Quote:
Originally Posted by RWebb
shale oil has lots of problems
I predict the real solution will be fuel cells
From what I've read, the Volt looks like a good general purpose vehicle w/o some of the constraints of the Nissan Leaf, which is currently limited to commuter use.
Mike - you need to do some checking before posting things as facts.
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This is a direct quote form GM's own volt FAQ website:
Chevy Volt FAQs | GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site
Quote:
Q: What is the driving range of the Chevy Volt?
A: The car has been designed to drive at least 40 miles on pure electricity stored in the battery from overnight home charging. The acutal range will vary from 25 to 50 miles depending on temperature, terrain, and driving style. (at a whopping equivalent to 35 horsepower, weeeee! my 2 cents)
After that the gas engine will kick in and allow the car to be driven more than miles on a full tank (9.3 gallons) of gas (all 74 horsepower of it, whoopie, my two cents again no, the electric and gas motor horsepower cannot be combined, it doesn't work that way).
Q: How many miles per gallon will the Chevy Volt get?
A: A bit of a trick question. For the first 40 miles it will get infinite mpg, because no gas will be burned. When the generator starts, the car will get an equivalent of between 35 to 40 mpg thereafter. One can calculate the average mpg per for any length drive starting with a full battery:
Total MPG = ~37 x miles/(miles-40). The official EPA fuel economy determination and label has not yet been made available.
Q: How much will the car cost?
A: $41,000, $33,500 after a 7500 tax credit. It may be leased for $350 per month for 36 months, 12,000 miles.
Q: What is the cost of operation of the car?
A: With current average U.S. electric rates GM estimates it will cost roughly $1.50 per day to travel 40 miles. After that, considering mpg in the mid to high 30s, will depend on gasoline rates.
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So if you drive 40 miles on the battery and then one mile on gas, you'd get great mileage. but if you drove 40 miles on the battery and then used up the 9 gallon tank at 35 mpg you'd have a total range of 355 miles, at 39 mpg.
At $3 gallon, that's a cost of 16 cents per mile just for fuel.
It's not unsual for a prius to get 46 mpg real world, that's a cost of 15 cents per mile for fuel. Now if you only drive 30 miles a day, it'd save you money. But you'd give up a heck of alot of performance. And it takes 10 hours to re-charge it.
That's not very good for a $41,000 econo box.
The prius outperforms it in every way and costs much less.
And Mike, your facts were spot on.