GM debuts the Chevy Volt (CNNMoney.com)

[eppur_se_muova]

General Motors gives the world an up-close look at its new electric car.

By Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNNMoney.com senior writer
Last Updated: September 16, 2008: 2:21 PM EDT

DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle on Tuesday, allowing outsiders their first full look at the car GM says will go on sale in 2010.

"The Volt symbolizes GM's commitment to the future," said Rick Wagoner, the company's chairman and CEO.

The Volt will be driven by electricity stored in a large T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack running the length of the car. After charging for several hours, the Volt will be able to run for up to about 40 miles without using gasoline.

GM did not announce pricing for the car, which will have the equivalent of about 150 horsepower and a top speed of 100 mph, the automaker said.

To charge the batteries, drivers will plug a cord into one of the ports just ahead of the driver's side mirror. The cord can then be attached to an ordinary home electrical outlet.


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more: http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/11/autos/volt_official_reveal/index.htm?cnn=yes

[emmadoggy]

1. One thing I'm not clear on....

my understanding was that the original concept was for it to be entirely electric-powered and that the car would never actually run on gas, but that a small gas engine would be used to recharge the batteries on the fly. Do I have that right??

Is this still the way the car is set up? Or have they now incorporated a regular ICE which will be used after the initial 40 miles? If that is the case, it is a bit disappointing. Not a whole lot different than a regular hybrid, it seems to me.

Still, 40 miles gas-free is still enough for a lot of people's daily driving so I'm not complaining. Definitely moving in the right direction.

[kristopher]

2. ...

"...To charge the batteries, drivers will plug a cord into one of the ports just ahead of the driver's side mirror. The cord can then be attached to an ordinary home electrical outlet.

The car will cost "less than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee" to recharge, and use less electricity annually than a refrigerator. The Volt should cost less than 2 cents per mile to drive on electricity, GM said, compared to 12 cents a mile on gasoline at a price of $3.60 a gallon.

As the battery begins to run down as the car is in use, a small gasoline engine will turn on and generate enough electricity to drive the car about 300 miles."

From the article.

[emmadoggy]

4. Thanks, I was in a hurry and didn't have time

to read the article. Seems to me, I had read somewhere that they changed the initial concept to the second setup I mentioned, but what you quoted sounds like the original.

Thanks again.

[Fledermaus]

3. Its a plug in hybrid. Its also a series hybrid.

If you read the entire CNN article, the writer doesn't understand that.

For me it would be a nice fit.

Round trip from home:
work 7 miles
mall 10 miles
grocery store 5 miles

I could go for weeks without ever filling up.

[emmadoggy]

5. It would work for us

for regular daily stuff (we live about 2 miles outside of our small town. Hubby is about 5-6 miles from work.), but we are rural and have to drive to larger towns for stores like Target, Kohl's, Menards, etc. (roughly 50 miles one way). We try to consolidate those trips as much as possible - it goes in spurts, sometimes we will end up making a trip three or four times in a month. Other times we can go for a couple months without making a trip. So it would still be a great car for us. Plus we are a family of four so it would be comfortable and roomy enough for us.

The biggest obstacle will be price - and timing. We will be in the market for a different vehicle by next spring or summer and we generally only buy used. Then it will be another 5 years before we are able to buy something again (at least. More than one car payment at a time is just too much for us.) Hopefully, by that time there will be even more options available than just the Volt and hopefully there will be some used ones available. Looks like it will be at least six years for us though.

I'm still keeping my eye on the air cars too.

[sixmile]

6. 100 mph?

Would someone explain to me why our automobiles have the ability to go 100 mph? I've never been in a situation where I had to exceed 70-75 mph.

[CRF450]

7. Cause some of us like to go that fast for fun?

My car is capable of going 165mph, and I have gone that fast in it a few times!

[sixmile]

8. Please be careful

I hope I don't see you in my rear view.

[CRF450]

9. Beleive me, I'v only gone that fast a few times

Next time, I dunno. Depends if I'm on a wide open highway with no cars around and I get an urge for speed.