2015 Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - Page 9

EFFICIENCY Driving Style Your driving style plays a large role in the efficiency of the vehicle. Avoid rapid acceleration or deceleration to help maximize energy efficiency and range. Electric range is maximized at 50 mph and below; higher speeds use more energy and significantly reduce range. Efficiency Gauge Press the CONFIG button to select the Enhanced Configuration of the instrument cluster to display the efficiency gauge. ­ While driving, try to keep the spinning ball in the Efficiency Gauge green and in the center of the gauge. The ball will turn yellow and move up or down during inefficient acceleration or aggressive braking. Press the DRIVE MODE button on the center stack to scroll through a menu of operating modes when more performance is needed. After three seconds, the highlighted mode will become active. Driver-Selected Operating Modes Normal (Default): Use in normal driving conditions for efficient operation; is active each time the vehicle is started. Sport: Use when more responsive acceleration is desired; may reduce efficiency. Climate Settings Optimal efficiency is achieved with the heat, air conditioning and fan turned off. If using the climate mode settings, the most efficient operation is in the following order: • FAN ONLY - electric cabin heating/cooling is off • ECO - limits cabin heating/cooling to balance ­ comfort with energy use • COMFORT - provides the most cabin heating/cooling but uses the most energy Use the heated seats (if equipped) to reduce the demand on the cabin heating system. Heating the seats uses less energy than heating the vehicle interior. See Driving and Operating in your Owner Manual. Mountain: Use when planning to drive in mountainous terrain (long grades of 5% or higher); reserves battery power to maintain higher speeds on steep grades. Hold: Use to preserve electric range for later use. Range-extending operation will engage. 9