Believe Me, Volt is a truly amazing EV

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

I think your have it wrong. The Volt is an EV that can run in "hybrid mode".

When DVD players came out that could also play a CD, we didn't call them "CD Players", we called them "DVD Players". Same thing here. It's an EV that also can do what a hybrid can do.

I often see optical drives labelled by what all they can do. DVD/CD+RW for example.

Think of things in broad terms. By definition, a gas-electric hybrid uses both a gas engine and an electric motor to drive the car. In most hybrid systems, the electric motor is always doing at least some work to propel the car, with the remainder made up by the gas engine. Now, many strong hybrids on the market, like the Prius, have the ability to drive solely with electricity for a certain range. Does that make them EV's? Of course not. They're still hybrids. Granted, the Volt has a broader battery powered operating range (in speed and distance) than any other hybrid. But it is still limited, GM has merely set those limits so that the average driver won't encounter them too often. But to say that the Volt isn't a hybrid is akin to saying that since you aren't likely to ever drive the Camaro 155 mph, its not a 155 mph car, which is crazy. A car is what it is, not what you choose to do with it.

[FenwickHockey65]

Just freaking call the car whatever you want. It still craps all over the half-assed Leaf and the outdated Prius and completely destroys the Insight.

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

Just freaking call the car whatever you want. It still craps all over the half-assed Leaf and the outdated Prius and completely destroys the Insight.

[Captain Awesome]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

I often see optical drives labelled by what all they can do. DVD/CD+RW for example.

Think of things in broad terms. By definition, a gas-electric hybrid uses both a gas engine and an electric motor to drive the car. In most hybrid systems, the electric motor is always doing at least some work to propel the car, with the remainder made up by the gas engine. Now, many strong hybrids on the market, like the Prius, have the ability to drive solely with electricity for a certain range. Does that make them EV's? Of course not. They're still hybrids. Granted, the Volt has a broader battery powered operating range (in speed and distance) than any other hybrid. But it is still limited, GM has merely set those limits so that the average driver won't encounter them too often. But to say that the Volt isn't a hybrid is akin to saying that since you aren't likely to ever drive the Camaro 155 mph, its not a 155 mph car, which is crazy. A car is what it is, not what you choose to do with it.

The volt has two "EV" things that the prius does not:

1) It can be plugged in to recharge.
2) It can drive over 40 miles without using the gasoline engine.

In fact, I say that since my daily commute is less than 30 miles, I could drain all the gas out of it and run it as a "pure EV", which is something a prius cannot do.

Just because it does some things in common with the Prius does not relegate it to being in the same classification as the prius.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by a_Username

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/technol...836/story.html



Yet again, GM is the leader of electric vehicles.

VOLT > LEAF

"Enough Electical Subsystems to control a space shuttle". Ah, I was rolling with that one.

Way to go, General!!!

Originally Posted by DGthe3

The Volt is amazing, no argument from me. But its not an electric vehicle. The gas engine sorta voids that claim. Its a hybrid.

Volt > Prius

*edit*
and

Volt > EV's

...minus the not-an-EV part. It's an EV+ hehehe

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Captain Awesome

The volt has two "EV" things that the prius does not:

1) It can be plugged in to recharge.
2) It can drive over 40 miles without using the gasoline engine.

In fact, I say that since my daily commute is less than 30 miles, I could drain all the gas out of it and run it as a "pure EV", which is something a prius cannot do.

Just because it does some things in common with the Prius does not relegate it to being in the same classification as the prius.

So since it does some things in common its now relegated to being merely an EV?

1) There will soon be a plug-in Prius soon. 2012 MY I think. And there are aftermarket conversion kits that you can buy now.
2) The Prius can drive on electricity too. I thought I said that in my previous post?

Granted, the Prius can't drive as far as the Volt on electricity. But using that as a basis for claiming Volt = EV, Prius = hybrid has an obvious flaw: the Leaf has a longer electric only range than the Volt. In fact, the Volt is closer in electric only range to the Prius than it is to the Leaf. So its just as valid to say that the Volt isn't an EV based on its electric only range.

To me, calling the Volt an EV is ignoring everything that makes it superior any EV. If you're only going to use it as an EV, why not simply buy a Leaf? The Leaf will likely be more efficient around town, since it doesn't have the added weight of a gasoline engine, which is important because you won't be driving too far on the highway with a Leaf anyway. But even if you do, the Leaf has a greater electric range. Plus, its thousands of dollars cheaper. Buying the Volt and only using electricity doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Where the Volt shines is when you go beyond the limits of an EV, namely a range of hundreds of miles ... something no electric car can claim.

[CynAgain]

I ran into a pre-pro Volt today. The gal came out while we were ogling her car.

I didn't spend but a minute or two on it, but I liked what I saw and it piqued my interest. It's a sharp little car with plenty of people room, but not so much storage. This car had four bucket cloth covered seats. She said she averages about 40mpg the way she's driving it and it goes into production next week.

This thread has a great discussion so I'm going back to continue reading

[ffrcobra_65]

why buy a volt when u can buy a proven Prius and have $20k left over? just because you like Chevy??

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

why buy a volt when u can buy a proven Prius and have $20k left over? just because you like Chevy??

Prius is old and inferior technology that uses gas 100% of the time. Even the upcoming Prius PHEV is inferior technology when compared to the Volt.

It'd be like buying a RAZR instead of a Droid X. You get what you pay for.

And with all the sh*t going on with that company right now, there is no such thing as a proven Toyota.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by ffrcobra_65

why buy a volt when u can buy a proven Prius and have $20k left over? just because you like Chevy??

Closer to $10k after tax credit, and only for the base Prius without options

anyway why would you buy a Prius when you can buy a Cobalt and have $10k left over? Or why would you buy a new Cobalt when you can buy a used Civic? Or why would you buy a used Civic when you can buy ...

Point is, there are always cheaper cars that you can buy

[Brokinarrow]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Closer to $10k after tax credit, and only for the base Prius without options

anyway why would you buy a Prius when you can buy a Cobalt and have $10k left over? Or why would you buy a new Cobalt when you can buy a used Civic? Or why would you buy a used Civic when you can buy ...

Point is, there are always cheaper cars that you can buy

[1bad65]

It all comes down to sales. It can go one of 3 ways; sell as expected, sell better then expected, or sell worse than expected. Comparing it to other cars' technology is a moot point imo. Beta was better technology than VHS, yet we all saw how actual sales made Beta a flop. Consumers will either buy the product or they won't buy it.

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Closer to $10k after tax credit, and only for the base Prius without options

anyway why would you buy a Prius when you can buy a Cobalt and have $10k left over? Or why would you buy a new Cobalt when you can buy a used Civic? Or why would you buy a used Civic when you can buy ...

Point is, there are always cheaper cars that you can buy

These price comparisons are getting preposterous. The sticker price of a car doesn't reflect what anyone buys after taxes, title, and license even if the customer signs at sticker. Dealerships are already reporting a lot of interest in the Volt, and that can't be bad news.

[ffrcobra_65]

wow. lots of defensive comebacks. Prius, old and inferior techonology