2013 Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - Page 30

1-24 In Brief Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection Use Normal Mode when possible. Sport Mode provides more responsive acceleration than Normal Mode but can reduce efficiency. Use Mountain Mode prior to climbing long, steep grades in mountainous areas. Be sure to engage Mountain Mode before starting to climb. Mountain Mode reduces electric range and power but may be needed to maintain speeds above 96 km/h (60 mph) when climbing grades of 5% or greater. Use L (Low) in heavy stop‐and‐go traffic or when traveling downhill. L (Low) requires less brake pedal application and provides a controlled, efficient way to slow the vehicle down. Acceleration/Braking/Coasting Avoid unnecessary rapid accelerations and decelerations. Electric range is maximized at 80 km/h (50 mph) and below. Higher speeds use more energy and can significantly reduce electric range. Use cruise control when appropriate. Plan ahead for decelerations and coast whenever possible. For example, do not rush to traffic signals. Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast. The vehicle recovers energy while coasting and braking in D (Drive) or L (Low). Climate Setting Using the heat and air conditioning systems decreases the energy available for electric driving. Optimal energy efficiency is achieved with the heat, air conditioning, and fan turned off. Less energy is used at low fan speeds. When using the fan: . Fan Only is the most energy efficient climate setting as long as 0 is not selected. ECO is for moderate air conditioning and heater operation and is the next most energy efficient setting as long as 0 is not selected. Comfort provides the most comfort but is the least energy efficient. . . Use the auto heated seat feature instead of climate settings. Heating the seat uses less energy than heating the vehicle interior.