It's good to hear a former skeptic admit that GM is serious about this car. The biggest disappointment to most was the redesign of the sheet metal to achieve their target electric driving range of 40 miles. We
can all rest assured that this will not happen to any other Voltec concepts, such as the Caddy Converj. With the advent of the MIT advancement in both recharge speed and power of li ion batteries, which should be commercially available via A123 Systems (a GM partner)
at about the same time the Volt appears on the streets,
the possibilities are very interesting. With tons more power from the same sized (and cost) batteries, GM could bump up the current electric motor by say 50 kilowatts and make the Volt very quick, without any need to go the Fisker paprallel juice input route.
Or, should the battery costs hit that magic price point, the Voltec can easily morph into a battery-only electric. This would be a case of simply throwing out
the range extender and its associated parts.
can all rest assured that this will not happen to any other Voltec concepts, such as the Caddy Converj. With the advent of the MIT advancement in both recharge speed and power of li ion batteries, which should be commercially available via A123 Systems (a GM partner)
at about the same time the Volt appears on the streets,
the possibilities are very interesting. With tons more power from the same sized (and cost) batteries, GM could bump up the current electric motor by say 50 kilowatts and make the Volt very quick, without any need to go the Fisker paprallel juice input route.
Or, should the battery costs hit that magic price point, the Voltec can easily morph into a battery-only electric. This would be a case of simply throwing out
the range extender and its associated parts.
Either learn something about electricity or stop publishing articles that mostly display your ignorance about same. Ok, boys and girls, now how do we calculate watts? And what's a watthour? Jalopnik needs some
elementary electricity 101 classwork. And by the way, if you rush a recharge of just about any affordable battery, you wil shorten its already too-short lifespan even further.That's known in economics as increasing the
cents per mile costs.
elementary electricity 101 classwork. And by the way, if you rush a recharge of just about any affordable battery, you wil shorten its already too-short lifespan even further.That's known in economics as increasing the
cents per mile costs.
Honda's irrelevant. Who cares what they say they thinK? We all know they are developing a Volt -type car. They're just liars.
You don't really need the knowledge about distance from home unless you are REALLY into trying to avoid that last drop of liquid fuel. The Volt runs at or near max discharge point anyway after the available juice is extracted from the battery pack. This might be considered overkill, although since GPS is so cheap, why not?
Where has this Toyota guy been living? The VAST majoirty of trucks sold over the past 5 years, which have accounted for a very large segment, have been bought by folks who have no real reason for buying them. Considering the pent up demand to unload these gas hogs, the idea that the availability will require increased production strikes me as bizarre. The only reason many are holding on to their trucks is becasue they don't want to take a big finacial hit. If demand increases, so will prices, and so will the flood of trucks and SUVs put on the market. Same as houses.
Nothing like ruining a perfectly good car that can take you where you want to go by spending a lot of cash to build a car that basically can't do anything. And they say the citizens of this country aren't really all that dumb.
I didn't even remember to correct Jalopnik about his claim that the Saturn Flextreme will fare worse tha a plain
small econobox in terms of mileage. No econobox employing a gas engine can come even remotely close to equalling the mileage of a small gas powered car. At 40 miles of electric
driving range and around 45 MPG on liquid fuel, just examin the DOT chart showing commuting trip mileages and do the simple math. It's so easy even jalopnik can do it.
You will find that a fleet of commuting Flextremes will average around 250 MPG and eliminate 93% of current gasoline requirements in doing so. Allow 1/3rd to recharge at work, and the mileage jumps to over 550 MPG and over 97% of gasoline is avoided. Compared to a 40 MPG Prius, one flextreme has the ability to avoid more gas that
between 7 and 14 Prius econoboxes. Still think it's a good idea to avoid those "big vans" and move into econoboxes? Huh?
small econobox in terms of mileage. No econobox employing a gas engine can come even remotely close to equalling the mileage of a small gas powered car. At 40 miles of electric
driving range and around 45 MPG on liquid fuel, just examin the DOT chart showing commuting trip mileages and do the simple math. It's so easy even jalopnik can do it.
