Would you buy an electric car?

[CamaroScotty]

Imagine what "those guys" will be marking the Volts up to....

[Brokinarrow]

The battery technology needs to improve before I will consider it. For me to buy an electric car, it needs to be able to:

1. Drive 300+ miles on one charge.
2. Take no longer than 10 minutes to fully charge.
3. Battery needs to last a minimum of 30 years without a serious drop in output.

None of these things are practical with current battery tech, so I will patiently wait till it gets to that point. Also, the electricity to charge these vehicles has to come from somewhere, and a huge increase in electricity demand = a huge increase in electricity production, which, at this time, will more than likely mean just as much pollutants will be put out as if we all kept driving gas vehicles. Unless of course we build a ton of nuclear plants OR manage to make a break through in fusion reactors soon (pleeeeaaase??).

As Tie2000 says though, hydrogen fuel cells are much closer to accomplishing this goal right now, we'd just need the infrastructure to support them.

[bigearl]

I am not against electric. I just don't think it's quite ready for primetime yet. I saw the demonstration video of the KTM Electric dirtbike and I was impressed. Ask me again in 5 years?

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by CamaroScotty

Imagine what "those guys" will be marking the Volts up to....

So if we buy a Volt we can count on you for MSRP + "preferred pricing" or whatever they're calling it now, right?

[TiE2000]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Which is why you can just refill the Volt's gas tank with gas or E85 and keep driving.

Would I buy a Volt? Absolutely.

Then the title of this thread should be changed, as the volt is considered a hybrid, not an electric car.

I apologize, as I also miss understood, due to the title of the thread. Would I buy a volt? I would consider it over the prius any day of the week. But I just think electric motors should go the way of steam powered cars... lost to the better alternative: hydrogen.

[AZCamaroFan]

my first reaction is no. Now if i was married, and i had a wife who didn't mind it, then i could see it. But as my preference, if i only had one car, no.

[fielderLS3]

The Volt is an intriguing car, but since I don't have tens of thousands of extra dollars that I can waste and get nothing for, I'll probably never get one. For the $40,000 the Volt costs, I could get a Camaro 1LT, and still have enough money left for over 150,000 miles worth of gas.

Or, putting it another way, if I could average 50 mpg out of the Volt, the break even point on it compared to a Camaro 1LT would be about 350,000 miles, and that's assuming the Volt can go that far without having to pay $5-$10 to replace the battery pack.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by TiE2000

Then the title of this thread should be changed, as the volt is considered a hybrid, not an electric car.

I apologize, as I also miss understood, due to the title of the thread. Would I buy a volt? I would consider it over the prius any day of the week. But I just think electric motors should go the way of steam powered cars... lost to the better alternative: hydrogen.

Actually, that is not correct. The Volt IS a purely electric car, as the electric engine is the ONLY engine that actually moves the car. The gas engine is used purely to charge the battery and has no connection to the drive train, therefore not making this a hybrid vehicle.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by AZCamaroFan

my first reaction is no. Now if i was married, and i had a wife who didn't mind it, then i could see it. But as my preference, if i only had one car, no.

What if it was THIS car?


Cuz that one I would not mind having, long charging times aside Course the price tag is about as much as my house soooo yeah....

[FenwickHockey65]

Ironically enough I just gave a speech about this very topic on Tuesday in Communications class.

930 words, 5 minutes, 46 seconds.

Imagine a world where you can drive to school or work and back without using a single drop of gas. While it seems as though automakers have promised cars like this for ages, General Motors is getting ready to bring that concept to life with the 2011 Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle. Scheduled for start of production at GM’s Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant in November of this year, the Volt is set to revolutionize the auto industry. Its introduction will bring three benefits for consumers: saving consumers money at the gas pump, eliminating range anxiety, and providing all the familiarity, quality, and durability of a gasoline-powered vehicle.

The Volt has the potential to nearly eliminate gasoline usage for many drivers. It is powered primarily by a lithium-ion battery paired to an electric motor. This battery is capable of providing power for the Volt for up to 40 miles of electric-only driving. According to studies conducted by GM, around 78% of Americans drive 40 miles or less every day. This means that the average Volt owner could regularly drive to work and back with an additional side trip for groceries or picking up the kids without using a single drop of gas, saving hundreds of dollars a month. The Volt can then be recharged from a standard 120 volt household outlet in 8 hours or a 240 volt outlet in 3 hours. Owners can charge up their vehicles overnight during off-peak times, reducing strain on the electrical grid. GM estimates that less than a dollar will recharge a Volt’s depleted battery pack for another 40 miles of electric-only driving. As such, the Volt will be able to save owners a substantial amount of money over a gasoline-powered car.

