10 years with an EV - 2014 Chevy Volt at 172,000 miles

[@mileshiles1287]

That car just makes sense.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks! I wouldn't have imagined in 2014 that we would keep this car for 10+ years and 172,000 miles - or that we would decide it was the best option for our teenage daughter to use for her first car. But it has been excellent. Thanks for watching!

[@bmw803]

I have the 2015 and it's a VERY WELL made car. No problems. GM anounced they're bringing back PHEVs , hope they update the VOLTEC system and we can get an Equinox or Even a Blazer PHEV. No need for full EVs.

[@elikewater]

Bingo!

[@feltonhorton379]

Good afternoon I have a 2014 volt premier with 209000 miles original brakes little to know issue over the 10 years I have owned the car. The Volt is an all electric car with a gas powered generator I agree it is an awesome vehicle. I also have a Cadillac ELR, Chevy Bolt EUV with Super Cruise and I just got my Blazer EV👏🏾

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's awesome! If I could find a Cadillac ELR in nice shape, I'd certainly consider picking one up.

[@monteengel461]

It is a hybrid, not a pure electric car. The ICE engine can directly drive the wheels. (Per GM)

[@A1Bokeh]

Dang bro you got a few rides. Can I work for you lol

[@walkerskii]

I'm curious why you need so many of almost the same exact type of vehicles?

[@nischalrana1666]

Protip: Every so often, brake from a fairly fast speed to a complete stop in Neutral. I do this mostly when exiting an offramp. This deactivates the regen and allows all brake rotors/pads to clean themselves off excess buildup and rust. Otherwise you will need to keep replacing the rotors prematurely.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's an outstanding tip! I've had to replace rusted rear rotors twice now because of LACK of wear. :)

[@supasage8131]

How often?

[@DouglasMcLaughlin-kq7hk]

I have owned my '14 for four years now. Bought a used creampuff for $7700, even though it has every premium option, even Pearl paint & leather seats. Car to swear by and NOT at. Currently only at 139k, and you'd never know it's 10 yrs old. No battery issues, get 38 mi charge, get 38- 48 mpg in town with air on (in Phoenix). Recently dealer offered $8600 to buy it. Future collector's Classic. Thanks for your accurate review.

[@beautyofgrace3915]

Just bought a 2018 Volt from Chevy. I’ve had it a month and have not gone to the gas station yet. I get about 51 ev miles using a level 1 charger. This is such an underrated car, had not even heard of this car until I began looking at videos on evs. I hope they bring it back eventually. It’s a great driving car and it was cheaper for me to get this car for 19k than paying for other evs which are 30k and up.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

You are correct - Chevrolet did a horrible job marketing the vehicle. It was advanced beyond anything else out at the time, and the start of a great thing.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

You are correct - Chevrolet did a horrible job marketing the vehicle. It was advanced beyond anything else out at the time, and the start of a great thing.

[@rsewill12]

You may qualify for a $4,000 federal tax credit on your used Volt!

[@A1Bokeh]

How's the comfort?

[@rsewill12]

@@A1Bokeh Our 2013 Volt, the third trim level from the bottom (of four) is still very comfortable. Everything is as new except for tires. The ride is better than our 2014 Cadillac ELR which is based on the Volt but with low profile tires it has a rougher ride. The Volt has 80k miles and the ELR 92k miles. Both get the same range on battery as new.

[@audio_tron]

Thanks for the video. Truly a special car. My 2014 Premier has 87k miles on it. See Gen 1 and Gen 2 Volts every day here in LA. Have had some repairs, which I classify as unplanned, but they weren’t too bad. A new passenger axle because of a torn boot and a rear motor mount. Had a few warranty-covered items too, rest was normal scheduled maintenance, which is very light and easy to stay on top of. My Volt has been through everything on rough LA roads, many stop/starts throughout the day, etc. Has a luxurious ride and is built tough. Key is being able to charge and idle charge daily at home to keep the battery happy. Lifetime MPG 102. Still getting factory range of 38 miles/charge when weather is ideal. Would love to see GM make a third gen Volt now that they’re pivoting back into PHEVs, and with customers and the marketplace being more ready for it. This is my second Volt, as I leased a base model 2014 and went looking for one to buy once I returned it.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for sharing your experience with your Volt(s)!

