GM Volt: GM tries the electric car again

[SketchMaster]

Bump for the late night guy's.

 

[TruePaige]

I would love a car like this. I drive around 40 mph max in town, so I could run solely off electricity, and on a long night a lil' gas-o-line.

 

[Mermaidman]

Originally posted by: BrownTown

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
With the electricity generation and transmission rates being as high as they are now in the Northeast or California, I'm not sure if this will be much cheaper than filling it up at the pump.

Yes, well thats becasue the northeast and even more California are completely inept when it comes to running an electrical grid. Its kinda funny in California where you ban nuclear plants and essentially make it impossible to build coal plants (the 2 cheapest sources of power), and then build a bunch of absurdly expensive wind and natural gas plants (and you wont even let them build a LNG terminal to bring it in). And then when there is a huge deficit in power production you go buy it on the market from plants hundreds of miles away. Basically, the cheaper a power source is in California the more they seem to hate it.

I have the impression that CA has horrid air pollution. Wouldn't the coal plants contribute to that problem? Nukewlar plants would be good though.

 

[DVK916]

Natural Gas is a great way to produce electricity. Coal is the worst, very pollusive and dangerous. Coal powerplants kill by polluting. This is a FACT.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Stunt
Article

The car looks very nice, almost like the new camaro blended with some dodge lines. It'll be the size of the cobalt (a good size for most people).

The drive is electric and batteries are charged by a small gasoline engine.

Thank you GM for finally opening your eyes; time to take the lead instead of riding the coat-tails of the Japanese auto-makers!

Oh please, it's not out now, it's just pie in the sky.

Give your heroes kudos if it ever comes out.

It won't happen.

 

[RU482]

why don't they just require a 220V outlet..a standard 110V 15A outlet wouldn't be enough to charge a 16kwh battery in 6 hours...that'd be pulling almost 25A.

 

[RU482]

Is there any reason the Volt should cost more than 10% more than a Prius?

 

[PricklyPete]

I think it is a FANTASTIC idea. This allows for a level of abstraction between the engine and the "fuel". By making the engine completely electric, they can easily put whatever "recharging system" they want in as is needed. I love modular designs. I hope GM keeps up the good work to the point where this is abundantly practical.

 

[BrownTown]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman

Originally posted by: BrownTown

Originally posted by: ultimatebob
With the electricity generation and transmission rates being as high as they are now in the Northeast or California, I'm not sure if this will be much cheaper than filling it up at the pump.

Yes, well thats becasue the northeast and even more California are completely inept when it comes to running an electrical grid. Its kinda funny in California where you ban nuclear plants and essentially make it impossible to build coal plants (the 2 cheapest sources of power), and then build a bunch of absurdly expensive wind and natural gas plants (and you wont even let them build a LNG terminal to bring it in). And then when there is a huge deficit in power production you go buy it on the market from plants hundreds of miles away. Basically, the cheaper a power source is in California the more they seem to hate it.

I have the impression that CA has horrid air pollution. Wouldn't the coal plants contribute to that problem? Nukewlar plants would be good though.

Thats because of all the cars in such a small area, also, coal plants have scrubbers and such to comsiderably reduce how much smog forming chemicals they release, not every coal plant has them, but i'd bet in California most do.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

I think they should go back to - or at least create in addition - the two-seater style.

- M4H

 

[Ktulu]

Tell GM to build it.

Click on the Volt then Click on the "Vote for Volt" button.

 

[SampSon]

I'll care when things like this are practical, available, and affordable.
Until then it's just another PR circlejerk.