Volt Is Stripped of Power but Still Shocks, Sorta

Chevy owner intentionally depletes electric & gas power all in the name of auto-science. The results aren’t earth-shattering, but there is a twist.

The first-gen Chevrolet Volt was an interesting car for a couple of reasons. The first of which was its powertrain, which featured a large battery pack; and its 1.4-liter, range-extending gasoline engine. The Volt can travel up to 38 miles on electricity before switching over to the traditional motor, allowing drivers to set the dreaded idea of range-anxiety aside.

But what happens when the Volt runs out of electricity and gasoline? Does it come to a sputtering halt with bangs and clanks like conventional cars? Or does it wind down to a stop without much of a fuss?

In other words, when it comes to survival and its energy sources have been depleted, will the Volt rise like a warrior, or wither like a wuss?

When the Volt runs out of electricity and gas, does it come to a sputtering halt? Or does it wind down without much of a fuss?

We get answers to these questions from an actual Volt owner, Alex Palmeri, whose experiment was recently featured in Green Car Reports. In the name of auto-science, the Legit Street Cars YouTuber took his 2013 Chevrolet Volt and purposely ran it out of electricity as well as gas.

While Palmeri’s video is not exactly mind-bending, something unexpected does happen before the Volt comes to a standstill. Watch the video below for the surprise ending.