[@Uncontained360-vc6oz]

Have a 2013 love it only get 28 miles but rarely go over 20 miles a day ..works for me and charge with my solar panels

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That’s awesome! Do you have whole-house solar panels?

[@SLAAMIT]

Just bought a 2014 volt 85k miles. Amazing video detailing almost anything you can about this vehicle. Thanks again for your time it helped me out a ton.

[@manoman0]

Notice the built quality? Amazing!

[@SLAAMIT]

update: the car ended up having a bad EV battery even after inspecting it before buying. Car lasted maybe a month before it was losing propulsion up hills and terrible ev range and MPG. Needed 3 battery packs totalling $5k before labor and fees. Couldnt do it if possible because there was a wait list to find donors for these parts as they weren't available. Car is a discontinued nightmare and I'm glad I got my refund. Premium gas for a non premium vehicle should've steered me away to begin with.

[@SLAAMIT]

@@manoman0 it doesn't have that "tin" car feel as other cheap cars may have such as the chevy sonic or something alike so this car will hold up in safety

[@manoman0]

@@SLAAMIT Well, sorry to hear that. Mine's running strong. Soon 120k, still get my 50+ miles range under great conditions.

[@SLAAMIT]

@@manoman0 Thanks for the concern! That's phenomal range, I was lucky to get just above half that haha sounds like a great car if it was properly taken care of from the start.

[@thefuture9361]

Ive had a votl for a year now. I have a 120 mile daily commute. I have an averaged 119 mpg interstate driving.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's awesome! Great job. Are you able to charge at work so that you get to use battery on your way to work and your way home?

[@thefuture9361]

@@PurpleCollarLife yup. we have level 2 chargers at work so it works out pretty well for me.

[@SurpassMoney]

Love my 14’ Volt with 85k miles. I leased it at the time and then bought it off lease for 14k at the time which was a great deal. Had I known I’d buy it later I would have gotten the premium. I did have a weird issue last year where my charging cable fell off the outlet. It fried my ecm making the car undriveable. Took the dealer two weeks to figure it out. What I don’t like about the 14’ volt is the need for premium gas and no physical knob for the temp control. I use to have a 15 mile round trip drive to work so loved never having to use gas to and from work. Also since it’s a hatchback it actually fits a lot of stuff. Hope they make a 3rd gen volt or use the voltec system in a larger suv or van.

[@TheWickmanchris]

my 2013 Volt has been great, up to 167k, runs like new, same range as when new

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's awesome! Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@madchiller123]

My 2013 volt just passed 100k. Best car I've ever owned.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

They are amazing engineered vehicles. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment.

[@calivalley9056]

I currently own a 2017 Volt and I’m about to purchase a 2016 Cadillac ELR with only 40k miles. I love this powertrain. I’m still on the original brakes on the Volt, we drive with max regen, in low gear, it’s an amazing car. We had only one issue the first year of purchase, they replaced the infotainment system, that’s it, no other issues.

[@imbatman66]

Great video. Love my 2013 Volt Premier

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Nice 👍

[@NetworkPrototype]

Beautiful to see that the battery has degraded very little over the course of a decade. Hopefully the second generation models will still be holding up so well in 2027-2029 - the ones that have survived BECM failures and EGR valve failures, that is.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching! We hope this Volt lasts another 10 years. It’s such a great vehicle.

[@rsewill12]

My Clipper Creek EVSE is silent when used for charging. Your’s has quite the hum!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's interesting. I've only ever heard mine - so I thought that's what they all sounded like!

