We all know electric and plug-in hybrid cars can help cut down consumption of gasoline, but just how do you measure how much gasoline savings can be made?
Normally, we measure gasoline savings in gallons, or barrels of oil, but General Motors has decided to measure the gasoline saved by its Chevrolet Volt Plug-in Hybrid in supertankers.
Using data obtained from its OnStar telematics system, GM has concluded that collectively, the 14,000 or so Chevrolet Volts in the U.S. have saved the equivalent of a supertanker in gasoline.
For the record, a supertanker holds around 2 million gallons of gasoline, equivalent to $8 million of gasoline at $3.80 a gallon.
“With each click of the odometer, Chevrolet Volt owners are measuring their contribution to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and to preserving the environment,” said Cristi Landy, Chevrolet Volt marketing director.
With a 16 kilowatt-hour battery pack, the 2012 Chevrolet Volt can travel up to 35 miles in all-electric mode.
Volt Electric Miles Driven
Combined, GM reports that the entire U.S. fleet of Chevrolet Volts have now clocked up 40 million electric-only miles since launch.
That’s the equivalent of driving to the moon and back 167 times on electricity alone, or if you prefer, 16,373 trips from New York to Los Angeles.
“Our Volt owners are driving the vehicle exactly as the car was designed,” praised Landy. “Sixty percent of the time our owners are driving electric, but the extended range is providing additional miles when they need it.”
The typical distance between fill-ups, GM is keen to point out, is around 900 miles, although many Volt owners can go months -- or even years -- without ever filling up.
If this sounds like your ideal car, be sure to check our official 2012 Chevrolet Volt review, along with our ultimate guide detailing everything you need to know about this popular plug-in car.
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