GM finally getting it?

[FlashG]

My, well earned, complaint about GM-Ford-Chrysler is there lack of quality and a dealer network that leaves a lot to be desired. When its time for me to consider a new vehicle ill probably look at Honda/Acura. I would really like to feel confident about a Saturn Vue electric but personal experience (build quality) tells me to stay away.

 

[keird]

Originally posted by: Juddog
With the newest advances in carbon nanotubes allowing a potentially 10 times longer battery life, combined with the recent new way to process solar cells for extremely cheap, electric cars will be increasing in demand.

One of the main things that held them back for a long time was the issue of battery life.

Here's a recent article from Discover regarding carbon nanotubes on a silicone substrate.

Couple this with the potential for solar panel progress as demonstrated recently. A MSNBC article.

 

[TruePaige]

Originally posted by: FlashG
My, well earned, complaint about GM-Ford-Chrysler is there lack of quality and a dealer network that leaves a lot to be desired. When its time for me to consider a new vehicle ill probably look at Honda/Acura. I would really like to feel confident about a Saturn Vue electric but personal experience (build quality) tells me to stay away.

I love my Saturn Ion 2 Quad Coupe. Peppy little thing, GM makes it cheap and easy if anything ever does go wrong though, because so many of the parts are shared on other models of their cars. My Car is like..a bigger, better made Cobalt if you look at the parts underneath.

Mass Production = Lower Cost.

 

[kevinthenerd]

Originally posted by: TruePaige

Originally posted by: FlashG
My, well earned, complaint about GM-Ford-Chrysler is there lack of quality and a dealer network that leaves a lot to be desired. When its time for me to consider a new vehicle ill probably look at Honda/Acura. I would really like to feel confident about a Saturn Vue electric but personal experience (build quality) tells me to stay away.

I love my Saturn Ion 2 Quad Coupe. Peppy little thing, GM makes it cheap and easy if anything ever does go wrong though, because so many of the parts are shared on other models of their cars. My Car is like..a bigger, better made Cobalt if you look at the parts underneath.

Mass Production = Lower Cost.

I drive a 2003 ION 1 sedan. For most purposes, it's mechanically identical to the Cobalt. They share a platform and powertrain and most everything else that matters. My car has the L61 ECOTEC with an Aisin AF-23 5-speed automatic. They changed the transmission in 05 and in the Cobalt, and they changed the cam profile slightly in 06 or 07 I believe, but everything's just about the same. The Cobalt SS Supercharged is the same as an ION Redline, and the Cobalt SS is the same as an ION 2.4.

PM me if you're interested in an ION forum in which I've been very active in the past couple of years. Keep in mind too that in my mechanical engineering studies I took a graduate-level course in engine analysis and optimization, and I have that body of knowledge available too if you're ever interested in a real discussion. (The subject matter of that class was the reason why I got the degree I did.)

 

[jagec]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
Hydrogen isn't going to be viable for a while. It uses more energy to create hydrogen than the energy you get out of it, and that's not going to change for quite some time.

Err, that's NEVER going to change.

Unless you're talking about the water-gas shift reaction, but that hardly counts.

 

[desy]

Batteries will continue to get better and quick charge batteries as well or ultra capacitors.
That will make them much more viable than hydrogen ICE's and they are a lot closer to that possibility, making hydrogen ICE's obselete before they get off the ground
It would require a minor change to existing infastructure to setup quick charge electric stations, hydrogen requires a massive change.

Now if Hydrogen fuel cell is the better storage source down the road time will tell.

 

[Mermaidman]

Slightly OT, but GM stock up 10%, and that is AFTER news that it tied Toyota for global car sales.

 

[zoiks]

Originally posted by: BUTCH1
I hope it all comes around and we can wean ourself from the prick OPEC nations
that reap staggering profit from oil sales then pay off terrorist groups to be left
alone. Not to mention the dismal human rights record these countries have compiled
(Saudi Arabia)..

Really? Those nations are actually sponsoring and funding terrorist groups huh?
I wouldn't be talking about human rights.

 

[Eli]

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR!!!???

Well, after seeing this and seeing videos on google about folks that liked that model, you'd think GM would have plenty of technology if they could find their engineering reports.

I heard one of their head guys talk about the Chevy Volt on NPR last year. He said it was the most thrilling design he's seen in 30 years because it will operate on quite a few miles without gas and has a small gas engine to limp along if it were to run out of battery power.

Here's a link that I found about the Volt. I think a electric hybrid sounds like a good alternative as long as electric power doesn't go up too much as a result. We need more nuclear power plants and we need to learn from the French. Retro-fit the plants to run the fuel rods through a second time. It will reduce waste and decrease costs....the US government is just too stubborn and wants high capacity rather than overall efficiency.
http://www.forbes.com/markets/.../01/15/afx4530524.html

:thumbsup:

 

[destrekor]

I think the best bet for the electric car, is to incorporate everything in the car, make it totally self-sustainable. It's hardly impossible. At this stage, the only thing holding that much back is nano-tube component building. Once they can speed up nano-tubes, they can one: increase battery life by a LOT... and two: use the nano-tubes to basically meld the concept of solar panels and glass. Use the current windows and incorporate nano-tube-constructed solar panel tech into them. If done right, it could mimic window tinting, but also constantly provide energy to charge the batteries. And remember, when the vehicle is on today, the rest of the car is also providing some charge to the battery from the brakes and whatnot. They also get charged by gas when the batteries die, but don't the batteries last the whole time when your doing driving within the city for the most part?
I was also thinking in the meantime, use a hydrogen car that also incorporates that whole-car as a solar panel that charges the battery at the same time.