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Is the Volt really a "Hybrid" or not?

140 messages,  Last post on Apr 10, 2013 at 11:32 AM

You are in the Chevrolet Volt Forum.

What is this discussion about? Chevrolet Volt, Electric Cars, Sedan

Messages Page 1 of 14

#1 of 140 Is the Volt really a "Hybrid" ot not? I think NO by larsb

Aug 20, 2009 (12:31 pm)

I think anyone classifying the Chevy Volt as a "hybrid car" has it all wrong.
 
GM calls it an "Extended Range Electric Vehicle" which is what it really is. It's not even a "Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle" either.
 
It's not a hybrid at all.
 
What do all the modern era ( 1999+ ) hybrid cars have in common?
 
1. The can be propelled by MORE than one method: electric motor OR gasoline engine OR a combination of both.
 
The Volt is not like that at all.
 
It is ALWAYS powered ONLY by the electric motor. Ever.
 
The "gasoline" part of the Volt is merely a generator to charge the electric battery which powers the electric motor which propels the car.
 
That means that it does NOT meet the criteria of every other hybrid car on the road in the world, which is "more than one method of propulsion ( i.e., making the wheels move )"
 
Anyone offer differences in my analysis? ( I'll bet there are )

#2 of 140 Semantics by pf_flyer HOST

Aug 20, 2009 (12:43 pm)

While I might be able to make the case for it being called an EV since it only ever is moved by electricity, I'd still put it under the general umbrella of "hybrid" since that electricity won't necessarily always come just from the batteries. Sort of the same way a Prius or Insight isn't always moved only by the ICE.
 
Multiple sources of power = hybrid

#3 of 140 Re: Semantics [pf_flyer] by larsb

Aug 20, 2009 (12:50 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Aug 20, 2009 12:43 pm)
The car is ALWAYS "powered" by the electric motor.
 
The electric MOTOR is sometimes powered by the generator.
 
The Volt is an "Extended Range Electric Vehicle" per the manufacturer.
 
Seems like if it was a hybrid, the designer and seller of the car would call it a hybrid.

#4 of 140 another definition by larsb

Aug 20, 2009 (12:52 pm)

"Here's a hybrid car definition: A hybrid car is a car which can run on two or more fuel sources."
 
The Volt does not "run" on two sources of power.
 
It runs on ONLY the electric motor.

#5 of 140 Re: another definition [larsb] by pf_flyer HOST

Aug 20, 2009 (1:22 pm)

Replying to: larsb (Aug 20, 2009 12:52 pm)
An electric motor or ICE is not a "fuel source"
 
Your own choice of definition for hybrid says the Volt is one. Two fuels... battery and gasoline. If one runs out, the other can keep you moving.
 
So other than a good argument over semantics (and who doesn't love that?) this all seems a rather pointless point.
 
It's a hybrid, what's the big deal?

#6 of 140 Re: another definition [pf_flyer] by larsb

Aug 20, 2009 (1:30 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Aug 20, 2009 1:22 pm)
It's a big deal because it's just wrong to call an Apple and Orange.
 
The gas never keeps the car moving - it just charges the battery.
 
I don't think it should be called a hybrid because it's an Extended Range Electric Vehicle.
 
Just like hybrid cars don't want to be put into some other classification than they are in.
 
It's an electric vehicle which uses a gas engine to provide extended range to the electric batteries.
 
The gas generator is just a bonus. The car does not need it running to move.
 
I could own a Volt with my commute and NEVER use any gasoline at ALL.
 
Every hybrid car on the road needs an internal combustion engine which powers the wheels at some point.
 
The Volt will NEVER have the "gas generator" powering the wheels.

#7 of 140 Re: another definition [pf_flyer] by larsb

Aug 20, 2009 (1:31 pm)

Replying to: pf_flyer (Aug 20, 2009 1:22 pm)
A-HA !!!
 
pf_flyer says, "An electric motor or ICE is not a "fuel source" "
 
In the Volt, the gasoline generator is JUST EXACTLY THAT !!! It's only a fuel source for the batteries !!!

#8 of 140 Re: another definition [larsb] by gagrice

Aug 21, 2009 (8:46 pm)

Replying to: larsb (Aug 20, 2009 1:30 pm)
How about if we just call the Volt an overpriced piece of crap from a bankrupt auto manufacturer?
 
I am sure you have heard the term series hybrid. The electric motors turn the wheels of trains, buses and earth moving equipment. Some have batteries which get charged by diesel engines that never take part in moving the vehicle. They were around as hybrids long before a Prius hybrid was even thought of. The Volt could very well be considered a SERIES HYBRID. Same basic concept that drives a lot of equipment. Most of those series hybrids do not waste a lot of money on batteries that are really not useful in saving money.
 
The parallel hybrid is a fairly recent concept to hit the market. No more or less a hybrid than a series hybrid which the Volt is. Unless you are bound and determined to listen to a bunch of goofballs from Government Motors.

#10 of 140 Direct verses indirect power sources by mark_c

Oct 17, 2009 (6:18 am)

Unlike a typical hybrid vehicle that uses two direct sources of energy/fuel to move a vehicle, the Volt uses one.
 
An example of direct sources of power would be gasoline for the gasoline engine (which moves the vehicle) and electricity to power the electric motor (which moves the vehicle).
 
The Volt uses one source of direct energy to power/move the car, electricity.
 
The volt does use gasoline as an indirect power source (charge the batteries), but gasoline is not used to move the car (only electricity as it uses an electric motor to move the car). This means that if there is a plug-in for the Volt, that besides gasoline other indirect power sources could be nuclear, hydro, coal, thermal, solar, wind, etc. pending on where the electricity comes from that is delivered to the socket the Volt is plugged into.

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