When General Motors first introduced the Chevrolet Volt, it was estimated the automobile got 230 miles per gallon. The formula used for this was not ever approved for the car. This means all hybrids will have to recalculate their mileage from this mistake.
How hybrid mpg is calculated
The EPA had a hard time figuring out how to calculate mpg for hybrids. Miles divided by fuel is how “real” miles per gallon is calculated usually. However, the EPA estimates of mileage are more complicated. The mileage changes depending on city driving, highway driving, and maintenance. The formula also has to change considering the many different variables of hybrids. A mpg estimate formula issued by the EPA is very complicated usually.
Calculation difficulties for Volt
The government decided to give out their own formula on calculating mileage for the Chevy Volt. EPA explains the formula never hit “final approval” making it wrong. In original marketing, the Volt was touted as getting up to 230 miles per gallon. Now, GM and government regulators are “working collaboratively” to come up with a new formula to estimate miles per gallon. Actual calculations will likely bring that high number down to 70 or 140.
Electric cost
Electric and electric hybrid are always hard cars for regulators. The fluctuation of energy and fuel make comparisons with money hard to do. Miles per gallon is a measurement that simply does not apply to most electric cars. It is nearly difficult to figure out considering the mileage of a hybrid is affected more by variables such as habits while driving. Although an answer hasn’t been found yet, the EPA is still trying to figure it out.
