
Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
5-10 Instruments and Controls
1.Battery Gauge (High Voltage) on
page 5-12.
2. Vehicle Ahead Indicator on
page 5-22.
3. Fuel Gauge on page 5-12.
4. Service Electric Parking Brake
Light on page 5-20.
5. Security Light on page 5-24.
6. Engine Coolant Temperature
Warning Light on page 5-23.
7. Charging System Light (12-Volt
Battery) on page 5-16.
8. Engine Oil Pressure Light on
page 5-24.
9. High-Beam On Light on
page 5-25.
10. Second Row Passenger Safety Belt Reminder Light. See
Safety Belt Reminders on
page 5-13.
11. Turn and Lane-Change Signals
on page 6-3.
12. Compass on page 5-12. 13.
Speedometer on page 5-11.
14. Cruise Control Light on
page 5-25.
15. Electric Parking Brake Light on
page 5-19.
16. Door, Hood, or Hatch Open
Light on page 5-25.
17. Low Fuel Warning Light on
page 5-24.
18. Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Warning Light on page 5-20.
19. Electric Drive Unit Positions. SeeElectric Drive Unit on
page 9-28.
20. Driver Efficiency Gauge on
page 5-13.
21. Brake System Warning Light
on page 5-19.
22. Driver Safety Belt Reminder Light. See Safety Belt
Reminders on page 5-13.
23. Airbag Readiness Light on
page 5-14. 24.
Total Vehicle Range on
page 5-13.
25. Vehicle Ready Light on
page 5-25.
26. Lane Departure Warning
(LDW) Light on page 5-21.
27. StabiliTrak
®OFF Light on
page 5-22.
28. Driver Information Center (DIC)
on page 5-39.
29. Traction Off Light on
page 5-22.
30. Sport Mode Light on
page 5-21, Mountain Mode
Light on page 5-21, and Hold
Mode Light on page 5-21.
31. Lamps On Reminder on
page 5-25.
32. Odometer on page 5-11.
33. Malfunction Indicator Lamp on
page 5-16.
34. Traction Control System (TCS)/
StabiliTrak
®Light on
page 5-23.

Black plate (25,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Instruments and Controls 5-25
serviced by your dealer. If the
system is working normally, the
indicator light turns off.
If the light stays on and the engine
does not start, there could be a
problem with the theft-deterrent
system. SeeImmobilizer Operation
on page 2-15.
Vehicle Ready Light
The vehicle ready light comes on
whenever the vehicle is ready to be
driven.
High-Beam On Light
The high-beam on light comes on
when the high-beam headlamps are
in use.
See Headlamp High/Low-Beam
Changer on page 6-1 for more
information.
Lamps On Reminder
This light comes on when the
parking lamps, headlamps,
or taillamps are on.
Cruise Control Light
The cruise control light comes on
when the cruise control is turned on
and turns green when cruise control
is engaged.
See Cruise Control on page 9-35 for
more information.
Door, Hood, or Hatch
Open Light
If a door, hood, or hatch is not
completely closed, a light comes on
together with a graphic in the Driver
Information Center (DIC).

Black plate (43,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Instruments and Controls 5-43
Brake System Messages
BRAKE FLUID LOW
This message displays when the
brake fluid level is low. SeeBrake
Fluid on page 10-21.
RELEASE PARKING BRAKE
This message displays if the electric
parking brake is on while the vehicle
is in motion. Release it before
attempting to drive. See Electric
Parking Brake on page 9-31.
SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST
This message displays when there
is a problem with the brake boost
system. When this message
displays, the brake pedal may be
harder to push and the stopping
distance may be longer. Take the
vehicle to your dealer for service.
SERVICE PARKING BRAKE
This message displays when there
is a problem with the parking brake.
Take the vehicle to your dealer for
service.
STEP ON BRAKE TO
RELEASE PARK BRAKE
This message displays when
attempting to release the electric
parking brake without the brake
pedal applied. See Electric Parking
Brake on page 9-31.
Cruise Control Messages
CRUISE SET TO XXX
This message displays when the
cruise control is set and shows the
speed it was set to. See Cruise
Control on page 9-35.
Door Ajar Messages
DOOR(S) OPEN, HOOD OPEN,
HATCH OPEN
A symbol will appear on the display
showing the area that is open. See
Door, Hood, or Hatch Open Light on
page 5-25.
Drive Mode Messages
HOLD MODE NOT AVAILABLE
This message displays when in
Hold Mode and the mode becomes
unavailable. See “Hold Mode”under
Driver Selected Operating Modes on
page 9-22.
MOUNTAIN MODE NOT
AVAILABLE
This message displays when in
Mountain Mode and the mode
becomes unavailable. See
“Mountain Mode” underDriver
Selected Operating Modes on
page 9-22.
SPORT MODE NOT
AVAILABLE
This message displays when in
Sport Mode and the mode becomes
unavailable. See “Sport Mode”
under Driver Selected Operating
Modes on page 9-22.

