Page 235 of 454

Black plate (5,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Climate Controls 8-5
The air conditioning and electric
heat could be on at the same time
when dehumidification is required in
ECO or Comfort modes.
In Fan Only mode, occasionally the
air conditioning and/or heating
status will be on if the Auto Defog
function is enabled and high
humidity is detected. See“Climate
and Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑56, for
details on enabling or disabling the
Auto Defog function.
The air conditioning may also run if
0is selected, regardless of the
climate mode.
Automatic Operation
The system automatically controls
the fan speed, air delivery mode,
and recirculation to heat or cool the
vehicle to the selected temperature.
When the AUTO indicator light is
on, the system is in full automatic
operation. If the air delivery mode, fan speed, or recirculation setting is
adjusted, the AUTO indicator turns
off and the selected settings display.
For automatic operation:
1. Press AUTO.
2. Set the temperature. An initial
setting of 23°C (74°F) is
recommended. Allow the system
time to stabilize. Adjust the
temperature as needed.
Q/R(Temperature Control):
Press to increase or decrease the
temperature.
Auto Defog: The system will
monitor high humidity inside the
vehicle. When high humidity is
detected, the climate control system
may adjust to outside air supply and
turn on the air conditioner or the
heater. The fan speed may slightly
increase to help prevent fogging.
When high humidity is no longer
detected, the system will return to
its prior operation. To turn Auto Defog off or on, see
“Climate and
Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5‑56.
Manual Operation
A(Fan Control): Press the fan
control buttons or the touch screen
fan control, to increase or decrease
the fan speed. The fan speed
setting displays. Pressing either
button cancels automatic fan control
and the fan can be controlled
manually. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation. Press the fan
down button repeatedly to turn off
the fan and the climate control
system.
If the fan is manually turned off
while in ECO or Comfort mode, the
display will automatically change to
Fan Only mode. When the fan is
turned back on either by manually
increasing fan speed or pressing the
AUTO button, the climate mode will
revert back to ECO or
Comfort mode.
Page 236 of 454

Black plate (6,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
8-6 Climate Controls
Air Delivery Mode Control:Press
CLIMATE to select the Climate
touch screen. Press the air delivery
mode touch screen button to
change the direction of the airflow.
The selected air delivery mode
button is lit. Pressing any of the air
delivery buttons cancels automatic
air delivery control and the direction
of the airflow can be controlled
manually. Press AUTO to return to
automatic operation.
To change the current mode, select
one of the following:
Y(Vent): Air is directed to the
instrument panel outlets.
\(Bi-Level): Air is divided
between the instrument panel
outlets and the floor outlets.
[(Floor): Air is directed to the
floor outlets.
-(Defog): Air is directed to the
windshield and floor outlets. Clears
the windows of fog or moisture.
0(Defrost): Air is directed to the
windshield. The windshield is
cleared of fog or frost more quickly.
Selecting
0will disable automatic
control and the AUTO button
indicator will not be lit.
Selecting
0again will return to the
previous climate settings.
For best results, clear all snow and
ice from the windshield before
defrosting.
If
0is selected in Fan Only or
ECO mode, air conditioning or
electric heat may turn on and have
a noticeable effect on vehicle
electric range and fuel economy.
AUTO
h(Auto Recirculation):
Press to allow the system to
automatically choose the air supply
mode for best performance in terms
of comfort, efficiency, and
defogging. Air is recirculated or
outside air is pulled into the vehicle.
The touch screen button is lit.
h(Manual Recirculation):
Press to alternate between
recirculating air inside the vehicle or
pulling in outside air. When
selected, the touch screen button
lights up to indicate that air is being
recirculated. This helps to quickly
cool the air inside the vehicle or
prevent outside air and odors from
entering.
Pressing this button cancels
automatic recirculation. Press AUTO
or AUTO
hto return to automatic
operation; recirculation runs
automatically as needed.
Manual recirculation mode is not
available when in Defrost or Defog
modes.
M/L(Manual Heated Seats): If
available, the controls are on the
center stack. To operate, the vehicle
must be on.
Press
MorLto heat the driver or
passenger seat cushion and
seatback. For more information, see
Heated Front Seats on page 3‑6.
Page 241 of 454

Black plate (3,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
Driving and Operating 9-3
Use Mountain Mode prior to
climbing long, steep grades in
mountainous areas. Be sure to
engage Mountain Mode before
starting to climb. Mountain Mode
reduces electric range and power
but may be needed to maintain
speeds above 96 km/h (60 mph)
when climbing grades of 5% or
greater.
Use L (Low) in heavy stop‐and‐go
traffic or when traveling downhill.
L (Low) requires less brake pedal
application and provides a
controlled, efficient way to slow the
vehicle down.
Climate Setting
Using the heat and air conditioning
systems decreases the energy
available for electric driving.
Optimal energy efficiency is
achieved with the heat, air
conditioning, and fan turned off.Less energy is used at low fan
speeds. When using the fan:
.Fan Only is the most energy
efficient climate setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.ECO is for moderate air
conditioning and heater
operation and is the next most
energy efficient setting as long
as
0is not selected.
.Comfort provides the most
comfort but is the least energy
efficient.
Use the auto heated seat feature
instead of climate settings. Heating
the seat uses less energy than
heating the vehicle interior. Use remote start to heat or cool the
interior when the vehicle is plugged
in to maximize the electric range by
utilizing electricity from the electrical
outlet.
Engine Assisted Heating operation,
if equipped, can be personalized.
See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5‑56 for more information.
In hot weather, avoid parking in
direct sunlight or use sunshades
inside the vehicle.
Turn off the front and rear window
defog/defrost when they are no
longer needed.
Avoid driving with the windows open
at highway speeds.
Page 242 of 454

Black plate (4,1)Chevrolet Volt Owner Manual - 2012
9-4 Driving and Operating
Vehicle Charging/Maintenance
Charging
Keep the vehicle plugged in, even
when fully charged, to keep the
battery temperature ready for the
next drive. This is important when
outside temperatures are extremely
hot or cold.
Maintenance
Always keep the tires properly
inflated and the vehicle properly
aligned.
The weight of excess cargo in the
vehicle affects efficiency and range.
Avoid carrying more than is needed.
If fuel is not regularly used, consider
keeping the fuel tank only one‐third
full. Excess fuel weight impacts
efficiency and range.
Use premium fuel.
Avoid unnecessary use of electrical
accessories. Power used for
functions other than propelling the
vehicle will reduce EV range.Using a rooftop carrier will reduce
efficiency due to additional weight
and drag.
Distracted Driving
Distraction comes in many forms
and can take your focus from the
task of driving. Exercise good
judgment and do not let other
activities divert your attention away
from the road. Many local
governments have enacted laws
regarding driver distraction. Become
familiar with the local laws in
your area.
To avoid distracted driving, always
keep your eyes on the road, hands
on the wheel, and mind on the drive.
.Do not use a phone in
demanding driving situations.
Use a hands-free method to
place or receive necessary
phone calls.
.Watch the road. Do not read,
take notes, or look up
information on phones or other
electronic devices.
.Designate a front seat
passenger to handle potential
distractions.
.Become familiar with vehicle
features before driving, such as
programming favorite radio
stations and adjusting climate
control and seat settings.
Program all trip information into
any navigation device prior to
driving.
.Wait until the vehicle is parked
to retrieve items that have fallen
to the floor.
.Stop or park the vehicle to tend
to children.
.Keep pets in an appropriate
carrier or restraint.
.Avoid stressful conversations
while driving, whether with a
passenger or on a cell phone.