With the extended range Volt, you don’t have to choose between electric or gas. You have the option of both. Check out the new Chevrolet Volt Anthem spot.

Which Volt charger is more efficient, the 240V or the 120V charger?

We hear this question all the time, and it is a great question! The answer is that the 240V charger is more efficient, because it shortens the overall charge time.  However, this has less to do with the battery, because the Volt is able to manage the voltage and current flow to the battery at the same levels while charging regardless of what level charger the vehicle is plugged into, and more to do with other functions that support charging.

For example, there is a charge management and a thermal management system that run simultaneous to control charging. These systems manage current flow and battery temperature to safe levels and require energy to do so. Therefore, by shortening the overall charging time, you run those extra loads for less time, resulting in a higher percentage of the total energy used going to charge the battery.  

We had a chance to meet with racer Simona de Silvestro at the Geneva Auto Show. This year she will be racing in the Izod Indy Car Series driving a Chevrolet-powered #78 Nuclear Clean Air Energy car. Check out the video to meet this Volt owner and new member of Team Chevy.