Breaking news! Chevy volt technically driven by gas engine!

[HeadlessNorseman]

I think your all failing to realize that pending available electric outlets, 90% of people would never have to purchase gasoline again. Bold claim yes... but i barely ever drive more than 40 miles in one trip. And i mean bareeeely ever. I drive 16 miles round trip to school and 15 to work. there are plugs at both locations. I know lots of people do drive more than 40 miles a pop, esp in the more open states, but I live in NJ. If i bought this car i would never have to buy gasoline again.

[Frank Lee]

Chevy volt technically driven by gas engine!

So if the gas tank is dry and you don't EVER put gas in it yet you can drive it around every day, is it:

A) driven by a gas engine
B) an EV

[dcb]

Originally Posted by ShadeTreeMech

How is a train not a series hybrid?

It needs more than one distinct source of power, i.e. a gas tank and batteries. If a train had storage batteries that could move the train when the engine was not running, it would be indisputably a hybrid. It has only one source of power though.

As UFO stated however, a locomotive is more appropriately called an "Electric transmission", which is very similar to a series hybrid and shares most of the same same inefficiencies, except that it cannot move without the ice running and providing power, whereas a prius can move without the engine running, regardless of where the batteries got their power (from the wall or regenerative braking or even the ice).

And as has also been stated numerous times, trains do engine->generator->motor thing for reasons of practicality and not necessarily for efficiency.

Diesel-electric transmission - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"as only electric motors are able to supply full torque at 0 RPM"

[texanidiot25]

Originally Posted by Ryland

I was just looking at Toyota's price listing for the 2011 Prius, $23,000 to $28,000 depending on the options you want, Enginer.us plug in kit for the Prius is $5,500 for their 8kwh battery pack, that should be good for 30+ miles of pure EV mode... so if you want a plug in hybrid why would anyone spend an extra $7,000 to $12,000 for the Chevy volt? right, it's "made in the USA" if that is what you want wait two years till Nissan is building the Leaf in the USA.

New models (products) always have a price hike, this is basic economics. The Prius was not so cheap in it's introduction either. This is the 1st generation of GM's Volt drivetrain, it's not going to be cheap.

In 2 years, most Hybrids aught to be able to surpass the Leaf's EV range, and still be able to drive after the fact.

[roflwaffle]

Wasn't the Prius ~$20k (pretty much the same price as it is (adjusted for inflation) now) when it was introduced here?

[texanidiot25]

The early one was sold at a pretty big loss. I recall the "modern" 2004+ Prius was well over 30 grand originally, which is what I meant to refer to, as it's the one that really took off, so to speak.

[tjts1]

The Prius never cost over $30k. The only money loser was the first gen (pre 2000) which was never sold in the US.

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

So if the gas tank is dry and you don't EVER put gas in it yet you can drive it around every day, is it:

A) driven by a gas engine
B) an EV

If the car figures out that it can't start the gasoline engine at will (empty tank) it'll never leave your driveway even if the battery has a full charge. GM has made a point of this. But considering their credibility, who knows...

[NeilBlanchard]

Look at this lump:



And compare it to this:

[Daox]

Whats the 2nd one?

[dcb]

a getrag series/parallel unit with a 20kw generator and a two speed gearbox.
http://green.autoblog.com/2010/02/24...nder-business/

but it doesn't make a locomotive a hybrid