You will find that a fleet of commuting Flextremes will average around 250 MPG and eliminate 93% of current gasoline requirements in doing so. Allow 1/3rd to recharge at work, and the mileage jumps to over 550 MPG and over 97% of gasoline is avoided. Compared to a 40 MPG Prius, one flextreme has the ability to avoid more gas that
between 7 and 14 Prius econoboxes. Still think it's a good idea to avoid those "big vans" and move into econoboxes? Huh?
As usual, Jalopnik is an idiot about alternative vehicles.
The fact that a Cadillac dual mode hybrid can get better city mileage than a 4 cylinder Camry should alert Jalopnik that he really is living in a fantasy world if he thinks the path to using less gasoline leads us to small cars. The truth is that a car such as the Volt (or Saturn Flexteme) will achieve such efficiency levels that there is NO need to cram the population into claustrophobic, rolling death traps. Jalopnik is time warped in the 1970's. When you move into electric propulsion, there is no good reason to attempt to be "energy efficient." For one thing, going electric means that weight and size don't mean very much anymore. The Chevy Volt team will tell you that weight is a third place worry - aerodynamics and rolling resistance account for more where energy is concerned. But you should already know that from hybrids, which capture over 90% of the kinetic energy that was used to get those big guys rolling. Look at the Escalade. It also means that the fuel cost are so low that going small mostly is just stupid. Those who are applying previous geenration "truths" to current generation problems are doomed to be failures - going electric means that small is just stupid, or should I say small brained.
The fact that a Cadillac dual mode hybrid can get better city mileage than a 4 cylinder Camry should alert Jalopnik that he really is living in a fantasy world if he thinks the path to using less gasoline leads us to small cars. The truth is that a car such as the Volt (or Saturn Flexteme) will achieve such efficiency levels that there is NO need to cram the population into claustrophobic, rolling death traps. Jalopnik is time warped in the 1970's. When you move into electric propulsion, there is no good reason to attempt to be "energy efficient." For one thing, going electric means that weight and size don't mean very much anymore. The Chevy Volt team will tell you that weight is a third place worry - aerodynamics and rolling resistance account for more where energy is concerned. But you should already know that from hybrids, which capture over 90% of the kinetic energy that was used to get those big guys rolling. Look at the Escalade. It also means that the fuel cost are so low that going small mostly is just stupid. Those who are applying previous geenration "truths" to current generation problems are doomed to be failures - going electric means that small is just stupid, or should I say small brained.
"Proof of concept" - apparently you don't quite get the idea of a proof of concept - everyone knows you can build acar that uses electricity - we've known that since not long after the Civil War. Ours, not Spain's. A $100,000 pickup that can save a few bucks on gas is hardly proving any concept that is commercialy viable. Perhaps the American consumer needs to be told that the Europeans have existed (and thrived) on $4 plus per gallon gasoline for several decades. I think Isrealites pay over $8.
A vehicle that gets 40 miles of electric driving will obtain FAR, FAR, more than the silly 100 MPG figure that the ignorant media keeps throwing around. The media doen't even have a clue as to how it should be calculated for a serrial hybrid. Or what a serial hybrid is.
A vehicle that gets 40 miles of electric driving will obtain FAR, FAR, more than the silly 100 MPG figure that the ignorant media keeps throwing around. The media doen't even have a clue as to how it should be calculated for a serrial hybrid. Or what a serial hybrid is.
An electric motor even 10 times more efficient than what's out there would represent virtually no advancement of EV technology. When will the public learn that batteries are the key, and the only key, to a practical electric car?
Both Dyson and his company have denied any interest in electric cars or motor for electric cars. Your quote is therefore incorrect. It's amazing that supposedly intelligent people can believe that an improved electric motor would accomplish anything significant.
It's the batteries, stupid!
It's the batteries, stupid!
it's the batteries, stupid!
Now go stand in the corner and stop wasting everyone's time publishing this junk technology.
Both Dyson and his company have denied any interest in electric cars or motor for electric cars. Your quote is therefore incorrect. It's amazing that supposedly intelligent people can believe that an improved electric motor would accomplish anything significant.
It's the batteries, stupid!
