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Title: Braking recharge will give GM Chev Volt 230 MPG
Source: RTT News
URL Source: http://www.rttnews.com/ArticleView.aspx?1026312
Published: Aug 12, 2009
Author: Staff
Post Date: 2009-08-12 06:33:09 by Tatarewicz
Keywords: GM Volt, 230 mpg
Views: 162
Comments: 9

GM's Chev Volt extended range electric vehicle is expected to get a fuel economy rating of 230 miles/gallon from the EPA, largely as a result of "charge-while-braking" in city driving. The Volt's range on a single charge will be 40 miles but it will be able to extend the range to more than 300 miles with "flex fuel-power engine-generator." Combined city and highway driving will more likely be 124 mpg.

Toyata Prius is rated at 51 mpg and Ford's Fusion hybrid at 41.

The Chev Volt is to go on sale next year, selling for approximately $40,000.

Click for Full Text!

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#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)

Well it's a damned shame that they took government money, because otherwise I'd consider buying this.

Not now though. To hell with them.

SonOfLiberty  posted on  2009-08-12   7:29:54 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

This is bullshitting the gas mileage numbers. It assumes you start with a fully charged battery and only drive 60 or so miles.

Give us the gas mileage starting with an empty battery.

Rhino369  posted on  2009-08-12   9:05:39 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

Give us the gas mileage starting with an empty battery.

A better method would be to give BTUs/mile in electric mode and gas mode.

1 kiloWatt=3,414Btu
1 gal gasoline=~112,000Btu

Electric motors are typically about eight times more efficient than internal combustion engines in an automotive application.

Esso  posted on  2009-08-12   9:35:52 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

Electric motors are typically about eight times more efficient than internal combustion engines in an automotive application.

But the volt will be using a gas generator which will lose much of that gained efficiency.

I really want to buy a Volt, I'm an electrical engineer and the electric powertrain is sexy. If its around 35K and or down I'll probably get one.

>1 kiloWatt=3,414Btu >1 gal gasoline=~112,000Btu

Kilowatts per mile would be how I'd want it.

Rhino369  posted on  2009-08-12   9:41:16 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

I'm going to wait until China starts selling their pure electrics in this country. Prices are supposed to start at <$15,000. Gas/electric hybrids are an expensive, overly complicated clusterf**k.

GM could've put their EV1 powertrain in any of their vehicles, but NOBODY wants to allow the people to have maintenance- free, cheap to own/operate vehicles. Not the goob, not the oil companies, not the automakers, not the dealers.

Esso  posted on  2009-08-12   10:01:42 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

I'm going to wait until China starts selling their pure electrics in this country. Prices are supposed to start at <$15,000. Gas/electric hybrids are an expensive, overly complicated clusterf**k.

I wouldn't drive a Chinese car, knowing their value on quality control and human lives.

But I agree that most gas electric hybrids are an overly complicated clusterfuck, but the Volt is different.

Instead of having a messy dual electric mechanical powertrain, it has one electric powertrain, and an onboard electric generator. This basically is an updated EV1, with its own gas generator. The motor will last a long time with almost no maintenance, and the generator should be easily maintained. The only problem is battery maintenance.

The volt will be an intermediate between gas and electric vehicles. Making a jump between them isn't practical, but the volt hopefully will be.

Rhino369  posted on  2009-08-12   10:18:09 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

What I'd really like to have is an electric lawn tractor like the GE ElekTrac from the 70s, but with upgraded tech. I'd build one, but I've got too many other projects going on.

Esso  posted on  2009-08-12   10:28:04 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

Hard to sell cars with facts alone. Need gimmicks to fool people into buying. Does illustrate the enormous waste of energy taking place in urban stop-and-go traffic and the need to expedite traffic flow by putting bureaucrats to work on building interchanges rather than hamstringing everyone in red tape.

Tatarewicz  posted on  2009-08-12   21:53:24 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

online.wsj.com/

Wall Street Journal Article

* AUGUST 12, 2009, 4:50 A.M. ET

GM Hopes Volt Juices Its Future

By SHARON TERLEP

General Motors Co., outlining a raft of new vehicles designed to reinvigorate its lineup, said its much-awaited Chevrolet Volt is expected to get 230 miles per gallon in city driving.

GM says its new Chevy Volt plug-in electric sedan could get as much as 230 miles per gallon in the city. MarketWatch's Shawn Langlois reports GM is hoping the Volt will help it stem market-share declines and bring it back to profitability.

The Volt is at the forefront of GM's efforts to win back lost U.S. market share with 25 product launches by 2011.

At 230 mpg, the Volt would dwarf the fuel economy of any mass-market vehicle on sale today, including Toyota Motor Corp.'s Prius hybrid, which is rated at 51 mpg in city driving. It also could deliver a big boost to GM's efforts to cultivate a green image, a key element of the company's restructuring.

The Volt is set for U.S. launch late next year as a 2011 model. The mileage expectation reflects new methodology for electric and plug-in hybrid cars being finalized by the Environmental Protection Agency that factors in electricity used to try to reach a miles-per-gallon equivalent. The intent is to allow consumers to measure the vehicles against traditional gasoline-powered ones.

The EPA said it hasn't tested the Volt.

The Volt is powered by a lithium-ion battery pack, with a range of about 40 miles, that can be recharged through a traditional power outlet. For longer drives, a small gasoline engine takes over, powering a generator that creates electricity to run the car's motors. The Volt's expected total range on one tank of gas is more than 300 miles, GM said.

Frederick "Fritz" Henderson, GM's chief executive, said at a media event that owners who charge the Volt daily could go days without the gas engine firing up. The U.S. Transportation Department says 80% of Americans commute less than 40 miles a day.

Mr. Henderson added he is confident the Volt's combined city and highway mileage -- the figure commonly used to gauge efficiency -- will be in the triple digits. "Having a car that gets triple-digit fuel economy can and will be a game-changer for us," he said.

GM's mileage estimate for the Volt promises to start a battle among auto makers as they rush to deliver electric cars, a segment that some executives believe could account for 10% of sales within four years.

Nissan Motor Co. plans to launch next year the Leaf, a plug-in hatchback. On Tuesday it responded to the Volt news with a reminder that the Leaf would get a 367-mpg rating under the EPA draft guidelines. But unlike the Volt, the all-electric Leaf will need to be recharged when its battery expires after about 100 miles.

Mr. Henderson acknowledged the Volt's high price, expected at around $40,000, and lack of available public recharging stations are potential challenges. Even with an expected $7,500 tax credit the Volt will cost substantially more than the $22,000 Prius. Charging the batteries should cost owners about 88 cents on average, GM said.

The Volt will be unprofitable for GM at launch because of the high costs of its development and the batteries. GM is counting on economies of scale to make the vehicle profitable eventually.

The new GM board has said it wants management to accelerate product launches. Coming models include high-end compact cars for Buick and Cadillac, a convertible version of the Chevrolet Camaro and a revamped Chevrolet Aveo subcompact.

Mr. Henderson said GM remains on track to have positive net cash flow next year and post a net profit by 2011. He also said it intends to increase production as the "cash for clunkers" rebates boost demand for its vehicles.

Write to Sharon Terlep at sharon.terlep@dowjones.com

Printed in The Wall Street Journal, page B1

TwentyTwelve  posted on  2009-08-12   22:44:05 ET  Reply   Trace   Private Reply  

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