If the Volt is a diesel engine creating electricity to run an electic motor, isnt that a hybrid?
My understanding (an I may be incorrect) is that it is a plug-in electric car that carries an auxiliary engine just in case you exceed the range of the batteries. I believe the intent is to use the batteries without the engine under normal conditions, but the engine will be available for “emergencies” so you can’t become stranded. That sounds like a compromise because people wouldn’t be comfortable with a “pure” electric car that may run out of charge at an inconvenient time/place.
It uses a gasoline (or E85) 1L, 3-cylinder engine to recharge the batteries. The gas engine does not provide propulsion itself. A car with a 40 mile round trip limitation won’t sell well. But with the engine for continuous charging, it can go up to 650 miles. GM claims that it gets 50 MPG during charge sustaining operation, and that you would get 100 MPG in an 80 mile trip. Here are the specs:
Series hybrids, with electric motors being the final drive have the advantage of no transmission, but are not as efficient as parallel in the use of fuel. Series make sense if they can be plugged in often, have short recharge times, and use the internal combustion as a back up. Again. if the battery tech. is there, the Volt makes sense. I like the diesel back up in series as it’s not handicapped by it’s limited operating range…like the diesel electric locomotive (series) that was developed to eliminate the need for a tranny…
It’s sad when the auto industry doles technology out like candy to a child that refuses to finish his meal. It’s been there for quite a while. If GM were MORE forth comming with the Volt etc., they would be out selling Toyota. To me it seems as though they spend more money on bean counters instead of engineers. GM has produced and tested great technology in the past but has given in to the immediate profit mentality, ie. buying Honda motors for their Saturn SUV’s, and Prius first generation hybrid technology, when they are perfectly capable of surpassing Japanese engineering. GM had hybrid technology ready to roll years before Toyota, but made a marketing decision not to use it…bring on cars like the Vega instead…
The Volt technology is the “easy” way out and old tech. Using an internal comb. engine to generate electricity for a battery to electric motor (series) is much lower tech than parallel hybrids which must balance output as needed through a transmission between two power sources. Fuel comsumption over ranges greater than battery power can supply is supperior in parallel. That’s why a prug in Prius will still be more practical and efficient than a Volt for anything but sub 40 mile commutes. Then it’s a wash as a plug in Prius (due shortly) has the same range, with better economy after 40 miles.
To me it seems as though they spend more money on bean counters instead of engineers. GM has produced and tested great technology in the past but has given in to the immediate profit mentality, ie. buying Honda motors for their Saturn SUV’s, and Prius first generation hybrid technology, when they are perfectly capable of surpassing Japanese engineering. GM had hybrid technology ready to roll years before Toyota, but made a marketing decision not to use it…bring on cars like the Vega instead…
That’s been my gripe with GM for the past 20 years. They have the technology and knowhow to produce GREAT vehicles…They’ve proven that. But they want to make HIGH profits instead…quality be dammed.
Electrics suffer from two weaknesses. The technology hasn’t existed yet to store sufficient power for reasonable range while still being able to replenish (recharge) in a reasonably convenient timeframe, and the infrastructure to make electrics practical for daily use doesn’t exist. I predict that when the first problem is solved the infrastructure will develop almost instantly.
In short, when you can drive an electric for 50 miles on the highway and then recharge while having a cup of coffee, then gas stations will have metered recharging stations.
I think someone posted this before, but I remember seeing someone post that Jay Leno has an electric vehicle from like 100 years ago and makes the comment that his 100 y/o electric vehicle has about the same range as a brand new electric vehicle today.
That was yours truely. That was from a fairly extensive article in Pop. Sci. I kept touting the movie “Who killed the electric car” and though the range was limited for the GM EV-1, it was well received by those who leased them and a definite market existed for the average commuter. A range of 100 miles for an electric INCREASES in slow traffic as it’s the higher speeds that drain a battery. The electric motor has never been the problem…The EV-1’s are (err were) outstanding vehicles til GM took them out of circulation for other reasons. They are practically maintenance free (auto comp. make much of their profits in maintenance) and GM could not recover their developemnt cost…just like Dish/Direct TV practically “give” satillite recievers away to hook you into a monthly charge. It was a great car with great tech. from GM. To get an electric car we’ll just have to wait till Apple or microsoft makes the leap to transportation industry.
You got it…the Teslar gets it’s outstanding performance from the nearly 7000 computer batteries stuffed behind the seat. Steve Jobs has got to be thinking about your ICar.