bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

*IF* you're driving is substantially more than 40 miles before a charge.

Again, the Volt won't be for everyone.

The gas engine is a backup generator, that's it. It's not a car to be driven LOOONG distances.

I don't know why this is so hard to understand.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

Them's fighting words

And ffpower, the mods have done a fairly good job of merging similar threads. Just look at the huge 09 TL thread

LexFather

We do, we merge tons of threads. Both threads are about the Volt and I just posted more news on the Volt here instead of starting another thread.

If you have any additional issues, please PM me or another member of the mod team. Thanks

DaveGS4

iTrader: (2)

You mean like this ?
Lexus
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Hyundai
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Nissan
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Ferrari
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
BMW
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Bently
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Toyota
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Lotus
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Chevy
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Aston Martin
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Audi
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Ford
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged
Mercedes
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...ghlight=merged

I'm sure I missed some major makes and models (there were 5+ pages of merged threads JUST LIKE THIS ONE) but I assure you they are out there....

It's SOP. Next time if you have a comment about a moderator's actions, please use private message to get clarification.

Let's get this back on topic of the Volt please. Thanks

UberNoob

^^ haha pure pwnage

i forgot the exact statistics but i think its around 80~90% of america drives less than 40 miles each day in their commute

so the volt will make sense for A LOT of people regardless what the gas engine is for...

btw has GM decided to go with A123 for battery supplier?

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

If (when) gas gets even more expensive, the Volt will make even more sense.

Allen K

iTrader: (4)

I have to admit I am a bit worried about what would happen if the Volt got Prius popular and when the Prius goes plug-in as well. In CA, they're constantly harping on us to conserve energy and what not and seeing as the elec cars will probably take off here quickly, I'm not sure if our old dilapidated energy grid can take the additional strain. How is the grid in other states?

Mr Johnson

Not that I'm aware of but I don't think they really have any other good alternatives.

So if everyone drives < 40 miles what happens to the gas in the tank? Should I buy stock in Gold Eagle (STA-BIL)

Koma

iTrader: (3)

Mike (1Sick) posted an article that says that they haven't decided upon a supplier of batteries yet.

I think the Volt is a great idea for commuters (a large amount of people) but it is still pricey to recoup the costs it took to buy the 40k car. In reality you're not saving that much money in terms of money though versus gas (yet, if gas prices increase than yes but that can be said about electricity going up as well). People forget that just because you're running electricity instead of gas it still costs money, unless you can plug in at work and make work pay for your traveling.

Threxx

This thread has gotten too big and I haven't been on here enough to follow all of the discussion but to whoever is freaking out about it "not recharging the batteries with the generator"... this is not a design flaw. It would be a design flaw if it DID. Those batteries are meant to be charged as cheaply as possible... by a wall outlet... not the generator. The generator will run while the car is driving but only enough to maintain the base line charge and keep the car moving... no more, as to charge any more would waste your money!

It is though... it still uses regenerative braking just like any other hybrid, plus will have an optional solar roof.

Granted it has a lot more batteries than would be needed if ALL it did was regenerative braking and that will add some weight but on the flip side of the equation if you're surpassing the 40 mile mark in one day there's a pretty decent chance you're doing a lot of highway driving anyway, and highway driving (short of a traffic jam) is barely affected at all by weight.

-J-P-L-

Thing is, it can be driven long distances if necessary. As long as there's gas in the tank, you'll be cruising.

But yes, if you're someone who drives long distances all the time, then you're better off in a conventional hybrid like the Prius.

Threxx

Yep.

Though on the 'long distances all the time' part... I'd tend to say you're better off not bothering with a hybrid at all. Hybrids really only benefit when you're using your brakes which isn't typically happening on highway drives.

SLegacy99

Actually thats not really true. You still coast on highway drives which also recharges the battery. Not to mention, nasty stop and go traffic in construction zones or accidents is where hybrids really shine. If you keep your eye on the battery charge, which I do too much, you'll note that even while doing 75 MPH your charge won't go below 3 bars. Even uphill. Toyota's hybrid synergy drive is good at what it does.


From our experience, we see 26-31 MPG on our regular trips from PA to South Carolina. Compare that to the 19-21 we saw in our RX300.

Threxx

I've never heard of a hybrid charging from coasting. Do you have any sort of reference or link talking about this? If it IS charging while coasting then by the laws of physics it's creating more drag on the drivetrain, slowing you down more than if you were coasting without recharging.

Yes there's construction and traffic jams... that's why I said 'typically isn't happening'.


19-21 is ridiculous for an RX300. I've had them as loaners and got them to run in the mid-high 20s range in suburban driving just by coasting to stops and accelerating easy. Even our 4runner (more drag, bigger, heavier, bigger motor) gets 22-23.

-J-P-L-

Well, with a Toyota Prius, you can drive all day on the highway and it's EPA rated at 45 mpg. So while you get an EPA estimated 48 in the city, the slightly lower highway mileage is still superior to any other car available (non-diesel) except for the Civic Hybrid which matches it.