Happy Anniversary!

Back on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, I was on the phone, emailing and working the dealer web site for Bunnin Chevrolet to get the lease on my Volt finalized. Later that evening, I saw my red beauty for the first time. What a great year it's been! I hope the fun I've been having stays fresh over the next two coming years, though I confess I am very anxiously following developments and hints of what new stuff comes out for GM and all the car makers in the EV and EREV field. The car is as awesome as it was the first day and has had no problems to deal with. Minimal servicing and some enhancements were made, and I am finally ready for a tire rotation. I just rolled over the 8000 mile mark a day or so ago.

Bob is still enjoying his first months of driving his BMW ActiveE but with his two-year lease he will still turn his car in before I turn in my Volt. (Assuming I do. He has no choice as it is closed-end.)

Volt Sighting...

Again! Bright cobalt blue one on Victory Blvd just east of Hollywood Way.

May OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics report

Mileage: 7899

Electric Miles: 634
Gas Miles: 4
Total Miles: 638


Percentage on Electric: 99 %


Oil life: Still at 83%


Electric Consumption:  31 kW-hr/100 miles (But I have no reason to believe this figure.)


Tire rotation is now past due and I also have the air bag inspection to get done. But it's been a busy month and I've not felt like taking the time. I'll work on that this month.

Used Some Gas

Had to go over to Sunset again and the traffic was nasty. Took me 45 minutes to go 2.5 miles, but then it lightened up for the rest of the 8 mile trip. Even though I was using minimal power sitting there, creeping forward, some still got used. Then I had to go to Glendale and then on to Pasadena. And so at the end of the day, it was 38 miles round trip but the creeping along for nearly an hour cost me. I had to run 4.2 miles of the drive home with the range extender, using what registered as 0.1 gallons of petrol. I am always a little embarrassed to have people around me hear the engine running on this car, but the fact is it's doing its job of making this the nearly perfect EV that won't leave you stranded if you need to go farther. I love it, but still wish I had just 10 more miles of battery range. I'm still at only 8.2 gallons of gas used for the year.

Volt Sighting!

I was leaving the parking structure at Kaiser on Sunset when a lady in a white Volt was driving in. She gave me a thumbs up and I waved and grinned at her. You meet the nicest people in a Volt! :-)