The 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid has been rated by the EPA at 53 miles of electric range, a nice boost on Chevy's earlier promise of "at least 50 miles."

The EPA also rates the 2016 Volt at 42 mpg combined when the engine is running, and 106 Miles Per Gallon Equivalent combined when operating solely on electricity.

Together, those three ratings are substantial improvements over those of the outgoing 2015 Chevy Volt: 38 miles, 37 mpg on gasoline, and 98 MPGe on electricity.

DON'T MISS: 2016 Chevrolet Volt Powertrain: How It Works In Electric, Hybrid Modes

The 53-mile range gives the 2016 Volt the second-highest electric range of any plug-in car that doesn't run entirely on batteries.

It's surpassed only by the BMW i3 REx, which has a 72-mile electric range, and gains another 78 miles with a small two-cylinder range extender and a gasoline tank of less than 2 gallons.

2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid - details of Voltec drivetrain from SAE presentations, Feb 2015

2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid - details of Voltec drivetrain from SAE presentations, Feb 2015

The new Volt, on the other hand, is capable of an additional 367 miles on gasoline, giving it a total range of 420 miles--versus the 150 miles provided by the i3 REx when fully fueled and fully charged.

Chevy says it expects that owners of the second-generation Volt will run entirely on battery power for nine out of every 10 trips they take.

ALSO SEE: 2016 Chevrolet Volt Priced From $33,995, Or $1,175 Lower Than 2015 Volt

It's possible that the second-generation Volt will see further increases in its electric range as its battery pack is updated in future years. The pack capacity of the first-generation Volt actually increased twice.

The 2011 Volt started with 35 miles of range from a 16-kWh pack. Those numbers rose to 38 miles from a 16.5-kWh pack for 2013.

2016 Chevrolet Volt

2016 Chevrolet Volt

The 2015 car, although Chevy didn't re-certify its range, had a larger 17.1-kWh pack, which would translate to 40 or 41 miles.

The 2016 Volt has a redesigned pack with fewer cells, but a higher capacity again: 18.4 kWh.

MORE: 2016 Chevrolet Volt Configurator Live, California Order Books Open

GM says its extensive data on first-generation Volt operations over five years indicates that many owners routinely exceed the rated electric range, especially those driving in temperate climates and at lower speeds.

The first of the new 2016 Volts are expected to go on sale sometime in September, most likely in California.

_________________________________________________

Follow GreenCarReports on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+.