fell closer to that of a conventional hybrid vehicle, typically in the 30-40 MPG range.

The significance of the Volt shouldn’t be diminished by the complexities of MPGe. It marked a crucial step towards mainstreaming electric vehicle technology. By offering an extended range and the ability to recharge at home, the Volt addressed key consumer concerns about adopting EVs. It paved the way for the fully electric vehicles we see dominating the market today.

While the 100 MPG headline may have oversimplified the story, it undeniably captured public attention and ignited interest in a more sustainable automotive future. The Volt, though not a true 100 MPG car in the traditional sense, played a crucial role in shifting the conversation about fuel efficiency and ushering in the era of electric mobility.