SAE just approved PHEV Standard Testing Procedure (SAE J1711). This standard will be used by EPA and DOT to determine the official Fuel Economy label and CAFE number. SAE J1711 is classifying Volt as a plugin hybrid. This is a quote from the document "Note: E-REV is a PHEV, despite what GM says". Click here for details about the test procedure.
Summary Page: Major Consensus Items of J1711 Do not combine fuel and electricityinto a composite MPG Result – Report both MPG and AC Wh/mi (from plug) separately Baseline charging assumption: 1 charge per day – Missed charge = Opportunity charging Retain “Utility Factor”method of combining depleting with sustaining Emissions certification may not be the same procedure as fuel economy determination Typical Cold / Hot Weightingfor UDDS not possible in Charge- Depleting test --- If I am reading between the lines correctly, Argonne wants to say "X gallons of liquid fuel will be displaced each recharge, and then the car will get Y mpg." This makes sense to me, although it will be inaccurate for short trip, highly blended driving cycles.
This is good news. EVERYBODY who understands what the car is and does wants to know the separate numbers: range in EV mode and mpg in CS mode, since your own commute will determine how much gas you burn and how often.
Here is the detail test information for all 5 tests. I think Volt's infamous (230 MPG) and Leaf's 100 miles range were simply based on the City test which averages 21.2 MPH. Now that all 5 tests have to be run, the numbers will definitely be lower. BTW, PHV Prius is said to be able to run the City test (UDDS) in pure EV mode.
Do you have more information about where you heard the PHV can do the UDDS in pure EV mode? That should give some insight into the total available EV power of the vehicle. Andrew
Total capable motive power supplied by the electric motors (measured in hp / kW)--sorry I should have included that. The UDDS cycle includes several "hills" that require certain amounts of power to get over. Andrew
^^ then I think you are interested in the traction battery's max discharge rate. 40 kW rings a bell somewhere in my head, but I'm not sure.
I thought I saw it in the PDF but can't find it now. Come to think of it, I think it said PHV Prius ran UDDS in CD mode. Sorry, it was a bad assumption on my part.
