Chevy VOLT-am I missing something?

[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?

[mikester]

pffft

[rouxroux]

Chevrolet could go that far with an electric car 42 years ago.
http://www.corvaircorsa.com/monzapr7.html

[Rondinone]

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?

Actually it makes perfect sense. Countrywide most commuters travel less than 40 miles per day. The DOE set that threshold as a target for it's own purposes and GM adopted the standard. It's intended to be the best bang for the buck in order to maximize efficiency and minimize battery costs and weight. For LA, Atlanta, DC and such it may not be enough but for everybody else it will be.

[VincentVega]

There will never be a good electric car if they dont start somewhere. This thing is a joke though. I could get to the airport and back, if I found a spot in the garage right away.

[Jims5543]

The electric truck I am building will have a 120 mile range and it takes a LOT of batteries to do this because the battery technology is stagnant.

Toyota came out with the EV Rav4 it had a 120 mile range (perfect in my book) and Chevron bought the battery technology and shut it down.

We need to stop the big oil companies and big 3 from blocking the new technology and we might just get somewhere....


Has anyone seen my tin foil hat?????????

[Super_Dave_D]

It does/will have a gasoline engine as well. Its supposed to drive a generator which charges the batteries and does not drive the wheels - est. 360 mile range. 50mpg if fully discharged and 150 when charged.

[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.

[RWebb]

right the 40 mile rane is for pure elec. usage - no gas motor boost & no plugin recharge

meanwhile.... Toyota is said to be working on a Gen II hybrid with Li-ion batteries and some other tricks.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

They'll be just in time to be three generations behind the Japanese and two behind the Europeans.

VW's 1L is due out in late 2009 and will get 200+ MPG. Going to production. Gen-III hybrid/electric vehicles from Toyota are due out soon. Gen-III hybrid/electric vehicles from Honda are due out soon. Fuel-cell prototype vehicles can be bought from Toyota today (probably be in production in about 2-3 years).

While everyone else was planning for the death of big, dumb, stupid SUVs knowing full well that the easy money from them wouldn't last forever, GM was (predictably) lounging around asleep at the switch thinking that they could last forever on 6,000-pound pickup trucks and truck chassis with different sheet metal and cupholders slapped on 'em.

I guess showing up in the 3rd or 4th quarter is better than not showing up at all. I guess. Maybe.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Even if we all had electric cars, the power grid to our homes and offices cannot support the load it would put on the grid. This is the big failing of the electric car. California can barely stand the amount of AC units that are plugged in these days. Try adding some electric cars, and the entire grid will come tumbling down. Building electrical wires and capacity is not an overnight job either.

-Wayne

Neither was a building a nation-wide network of gas stations and highways to support the automobile. Or tracks for a nation-wide rail system. Or the electric power grid we have today. It will take time and money, but it will get done.

[jyl]

Electric cars will typically be plugged in during off-peak hours (e.g. after owner comes home from work) which is when you have less AC load.

And electric car adoption will be gradual, like everything else. I'd be impressed/surprised if 10% of CA's cars were electric (including plug-in hybrid) in 10 years from now.

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Even if we all had electric cars, the power grid to our homes and offices cannot support the load it would put on the grid. This is the big failing of the electric car. California can barely stand the amount of AC units that are plugged in these days. Try adding some electric cars, and the entire grid will come tumbling down. Building electrical wires and capacity is not an overnight job either.

-Wayne

[TGTIW]

But how is the electricity being produced?

[kach22i]

Solar panel roofing is looking good to go with a car like this.

[Jim Richards]

Originally Posted by kach22i

Solar panel roofing is looking good to go with a car like this.

You mean like the upcoming version of Prius?

[Jims5543]

Originally Posted by TGTIW

But how is the electricity being produced?

AS I understand ti they are incinerating dead Hummingbirds and running a steam gererator.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Jims5543

AS I understand ti they are incinerating dead Hummingbirds and running a steam gererator.

Throw in a neighbourhood cat or dog and it may keep up the mix for a while.

[gr8fl4porsche]

"Electric cars will typically be plugged in during off-peak hours (e.g. after owner comes home from work) which is when you have less AC load"


I saw a special about the electric grid in CA called the 'most stressful job in America' and they mentioned that when people get home from work, they all crank up the a/c at about the same time and that is the biggest load of the day. Electric cars plugged in at the same time should make it much worse.

The downside I saw to the Volt was the cost. GM expects pricing to be as high as 40 grand - too much for the average Joe. A cheap electric car will sell well.

[vash]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

Even if we all had electric cars, the power grid to our homes and offices cannot support the load it would put on the grid. This is the big failing of the electric car. California can barely stand the amount of AC units that are plugged in these days. Try adding some electric cars, and the entire grid will come tumbling down. Building electrical wires and capacity is not an overnight job either.

-Wayne

ok, i listened to NPR. they had some woman involved with the project. they are really diving into this and working with the utilities for a long term solution. apparently it is already happening. they are at 70% capacity, if we should all get a volt. they system is smart. it only charges up late at night when demand is low. it could work, but not for me. for me, i would run out of juice on the bay bridge.

[legion]

Originally Posted by gr8fl4porsche

The downside I saw to the Volt was the cost. GM expects pricing to be as high as 40 grand - too much for the average Joe. A cheap electric car will sell well.

But perfect for the self-righteous "smug" crowd.