It's the batteries, stupid!
it's the batteries, stupid!
Now go stand in the corner and stop wasting everyone's time publishing this junk technology.
Apparently Jalopnik is unaware of just how goigantic the differneces are between the Prius and the Volt in terms of gasoline and emission avoidance. It is simple math to prove that in the commuting role in the U.S. the Volt will
require less than 10 gallons of liquid fuel for each 100
commuters, compared to 70 gallons for each 100 Prius cars. By that reckoning, the Volt deserves a rebate 7 times larger than the Prius. If one then makes the obvious assumption that 1/4th of these Volt commuters can recharge, then the Volt fleet will use over 10 times less fuel and produce 10 times less emissions. There's no need to resort to speculative arguments - the facts are plain as day.
require less than 10 gallons of liquid fuel for each 100
commuters, compared to 70 gallons for each 100 Prius cars. By that reckoning, the Volt deserves a rebate 7 times larger than the Prius. If one then makes the obvious assumption that 1/4th of these Volt commuters can recharge, then the Volt fleet will use over 10 times less fuel and produce 10 times less emissions. There's no need to resort to speculative arguments - the facts are plain as day.
Let's make it so simple that even Jopnik can uderstand : the BATTERIES are the biggest cost of the Volt, by far and ARE NOT, repeat, ARE NOT under the control of GM. They do not produce them, do not plan to produce them and cannot know for sure what the price will be even today, much less two years down the road. The only info GM has about battery costs come, guess what? That's right , Jalopnik, from the battery builders, not GM. So exactly why, Jalopnik good buddy, are you griping about the comments coming from GM execs? They are only repeating what the battery makers have told them. Let's put the blame where it lies, Jalopnik, and stop your transparently moronic and illogical GM bashing. You're supposed to report facts, not make them up. No wonder you are always getting info second and third hand about the Volt. Looks like you have had to swallow your previious "inside info" that the Volt was a
mirage. Now your griping about its price. Ha, ha,ha,ha,ha.
What a moron.
mirage. Now your griping about its price. Ha, ha,ha,ha,ha.
What a moron.
Only Jalopnik is dumb enough to believe that you can accurately price an electric car at this stage. Get real, Jalopnik and quit spouting off nonsense.
If Hardigree knows so little as to doubt a 2010 launch for the Volt, what's he doing being given articels to write about the current crop of EVs? Isn't there enough incompetence in the media already? And why isn't he upto snuff about EEDtor - that is tyhe im[portant story,not another EV-1 flop like the Think, which has a mere 45 miles driving radius. That can't meet the needs of anyone except the inhabitants of small Pacific islands. $25,000 for a piece of crap like the Think that can't even remotely come close to meeting my transportation needs is an oxmoron - a very expensive oxymoron.
You've seen some offhand, ,meaningless estimates of the Volt MPG, but a small child can calculate and provide a very good estimate for commuting MPG, based on facts, namely the DOT statistics that provide trip deistances for US commuters. Even the mathematicvally challenged can do the simple calculations, and you'll find that
1) the typical 100 person commuter fleet average 17 MPG and commutes 2700 miles, collectively, and uses (collectively) 159 gallons of fuel per day to commute. A fleet of Chevy Volts with a 40 mile range will require that that same 100 person fleet will require 9.5 gallons,
and obtain 285 MPG, avoiding 94% of previous gasoline requirements. End of story, but if a few Volts can recharge at work, the numbers are even more impressive.
1) the typical 100 person commuter fleet average 17 MPG and commutes 2700 miles, collectively, and uses (collectively) 159 gallons of fuel per day to commute. A fleet of Chevy Volts with a 40 mile range will require that that same 100 person fleet will require 9.5 gallons,
and obtain 285 MPG, avoiding 94% of previous gasoline requirements. End of story, but if a few Volts can recharge at work, the numbers are even more impressive.
Talk of 130 MPG for the Volt has no basis in fact, that I'm aware of. To calculate the gasoline used by such a vehicle requires stats on the distribution of trips. The only stats like that are from the DOT stats on commuter trips in the US. That data indicates that a Volt with 40 miles of electric range would achieve mileage of
285 MPG while commuting, in the average case. Obviously, those 80% of commuters that wouldn't need any gas would have an infinite MPG.
