I ordered the optional 7.2 kW charger and it takes ~2.5 hrs to charge every day. I am a Honda fanboy from way back and I really wanted a Clarity when I heard about it, went over to see one the day I heard of it but it is designed to be driven by people with no right leg, they have this decorative plastic doodad that sticks out into the space where people need to be. The controls were horrible, the engine required premium and it only went 38 'miles' (the 'miles' are more like kilometers if you plan to drive highway speeds). The first gen Volt wasnt up to snuff in my book. We dont need to worry about exactly how long ago that was, but gas was ~50c a gal at the time most people didnt know what 'mpg' meant). I used to doodle in Jr high school about cars with electric motors driven by an ICE (trains work that way.

I always wanted one since I first heard about the concept back in '07.

The default is 35 f, but it can be selected to be lowere so the engine will come on much less frequently, and it only makes a sound at low speeds so you don't hit pedestrians in parking lots, I do not hear it when I am in my car. To respond to a couple of earlier comments, the volt runs the engine when it is cold to both help warm the cabin and the battery pack. I would never want a regular ice car again and if folks would test drive the Volt they would not either. I also don't miss the weekly visit to the gas station. As a bonus the Volt is really fun to drive accelerates rapidly and smoothly allowing easy highway merging. I also like having a back up gas engine but am still driving 90% electric. Even better as daily I am crawling home in bumper to bumper traffic I am no longer wasting gas, and the regenerative breaking saves both fuel, my breaks, and my sanity, as I am no longer having to accelerate and break repeatedly.

I choose the Volt because it allows me to do my 54 mile round trip commute using only electric. For safety, the Volt makes a fake hum to warn pedestrians, whereas the Fusion Energi is truly silent. Hence in the winter time, the Fusion Energi is in electric mode far more often than the Volt which unnecessarily turns on the ICE engine. In the winter time, the Volt engine also turns on for no reason at all, which isn't the case with the Fusion Energi. For the Volt, we fill up considerably less, about 3 times a year. Although the Fusion Energi electric range is only 35 km (20 miles), my wife and I drive 80% in electric mode and only fill up once every 2 months. The Fusion is also significantly bigger, making it a comfortable 5 seater. The Volt feels like it's slapped together like a Pontiac Sunfire, whereas the Fusion Energi quality could easily rival (and win) against a BMW and it's dashboard is highly refined. However, the Fusion Energi is much more luxurious and its fit and finish is far superior. I also like the fact that the Volt has a real trunk and is a more powerful car. For the Volt, I like it for its significantly longer electric range, and would choose it over the Fusion Energi for this reason alone. I love both cars, and can't really say the Volt is better than the Fusion Energi or vice versa, as each are better in different ways. I own both a 2017 Chevy Volt and a 2016 Ford Fusion Energi.

2018 chevy volt maintenance schedule