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Will the Chevy Volt Succeed?

544 messages,  Last post on Oct 28, 2009 at 1:11 PM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Volt, Automotive News, Hybrid Cars, Coupe, Hatchback, Truck, Sedan, SUV


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#372 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [tpe] by peralta
Sep 25, 2008 (7:29 am)
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Replying to: tpe (Sep 25, 2008 4:50 am)

"That would be the most efficient way to use the ICE but I think it would add complexity, weight and cost"
 
Not necessarily. Things quickly becomes complicated if it is multispeed transmiision but not in a single speed gear reduction system. Single speed gear reduction system is almost always used by electric motors to power the wheels (except for in-wheel motors). That same gear reduction can be shared with the ICE.
 
"However you still want to only operate the ICE in a narrow power range that represented it's peak efficiency. "
 
A 1.4 L turbo gas engine will probably make efficient horsepower from maybe 15 hp to 70 hp. Below 15 hp requirement as in stop and go, that is taken cared by the battery power and the engine is off (like the prius).
 
Steady highway speed needs 15-30 hp. Assuming it has one fixed mechanical gear (as in top gear of a regular transmission), the electric motor will shoulder the extra boost needed for acceleration.
 
In that case. say you want to drive all day long. The distance all day would probably 600 miles (60mph average over 10 hours).
 
40 miles of that distance will be handled by battery and 560 miles will be petrol. The battery part will take care of the stop and go situations and also on the occasional additional boosts on the highway.
#373 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [peralta] by eaton53
Sep 25, 2008 (8:31 am)
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Replying to: peralta (Sep 25, 2008 7:29 am)

I'm pretty sure it's the way it is because future Volts won't have an engine if fuel cells become viable.
#374 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [eaton53] by tpe
Sep 25, 2008 (8:34 am)
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Replying to: eaton53 (Sep 25, 2008 8:31 am)

That's a good point. But the fuel cell could still send some of it's electricity directly to the motor and bypass the battery.
#375 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [peralta] by tpe
Sep 25, 2008 (8:45 am)
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Replying to: peralta (Sep 25, 2008 7:29 am)

In the configuration you are describing the Volt would actually have more available power after the first 40 miles because now it could tap into the electric motor and the ICE for propulsion. Unless you are suggesting that the car also be able to access the ICE during the first 40 miles. The whole point of this car is to burn zero gasoline for most trips so I don't see that happening. Plus this car would correctly be called a hybrid at this point, which would probably disqualify it from some of the tax credits now being considered.
#376 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [tpe] by eaton53
Sep 25, 2008 (11:12 am)
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Replying to: tpe (Sep 25, 2008 8:34 am)

I'd think most of the power will go to the motors and some to the battery to maintain a minimum charge. At that point the battery should be there to smooth out the highs and lows and capture free braking energy. If an engine is the power source since you really want to run it in a narrow, very efficient range.... hopefully one where the use of HCCI becomes possible.
#377 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [eaton53] by tpe
Sep 25, 2008 (11:40 am)
Reply

Replying to: eaton53 (Sep 25, 2008 11:12 am)

I think you are right. Until recently I was under the impression that all the power generated by the ICE went straight to the battery pack, which would have been horribly inefficient. On the other Volt thread I was directed to a link which confirms what you're saying. For some reason it seems that there are Volt enthusiasts who feel somehow duped by the fact that the ICE will only maintain a charge rather than recharging the battery pack. I can't understand why anyone would object to that.
 
With that said I don't quite understand the significance of OnStar or using GPS for calculating the distance to your destination/home. If once the battery pack is depleted to 30% it is maintained there what does it matter how far you are from home?
#378 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [tpe] by eaton53
Sep 25, 2008 (1:54 pm)
Reply

Replying to: tpe (Sep 25, 2008 11:40 am)

Apparently if the battery has reached its charging threshold and OnStar determines you are within a predetermined distance of your home and proceeding in that direction it will be able to delay kicking the engine on until you get there. Every little bit helps, I guess.
 
"I can't understand why anyone would object to that."
 
Only if they're irrational. I know I would not want to arrive home ready to plug in only to find out my car was fully charged. I want to use cheap electricity, not expensive gasoline!
#379 of 544
Re: please dont drive on highway 40 miles [tpe] by peralta
Sep 25, 2008 (2:19 pm)
Reply

Replying to: tpe (Sep 25, 2008 11:40 am)

"With that said I don't quite understand the significance of OnStar or using GPS for calculating the distance to your destination/home. If once the battery pack is depleted to 30% it is maintained there what does it matter how far you are from home? "
 
If you travel 40 miles or less everyday, then you don't even need the ICE. You might as well add maybe 50-100 lbs of reserve battery and delete the ICE altogether.
 
The ICE is a range extender, nothing more, but it is somehow expensive and still pollutes the air.
 
The goal is to use grid electricity to charge the battery where it is cheaper rather than the ICE. If you travel say 200 miles, then it is best to use 1) battery power where it is most efficient and also 2) ICE where it is most efficient.
 
1) Battery is most efficient (financially) when it gets it's charge from the grid and not from ICE. It is also best for stop and go application portion of the long distance travel. It is also efficient on steady speed but it has limited range.
 
2) The ICE is most efficient if it powers the electric motors exclusively, and bypassing the batteries. It is also best if the car is already in motion and not stationary.
 
With those presumptions, it is best that the battery will be depleted just in time when you arrive home for grid recharge.
 
Going back to the subject of deleting the ICE. How much would it cost if you remove the ICE and in it's place, put additional 100 lbs of reserve battery (or shall we say range extender battery?)?
 
Will it be cheaper and make more sense to go pure EV?
 
By the way, the 1999 model Toyota electric RAV4 had a range of 120-130 miles per charge and it did not even used lthium batteries. It used EV95 NiM hydride batteries where the patent rights was then purchased by TEXACO. TEXACO subsquently denied production of more EV95 batteries and threatened the companies with electric vehicles on the road.
 
No wonder, the car companies were scared and crushed their EV's despite public protest from leasee, owners and treehuggers.
 
Speaking of EV RAV4, there are still some of them running and escaped the crushing. Some have more tha 150,000 miles on the odometer without battery problems.
#380 of 544
I rest my case by hoyahenry
Sep 25, 2008 (6:55 pm)
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"GM to build new engine plant
 
Just what we need - a new plant to fabricate combustion engines. This whole thing is an investor relations ploy....
 
Good bye GM!
#381 of 544
Re: I rest my case [hoyahenry] by eaton53
Sep 26, 2008 (3:01 am)
Reply

Replying to: hoyahenry (Sep 25, 2008 6:55 pm)

Companies build engine plants all the time. Better here than in China.
This is the plant that will be building the 1.4 for the Volt and Cruze.
 
Speaking of "investor relations ploy" there was a story that GM is planning to build Volt batteries in the U.S. using government setup money, of course.
 
IMO, this would be a good thing... otherwise we'd just be going from imported oil to imported batteries. They'd probably still have to import lithium, but I believe the largest producer is Australia, which is not an unfriendly nation.

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