NY Times Test Drives Volt

[Kyle2k]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

What makes you say that? The Climate Change Alarmists suppfered a huge setback last week when some hacker published all their emails revealing an effort to distort the facts. This could put an end to their war on fossil fuels!

Sort of like any other political group that favors a particular motive? Just because climate change isn't as big of a deal as some make it out to be doesn't mean we should abandon all efforts of an electric car.

Think of it this way, the more A to B type people driving electric cars leaves more gas for the gearheads like us.

[Mr. Wyndham]

I'm very pleased to read this. I'm very anxious to get some seat-time in a Volt....I know that'll be a long ways away...but I'm anxious anyways!

[TheCaptain]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

I'm very pleased to read this. I'm very anxious to get some seat-time in a Volt....I know that'll be a long ways away...but I'm anxious anyways!

Same here, a nice Electric Blue one like Jolt in TF2!

[a_Username]

Anyone know its speculated price range? I might hold off on the Cobalt as a second car if I can get one of these for under $15,000.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Anyone know its speculated price range? I might hold off on the Cobalt as a second car if I can get one of these for under $15,000.

$15k? I only wish.

The Volt is going to be expensive. It's the first of its kind. Expect starting MSRP at $40k with government tax rebates to bring it down around $32k. Once the technology becomes more common, the price will come down.

[a_Username]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

$15k? I only wish.

The Volt is going to be expensive. It's the first of its kind. Expect starting MSRP at $40k with government tax rebates to bring it down around $32k. Once the technology becomes more common, the price will come down.

Screw that. COBALT FTW!

[TheCaptain]

Originally Posted by a_Username

Screw that. COBALT FTW!

Better get a Cobalt while there still is one! Cruze ftw!

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

What makes you say that? The Climate Change Alarmists suppfered a huge setback last week when some hacker published all their emails revealing an effort to distort the facts. This could put an end to their war on fossil fuels!

The Volt isn't about combating climate change, at least not according to Lutz who's been spearheading the program. He wants to reduce Americas dependence on foreign oil (a view which GM probably shares, though would never admit). So whether you believe in saving the planet or want to be independent, the Volt helps.

One other really cool thing about the Volt is that future generations of Voltec drivetrains will probably be the first fuel cell cars that GM sells to the public. The conversion from a normal car to fuel cells is quite extensive, but with Voltec its just replacing the generator and swapping the fuel tank. All the drive components (and much of the power management system)remain unchanged.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by DropTheGloves

I am not a fan of electric cars, but eventually, that's what we will be working with only.

I also hope they have fixed the fire issues with the Volt. I remember hearing when it first was in talks and what not, they started one, or were driving it, and it randomly caught on fire.

Wow where did you come up with that? Someone close to me partly leads the Global Engineering, and this project is part of his oversight. This was never an issue, except when it first started some many years ago. The issue was with keeping the batteries cool, which was resolved in 2007.

[DropTheGloves]

Originally Posted by fp115

Wow where did you come up with that? Someone close to me partly leads the Global Engineering, and this project is part of his oversight. This was never an issue, except when it first started some many years ago. The issue was with keeping the batteries cool, which was resolved in 2007.

I heard something along the lines, of some kinda issue. Maybe it was the batteries, or maybe it was the v-1 or whatever someone else said.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by DropTheGloves

I heard something along the lines, of some kinda issue. Maybe it was the batteries, or maybe it was the v-1 or whatever someone else said.

I think I know what you're thinking of...Lutz mentioned batteries igniting under certain conditions WAY early on in the program. He was talking about it in the context of "yes, we're testing for that, and making sure the battery supplier is a good one so we don't get any of that".

The Volt's never been on fire....at least not by accident.

[fp115]

Originally Posted by DropTheGloves

I heard something along the lines, of some kinda issue. Maybe it was the batteries, or maybe it was the v-1 or whatever someone else said.

People like to say a lot of things. But what you mention has not been an issue since 2007. GM has even showed videos of the battery going through crash tests and the Volt going through similar tests.

Don't believe what everyone says, most do not know what they are talking about. The Volt has never had this issue, not even in the first mule built last year.