Chevy Volt - will anyone buy it?

[jason1973tl]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I don't agree at all. I think a Volt-like design, electrically-driven but with a range-extending engine, is by far the preferred design. Now I'll agree that the Volt is probably too complicated, but something like the Leaf with half the battery and a 5 HP Honda generator would come close to suiting me.

Now that I could go for. I would love to have an electric car with a portable generator that I could take out when I don't need the extended range. Then I could use it to back up my house if the power fails.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by jason1973tl

I would love to have an electric car with a portable generator that I could take out when I don't need the extended range.

I don't think having a removable generator would work too well. For one thing, you'd want it liquid-cooled, and plumbed into the car's heater. Then in cold weather you'd start with the engine running in order to warm up the passenger compartment and the battery.

[jason1973tl]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I don't think having a removable generator would work too well. For one thing, you'd want it liquid-cooled, and plumbed into the car's heater. Then in cold weather you'd start with the engine running in order to warm up the passenger compartment and the battery.

Thats not really necessary in an electric car. For one thing, it is possible for the car to produce instant heat for the cabin, then the batteries can be heated if it is necessary. The lithium batteries do not loose power at cold temps the way lead acid does.
A liquid cooled gen set would be nice, but it wouldn't need by plumbed into the cars systems. I have seen systems run solely on electric that have no need for engine coolant or heat.

[vacationtime247]

At least they are selling the Volt. The EV1 was recalled and crushed right? Wouldn't a diesel electric work better? Guess you use what you got though right! Basically its the same engine as the Cruze except N/A. We need a Volkswagon diesel electric here in the USA.
Let's just hope Chevy doesn't ruin the thought of an electric car for consumers like they did for diesels with the 350 Olds. Seriously though, this is the best they could come up with?
VT247

[gone-ot]

Originally Posted by vacationtime247

Seriously though, this is the best they could come up with?
VT247

...I was gonna quote the Patty Page lyrics: "...is that ALL there is?"

[endurance]

Consumer Reports posted their first impressions: Clicky

I'll let the article speak for itself, but their experience of 30mpg once it was out of juice is pretty disappointing. The effective cost using electricity, by their calculations, was the equivelent of 41mpg based on today's gas prices. For that, it's not worth the risk of a new, experimental car from a car that has just been snatched from the brink of bankruptcy and may not be there in five years to cover the service and/or warranty work. Especially not for the $35k price tag. I can pick up almost two new Insights for that price or a Prius and add a battery bank to make it into a plug in hybrid with a range in the 40-50 mile range with proven reliability.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by jason1973tl

Thats not really necessary in an electric car. For one thing, it is possible for the car to produce instant heat for the cabin, then the batteries can be heated if it is necessary.

At what cost, though? Start with the fact that electricity is about the most inefficient way to create heat, then figure out how much of that expensive heat is leaking out of the poorly-insulated* cabin, and then estimate what that does to your range & overall driving efficiency.

*Even if you added insulation, which most IC-engine cars don't 'cause heat's free, you still have those large glass areas.

[Frank Lee]

GM WILL be around- they're "too big to fail". BTW I'm never going to visit Denver- there could be an avalanche.

[dcb]

I will say that one benefit of "crappy" mileage in range extended mode is that people are more likely to plug it in and get as many cheap miles as they can.

[endurance]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

GM WILL be around- they're "too big to fail". BTW I'm never going to visit Denver- there could be an avalanche.

I disagree. In another five years the government will be too broke to care.

As for the avalanches, I haven't driven on more than a skiff of snow yet this year. While the high country is getting hammered, even at my place, at 7400', I have yet to get significant snow fall. Denver is still bone dry. 45 miles west it's another world, but yesterday people were on the streets in shirt sleeves.