<VV> Chevy Volt

[Thesuperscribe at cs.com]

Guys, the Chevy Volt is NOT a pure electric car, it's a gasoline-electric 
car. So its range is far greater than 40 miles. Below is a description of the 
Volt's powertrain from the GM Media site.

--Tom Berg in Ohio

New era in automotive transportation
       The Chevrolet Volt is leading a new era of electrification of the 
automobile by creating a new class of vehicle known as the Extended-Range Electric 
Vehicle, or E-REV. The Volt uses electricity to move the wheels at all times 
and speeds. For trips up to 40 miles, the Volt is powered only by electricity 
stored in its 16-kWh, lithium-ion battery. When the battery's energy is 
depleted, a gasoline/E85-powered engine generator seamlessly provides electricity to 
power the Volt's electric drive unit while simultaneously sustaining the 
charge of the battery. 
       This mode of operation extends the range of the Volt for several 
hundred additional miles, until the vehicle's battery can be charged. Unlike a 
conventional battery-electric vehicle, the Volt eliminates "range anxiety," giving 
the confidence and peace of mind that the driver will not be stranded by a 
depleted battery. 
       The Chevrolet Volt can be plugged either into a standard household 
120v outlet or use 240v for charging. The vehicle's intelligent charging 
technology enables the Volt's battery to be charged in less than three hours on a 240v 
outlet or about eight hours on a 120v outlet. Charge times are reduced if the 
battery has not been fully depleted. 
       At a cost of about 80 cents per day (10 cents per kWh) for a full 
charge that will deliver up to 40 miles of electric driving, GM estimates that the 
Volt will be less expensive to recharge than purchasing a cup of your 
favorite coffee. Charging the Volt about once daily will consume less electric energy 
annually than the average home's refrigerator and freezer units. 
    
*** 

In a message dated 9/24/2008 11:04:11 AM Eastern Daylight Time, 
virtualvairs-request at corvair.org writes: 
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 23 Sep 2008 23:11:15 -0400
> From: Dale Dewald <dkdewald at pasty.net>
> 
> 
> >Given the above and the power losses inherent in electric cars compared 
> with
> >IC powered ones, how exactly is the Chevy Volt an improvement in
> >CO2-generation terms over a Seat Arosa diesel or a VW Lupo diesel (both now
> >sadly discontinued)...
> 
> A very good point.
> 
> The Chevy Volt will have a range of about 40 miles.  Nuts!!  This is only 
> about double the range (though with greater comfort) than an electric car 
> built 100 years ago.  Until there is a big breakthrough in electrical 
> energy storage (think ultracapacitor), liquid hydrocarbons are going to be 
> the most efficient and reliable source of transportation energy.  ...