Chevy VOLT-am I missing something?

[Jim Richards]

You cannot put a price on "smug."

[The Gaijin]

Originally Posted by vash

they are really diving into this and working with the utilities for a long term solution. apparently it is already happening.

[Jim Richards]

Nuclear power is the answer, and it is safe.

[azasadny]

Originally Posted by Dantilla

There may be a Tesla in my future. If they prove to be reliable, and have the promised 200 mile range, I will probably get one.

Me too!

[grudk]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

With all the push these days to alternative energy sources, I heard a ad today for the new Chevy VOLT, a new electric car GM is bringing out in 2009. It stated that this car can travel 40 miles on one charge. 40 miles. Is this some kind of joke or what? I thought the new VOLT would be a world beater, but how can they sell many if all it does is go 40 miles on ONE charge? For many commuters, this would'nt get them to the office and back, or just to the office. Am I missing something?

Yes, you are missing something. 40 miles gets most people through their daily commutes, and beyond 40 the motor kicks in to generate charge. For some, they will virtually never need gas, but in general one could still expect a dramatic decrease in fuel consumption (85 mpg?)

It's also a series hybrid, meaning full time electric drive with fuel-fed motor generating electricity. Depending on production locale, could have different motors for different fuel sources, relatively easily (eg ethanol in Brazil, diesel in Europe, gas here).

I think it seems to be a very practical solution as a bridge from fossil fuels to what's next, be it hydrogen or something else.

Cost is the big issue. If indeed it's 40K, that's not going to work for the masses. But the latest word is it will be quite a bit less. Battery tech they claim to have largely in line.

I really hope GM can pull this off, and I for one would buy it as a commuter.

[Jim Richards]

They have to make is considerably less fugly to get me interested in it.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You guys would seriously trust first-generation GM ANYTHING?

You're very brave. I salute your courage.

[grudk]

Fugly didn't stop the prius

[BlueSkyJaunte]

Where's my Mr. Fusion, dammit???!!!!

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by grudk

Fugly didn't stop the prius

Excellent point!

[Pazuzu]

500 pounds more than the Prius, smaller inside (FAR less leg/head room), smaller OUTSIDE than the Prius, and lots of freaking money...all while being hideous.

Yeah, GM is gonna nail this one too!

Oh...and don't get a flat tire! I figure that the 195/55/21 tires are not going to be cheap...

[RWebb]

at least GM is getting in the game again - that's progress (of some sort)

I hope the Honda fuel cells and Toyota adv. Gen 2 hybrids don't leave them too far in the dust...

[Por_sha911]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

You guys would seriously trust first-generation GM ANYTHING?

Lets see:
- Aluminum block Vega (had to add steel sleeves to keep them together)
- Citation front wheel drive (had more problems than a wacko without a therapist)
- Cadillac 4-6-8 (had a class action lawsuit because the car would just shut down on the highway when the computer couldn't handle the info)
Any questions?

[john70t]

Originally Posted by grudk

Fugly didn't stop the prius

Fugly didn't stop the F-117 or the Diablo. Flat triangles are all the rage these days.

[strupgolf]

The ad didn't mention anything about it being a hybrid with a gas engine. At the high price, limited mileage on a charge, I cant see why the media and GM are banking on this car as a savior for them. OH well, time will tell.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by strupgolf

The ad didn't mention anything about it being a hybrid with a gas engine. At the high price, limited mileage on a charge, I cant see why the media and GM are banking on this car as a savior for them. OH well, time will tell.

The ad also didn't mention that it was actualy "for sale".
Watch "Who killed the electric car", and disregard the hype.

[David]

This is so freaking simple and many parts of the country are already doing it: lower offpeak electricity pricing. Once consumers realize it's much cheaper to wait until 7pm to plug in their cars, much of the load issues will be solved. Sure we'll need more power sources, but it's not like we'll have a million plug in cars on the road overnight. Besides, in Texas we actually build power plants when we need them so it won't be a problem here.

A year or two ago I would have said electric cars will not take off. I'm now convinced they will and here's why:

1) Fuel cost per mile is cheaper in an electric car.

2) The technology is the closest to being available now. Batteries are getting better and offpeak electric pricing is available now. Hydrogen is NOT.

3) Electric power plant emissions are continuously regulated, combustion engine car emissions are not (not that I'm a believer in CO2 emission being the problem, but if it helps the cause, why not.)

[m21sniper]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

You guys would seriously trust first-generation GM ANYTHING?

You're very brave. I salute your courage.

I had a first generation GM Buick Grand National. After a grand total of about $1k in bolt-ons it would annihilate most of the Porsches on this board in 0-60, 1/4 mile ET, or top end. And it looked great!

Wouldn't mind having a LOT of various 1st gen GM cars throughout history.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The Grand National was a good car, but. . .

The chassis it was based on (the Buick Regal) and even the engine (the 231 V6, albeit with stronger internals & turbocharger) had been around for several years prior to the retooling/combination to create the Grand National. This is a case of an ENTIRELY new (first generation) vehicle type for GM. Unless you count the EV1s, which they destroyed. And I don't. I suspect any useful data gleaned in the development & production of the EV1 has long since been forgotten about or lost.

I agree with you that the G.N. was a great looking car. Hell, even today I wouldn't mind having one. But I do think that buying a first-generation GM product is something best left for the truly masochistic or those who enjoy turning large piles of money into interesting stories.

[m21sniper]

I guess this post is useless without pictures.