Chevy Volt Tested: Goes 40 Miles, No Gas Expended

[Joebagel]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

Kind of a different animal though isn't it with prices expected up to $70k or so for one?

Base prise $109000!!

[AK-74me]

Originally Posted by Joebagel

Base prise $109000!!

Yes, I was just reading the Cnet article that mentioned that number. Guess I know why the likes of Jay Leno are the ones buying them.

[itsbob (Premo)]

I like the GM commercials where they tout their "leading edge technology". Their full size Hybrid Pick Up, their Hydrogen vehicle, the Volt.. then in the small print on the bottom of the screen.. "These vehicles not available for sale"..

Well gee, thanks a friggin bunch for getting your GREAT ideas to market! How long has Honda and Toyota had hybrids?

Can't imagine why they are losing market share to them.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Any idea how much your electric bill will increase, the amount of pollution from coal fired plants will increase?

Good idea, but we aren't really solving a problem, as much as moving a problem to a different market. No more inner city pollution, but the urban areas where the power plants are will now be covered with a blanket of smog. Save money on gas, but your electric bill goes up.

I think Honda and Toyota have the right idea, now if the gov't can get behind them to bring the prices down to an offordable level until the sales get to a point where they can sell an affordable hybrid outright.. THAT makes sense. An affordable hybrid that gets >70MPG.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by AK-74me

It is saying it gets 40 miles on electric only then it will switch to gas if needed. Personally I am not euphoric about it, just thought it was interesting.

Actually, the Volt never uses gas for to power the drive train. After 40 miles, the gas motor kicks on to charge to the battery only. This allows for long range trips. I think they said it can go for about 600 miles on tank of gas. 10 or 12 gallons I think.

[Pete (Premo)]

I suppose if you figure that the average commute is 20 miles or less round trip you could concievably never buy gas for it.

The Tesla looks rockin, $109K puts it out of the range of everyone but the Hollywood types though.

[awpitt]

Originally Posted by Pete

I suppose if you figure that the average commute is 20 miles or less round trip you could concievably never buy gas for it.

The Tesla looks rockin, $109K puts it out of the range of everyone but the Hollywood types though.

The Volt is supposed to come in under $50K so it will be a more realistic possibility for most folks.

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Any idea how much your electric bill will increase, the amount of pollution from coal fired plants will increase?

Good idea, but we aren't really solving a problem, as much as moving a problem to a different market. No more inner city pollution, but the urban areas where the power plants are will now be covered with a blanket of smog. Save money on gas, but your electric bill goes up.

I think Honda and Toyota have the right idea, now if the gov't can get behind them to bring the prices down to an affordable level until the sales get to a point where they can sell an affordable hybrid outright.. THAT makes sense. An affordable hybrid that gets >70MPG.

On the Tesla web site they said it would cost basically .01 a mile.

I am not sure that your argument about adding smog is valid. Our energy grid is horrendously wasteful. Power plants generate power and feed a grid. If that electricity is not drawn (used) it disappears. Power plants and the grid work in concert to attempt to produce just enough electricity to meet the demand of the moment but there is always extra. I would think that you would have to add a large number of electric vehicles to impact the grid and cause more demand. The Tesla site says it will recharge in about 3 hours. that is like doing 2 extra loads of laundry, it would be less in a commuter car.

In addition coal fired plants in the US use low sulfur coal and are very efficient and use stack scrubbers. In other words you could boost the output of a coal fired plant enough to accommodate X number of electric cars and dump much less into the environment than the sum of all the tailpipes you replace.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by awpitt

The Volt is supposed to come in under $50K so it will be a more realistic possibility for most folks.

I spend about $240 a month on gas for the SUV BG drives. Can they get the financing of 50k to less than $240 a month? If not, it will NEVER be worth it.

Hell, even if I could pay cash for it, I'd be better off investing the 50K and continue to drive the SUV.

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by awpitt

The Volt is supposed to come in under $50K so it will be a more realistic possibility for most folks.

If they didn't improve the volt I could drive to/from work twice before charging.