285 MPG while commuting, in the average case. Obviously, those 80% of commuters that wouldn't need any gas would have an infinite MPG.
The BIG news is the EEStor battery, about to go into production and to be used for conversions this year. If Jalopnik had ambition, he would get in touch with ZENN Motors and ask to be on their list of early converters and give them a Civic/Corrolla/or whatever cars they will be converting and then publish a report. I'm amazed at how
unaware th auto mags are about this. Potentially this is the end of the gas engine if these things work, and I don't
honestly see, at this point, how anyone can be skeptical,
at least about their potential. The auto media seems wedded to 1905 technology - I guess it doesn't like the idea of so much of its technical knowledge suddenly becoming obsolete - so it pretends electrification of the auto is years away and buries its head in the sand. Unbelievable!!
unaware th auto mags are about this. Potentially this is the end of the gas engine if these things work, and I don't
honestly see, at this point, how anyone can be skeptical,
at least about their potential. The auto media seems wedded to 1905 technology - I guess it doesn't like the idea of so much of its technical knowledge suddenly becoming obsolete - so it pretends electrification of the auto is years away and buries its head in the sand. Unbelievable!!
I can't imagine anything more uninteresting than a video of an old Malibu with cami paint driivng around USING NiMH batteries. Despite the claims, that is not the first test mule with the real Volt system - they haven't been assembled yet. That mule is running on NiMH cells probably
recovered from an old EV-1. Those babies are, and always have been an obsolete means of EV propulsion and only have been used successfully in plain Jane hybrids, despite the transparent lies of Chris Paine and his silly film.
recovered from an old EV-1. Those babies are, and always have been an obsolete means of EV propulsion and only have been used successfully in plain Jane hybrids, despite the transparent lies of Chris Paine and his silly film.
You have to understand how digital transmission works.
Every pixel has an encoding that specifies how it is to be painted by the HDTV tuner.And there is an error code check digit as well. The receiver of the signal (the HDTV) looks at each pixel's error code and deermines if there has been any error in the value of that pixel's value during tansmission. If so, THEN THE TUNER DOES NOT PAINT THAT PIXEL on the screen and it shows up as a bright spot. Therefore, if your screen
shows no bright spots, then the screen images are being received EXACTLY as they were sent from the sender. Using an antenna to receive over the air HDTV sifgnals often results in errors and bright spots on the screen, especially during certain times of the day.
This is not caused by HDMI cable failures, which are extemely rare. I have been using a $5 HDMI cable for more than a year and have yet to experience any HDMI cable errors. Monster cables are pure ripoff. I see that Amazon is selling them at half price - that's still ten times overpriced.
Every pixel has an encoding that specifies how it is to be painted by the HDTV tuner.And there is an error code check digit as well. The receiver of the signal (the HDTV) looks at each pixel's error code and deermines if there has been any error in the value of that pixel's value during tansmission. If so, THEN THE TUNER DOES NOT PAINT THAT PIXEL on the screen and it shows up as a bright spot. Therefore, if your screen
shows no bright spots, then the screen images are being received EXACTLY as they were sent from the sender. Using an antenna to receive over the air HDTV sifgnals often results in errors and bright spots on the screen, especially during certain times of the day.
This is not caused by HDMI cable failures, which are extemely rare. I have been using a $5 HDMI cable for more than a year and have yet to experience any HDMI cable errors. Monster cables are pure ripoff. I see that Amazon is selling them at half price - that's still ten times overpriced.
When will California airheads stop conning the public with claims that an electric car is a zero emissions vehicle? Look at the dual studies just last week that indicated more deadly pollutants when fossil fuels are making elecyricity to run cars rather than gasoline. Can't anyone in california read? The main reason GM took so long to conceive of their Chevy Volt was due to the idiocies of the Zero Emissions laws in California. I love the way Californians delude themselves into believing that they can make a practical battery appear just by passing some braindead and phony emissions law. How can we convince California to secede from the union?