
(4,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
8-4 Climate Controls
Fan Only Mode:The air
conditioning and electric heat are
turned off. As long as
0is not
selected, the climate control settings
may not have a noticeable effect on
the vehicle electric range and fuel
economy.
When in Fan Only mode, the AUTO
indicator light will be off. When
AUTO is selected in Fan Only
mode, the mode will change to
either ECO or Comfort.
When in Fan Only mode, the air
conditioning system may turn on
automatically if the high voltage
battery is being cooled. The climate
control system could blow cold air.
This is normal. To prevent cold air
from blowing into the interior, turn off
the fan control and select the vent
mode and manual recirculation
mode, and close the air vents. When in Fan Only mode, if Auto
Defog is enabled, the air
conditioning and electric heat may
turn on when high humidity
conditions exist. See
“Climate and
Air Quality” underVehicle
Personalization on page 5-54 for
more information on the Auto Defog
selection. The air conditioning may
also run if
0is selected.
ECO Mode: The air conditioning
and electric heat are controlled to
balance comfort with fuel economy.
As long as
0is not selected, the
vehicle electric range or fuel
economy will decrease less than in
Comfort mode, but will result in
moderate comfort.
Comfort Mode: The air
conditioning and electric heat are
controlled to reach the best comfort
level based on the temperature
setting selected. In this mode,
vehicle electric range or fuel
economy will decrease depending
on the amount of energy required to
reach the best comfort levels.
Climate Power Gauge
When the climate mode is changed,
the Climate Power gauge displays
the impact that user setting changes
have on energy consumption. The
higher the reading, the more energy
is being used.
Air Conditioning/Heat Status Indicators
The air conditioning/heat status
displays when the air conditioning or
electric heat is being used.

(6,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
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 3-5.

(1,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
Driving and Operating 9-1
Driving and
Operating
Driving Information
Driving for Better EnergyEfficiency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-2
Distracted Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-4
Defensive Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Drunk Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Control of a Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Braking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-5
Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Off-Road Recovery . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Highway Hypnosis . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-8
Hill and Mountain Roads . . . . . . 9-9
Winter Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-9
If the Vehicle Is Stuck . . . . . . . . 9-11
Vehicle Load Limits . . . . . . . . . . 9-12
Starting and Operating
New Vehicle Break-In . . . . . . . . 9-16
Power Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-16
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-18 Retained Accessory
Power (RAP) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting Into Park . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-19
Shifting out of Park . . . . . . . . . . 9-20
Parking over Things That Burn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Electric Vehicle Operating
Modes
System Operation . . . . . . . . . . . 9-21
Electric Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Extended Range Mode . . . . . . 9-22
Driver Selected OperatingModes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-22
Out of Fuel/Engine Unavailable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Maintenance Modes . . . . . . . . . 9-25
Engine Exhaust
Engine Exhaust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-27
Running the Vehicle While Parked . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Electric Drive Unit
Electric Drive Unit . . . . . . . . . . . 9-28
Brakes
Antilock BrakeSystem (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-30
Electric Parking Brake . . . . . . . 9-31
Regenerative Braking . . . . . . . . 9-32
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/Electronic Stability Control . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-33
Cruise Control
Cruise Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-35
Driver Assistance Systems
Forward Collision Alert (FCA)System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-38
Ultrasonic Parking Assist . . . . 9-40
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Delayed ChargingOverride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49
Charging Status Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-49

(2,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
9-2 Driving and Operating
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
Utility Interruption ofCharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Gasoline Specifications . . . . . . 9-56
California Fuel
Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-56
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-59
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-60
Driving Information
Driving for Better Energy
Efficiency
Use the following tips to help
maximize energy efficiency and
range.
In colder temperatures, while these
efficiency tips will help, the electric
vehicle driving range may be lower
due to higher energy usage.
Driving Style
Efficiency Gauge (Instrument
Cluster)
The ball indicator should be kept
green and in the center of the
gauge.
Inefficient acceleration is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels above the center of the
gauge. Aggressive braking is indicated
when the ball turns yellow and
travels below the center of the
gauge.
Acceleration/Braking/Coasting
Avoid unnecessary rapid
accelerations and decelerations.
Electric range is maximized at
80 km/h (50 mph) and below. Higher
speeds use more energy and can
significantly reduce electric range.
Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Plan ahead for decelerations and
coast whenever possible. For
example, do not rush to traffic
signals.
Do not shift to N (Neutral) to coast.
The vehicle recovers energy while
coasting and braking in D (Drive)
or L (Low).

