chrisser
07-11-2008, 05:58 AM
http://www.redorbit.com/news/technology/1468229/gm_pushes_up_production_of_volt_electric_car/index.html
GM has been working on a series hybrid called the Volt. Production has been pushed up a year and it may be available in September.
IMHO, this is a pretty significant machine.
Its main power is an electric motor drivetrain, with a small battery pack. The battery pack itself is capable of about 40 mile range, which is enough for most people to get back and forth to work. It can be recharged overnight at home in about 6.5 hours.
On top of that, there is a small gasoline engine (Ecotec). The engine is attached to a generator (alternator) that can both recharge the batteries, and drive the electric motor. Supposedly, running on the gas engine, it gets 50mpg. Range is about 400miles on a tank of gasoline.
It seats 4 and has quite an impressive amount of cargo area.
Some enthusiast sites are showing that GM wants to price it around $30k, but some are saying initially it will be closer to $40k. At least one person I've talked to who is an investor said GM is telling them the MSRP will be $23k. In any event, for most people, this will be the ideal general purpose car that has the flexibility of being all electric or all gas or some combination, with better mileage than just about every vehicle out there.
And, love it or hate it, the design doesn't resemble the "lump of melting clay" school that seems to dominate some other manufacturers designs.
IMHO, the really great part is that this platform offers GM a huge amount of flexibility. GM already produces both LNG and ethanol vehicles for other markets. LPG is no biggie. The gasoline Ecotec could be replaced relatively easily with LNG, LPG, ethanol Ecotec or the engine could be replaced with a fuel cell or diesel engine. The rest of the drivetrain and vehicle would remain largely intact. As battery technology improves, the batteries could presumably be upgraded.
Altogether, its a pretty impressive use of available technology, and if they keep the price realistic, I don't think they'll be able to produce enough to satisfy demand.
GM has been working on a series hybrid called the Volt. Production has been pushed up a year and it may be available in September.
IMHO, this is a pretty significant machine.
Its main power is an electric motor drivetrain, with a small battery pack. The battery pack itself is capable of about 40 mile range, which is enough for most people to get back and forth to work. It can be recharged overnight at home in about 6.5 hours.
On top of that, there is a small gasoline engine (Ecotec). The engine is attached to a generator (alternator) that can both recharge the batteries, and drive the electric motor. Supposedly, running on the gas engine, it gets 50mpg. Range is about 400miles on a tank of gasoline.
It seats 4 and has quite an impressive amount of cargo area.
Some enthusiast sites are showing that GM wants to price it around $30k, but some are saying initially it will be closer to $40k. At least one person I've talked to who is an investor said GM is telling them the MSRP will be $23k. In any event, for most people, this will be the ideal general purpose car that has the flexibility of being all electric or all gas or some combination, with better mileage than just about every vehicle out there.
And, love it or hate it, the design doesn't resemble the "lump of melting clay" school that seems to dominate some other manufacturers designs.
IMHO, the really great part is that this platform offers GM a huge amount of flexibility. GM already produces both LNG and ethanol vehicles for other markets. LPG is no biggie. The gasoline Ecotec could be replaced relatively easily with LNG, LPG, ethanol Ecotec or the engine could be replaced with a fuel cell or diesel engine. The rest of the drivetrain and vehicle would remain largely intact. As battery technology improves, the batteries could presumably be upgraded.
Altogether, its a pretty impressive use of available technology, and if they keep the price realistic, I don't think they'll be able to produce enough to satisfy demand.