Black plate (1,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-6
Loss of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-7
Driving on Wet Roads . . . . . . . . . 9-7
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-37
Parking Assist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-39
Rear Vision Camera (RVC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-42
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-44
Charging
Plug-In Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-45
Delayed ChargingOverride . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-47
Charging Status Feedback . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-48
Charge Cord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-51
Utility Interruption of Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52
Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . 9-52

Black plate (2,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
9-2 Driving and Operating
Fuel
Fuel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-53
California FuelRequirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Fuels in Foreign Countries . . . 9-54
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-54
Filling the Tank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-55
Filling a Portable Fuel Container . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-56
Trailer Towing
General TowingInformation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
Conversions and Add-Ons
Add-On ElectricalEquipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9-57
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).
Drive Mode and PRNDL Selection
Use Normal Mode when possible.

Black plate (8,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
9-8 Driving and Operating
{Warning
Wet brakes can cause crashes.
They might not work as well in a
quick stop and could cause
pulling to one side. You could
lose control of the vehicle.
After driving through a large
puddle of water or a car/vehicle
wash, lightly apply the brake
pedal until the brakes work
normally.
Flowing or rushing water creates
strong forces. Driving through
flowing water could cause the
vehicle to be carried away. If this
happens, you and other vehicle
occupants could drown. Do not
ignore police warnings and be
very cautious about trying to drive
through flowing water.
Hydroplaning
Hydroplaning is dangerous. Water
can build up under the vehicle's
tires so they actually ride on the
water. This can happen if the road is
wet enough and you are going fast
enough. When the vehicle is
hydroplaning, it has little or no
contact with the road.
There is no hard and fast rule about
hydroplaning. The best advice is to
slow down when the road is wet.
Other Rainy Weather Tips
Besides slowing down, other wet
weather driving tips include:
.Allow extra following distance.
.Pass with caution.
.Keep windshield wiping
equipment in good shape.
.Keep the windshield washer fluid
reservoir filled.
.Have good tires with proper
tread depth. SeeTires on
page 10-40.
.Turn off cruise control.

Black plate (10,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
9-10 Driving and Operating
The Antilock Brake System (ABS)
improves vehicle stability during
hard stops on slippery roads, but
apply the brakes sooner than when
on dry pavement.
Allow greater following distance on
any slippery road and watch for
slippery spots. Icy patches can
occur on otherwise clear roads in
shaded areas. The surface of a
curve or an overpass can remain icy
when the surrounding roads are
clear. Avoid sudden steering
maneuvers and braking while
on ice.
Turn off cruise control on slippery
surfaces.Blizzard Conditions
Being stuck in snow can be a
serious situation. Stay with the
vehicle unless there is help nearby.
If possible, use the Roadside
Assistance Program. To get help
and keep everyone in the
vehicle safe:
.Turn on the hazard warning
flashers.
.Tie a red cloth to an outside
mirror.
{Warning
Snow can trap engine exhaust
under the vehicle. This may
cause exhaust gases to get
inside. Engine exhaust contains
carbon monoxide (CO) which
cannot be seen or smelled. It can
cause unconsciousness and even
death.(Continued)
Warning (Continued)
If the vehicle is stuck in the snow:
.Clear away snow from around
the base of the vehicle,
especially any that is blocking
the exhaust pipe.
.Check again from time to
time to be sure snow does
not collect there.
.Open a window about 5 cm
(2 in) on the side of the
vehicle that is away from the
wind to bring in fresh air.
.Fully open the air outlets on
or under the instrument
panel.(Continued)

Black plate (33,1)Chevrolet VOLT Owner Manual (GMNA-Localizing-U.S./Canada-7695131) -
2015 - crc - 4/25/14
Driving and Operating 9-33
Ride Control Systems
Traction Control/
Electronic Stability
Control
The vehicle has a Traction Control
System (TCS) and an Electronic
Stability Control system called
StabiliTrak. These systems help
limit wheel slip and assist the driver
in maintaining control, especially on
slippery road conditions.
TCS activates if it senses that any
of the drive wheels are slipping or
beginning to lose traction. When this
happens, TCS applies the brakes to
the spinning wheels and reduces
engine power to limit wheel spin.
StabiliTrak activates when the
vehicle senses a difference between
the intended path and the direction
the vehicle is actually traveling.
StabiliTrak selectively applies
braking pressure to any of thevehicle wheel brakes to help assist
the driver in keeping the vehicle on
the intended path.
If cruise control is being used and
traction control or StabiliTrak begins
to limit wheel spin, cruise control will
disengage. Cruise control may be
turned back on when road
conditions allow.
Both systems come on
automatically when the vehicle is
started and begins to move. The
systems may be heard or felt while
they are operating or while
performing diagnostic checks. This
is normal and does not mean there
is a problem with the vehicle.
It is recommended to leave both
systems on for normal driving
conditions, but it may be necessary
to turn TCS off if the vehicle gets
stuck in sand, mud, ice, or snow.
See
If the Vehicle Is Stuck on
page 9-11 and“Turning the Systems
Off and On” later in this section.The indicator light for both systems
is in the instrument cluster. This
light will:
.Flash when TCS is limiting
wheel spin.
.Flash when StabiliTrak is
activated.
.Turn on and stay on when either
system is not working.
If either system fails to turn on or to
activate, a message displays in the
Driver Information Center (DIC), and
dcomes on and stays on to
indicate that the system is inactive
and is not assisting the driver in
maintaining control. The vehicle is
safe to drive, but driving should be
adjusted accordingly.