GM, EPA Wrangle Over Volt MPG Testing

General Motors and the Environmental Protection Agency have not reached agreement on how to test the Chevy Volt to determine its EPA mileage estimates.
GM is working with the California Air Resources Board to have the vehicle classified as an extended-range electric vehicle for the purpose of determining fuel economy ratings. Such a classification may lead to a favorable EPA rating, although the agency has not yet determined how it will test the vehicle.

The company says the vehicle can complete the emissions and economy tests using its electric motor and should be allowed to do so, which would boost the MPG rating to near 100 mpg. The EPA expects to test the vehicle in such a way that requires the car to run its gasoline engine, which would significantly reduce its mileage ratings.

In the past, the EPA has worked with vehicle manufacturers to determine testing rubrics for substantially new vehicle technologies. Last year, the EPA worked with BMW to develop testing for its Hydrogen7 fuel cell vehicle. Those emissions tests, which rated that vehicle as a zero-emission vehicle (ZEV), were conducted by the Argonne National Laboratory, using highly precise, specially calibrated equipment. BMW would not agree to have the emissions testing for the vehicle conducted under any other circumstances or at any other facility.

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