Chevy Volt Extends Electric Range to 53 Miles

General Motors Co. says the electric driving range of its 2016 Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid car will have an Environmental Protection Agency rating of 53 miles up 39% from the current Volt's 38-mile capability. This translates to a 106 miles per gallon equivalent (mpge) rating for the redesigned Volt, compared with 98 mpge for the outgoing model.

The official 53-mile rating also beats the 50-mile estimate GM announced when it unveiled the second-generation Volt at the Detroit auto show in January.

With the improved range, most Volt owners will be able to travel in all-electric mode for 90% of the vehicle's trips, GM says. This compares to about 80% for current Volts.

The overall range of the 2016 Volt will increase to 420 miles from 380 miles with the current car. This will allow owners who recharge the car's 18.4-kWh lithium-ion battery regularly to travel "well over" 1,000 miles between refueling, according to GM.

The new Volt benefits from a redesigned drive unit, battery pack design and more efficient 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine, which is rated at 42 mpg. The 1.4-liter mill used in the current model is rated at 37 mpg.

In addition, a new electric transaxle system features two small motors one for low speeds and a combination of both as needed at higher speeds and during acceleration. In the current model, a single large motor handles all power loads.

Sales of the 2016 will begin in early autumn. Pricing has been reduced by $1,100 to just under $34,000.