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Hybrid Vehicles Chevrolet Volt Will the Chevy Volt Succeed?
545 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 12:57 PM
You are in the Chevrolet Volt Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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Replying to: dmathews3 (Aug 12, 2009 12:01 pm) 
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Aug 12, 2009 2:54 am) 19.2 mile commute each way. I'd get WAY more than 230mpg. Studies show that 80% of commuters would as well. "I've had my 2007 Versa for 30 months now. It has over 59,000 miles on it. That's about 65 miles per day on average. That Volt ICE would be running." A Versa (EPA rating 28mpg) will have used 2107 gallons of gas. A Volt running 65 miles per day will have used zero gas for all but 22,700 of those miles. It reportedly gets 50 mpg with the engine running, so you will use 454 gallons of gas in 59,000 miles. At $4 gallon the Volt's gas bill is $1816. Electric bill is $360 (  $0.40 a day, the reported daily bill for a charge). The Versa's gas bill is $8408. The difference = $6232 in just 30 months. Not a bad payback. Obviously the Volt needs expensive gas to make sense, but so do most fuel sippers. "They've jumped the shark with this mileage claim." It's the EPA's rules, not GM's. It is what it is. I don't use it myself... it's 40 miles electric, 50 mpg thereafter.
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Replying to: corvette (Aug 12, 2009 10:32 am) GM estimates 8 kilowatt-hours of electricity usage for a full recharge. 8 kwh x 6 cents / kwh = $0.48. Electricity is far cheaper where you are. I pay about 21 cents per kWh. I also have an above normal commute (about 130 miles/day currently, although that is only temporary). The Volt clearly would not work for me compared to the Prius, Insight, TDI Jetta, etc., with or without the Volt's tax credit. That said, I'm not trying to badmouth the Volt - I think it's a good idea for a lot of people. But that doesn't justify the outlandish 230 mpg claim - you have to account for all the energy inputs, not just one type, otherwise you're comparing apples and iguanas.
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Replying to: dmathews3 (Aug 12, 2009 12:01 pm) The only car companies paying profits to the US are those that are PROFITABLE, and that certainly has not been GM for a long time. Try Honda and Toyota. Worse, GM has sucked at least $100 out of your pocket and mine, our kids, etc. as well in the form of loans which you may never see again. |
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Replying to: eaton53 (Aug 12, 2009 2:16 pm) I wonder how the Volt will perform going up mountain passes once the 40 miles are up? Probably not very well. What do you want for $40K? With some drivers it may make some sense.
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Replying to: stovebolter (Aug 12, 2009 4:37 pm) It's not, with the Volt. |
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Replying to: tlong (Aug 12, 2009 5:18 pm) It will ALWAYS have 100% of the torque available at ALL TIMES. At 150 HP rating, that electric motor will run that car just fine under any circumstances. It will run mountain passes like a champ.
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Replying to: larsb (Aug 13, 2009 7:56 am) Disagree - if the battery is already discharged and you are climbing a hill, the MAXIMUM power you can obtain is the instantaneous power output of the ICE. And that assumes there is no loss of efficiency in the conversion to electricity, which is not the case.
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Replying to: tlong (Aug 13, 2009 9:08 am) Someone needs to do some homework..... From a GM press release: (Editor’s Note: This is applicable for North America) The Chevrolet Volt is an Extended-Range Electric Vehicle. It uses Voltec - GM’s electric propulsion system - to drive the car at all times and speeds. The Voltec electric propulsion system is made up of a 16-kWh battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine generator of electricity. Voltec enables up to 40 miles of gas- and emissions-free electric driving with extended-range capability of more than 300 miles. The Chevrolet Volt uses electricity as its primary source of energy to drive the car. There are two modes of operation – Electric and Extended-Range. In both modes, the Volt is propelled by an electric drive unit. The electric drive unit converts electrical energy into mechanical energy to drive the front wheels. It also delivers instant torque, the equivalent of 150 horsepower and a top speed of 100 mph. There is no compromise in vehicle performance in either mode of operation. Electric Mode: In Electric mode, the Volt will not use gasoline or produce tailpipe emissions. During this primary mode, the Volt is powered by electrical energy stored in its T-shaped lithium-ion battery. The Volt can operate in this mode for up to 40 miles until the battery has reached a low energy level. Extended-Range Mode: When the battery’s energy is depleted, the Volt seamlessly switches to Extended-Range mode. In this secondary mode, electricity needed to power the vehicle is created on-board by a flex-fuel powered engine-generator. This mode of operation extends the total range of the Volt for hundreds of additional miles, until the vehicle can be refueled or plugged in to recharge the battery. The engine-generator has the capability to provide the level of electrical power that the Volt needs for the most frequent maneuvers. However, the battery will continue to generate some power and work together with the engine-generator to provide peak performance when it's required, such as driving up a steep incline or for high acceleration maneuvers. The engine-generator will then continue to provide electricity to power the vehicle and simultaneously return some energy to the battery to replenish and maintain a low energy level. The battery will not be recharged to a “full” state by the engine-generator. Contrary to a conventional battery-electric vehicle, the extended-range mode eliminates “range anxiety,” giving the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a depleted battery. Regenerative Braking: During both modes of operation, energy is captured during braking, converted into electricity and stored in the battery. This process of capturing energy is called regenerative braking. Regenerative braking increases the overall efficiency of the vehicle. Charging: The Chevrolet Volt can be recharged by plugging its specially designed power cord into a standard household 120V outlet or use 240v for charging. Charging begins automatically. The Volt’s charging technology enables the battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v or about eight hours from a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the battery has not been fully depleted. At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units.
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Replying to: tlong (Aug 13, 2009 9:08 am) The battery is not fully discharged, there is still a certain amount left as a buffer for hills. I wouldn't expect a Volt to be a hot rod when the engine's running but it should be adequate. Supposedly it's a lot faster than today's hybrids under battery power. Not surprising... electric motors are torque monsters. BTW... the electricity prices being quoted are off peak, middle of the night. I think Volt chargers have timers on them so you can charge when rates are cheapest. |
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