Chevrolet Volt gets range boost to 40 miles for 2015

General Motors isn’t due to introduce a redesigned Chevrolet Volt until next year, but that hasn’t stopped the company from squeezing a bit of extra range out of the 2015 model.

The company has quietly increased the battery capacity from 16.5 kWh to 17.1 kWh, likely bumping the range to around 40 miles. The official specs still list a 38-mile range, however, pending recertification by the Environmental Protection Agency.

“We did make an engineering change to the cells for the 2015 Chevrolet Volt which resulted in an increase in energy capacity to 17.1 kilowatt-hours,” GM Electrification Technology Communications manager Kevin Kelly told HybridCars.

The latest spec marks the third slight increase in the Volt’s listed battery capacity, which started at 16 kWh in 2011 and jumped to 16.5 kWh for the 2013 model year. The increased range came with a drop in price, though sales numbers have still fallen short of initial targets.

The 2016 model is expected to maintain the same profile as the current edition, with modest exterior and interior style adjustments. Price is expected to drop again, potentially down to $30,000, while electric-only range will likely be extended.