dagblog - Comments for "Chevy Volt is NOT AN ELECTRIC CAR!"

As far as I know i read

Jacksmith — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 06:51:00 +0000

In reply to Chevy Volt is NOT AN ELECTRIC CAR!

As far as I know i read almost everywhere that Chevy Volt is an electric car and I was about to buy it. You are saying its a hybrid car, I think I need to inquire some more about it. Thanks for sharing this valuable information.

WSJ reminds us that EV

Donal — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 12:22:00 +0000

In reply to Chevy Volt is NOT AN ELECTRIC CAR!

WSJ reminds us that EV batteries remain expensive.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000142405274870373580457553624293452850...

The gorilla in the EV world is how long batteries will last and who has to replace them. So far parallel hybrids seem to nurse their batteries along for years because they have a predictable discharge cycle. With full EVs, and even with the Volt in EV mode, no one knows how far the driver will discharge the battery in a given day.

I agree. I regularly make 180

Donal — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 10:51:12 +0000

In reply to Not too bad . . .The Volt

I agree. I regularly make 180 mile trips between cities and other long trips to out of state projects, so the Leaf would only work as a dedicated commuter car. We've chosen to get by with one car, which would push us towards a hybrid like the Volt. If it was affordable. And if, unlike the Prius, it can handle well in the snow.

Actually, it is a series

a dude named steevo — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:57:09 +0000

In reply to Dude. Beyond wanting it to be

Actually, it is a series hybrid (the prius is a parallel hybrid). An electric vehicle is a lot less mechanically complicated than a hybrid and more efficient. I just am pissed off that they are marketing this as an "electric vehicle" when it is not.

Not too bad . . .The Volt

oldenGoldenDecoy — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:29:16 +0000

In reply to Chevy Volt is NOT AN ELECTRIC CAR!

Not too bad . . .

The Volt looks cool, it's American made, but ... will it really compete?

My nephew owns a Nissan dealership here in California and we've taken the following all-electric car and put it through it's paces for a three week test and found it to be more than adequate for street and freeway, comfortable and so quiet and really smooth riding. It's designed specifically for those using it for inner city commuting.

2011 Nissan LEAF with 100 Mile Electric Range

Currently, if you're looking for city/highway use the hybrid models are the only alternatives.

~OGD~

Dude. Beyond wanting it to be

quinn esq — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 05:14:12 +0000

In reply to Chevy Volt is NOT AN ELECTRIC CAR!

Dude. Beyond wanting it to be a "true" electric vehicle, what's your problem? What's the hang-up?

And no, it's not best classified as a series hybrid at all. It's a PLUG-IN hybrid, with the plug-in part being incredibly important. The point is that a useful plug-in has its battery expanded from ~1.5 kwh's to 5-25 kwh's, and this allows the driver to do the vast majority of their daily driving on electricity. There are dozens of reasons why people don't want to go all-electric, from cost to rage to the condition of the grid to the weight of the excess batteries etc.

AIUI, to take the Volt out of

Donal — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 23:34:12 +0000

In reply to Chevy Volt is NOT AN ELECTRIC CAR!

AIUI, to take the Volt out of 100% electric drive mode, you have to drive it over 70 mph. I don't see that as a serious failure.

Nor do I see the 40 mile range as all that bad, since most people commute less than that.