2011 Chevrolet Volt Owner's Manual - Page 31

In Brief 1-25 Driving for Better Energy Efficiency Use the following tips to help maximize energy efficiency and range. 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). 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. Driving Style Efficiency Gauge (Instrument Cluster) The ball indicator should be kept green and in the center of the gauge. Inefficient acceleration is indicated when the ball turns yellow and travels above the center of the gauge. Aggressive braking is indicated when the ball turns yellow and travels below the center of the gauge.