In addition to saving money, the Volt is also practical. A common problem for pure electric vehicles such as the upcoming Nissan Leaf is range anxiety. Drivers must constantly monitor how many more miles they have left to drive. If the battery pack is depleted before arriving at their destination, they must find a place to wait for a lengthy, time-consuming recharge or risk becoming stranded on the side of the road. The Volt eliminates this problem through the use of a fuel-efficient 1.4L gasoline-powered generator to maintain battery charge once depleted. According to Volt Chief Engineer Andrew Farah, this generator separates the Volt from other electric vehicles by extending overall driving range on one charged battery and a full tank of gas to over 300 miles. In addition, the generator never powers the drive wheels, supplying electric power only to maintain battery charge levels. This attribute increases the overall efficiency of the system. Because of the extended range, the Volt has the potential to be a primary car for families. Upon reaching the end of the 40 mile electric range and 300 mile extended range, owners can simply refuel their vehicles with gasoline or E85 ethanol and continue with their trip. Therefore, there is no need for Volt families to have to purchase a separate car for long distance travel.

With all of the technology packed into the Volt, it is surprising to many that the Volt’s driving experience, quality, and service life are comparable to a gasoline-powered car. Performance is very similar, and in some aspects superior to a normal compact car. GM engineers have tuned the Volt’s powertrain to accelerate from 0-60 MPH in under 9 seconds. The electric drive unit provides instant torque upon launch, delivering impressive performance for an alternative-fuel vehicle. Lastly, the range-extending gasoline generator smoothly kicks on once the battery is depleted without any loud noises or vibrations. In addition to performance, the interior of the Volt has been designed to provide as much information to the driver as possible while retaining a familiar look and feel. Two reconfigurable LCD displays allow the driver to track his or her speed, electric driving range, fuel economy in extended-range mode, access climate controls, and many other features. The Volt retains all the amenities expected in a modern car, including a hatchback configuration for increased cargo capability. Finally, to ensure quality, reliability, and durability, the Volt has been tested thoroughly. Heavy-use components such as the rear liftgate, doors, charge port cover, and gas tank cover have been torture tested under variable conditions at GM’s Warren Tech Center. The Volt has been subjected to both cold-weather testing in Canada and extreme heat environments in Arizona to ensure survivability in whatever climate owners live in. Features such as dynamic climate control of the battery pack help extend the service life of the Volt and its battery to an estimated 10 years or 100,000 miles.

In conclusion, the 2011 Chevrolet Volt will benefit its owners in three ways. First, it will save owners money by decreasing the number of trips to the gas pump. Second, the Volt solves the problem of range anxiety through the use of an onboard gasoline-powered generator. Finally, the Volt provides owners with a familiar driving environment despite the advanced technology within. The Volt is scheduled to go on sale later this year in the United States and will also be sold overseas in Europe and Australia. The Volt’s powertrain and technology may also find its way into larger vehicles, such as the Volt MPV5 concept recently unveiled in China. With its 40 mile electric-driving range and 300 mile extended range, the Volt is leading the way in the electrification of the automobile and the future of General Motors.

[Camaro_Corvette]

Nuclear car.

[rmnc3r]

Nah, I hate paying the Electric Company any more than necessary; they overcharge in order to pay bloated union wages and benefits as well as redistribute wealth in the form of 'subsidies' to pay for 'energy saving retrofits' and siphon off millions of dollars to municipalities
Use less gas, yes, but one will wind up paying far more for electricity. It's a misguided and false panacea.

Not to mention the potential for real hazardous and toxic waste from the spent batteries.

Perversely, the Utility Companies use the excuse that lower usage necessitates rate increases because
usage and therefore revenue is down.

Oil companies are railed upon as 'Evil' - I think Electric Utility Companies are more far more insidious.

[Russo]

i would like to have an electric truck.. with the above refinements... i operate in a 80 mile radius and in some cases i drive 200 miles a day... perhaps a mid size truck with an electric motor and a turbo diesel engine with a 7 spd auto tranny... having about 375 hp and 465 tq... a solar panel roof that converts to DC power (around 2500 watts)... man that would be sweet... the government should have some great incentives for it too

[nova]

Originally Posted by Paul SS

Specifically would you buy a Chevy Volt? I like the idea of an electric car and am definately interested in the Volt.

It will be interesting to see where electric cars go in the next five years.

A volt maybe. I pure electric no way. Might be good for city folks but for those of us who have to drive more than 5 miles each way it doesn't make much sense.

Originally Posted by TiE2000

Never! Electric cars are a step back IMO, Hydrogen is the way of the future.

Only if we come up with a plentiful reliable primary energy source to produce hydrogen from seawater. As it stands the vast majority of the hydrogen comes from steam or catalyst reduced natural gas. Trading oil usage for natural gas usage is not much of a benefit.