Chevy Volt Tested: Goes 40 Miles, No Gas Expended

[AK-74me]

Originally Posted by RadioPatrol

How many Kv were required to recharge that sucker from the house ...... not a good choice is this day and age, with our Power Grid being so shaky ....





nice Articles you sent BTW

The power grid is not really shaky and it is not like 10 million units will be sold over night.

It would take up to 6.5 hours to recharge from a standard 120v outlet, I did some math eariler in the thread. Considering most would recharge during non peak hours I don't think it would affect the grid what so ever.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pete

OK, let me clarify. You were speaking of wide spread public outlets for people to plug in block heaters IE: a plug in right by the parking meter on Main street or in the parking spot at Safeway correct?

...I'm speaking of having them EVERYWHERE except where you are.



Yes, I envision, from my dream, car charger plugs all over the place. Ideally, in my world, or dreams as the case may be, there could be some sort of slot in the parking space that makes contact so that you don't even have to plug in; you just, like a car wash, pull in, swipe your cc and go about your business, it automatically stops charging when you're 'full'.

[itsbob (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

...I'm speaking of having them EVERYWHERE except where you are.



Yes, I envision, from my dream, car charger plugs all over the place. Ideally, in my world, or dreams as the case may be, there could be some sort of slot in the parking space that makes contact so that you don't even have to plug in; you just, like a car wash, pull in, swipe your cc and go about your business, it automatically stops charging when you're 'full'.

Well, if it's say 25 miles to work, and 25 miles to home, and you get 40 miles on a charge, wouldn't solar panels on the roof condition the batteries well enough to get you home after sitting for 8 hours? That and like rechargeable batteries in a camera the more you use them, the more times you recharge them the less efficient they get. A year later would you get 30 miles to a charge? 15 miles?

Of course no matter what you do, still have to break out the SUV to take the famly to Annapolis on the weekend.

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

...I'm speaking of having them EVERYWHERE except where you are.



Yes, I envision, from my dream, car charger plugs all over the place. Ideally, in my world, or dreams as the case may be, there could be some sort of slot in the parking space that makes contact so that you don't even have to plug in; you just, like a car wash, pull in, swipe your cc and go about your business, it automatically stops charging when you're 'full'.

OHHHHHHH those! Yea they have them everywhere except where I was, and where I went. I suppose they could have had them where I went a few times but they cleverly disguised them just before I arrived.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Pete

OHHHHHHH those! Yea they have them everywhere except where I was, and where I went. I suppose they could have had them where I went a few times but they cleverly disguised them just before I arrived.

...I said I dreamt this all up. I will absolutely defer to your world travels over my limited forays from the outskirts of PG county over the years.

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Well, if it's say 25 miles to work, and 25 miles to home, and you get 40 miles on a charge, wouldn't solar panels on the roof condition the batteries well enough to get you home after sitting for 8 hours? That and like rechargeable batteries in a camera the more you use them, the more times you recharge them the less efficient they get. A year later would you get 30 miles to a charge? 15 miles?

Of course no matter what you do, still have to break out the SUV to take the famly to Annapolis on the weekend.

Probably not. The output from a solar panel is usually rating in milli-amps, less than an amp. You'd need huge panels to provide enough to make a difference.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by itsbob

Well, if it's say 25 miles to work, and 25 miles to home, and you get 40 miles on a charge, wouldn't solar panels on the roof condition the batteries well enough to get you home after sitting for 8 hours? That and like rechargeable batteries in a camera the more you use them, the more times you recharge them the less efficient they get. A year later would you get 30 miles to a charge? 15 miles?

Of course no matter what you do, still have to break out the SUV to take the famly to Annapolis on the weekend.

...I mean, however it works out. The whole issue is capacity and I don't know crap about batteries. Sam Spade talks about an air car. Some people think hydrogen is the way, hybrids, whatever, however. It's all good to me. The thing is, whatever it is, is infrastructure. Unless we put reactors, my personal choice, in cars, they're gonna need replenishment infrastructure. Cloudy days, nighttime, it has to be a machine that won't just leave you stranded or counting miles until you have to be home.

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by GWguy

Probably not. The output from a solar panel is usually rating in milli-amps, less than an amp. You'd need huge panels to provide enough to make a difference.

...the sun is the whole ball game; it's the source that all others flow from.
Is it reasonable to imagine incredible advancements in solar technology? I mean, a sunny day is sunburn. Add a mirror or spy glass and you've exponentially increased that power.

I want inventions!

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

...I mean, however it works out. The whole issue is capacity and I don't know crap about batteries. Sam Spade talks about an air car. Some people think hydrogen is the way, hybrids, whatever, however. It's all good to me. The thing is, whatever it is, is infrastructure. Unless we put reactors, my personal choice, in cars, they're gonna need replenishment infrastructure. Cloudy days, nighttime, it has to be a machine that won't just leave you stranded or counting miles until you have to be home.

I agree the infrastructure would need to be upgraded if we did a wholesale swap of gas to electric.

[GWguy]

Originally Posted by Larry Gude

...the sun is the whole ball game; it's the source that all others flow from.
Is it reasonable to imagine incredible advancements in solar technology? I mean, a sunny day is sunburn. Add a mirror or spy glass and you've exponentially increased that power.

I want inventions!

I agree!!! I am sorely disappointed that we haven't been able to harness the sun to generate gobs and gobs of surplus power! There is a lot of heat energy to be obtained, but the technology is very poor when it comes to converting it to electric energy, at least in a package that can be utilized in a portable vehicle. Banks of stationary solar panels with vehicle plug-ins is definitely feasible.