This Chevy Volt hybrid that Chevy refuses to call a hybrid even though it is one, is going to be so overly hyped before it actually goes for sale that nobody is going to care anymore. The same thing goes for the new old styled Camaro. Hell, the Camaro has already been in a feature length film and it won't be ready for sale for another 2 years. What kind of product planning is that?

Unfortunately, car interiors in the upper midwest can hit 150°F during the summer.

Wonder how they got the FC to light off @ -40°F/C? Latent heat? Heating pad? Electric blanket? Curl up w/ the cat? Liberal application of Ben-Gay like Shaq (or is that Icy-Hot?)?

Interior parts are usually designed for the -40 to +180F range from what I'm told. However, that doesn't mean that a heavy battery mounted inside a dark compartment will be able to reach that temp from solar gain like a dashboard would. My theory is that heat from charging/discharging is the main factor. Also, the battery probably doesn't stop working at 120F, and the electronics would go into some sort of reduced-performance safe mode to minimize the potential damage.

Sorry, the Volt is not a hybrid like the Toyota Prius. The Volt is driven by electricity 100% of the time. It is possible to drive around the Volt and not buy a single drop of gasoline.

There is a small, gasoline/E85 powered generator that will recharge the battery on the go if you plan extended driving trips.

The term "Battery Cell" as used in this blog and its headline is a misnomer. A cell is never a battery. A battery, by definition contains two or more cells in series. For example, calling a 12 volt car battery a battery is correct in that it contains six cells. Probably no one gives a shit.

I do, MALFULLER. A whole pile.

GRZYDJ... The Volt actually isn't a Hybrid because that term has already been used as a label to the Parallel engine/battery design.

The Volt is a Serial Hybrid which results in 80% fewer mechanical parts and a much more efficent motoro-to-wheel power design.

Personally, I would rather vehicles become less and less complicated because they will eventually result in fewer and fewer repair bills.

No, it really isn't a hybrid because the internal combustion engine is incapable of supplying torque, it's more like a gas generator whose main purpose is to recharge the batteries when you can't plug it in. Also, those A123 batteries are amazing, all the power of lithium-ion without the dangers. You can drive a nail through them and they will only smoke, not spark:
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TOYOTABOY is correct. A Hybrid uses multiple propulsion systems, either in series or parallel, to drive the wheels. The Volt's gas engine never drives the wheels. It only recharges the battery pack.

While I can't argue that the Camaro has been a long time coming, it will be available a little over a year from now (early 2009), not two more full years.

Excellent response!@pug306:

Cheers! Do I get to join the battery pedants club?

But is calling in individual cell a "battery cell" correct if it is a cell from a given battery?