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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#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?

#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?