the new Chevy Volt - what am I missing here???

[Neil]

So everyone seems to be in awe of the new Chevy Volt concept from GM. I just don't get the excitment, other than an american car company is at least trying to develop "home grown" innovation rather than importing it. Sweep away the mom and apple pie, and the facts make the Volt "Break Through" actually seems very minor. From what I read, the Volt aspires to have the following:

• Approx 50MPG when using the ICE to generate the electricty - I typical get 51MPG in my 1st Generation Honda Civic Hybrid
• 40 miles on Electric only when charged from the 110v plug. Only 6-6.5 hours to make that charge, and last time I checked, the coal fired generating plant that supplies electricity to my area isn't too 'green'. oh - yea - my home electricty isn't 'free' either.
• a 650 mile range using a full 'home charge' and the 12 gallon gas tank - that's about what I get with my 2003 Civic hybrid.
• Seats 4 or 5. yea, so does my Civic, an from the looks of the concept car, the Civic will be more comfortable.
• Revolutional 'flex-fuel' ICE engine. I'm assuming ethanol will decrease the 50 mpg. Also, hasn't GM been producing a Flex-fuel engine for awhile? They cite bio-diesel, but don't mention how - I would assume that it is EITHER gas/ethanol OR BioDiesel. The two systems are so different that I just don't see how a common engine could accomidate both. Diesel uses compression for igintion, Gas/Ethanol need sparks. Diesel compression ratios in the hundreds, Gas/ethanol is lucky to get 9:1. Diesel would probably increase the 50 mph however.
• Lithium Batter Packs - Gm says 'should get' 10 years out of them. Estimated replacement cost is $10,000. Sounds like a 'disposable' car. Who is going to sink $10k into a 10 year old car???
• All electric drive train - sounds cool, but you have to ask 'So what?'. Maybe more reliable, but $10k to replace the battery in 10years negates that savings.
• 0-60 in a little over 8.5 seconds - Doesn't the Prius do it in a little UNDER 8.5?

Don't get me wrong - I'm happy to see GM trying to introduce innovation and engineering to the automotive world, and they do have some interesting ideas, such as the composite body with recycled content. Good start, but not an earth shattering concept. Plus I doubt they will continue that with the production model.

In short, it's a good start, but no 'pardigm shift'. I think I'll wait for the next generation Prius. I'd love for someone to explain to me why the Volt will be better than the next Prius - I qualify for the GM Employee discount but currently own two Hondas. (oh yea - and a Z28 Convertible)

*ICE - Internal Combustion Engine

[CaptainCaveMan]

The volt in current form will never see the light of day for sale at a dealership. I have a very hard time seeing people buy a car you physically plug in.

[amon37]

The volt in current form will never see the light of day for sale at a dealership. I have a very hard time seeing people buy a car you physically plug in.

Agreed. Not convenient enough for people.

[Neil]

Remember, the plug in is just a alternate method of charging the battery. If you don't want to plug it in, you can use the ICE (Gas) engine to charge it like hybrids do today. That is where the 50mpg numbers come in. If you plug it in, the battery charges 'for free' (not using the Gas Engine) and you can get 40 miles out of a charge, which uses no gas. The falicy is that the home electricity is free and clean. You do pay for it through higher electric bills, and the generating plant that provides electricty to your house is probably an Oil fired or Coal fired plant, so it really isn't clean either.

[bmyers]

i would buy one for my wife

[juiced99ws6]

i could plug it in at work everyday

[hutch1999]

Itd be awesome for booze cruzin

[SeVeReDiStOrTiOn]

i could plug it in at work everyday

now that's a innovation

[NICKLE57]

[*]40 miles on Electric only when charged from the 110v plug. Only 6-6.5 hours to make that charge, and last time I checked, the coal fired generating plant that supplies electricity to my area isn't too 'green'. oh - yea - my home electricty isn't 'free' either.

The Electric Plant doesn't chuck on more coal just because you plugged in your car. They are burning the coal regardless.

No electric car = coal being burned for electricity and car exhaust

electric car = only coal being burned.

[Neil]

The Electric Plant doesn't chuck on more coal just because you plugged in your car. They are burning the coal regardless.

No electric car = coal being burned for electricity and car exhaust

electric car = only coal being burned.

No, there is a direct corelation between energy used and energy produced. Although the scale for a single user is negligable, they really do use more coal to produce more energy. Scale the demand to 10,000 users and it'll be easier to see, but it is there for one user too.

If not, where do you think the "Extra" electricity goes now?

[bmyers]

how much electricity does it even use, it cant be that much. its just a battery

[Neil]

how much electricity does it even use, it cant be that much. its just a battery

Have you ever been hit by a taser? That is only a 9 volt battery. Now compare the physical size to the Chevy Volt's battery back. It takes 6 hours to charge on a 15 amp circuit, so I would assume the drain to be fairly significant.

[jimmi7769]

If I can drive around for 40 miles a day without using any Middle Easten Gasoline and recharge it by throwing on a couple more loads of American Coal I'm all for it.

Anything to take the power out of those bastards hands.

[bmyers]

Have you ever been hit by a taser? That is only a 9 volt battery. Now compare the physical size to the Chevy Volt's battery back. It takes 6 hours to charge on a 15 amp circuit, so I would assume the drain to be fairly significant.

your charging a battery on a 15 amp circuit over the course of 6 hours i would bet it draws less than a space heater. I dont think it would be that expensive to recharge, the money you save in fuel would more than make up for any electrical costs. IMO. It also says you can charge it while your driving. then it would be a hybrid just like the hondas and the toyotas, but with the capability of using ZERO fuel how is that not innovative?