The Volt that doesn’t quit

By Mark Scribner: President, Drive Electric Cars New England

I’ve been driving the same plug-in electric vehicle (EV) for almost 10 years now. Back in early 2012, buyers did not have dozens of EVs to choose from like they do today, rather just two: the Chevrolet Volt and the Nissan LEAF. I chose the Volt for a number of reasons (a topic for an entire blog post of its own).

I’ve managed to drive my Volt on battery alone for just north of 170,000 miles, almost 90% of the total. For the most part, I have accomplished this by charging at home overnight with the included adapter plugged into a standard wall outlet. When I travel out of my usual range, I frequent the growing network of public charging stations.

My Volt is long past the original 8-year/100,000 mile warranty. Nevertheless, it drives almost like new. But what is really going on under the hood with my aging EV battery and electronic system? When I had the  opportunity to answer that question with a no-cost EV Health Checkup at Leo & Sons in Lawrence, Massachusetts, I charged at the chance.

The EV mechanic you need

Leo Lamontagne has been operating his auto service business since 1975, and with the help of his son over the past decade, their shop now specializes in servicing all aspects of hybrid and EV diagnostics, maintenance, and repair. This includes battery maintenance, and with all the miles and charging my Volt had seen, I was very curious to see how the battery was holding up. As part of the EV Health Checkup, I also received a free multi-point inspection and tire rotation.

Matt Lamontagne checked my car from top to bottom and rotated the tires, recommending they be replaced before winter. One of the great advantages of owning an EV is how little maintenance these cars typically need—tire maintenance and not a whole lot more.

The battery under the microscope

The Leo & Sons diagnostic equipment analyzes each group of battery cells as well as the overall health of the entire pack. I was pleased to learn that despite my car’s age, all of my electric driving, and thousands of charges, the battery had retained 83% of its original capacity. Matt shared the analysis of the cell groups, indicating their health and similarity in voltage. He also examined the car’s error code history and used special diagnostic tools to test the charging system. Everything checked out as A-OK.

A diagnostic check-up is very much in order for anyone shopping for a pre-owned EV. I recently listened to The Consumer Toolbox podcast by Milagros Johnson, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Consumer Information for Springfield, Massachusetts. One great piece of advice she provides: “The best used car you can buy is one you can first take on an extended road test and your mechanic gives a clean bill of health.”