[@jimmykelly2809]

Bought my 2011 a year ago to eventually give to my daughter when she starts driving next year. It’s an amazing car and I wanna keep it for myself lol. I’m torn between getting a ELR or going full EV when I hand it off.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Ever since we started letting Mackenzie drive the Volt when she turned 16, I really miss it as my daily driver. But we were glad to have her in something safe, efficient, and reliable. She loves it! I have been watching Marketplace for a nice used ELR to pop up. That would be nice!

[@robsquared2]

Might want to get that charger looked at. A loud buzzing can mean a part is wearing out. I forget what it's called, but it's the thing that does voltage conversion. It happened to my forced hot air furnace.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks! I'm pretty sure ours has always sounded like that. But I'll give it a better look.

[@Oyashiro_Chama]

Throwback transformer, its a sign of age but normally isnt what kills it.

[@RCAFpolarexpress]

Good Evening Sir, I have a friend that have the same car than you and She Love It but this spring she change it for a full electric car made by Toyota 🧐👍That was an OUTSTANDING informative Video that you have made Sir Cheers 🍻🍻

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I was pretty sure I'd enjoy the Volt for a few years of commuting to work. I had no idea back in 2014 that we'd end up having it for more than 172,000 miles and 10 years - and decide to make it the vehicle we trust to get our daughter safely from place to place. Thanks for watching Dave!

[@jonathanp1884]

I had a 2014 VOLT premium for 7 years (147K mi.) with very few problems. Had to replace both front drive shafts (likely because I accelerated around corners to fast). Sold it 2 months ago and purchased a 2014 Cadillac ELR with 66K mi. Same drive platform (VOLTEK) but with sexier body and suspension. Amazing car. I suspect it will be just as reliable as my VOLT. I need to reboot software to reset charge problem just like I did with the VOLT.

[@jonathanp1884]

May I add that my lifetime MPG peaked over 100. Then I took a long road trip, and it went back to the low 90s.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for leaving this comment. I have been looking for a 2014 Cadillac ELR for some time now. I'd love to find one in good shape, with lots of life left. It checks all the boxes for me for a daily driver to my corporate office job: efficient, sporty, classy, business, good technology. Let me know if you come across another one!

[@AndroidAntill]

Chevy volt 2013 premium. 106,000 miles with barely any battery degradation. Went for an oil change and asked me if the car had been sitting for a long time. Told them I rarely use the engine.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I'm really glad that we switched to the Amsoil synthetic oil. That oil can easily stay in our Volt for a year.

[@tom1kahn]

Owner of 2 Gen 1 and 2 Gen 2 Volts over the years here. To keep your rear brakes working, find a back road with no traffic especially nobody behind you. Speed up to 50, shift to Neutral, and brake hard down to under 20 mph or less. When in Neutral, it has to use the brake rotors to stop. Repeat several times a month. This would have saved you a lot of money over the years in rear brake rotor repairs.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That is a great tip. I've never done that - but I have replaced those "like new, except rusted" rear rotors a few times now.

[@railbiker100]

In 2019, I bought a 2014 Volt Premium for $12,000. After 2-1/2 years of trouble-free and very inexpensive driving I traded it in for a 2022 Bolt 2LT. Big mistake. Right after taking delivery, GM restricted the 259 mile driving range to 163 miles, making it completely impractical. Any trip over 82 miles took over twice as long with multiple charge sessions. I want my Volt back, but the same 2014 would cost the same $12,000, 5 years later.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Those old Volts are so amazing! I wish I had 2 of them. :)

[@manoman0]

@@PurpleCollarLife We have two. Best cars ever. It was a jump of faith and man, does this car make sense.

[@pablotrobo]

I bought a 2014 volt and shipped it with me when I moved overseas. Got my Clipper Creak charger for 240 v but after a year of usage it stopped charging. Now I use the gas engine exclusively and so far has been great. It has 130.000 kilometers and it runs well. It's a pity that I can't get it to charge from the outlet. But it's imposible to take it somewhere to be fixed. I try with the oficial chevrolet shop here but they have no idea what to do with it. I Just cross my fingers and push the gas pedal , hoping it will run as it always has.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's a great story! I hope it keeps going strong. What's the lifetime MPG showing?

