Fuel economy compared: America's first EVs

(General Motors)

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its official sticker figures for the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle, giving it a lower mile-per-gallon rating than its key competitor, the Nissan Leaf.

The fuel economy sticker, which will be displayed in all showrooms offering the Chevrolet Volt, will give a mile-per-gallon figure of 93 using electric power only, or 2.53 l/100km.

The all-electric efficiency of the Nissan Leaf was determined by the EPA as 99 mpg (2.37 l/100km) earlier this week.

However, as the Volt uses a gas generator to top up the battery when it's low, the EPA added another figure of 37 mpg (6.36 l/100km) to indicate efficiency while running on gas - slightly lower than some traditional gas vehicles.

The sticker suggests that with a combination of the two, the Volt generates the equivalent of 60 mpg or 3.92 l/100km.

Other information on the ratings includes a four hour charge time and a 35 mile (56 km) all-electric range, which is consistent with the lower end of General Motors' 35-50 mile (56-80 km) prediction.

In testing the Leaf, the EPA established that its range was 73 miles (117 km), somewhat short of the 100 mile (160 km) range claimed by Nissan.

The EPA tests are one of the final steps required before the first mainstream electric cars in the US hit showrooms, where they are expected to be popular with environmentally aware consumers.

http://www.epa.gov