Article

2008-07-23 Science & Technology

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Bobby 2008-07-23 06:07|| || Front Page|| [4 views ] Top

#1 Do hybrids plug in, or are we talking about electric cars?
Electric for the first 20 miles or so then hybrid.

Posted by .5MT 2008-07-23 10:13|| 2008-07-23 10:13|| Front Page Top

#2 I think they are talking about plug-in hybrids Bobby. You charge the batteries before you leave the house, if your trip is no more than 40 to 125 miles (depending on the model of car) you wont use any gas at all. The gasoline generator will kick on and recharge your battery pack at 30% charge. All told, Chevy Volt should get 540 miles to the gallon on a tank of gas starting with a full charge.
To charge the vehicle on off peak rates you need a special meter from the electric company that keeps track of peak/off peak charging. Where I live, it would cost about 45 cents a day to charge the Chevy Volt.
Another thing to keep in mind is range, they claim it has a range of 45 miles on the batteries. That is somewhat misleading because they are quoting that as the guaranteed range after 100,000 miles on the battery pack. I don't know if its true, but some people on the Volt forum claim the new range is around 125 miles for a fresh battery pack.(?)
The car will fully charge in 3 hours, but like you mentioned, it could trickle charge for 8-10 hours and put a lot less strain on the grid. I wouldn't be a bit surprised to see a selectable charging time, 3 hours if you are in a hurry, or 8 if you have all night to let it charge.
There is a wait list for the volt with over 50,000 people on it already, to be released in late 2010.

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-07-23 10:34|| 2008-07-23 10:34|| Front Page Top

#3 Now; what will be the solution to build and maintain the roads when these cars are not paying into the present gas tax system? A tax on the power derived from these charging stations? That ought to PO those folks who don't think they should pay for those nasty highway workers because their car is green. Similar to the bicycle riders who think they should not pay for those bike lanes they have been using.

Posted by tipover 2008-07-23 12:34|| 2008-07-23 12:34|| Front Page Top

#4 Spend less money on useless, stupid bullshit.

Hows that for a transportation policy?

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-07-23 16:51|| 2008-07-23 16:51|| Front Page Top

#5
Another thing to keep in mind is range, they claim it has a range of 45 miles on the batteries. That is somewhat misleading because they are quoting that as the guaranteed range after 100,000 miles on the battery pack. I don't know if its true, but some people on the Volt forum claim the new range is around 125 miles for a fresh battery pack.(?

That's best case range just driving. How long will it last on a cold, rainy night, running the lights, defroster, wipers while listening to the radio?

Posted by Steve 2008-07-23 19:45|| 2008-07-23 19:45|| Front Page Top

#6 the new range is around 125 miles for a fresh battery pack.

No.

Posted by .5MT 2008-07-23 20:30|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2008-07-23 20:30|| Front Page Top

#7 The claim may be for 125 mpg - running 40 miles on the initial charge and then a good mpg run for the remainder. A 1.1 litre diesel at constant rpm can do wonders for mileage.

Posted by .5MT 2008-07-23 20:32|| www.cybernations.net]">[www.cybernations.net] 2008-07-23 20:32|| Front Page Top

#8 I'm not saying I guarantee that, beta testers are reporting it. I have no way to know if it is true or not.

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-07-23 20:36|| 2008-07-23 20:36|| Front Page Top

#9 Keep in mind, they are being tested in Southern CA most likely. Warm and flat makes for a lot of miles out of a battery pack.

Posted by bigjim-ky 2008-07-23 20:39|| 2008-07-23 20:39|| Front Page Top

#10 ION TOPIX > GLOBAL WARMING? GEOPHYSICAL WEAPONS/SYSTEMS, EMP BOMBS ARE A GREATER THREAT; + EMERGY-BASED NEW TECHNOLOGIES WILL SHAPE FUTURE US, WORLD.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2008-07-23 23:49|| 2008-07-23 23:49|| Front Page Top

23:56 KBK
23:55 JosephMendiola
23:49 JosephMendiola
23:25 badanov
23:19 JosephMendiola
23:14 trailing wife
23:14 Abdominal Snowman
23:13 JosephMendiola
23:10 JosephMendiola
23:06 JosephMendiola
22:59 Yosemite Sam
22:56 Lone Ranger
22:56 mhw
22:55 JosephMendiola
22:23 Pappy
22:21 xbalanke
22:17 trailing wife
22:16 xbalanke
22:13 Pappy
22:12 3dc
22:11 trailing wife
22:09 Abdominal Snowman
22:09 xbalanke
22:07 Old Patriot