A couple days ago, GM made some pretty gigantic waves in the auto industry when it announced that it expects its upcoming hybrid model, the much anticipated Chevy Volt, to get an astonishing 230 miles to the gallon. And that’s for city driving. Sound incredible? The mixed reviews are sure to straighten out in the days and weeks to come, but for now, there are quite a few decided opinions on the Volt.
Over at Crunchgear the writers point out that the Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t as yet confirmed or denied the accuracy of the 230 MPG claim, a fact that may be slightly off-putting, but then, there’s plenty of time for precise testing if needed. At Hot Air, they note that while the fuel efficiency would be quite impressive, the actual cost efficiency wouldn’t kick in until after 100k miles. The site wonders whether this big-headline statistic is headed for a big flop once drivers get their hands on the real deal.
The New York Times’ Wheels Blog creates an enviable picture of driving from LA to Las Vegas on a $3 gas bill (which it quickly dissuades), but the comments section has produced a hot debate about the possibilities in store for the driving public should the figure turn out to be true. The consensus seems to be that while there’s ample room for criticism, there’s also plenty of cause for celebration.
Over at the Mind your Own Damn Business Politics blog, the name might lead one to suspect a negative review, but the results are quite the contrary. Excited about the opportunities to individual drivers as well as mankind as a whole, the writer simply hopes that environmentalists and conscientious motorists make the effort to pick up on this new trend in time.
Continuing this trend of encouragement, the Wallet Pop blog, ever-focused on getting the consumer cost side of the story, suggests that the vehicle may hold the keys to turning the recession on its head and saving the auto industry from its recent difficulties.
While the reactions to GM’s news about the Volt have been mixed, a common element is certainly to be found among the opinions, praises, rants, and raising of questions: sheer wonder. As fuel and auto technologies advance and prosper beyond what we’ve ever thought possible, the news is sure to offer several more exciting developments for hybrid and electric cars.
Even if it only gets half of that 230mpg they are claiming, it would still beat the pants off everyone else.
I think the Chevy Volt is an interesting car but if you do not include the petroleum equivalence factor (PEF) for the electricity that is used, this MPG number is just misleading. If you include the PEF 50MPG is more realistic the way electricity is produced nowadays, 0.6KG CO2/KWH. Every electric car would have a MPG number that is infinite if you exclude the PEF. I think to give this misleading information is not good for the reputation of GM and for the Chevy Volt, consumers are not stupid. In order to get a much higher number than 50MPG the production of electricity should be done much cleaner.
I’ve said it a million times (it seems) on other forums, and I’ll say it again: The goobs that measure ‘cost efficiency’ or some other figure trying to gauge a sole financial payoff get it all wrong. There isn’t a mainstream car made today that isn’t a depreciating asset, so to hold the Volt (or the Prius, Insight, or Fusion & Escape hybrids) to this standard based upon gas savings alone is unfair and stupid. Nobody cross-shops regular ICE vehicles this way, so why should hybrids and EREVs be singled out? Some folks will buy solely for the convenience of buying and using less gas, period–not for some windfall payoff over the long run.
Theme : Nissan Leaf will save the world, No Need For Heartbreaking Wars !
Some say the Leaf and the i-MiEV have a cruising range of 160 km on one battery charge, that is about one-third of the distance a gas-powered car can cover on a full tank of fuel.
In 21st century, home, workplace, or shopping centers etc also serve as a power station. And cars with a full tank of fuel don’t help MPG, as well.
In this economy, fuel price is hovering around $60 to $75 a barrel, which indicates the actual value might be much the same as the peak price last year, and it will continue to spiral up unquestionably.
All it takes for the entire world to live in peace would be to change our antique notion as technology is already here, energy independence lies in people’s will and attitude. Today, the size and scope of investing in future energy will determine the future and fate of a nation.
1. The range of terrific EVs are sufficient to meet the daily driving needs of 95% of drivers ((The vast majority of people (95%) drive less than 160/km a day)).
2. What’s more, as for long trip needs, all but Americans and many of developed nations have existing automobiles, in this regard, EVs are best suited to their daily use until the infrastructure comes into wide use.
3. The price has not yet been announced, but Nissan says it will be priced similarly to a well-equipped sedan in the vicinity of the high $20,000 and with government tax break.
4. Manufacturing volume, innovative battery technology will drive down cost.
5. Little maintenance fee.
6. MILES PER GALLON : MORE THAN 10 VS 1 (Leaf : 367MPG) compared with general combustion engine cars.
Even excellent hybrid cars are not comparable to EVs in light of fuel economy.
7. EVs will likely be less expensive for people to drive with low-cost nighttime charging.
Sometimes EVs can be charged at workplaces or stores etc.
8. Batteries will become more efficient on the whole and their price will drop, whereas the oil will simply go up and up as it becomes more scarce. As simple as that.
9. EVs are simple and felt smoother and more torquey than the petrol models, and quiet, fun to drive.
10. Better Place is partnering with Nissan to create the charging infrastructure and a system for swapping depleted batteries for fully charged batteries in less than 2 minutes. This can extend the range of the vehicle to hundreds of miles.
11. Nissan has developed an IT system for its EVs, connecting the vehicle’s on-board transmitting unit to a global data centre to support EV driving 24 hours 7 days a week.
The system shows the driving radius on a maximum range display under the current state of charge and calculates if the vehicle is within range of a pre-set destination. The navigation system points out the latest information on available charging stations within the current driving range
12.. It can be recharged off 240-volt mains in eight hours or 80 per cent charged on special quick-charge “pumps” in about 30 minutes.
13. It features a timer function that will start the car’s air-conditioner or battery charging at a specified time to benefit from more favorable electricity rates by a mobile phone or the Internet, as well. An SMS can be sent when the battery is fully charged and the car ready.
14. The 24 kilowatt hours laminated compact lithium-ion battery pack is placed under the vehicle floor for more efficient packaging. The battery layout also allows smooth underfloor air-flow which helps reduce drag.
15. The regenerative brake system employed to recharge the battery during deceleration and braking extends the driving range to more than 160 kilometres (depending on driving style and conditions) under a full charge.
16. Durability is achieved by employing an additional frame for the battery pack to significantly improve the rigidity of the platform.
17. The fully-electric drivetrain features a high-performance motor and a compact lithium-ion battery with high power output and energy capacity.
Once the U.S. switches the ‘unsustainable’ war and military wasting like health care wasting into investing in a smart grid infrastructure, the entire world will live in peace. U.S. spend more on military than the next 25 countries combined.
How Can An Electric Car Travel 100 Miles For $1?
Please search http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/09/100-miles-per-dollar.php for informative details.