[@motherslove686]

very nice review.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks!

[@melanie.3837]

Thanks. This is super hellpful. All of your videos have easy to understand directions and explainations. In terms of purchasing an EV, with all of the choices out there, what brought you to decide on the Chevy Volt? Was it price? Mileage? Reviews? Since they ended production of the Volt in 2019, is there another EV you would purchase if you had to purchase one today?

[@michaelnewton8048]

Just bought a 2013 Volt with 149k miles on it. Was a bit concerned because i heard the battery only lasts 150k miles. The more I research the more I think these things might last forever

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Here's hoping they do last forever! The Volt is an amazing car. We'd like to keep driving it forever.

[@yizheng2612]

Encouraging and good view!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. If you're not already a subscriber, consider subscribing. We have additional videos coming out about the Chevy Volt (and potentially another EV) in the future. Thanks!

[@janet53589]

For the interest of people who may not know, the Chevy Volt is based on the Opel/Vauxhall Astra platform from the UK. This has always been a top European small car, that has a 30 year history. The Astra has been pounding UK motorways, and German autobahns for decades and is very well sorted and respected. GM took this car and adapted the bodywork to fit batteries, then changed the powertrain for hybrid duty. GM's Volt project brought together the best engineers in the company from Opel, Vauxhall, and GM HQ to work together. The Volt was the retirement swan song of Bob Lutz, who poured his soul into it. Due to its lineage in the Astra and the top engineers who worked on it, the Volt is a top quality product, as its field performance has demonstrated. It was a mistake for GM to end it, and will be compelled to bring it back in the future.

[@ewen1140]

We have one and we have a Polestar EV… the volt acceleration is not fast at all. Wow all we have spent money on is to do brakes and retorque the drive shaft. You have e a lot of expenses compared to us

[@watershedoverlook]

Seems like it's been a great solution for your your family's needs, Chad. I agree with you...I don't get all the hand-wringing and pearl-clutching that comes from the extremes of either side of the EV "debate"...as if there needs to be one. Our grandkids will wonder what all the fuss was about. As for me...I want a NUCLEAR powered truck!

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks, Chris. The Volt has been a great family vehicle for sure. And I agree - I'm not sure why the topic is so polarizing.

[@prox2332]

Amazing car true ! By any chance do you know where the BCM at would you ?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

I don't - sorry.

[@RDEnduro]

I didnt know those had a generator, Dodge is doing that now and I thought it was new

[@PurpleCollarLife]

The Volt was certainly a start in a direction that many other vehicles now follow.

[@vevenaneathna]

well.. there is an edge case when the gen1 volts use the motor to directly mechanically propel the wheels. this is a big misunderstanding of the volt. the gen2 never mechanically sends power to the wheels. at around 55-65 mph, the planetary gears have the perfect ratio for the motor to directly drive the wheels and it will do so when the engine is running. you can tell when its doing this from the kw screen youre useing on the dash. it will have a small sliver of EV power while having mostly gas power. this gives about a 10-15% improvement in fuel economy, and its why at non interstate speeds (sub 70mph) the gen1 gets better mpg than the gen2. however the gen2 does better above 70mph.

[@royamberg9177]

i have 2012 i wish the made mini van or a truck streight ev wouldnt work

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching! The Volt was with it's EV drivetrain with gas-powered backup generator was certainly a game changer.

[@royamberg9177]

it works well it's efficient but car is way to small for how I used it put 85000 miles on it since I bought it in 2017

[@mussersbowsboatsandscience6610]

How much does the electric bill change?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's a great question that I should have covered. Our house is all electric (baseboard heat, electric water heater, range, water pump, etc.). So we're used to an electric bill over $300 per month (budgeted). We only noticed a minor increase in the bill.

