Article Comments - 2011 Chevy Volt: Will GM Get It Done?

24 messages, Last post on Apr 25, 2009 at 5:05 AM

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What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Volt, Electric Cars

2011 Chevy Volt: Will GM Get It Done? - Most people view the GM EV1 as a dismal failure. Viewed from strictly a marketing perspective, they are right. (more)

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#18 of 24 Watching carefully by insightful1 Feb 11, 2009 (8:37 pm)
Well. GM announced the Volt in 2007. Since then Toyota has produced and sold a half a million Prius, and is on version 3. I'll just watch and wait. Plenty of time, since the fall of 2010 is 1 1/2 years away. It seems GM's claims all center on the cheap, mass produced Lithium battery, which they do not yet have ready. Get ready for delays. And now Honda speaks of a $20K hybrid. Watching carefully.
#19 of 24 Re: On Rationalizing The Volt's Price... [hpmctorque] by crazybaldhead Feb 24, 2009 (10:59 pm)
Replying to: hpmctorque (Sep 21, 2008 8:21 pm) "It's an elegant solution that engineers love, but it will take a while before less technically oriented people figure out they can drive the Volt cross-country all day, just like a conventional car." That was one seriously condescending statement, and this observation is from someone who designs "technically oriented" stuff for a living, has a working knowledge of hybrid technologies, and actually understands the time value of money. "The Volt is the tip of the spear. If it works," ... monkeys will fly out of my backside. No one will pay $40k for a GM car that supports series hybrid technology with an anemic 40 mile range. Even Toyota couldn't sell the Volt on its merits. The tip of the spear? More like the final nail. Replies to this message: morin2 (Mar 02, 2009 3:28 pm) wlbrown9 (Mar 10, 2009 8:51 am)
#20 of 24 Re: On Rationalizing The Volt's Price... [crazybaldhead] by morin2 Mar 02, 2009 (3:28 pm)
Replying to: crazybaldhead (Feb 24, 2009 10:59 pm) The 40 mile range is ridiculous. GM's rationalization that "75% of people commute less than 40 miles" is equally ridiculous. Those who live so near their employers probably live in cities where they have transit options. The people who need realistic alternatives are those in rural areas who must commute long distance by car because there are no mass transit alternatives. What advantage is it to drive a Volt that loses its charge half way to your job? Replies to this message: wlbrown9 (Mar 10, 2009 8:51 am)
#21 of 24 Re: On Rationalizing The Volt's Price... [morin2] by wlbrown9 Mar 10, 2009 (8:51 am)
Replying to: morin2 (Mar 02, 2009 3:28 pm) I disagree...because I live in a mid-size city with a lot of sprawl. I live on the NE edge of Memphis metro area and work downtown...commute is right at 20 miles one way. NO reasonable mass transit options and none likely. Something like this would be perfect for me. For more flexibility I would love the extended range after the charge runs out just in case I want to drive 500 miles for vacation to the Gulf coast or 100 miles west to visit my mother... Without having to stop and recharge, exchange battery packs, rent a different vehicle, etc. These would be a great answer for me... I think places like Chicago, DC, NYC and those areas with enough density of population and employment centers would be best served by mass transit... So, if you have a 100 mile commute, first 40 = no fuel use, last 60 = perhaps less than 2 gallons (assuming 35 MPG) net 50 MPG without being limited. Actually the Volt would probably get better than that, basing the 35 MPG on more a work truck or SUV size vehicle...one developer says the extended range generator should get double the MPG of a standard combustion engine setup... http://www.rasertech.com/media/movies/html/news_articles_PHEV_truck.html Just my opinion of what would work best for folks like ME. The 40 mile range is ridiculous. GM's rationalization that "75% of people commute less than 40 miles" is equally ridiculous. Those who live so near their employers probably live in cities where they have transit options. The people who need realistic alternatives are those in rural areas who must commute long distance by car because there are no mass transit alternatives. What advantage is it to drive a Volt that loses its charge half way to your job?
#22 of 24 Re: Article Comments - 2011 Chevy Volt: Will GM Get It Done? [hoosieriusb] by lessachs Apr 10, 2009 (12:04 pm)
Replying to: hoosieriusb (Sep 08, 2008 7:59 pm) Let me add to this one: I bought an '82 Citation.,.brand new, One its first outing, the thing died right in its tracks in the middle of nowhere. Electrical wiring problem. It was in and out of the shop. The worst car I ever had! My next car was a '84 Camry and I haven't looked back since. I drive an '08 Camry Hybrid today..great car. I'm open to the Volt, though. GM makes far better cars than they did in '82. I appreciate the opinion of the poster who anticipates Volt technology in other GM cars at lower prices. I hope that happens. $40,000 is too rich for me. I also remember a time when $20,000 for a car seemed out of sight. GM could win back my business with the right priced car using Volt techology.
#23 of 24 Technical Question, not yet addressed by vonoretn Apr 25, 2009 (5:05 am)
As a retired automotive engine engineer, I have a question that has not yet been addressed. Say you have driven your car past the initial 40 miles, you are on a trip, and you are coming into the Rocky Mountains for a long climb. We have this little 4 cylinder engine to get us up the mountain, a job that takes at least 3 times as much power as traveling on a flat road. The engine starts out with a 30% efficiency at creating mechanical power from gasoline. We now have the added inefficiency of at best 70% of converting mechanical power into battery charge, then converting battery charge into driving the wheels is another 30% loss. That puts us at a 15% overall efficiency for the gasoline engine in the Volt. Is it going to be able to make the long climb, and how could it possibly compete fuel economy wise with a 4 cylinder engine connected directly to the drivetrain, like in a Ford Hybrid?