(3,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
Driving and Operating 9-3
Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection
Use Normal Mode when possible.
Sport Mode provides more
responsive acceleration than
Normal Mode but can reduce
efficiency.
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 Hold Mode on a trip where all
or most of the electric charge will be
depleted. Use Hold Mode mainly
during highway or high speed
driving to maximize both EV miles
and fuel efficiency.
Use L (Low) in heavy stop-and-go
traffic or when traveling downhill.
L (Low) requires less brake pedalapplication 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.
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.
See
Vehicle Personalization on
page 5-54.

(4,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
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.
For fuel recommendations, seeFuel
on page 9-55
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.

(15,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
Driving and Operating 9-15
seating positions. The combined
weight of the driver, passengers,
and cargo should never exceed
the vehicle's capacity weight.
Certification Label
Label Example
A vehicle-specific Certification
label is found on the center pillar
(B-pillar). The label shows the
gross weight capacity of the
vehicle. This is the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
and includes the weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, fuel, andcargo. Never exceed the GVWR
for the vehicle, or the Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for
either the front or rear axle.
Spread out heavy loads equally
on both sides of the vehicle. See
“Steps for Determining Correct
Load Limit”
earlier in this
section.
{Warning
Do not load the vehicle any
heavier than the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR), or either the
maximum front or rear Gross
Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
This can cause systems to
break and change the way the
vehicle handles. This could
cause loss of control and a
crash. Overloading can also
shorten the life of the vehicle. If you put things inside the
vehicle
—like suitcases, tools,
packages, or anything else —
they will go as fast as the
vehicle goes. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a
crash, they will keep going.
{Warning
Things inside the vehicle can
strike and injure people in a
sudden stop or turn, or in a
crash.
.Put things in the cargo
area of the vehicle. In the
cargo area, put them as
far forward as possible.
Try to spread the weight
evenly.
(Continued)

(17,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-6014139) -
2014 - CRC - 9/16/13
Driving and Operating 9-17
fuel and battery gauges. See
Starting and Stopping the Vehicle
on page 9-18.
Service Only Mode
This power mode is available for
service and diagnostics, and to
verify the proper operation of the
malfunction indicator lamp as may
be required for emission inspection
purposes. With the vehicle off, and
the brake pedal not applied,
pressing and holding the POWER
O
button for more than five seconds
will place the vehicle in Service
Only Mode. The instruments and
audio systems will operate as they
do in ON/RUN, but the vehicle will
not be able to be driven. The
propulsion system will not start in
Service Only Mode. Press the
button again to turn the vehicle off.
{Caution
Service Only Mode will discharge
the 12-volt battery. Do not use
Service Only Mode for an
extended period, or the vehicle
may not start.
STOPPING THE VEHICLE/OFF:
To turn the vehicle off, press the
POWER
Obutton with the vehicle in
P (Park). Retained Accessory Power
(RAP) will remain active until the
driver door is opened. See Retained
Accessory Power (RAP) on
page 9-19. When turning off the
vehicle, if the vehicle is not in
P (Park), the vehicle will go to ACC/
ACCESSORY and display the
message SHIFT TO PARK in the
Driver Information Center (DIC).
See Electric Drive Unit Messages
on page 5-47. If the vehicle must be shut off in an
emergency:
1. Brake using a firm and steady
pressure. Do not pump the
brakes repeatedly. This may
deplete power assist, requiring
increased brake pedal force.
2. Shift the vehicle to N (Neutral). This can be done while the
vehicle is moving. After shifting
to N (Neutral), firmly apply the
brakes and steer the vehicle to a
safe location.
3. Come to a complete stop, shift to P (Park), and turn the vehicle
off by pressing the POWER
O
button.
4. Set the parking brake. See Electric Parking Brake on
page 9-31.