[@bsgarey]

That battery is middle range price. I just replaced the KIA optima battery which is 305-400 dollars.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching. I wasn’t aware that there was a Kia Optima EV

[@bsgarey]

@@PurpleCollarLife I believe this guy was talking about the 12 volt battery in the Volt not the high voltage battery. Same with the KIA that was the 12 Volt battery replacement. My 2014 Volt also just had the 12 Volt battery replaced.

[@BlaineTrarop-q9q]

I average 79 mpg on Regular gas in a 2017 Volt Premier

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks! That's amazing. 79 mpg on gas only?

[@BlaineTrarop-q9q]

@ No that's the combined gas & electric. I am a real lead foot. I have 2 jobs that requires mostly city and short highway speeds. My lifetime driving included going to Kentucky from Michigan in all has mode and driving on the city streets and freeways of Louissville KY. I charge my car off 120v @12amps. It finished before I woke up most mornings. I just crashed my Volt Premier. I will buy another one or the Cadillac ELR which is a Volt on steroids. I loved both my Prius, hated the way it looked. I loved this more and people always complimented the Mystic Blue color.

[@alanbottorff9693]

On the "is it a true EV" question: For a Volt you could remove the gas engine and still drive it to the end of battery range. For a locomotive, without the diesel engine, no go! Most PHEV also won't go without the gas engine, the gas engine drives the wheels.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Very nice!

[@matthewinsco6993]

If the battery is depleted, you can run it on just gas? wow

[@PurpleCollarLife]

That's correct. The on-board generator uses gasoline to recharge the battery.

[@matthewinsco6993]

@@PurpleCollarLife Cool. But what if the battery fails completely? Do you know anyone who's had to buy a new battery? Looks pretty expensive unless it's refurbished.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

@@matthewinsco6993 I don’t personally know anyone who has had to have any battery work done. I do know that there are places that will replace bad cells of the battery, without replacing the entire battery. But if you have the dealership do it - I do believe they replace the entire battery. We’re over 176,000 miles now and still going without issue.

[@hectorsanta76]

​@PurpleCollarLife Hey, thanks for the info. I am planning to buy a 2015 chevy volt with 172000 on it. I was a little scare because the high mileage, I don't want to replace the battery soon. I am going to see the car tomorrow. I live in San Diego, California

[@matthewinsco6993]

@@PurpleCollarLife that’s really good to know, thanks! Glad your volt is going strong!

[@maadimaniac]

Why do you use 93 octane gasoline in the Volt ?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Great question. The owner's manual says to use 91 octane or higher for the combustion engine (generator) in the 2014 Volt.

[@bsgarey]

Factory requires it.

[@MrTruckerf]

High compression engines require higher octane fuel which is harder to fire. Easy-firing low octane gas would cause 'pinging' in the engine.

[@HK-uq9by]

How much is a set of battery?

[@PurpleCollarLife]

We've never needed to replace the drive battery (or any sections of the battery).

[@BlaineTrarop-q9q]

Why waste money on Premium? That's just a waste it doesn't require it and it doesn't help anything.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Actually, until the 2016 models, previous Chevy Volts (including our 2014) require premium gasoline.

[@BlaineTrarop-q9q]

@ I read that it was only louder with regular gas. You mean it could damage the engine?

[@davida.p.9911]

