HybridCars.com reports that the EPA’s estimate of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions for a Chevy Volt and a Plug-in Prius is very close. The headline reads: “The US EPA Says The Chevrolet Volt is Barely Greener than The Toyota Prius” (Click Here).
The headline is accurate. But, we can’t help but sense that the headline is a bit of a punch at the Volt. FULL DISCLOSURE: We own our second Volt and find it to be the most amazing vehicle we’ve driven. The headline is provocative. It will catch the eye of those that are, to put it mildly, “not fans” of the Volt.
As EV advocates, we at Park to Spark® suggest this headline instead:
“Volt and Prius Hybrid Both Save About 50% of CO2 Emissions When Compared to the Average American Car”
Yes, the Volt gives off 230 all-in grams/mile of CO2 in Coal Country. The EPA states the average new vehicle in the USA gives off 430 grams/mile of CO2. The Volt (based on EPA’s assumptions for driving miles/style) creates 53.5% of the CO2 spewed by the average new car EVEN IN COAL COUNTRY.
Both the Prius and the Volt also consume less oil while spewing less CO2. According to EPA , the average Prius consumes 5.9 barrels of oil per year. The average Volt consumes 2.0 barrels per year. The average Ford Fusion (25 MPG) consumes 13.2 barrels per year. The Volt and the Prius both seem to be win/win vehicles to us.
See FuelEconomy.gov for tons of great calculators to help determine the benefit of EVs.
Please contact us to learn more about your vehicle strategy and how workplace charging for EVs will help with both CO2 emissions and saving barrels of oil.