Chevy Volt to Get 230 mpg

Bryan · 08-11-2009, 08:03 AM

It's a bit dodgy from what I understand. But the Chevy Volt is to have an equivalent fuel efficiency of 230 mpg.

I wonder what having an all electric car that you have to plug in would do to your electric bill?

Chevrolet Volt's official fuel economy: 230 mpg - Aug. 11, 2009

Ax · 08-11-2009, 08:45 AM

Eh... once the Tesla Model S gets finished it'll put this to shame. It NEVER uses gas and can go roughly 300 miles per charge.

**bravesfan007** · 08-11-2009, 08:50 AM

I just clicked on this article the same time I logged onto CGR. I'm impressed by it, and it will quite possibly help GM recover and become a strong company once again. My main concern is also in the increase in the electric bill by having to plug up a car. I would imagine it takes a lot of electricity to charge a battery. Then, let's not even get into the fact that this is quite possibly doing nothing in making less pollution because you simply change from burning gasoline to using electricity which can be powered by coal.

I am intriqued though and will have to continue watching about the Volt to decide if it'd be worth it to consider it for my next car.

**MtlMom** · 08-11-2009, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan

I wonder what having an all electric car that you have to plug in would do to your electric bill?

From the article:
"The company said it estimates it will need 10 kilowatt hours for the recharge necessary to travel 40 miles. That should cost a total of about 40 cents at off-peak electricity rates in Detroit, Henderson said."

I'm very interested in hearing more about this. My daily commute is just over 50 miles.

**redbaron** · 08-11-2009, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ax

Eh... once the Tesla Model S gets finished it'll put this to shame. It NEVER uses gas and can go roughly 300 miles per charge.

with the downside of costing over three times as much for initial purchase, and a range that is NEVER over 300 miles. Sorry, but I like road trippin' and in a car that gets the kind of economy the volt gets (even when it's charging off the internal combustion engine) I'd be quite likely to take more.

Ax · 08-11-2009, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbaron

with the downside of costing over three times as much for initial purchase, and a range that is NEVER over 300 miles. Sorry, but I like road trippin' and in a car that gets the kind of economy the volt gets (even when it's charging off the internal combustion engine) I'd be quite likely to take more.

True, I've thought of this. Depending on how much the S ends up costing though, it might be cost efficient to rent a car for road trips, depending of course on how many, and how often you take them.

Then again, Tesla is just in it's infancy and from what they claim they're making improvements over the design every day. There is a very good chance that eventually a single charge will go over 1,000.

tlj009 · 08-11-2009, 10:01 AM

Quote:

From the article:
"The company said it estimates it will need 10 kilowatt hours for the recharge necessary to travel 40 miles. That should cost a total of about 40 cents at off-peak electricity rates in Detroit, Henderson said."

I'm very interested in hearing more about this. My daily commute is just over 50 miles.

Detroit must have very low rates. I would say more like $0.10/KWh. Which is still only $1.00/40 miles. Or better than 3 times as cost effective as some really efficient cars on the market today.

What causes me concern is whether or not the cars will last. I suspect that repair bills will be high for a little while until the technology really gets established. But even without the battery it gets 50 mpg which is good. Here are the specs. I don't expect performance to be very good from a 3 cylinder. And performance from the electric motor isn't much better. But what do you expect for the gas mileage.

Chevy Volt Specs | Chevrolet Volt Concept Car Specs

tlj009 · 08-11-2009, 10:03 AM

I just read my own post and realized that the specs call for "16 kWh (minimum)". I wonder if that covers 40 miles. And then I wonder why the guy in the article said 10 KWh.

The more that I read the specs, the more questions that I have. If the input is 16 KWh, and the continuous power output by the electric motor is 45 KW, then you will drain the battery in 21 minutes. Which means that if you were going 60 mph, you would only make 21 miles. That doesn't include accelerating so either the article misrepresents the car or I am looking at this wrong.

mulletman · 08-11-2009, 12:17 PM

My question is this. Are people interested in electric cars in order to save fuel costs? Or is it in an effort to be environmentally friendly? Because while it might just come close to being able to do the first, the second one isn't looking so good...

Meanwhile, the VW Polo diesel gets 75 mpg average, and 88 on the highway..

athanatos · 08-12-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

My question is this. Are people interested in electric cars in order to save fuel costs? Or is it in an effort to be environmentally friendly? Because while it might just come close to being able to do the first, the second one isn't looking so good...

Meanwhile, the VW Polo diesel gets 75 mpg average, and 88 on the highway..

People are, in the short-term and long term, self-interested to reduce costs.

People are philanthropic (or feafful) to be environmentally friendly.

I am thinking that when the rich people think it is a worthy investment, the premium prices will drop and we will see stations more and more commonly.

**Ridley's Own** · 08-12-2009, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbaron

with the downside of costing over three times as much for initial purchase, and a range that is NEVER over 300 miles. Sorry, but I like road trippin' and in a car that gets the kind of economy the volt gets (even when it's charging off the internal combustion engine) I'd be quite likely to take more.

My guess is that in a couple decades, pure internal combustion cars will be a bit like horseback riding. Something people do as a hobby, rather than a practical mode of transportation. Electric cars and the like are the every day thing to get to work, go to the store, that sort of thing. Things within the 300 mile range.

**scared2mosh** · 08-16-2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Phantom Mullet

My question is this. Are people interested in electric cars in order to save fuel costs? Or is it in an effort to be environmentally friendly? Because while it might just come close to being able to do the first, the second one isn't looking so good...

howso???

Quote:

Meanwhile, the VW Polo diesel gets 75 mpg average, and 88 on the highway..

Indeed... plus it has a good deal of torque from what I understand.

mulletman · 08-16-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scared2mosh

howso???

Currently..... when you look at the environmental impact of producing a car with the sort of battery a hybrid (or electric) car would come with.... you do more environmental damage than what building and operating a Land Rover Discovery would do...... Now, I'll have to look up the study that shows the actual facts... Top Gear mentioned it, but I haven't seen the story for myself as of yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scared2mosh

Indeed... plus it has a good deal of torque from what I understand.

Well, it's a diesel. And I'm fairly certain it has a turbo....

Demon_Hunter · 08-16-2009, 10:05 PM

I wonder if the DMV's of the various states will require people to receive specialized training in battery charging/maintenance when cars like this become the standard?

**MtlMom** · 08-16-2009, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Demon_Hunter

I wonder if the DMV's of the various states will require people to receive specialized training in battery charging/maintenance when cars like this become the standard?

They don't require any knowledge of pumping gas or emissions currently, so I kind of doubt it.

There are statistics to support anything you want to believe. Right now, so much is speculation, you really have to go with your gut as to what's best for the environment (impact of battery disposal vs. emissions of gasoline/diesel-powered engines) if that's important to you.