Petroleum will always be a necessary part of our lives for the time being. Oil is not only a fuel, but it is a RAW MATERIAL for pretty much everything. From paint to rubber to plastics and even lubrication of machines in factories. Even in factories that make electric cars. But this is a hybrid, technically speaking. Fully electric vehicles are not practical because it's a fully contained battery powered system. For the same reason you wouldn't want your house or business to be powered by a battery. They're hard wired into the electric grid which is something you can't do with a car, obviously. (Unless they made the world's longest extension cord, which wouldn't be practical either considering the laws of physics that govern electric consumption and production) Hybrids are the closest we can get. Also, the shortest charging time we can do currently is about 4 hours. In our fast paced lives, time is not something we have a lot of. To shorten charging times would take a wired plug about 12 inches in diameter because of, the laws of physics. If you push too much electricity through a tiny wire, it overheats and starts a fire, or trips a breaker. So you need a larger wire to handle the current. Plus you'd need bigger batteries which would increase the size of the vehicle, etc......point is, it wouldn't be practical. As my old science books said, "Perpetual motion machines do not exist, you must always keep adding energy to keep it going". We are still using fuel/energy to power electric cars....you're just putting yourself farther away from the fuel that's being burned. ANYWAY, enough of my speech. Thanks for sharing Chad. Personally, they're not for me, the cost is too expensive and I don't drive a lot anyway all things considering.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

There's certainly a long way to go if we think we can replace the majority of gas/diesel vehicles with EVs. You've made lots of great points. For us - the 2014 Volt certainly has been a "better than expected" experience. Outside of the diesel F350 that we traded after 17 years of ownership last year, owning the Volt for 10 years is the 2nd longest vehicle ownership period I've had since I turned 16. I still love my gas guzzling big trucks, boats, and toys. :)

[@martcus2727]

The title should be PHEV not EV...

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment. There is a lot of confusion about the Volt - some people think it is a PHEV. But that is technically incorrect. This is not a hybrid or plug in hybrid EV. Since the driveline is only connected to electricity as a source, it is an EV. Hybrid vehicles have the combustion engine also attached to the driveline. Plug-in hybrid EV vehicles also have the combustion engine attached to the driveline. The Volt only has the battery power connected to the driveline, hence the true EV title. The gas-powered generator only serves to charge the batteries once they are depleted. The generator does not connect to the driveline.

[@IppiopaidFEEDBACK]

Thanks for clearing that up! I want one of these things so bad. I think they just make sense.

[@jameshunt5316]

@@PurpleCollarLifelove the idea, but it’s not an EV It’s a Gas-Electric vehicle. You basically drive a miniature train, it’s not an EV because it has the engine to supplement power. It doesn’t have to be attached to a driveline. They don’t call trains EV’s… They call them Diesel-Electric Locomotives. Same with the new Semi-trucks doing that idea. Not technically EV. They are their own category.

[@SLAAMIT]

@@jameshunt5316womp womp it’s an ev

[@ogdumplings8196]

gas anxiety

[@PurpleCollarLife]

Thanks for watching! The lack of range anxiety is certainly one of the things I like about the Volt - knowing that we have the gas generator to go as far as we need to.

[@loodusefilm7881]

Sry, but you don't balance anything out 😂

[@PurpleCollarLife]

:)

[@monteengel461]

The Volt is not a true EV, it is a hybrid system.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

It certainly is an interesting and sometimes confusing system. It’s not a hybrid, because it’s only driven by electricity - the combustion engine never drives the driveline. It only serves to charge the battery (as a generator). So technically, by definition - it is an EV. Only the battery drives the vehicle.

[@monteengel461]

@@PurpleCollarLife that is not correct. A year or so after the Volt came out, Chevy admitted that part of the time the wheels were directly driven by the ICE. Don’t get me wrong, I like hybrids. I am on my second, both of my daughters have hybrids and my son-in-law has one.

[@PurpleCollarLife]

@@monteengel461 You are correct that Motor Trend and a few other media sources documented that under very specific conditions (battery is low while traveling over 70 MPH), the combustion engine mechanically connects to the secondary (small) electric motor, for additional power to the drivetrain. The primary electric motor remains powered only through electricity. So it's complicated (if I understand correctly), because the generator is still only connecting to the small electric motor.

[@bsgarey]

That motor never drives the car. Its a generator. The same as the BMW is a range extender.

[@monteengel461]

@@bsgarey Wrong, GM publicity admitted that the ICE does drive the wheels part of the time.