brick
09-30-2007, 05:49 PM
Volt is about the size of a Cobalt (http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-09-30-gm-volt_N.htm?csp=34)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Volt_as_an_FCV.jpg James R. Healy - USA Today - September 30th, 2007
General Motors plans to manufacture the Chevrolet Volt electric car in 2010 and will produce a Chevy version of its full-size crossover SUVs in 2011, according to a summary of the automaker's new contract with the United Auto Workers.
It will also add wagon and coupe versions of the newly redesigned Cadillac CTS sports sedan in 2009.
The rare peek at GM's product plans is part of the four-year labor agreement between GM and the UAW.
Automakers almost never discuss models more than a year or two away. They fear that rivals could ruin a new vehicle's launch by offering big discounts on competing vehicles to drain the pool of potential buyers. And they worry that a competitor who knows what's coming could make last-minute changes to a model it is developing to make it a tougher rival.[Read more] (http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2007-09-30-gm-volt_N.htm?csp=34)
-mr. bill
09-30-2007, 06:04 PM
I've never known an auto company to lie to a union.
[If your CSL, Check Sarcasm Light, isn't illuminated, check the bulb, fuse, or wire connections.]
-mr. bill
GripperDon
10-01-2007, 12:08 AM
I still think that if i driva a total of 120 miles and buy a gallon of gas to me it's 120 Miles per gallon bought or 120mpg. It is just that the gallon was spread over 120 miles. Now if there was a plug in involved them it is 120 mils per gallon bought and the gallon cost the pump price plus the plue in cost of the electricity.
Please help me agree with your terminology.
brick
10-01-2007, 05:58 AM
Now if there was a plug in involved them it is 120 mils per gallon bought and the gallon cost the pump price plus the plue in cost of the electricity.
Please help me agree with your terminology.
Although your method works very well for keeping track of your cost per mile, I'm more concerned with straight energy consumed by the vehicle. Obviously if there isn't a plug and the energy in the battery comes from gasoline then it really is 120mpg. But if you do plug in you can't describe your efficiency just by saying "120mpg" because that only takes into account part of the energy used. It could be 100 gasoline miles and 20 electric miles, 20 gasoline miles and 100 electric miles, and energy consumption changes with that mix. One option for a simple MPG-like number would be to find a conversion for miles per "gallon gasoline equivalent" which means you're measuring the electric energy in terms of gallons of gasoline (which isn't simple and can be done multiple ways). I don't know what the best solution is, only that a more complete description is needed.
I think they don't have a a choice BUT to release information about their car so people will stay interested or think that they haven't been working on it at all. Unfortunate I can see many people being disappointed that it wasn't as huge as they portrayed it. I knew it would be the size of a Cobalt, but they always showed the huge boat size model with 20 inch rims to get people hooked.
I will be glad when they finally bring it out, but I have a feeling many will disappointed.
Right Lane Cruiser
10-01-2007, 08:12 AM
IF they bring it out... on time and for a reasonable <$30K price I'll be very interested. Smaller is better for me so Cobalt sized is just fine.
GM seems serious about this and I really hope they make good on it -- but (as others here) I remain skeptical until actual product hits the showroom.
Now the question is... will my current car last for another 3.5 years so I can start choosing from all the wonderful alternatives that appear set to hit the stage at that time? :D
GripperDon
10-01-2007, 03:12 PM
I have a new Hybrid Altima, so I am waiting for an all electric or electric assisted by an ICE that I can Afford, Maybe the Volt is it. In the meantime, I placed a deposit on the $25,000 Aptiva it's refundable. It has a 120 range getting the equavalent of 220mpg. This is figured by the cost of the electricity converted to the cost of how mush gasolen would be required to drive the 120miles. Gas price set at $2.85 and efficiency at 20mpg for the ICE. That means 6 Gallons of gas costing a total of $17dollars vs the electrical cost to charge the batteries at $1.54, which is the ratio od 20mpg/220mpg times the $17. Here is a link http://aptera.com/ It is a flash site so be forwarned. It works great for me but maybe not for you.