Comments on: Volt Battery Packs Ready By Year End

By: H. Hulseman

H. Hulseman — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:39:25 +0000

The Toyota Prius has limitations as an EV. First, the electric drive was not designed to provide all the torque. The ICE is supposed to help under hard acceleration. If the ICE is disabled the acceleration will be sub standard.

Also, the Prius can only operate as an EV up to 42mph. There is a component that will be damaged if the ICE isn’t spinning do to the speed difference of the shafts.

Rumor has it that the Prius3 will be able to operate as an EV up to 60mph.

Extended EV range of the Prius will improve gas mileage but it is a hybrid and will still burn some fuel under certain circumstances during most drives.

By: Greg E

Greg E — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 14:57:03 +0000

I think GM would be smart is offering 3 battery options.

1 option 30 miles ( Smaller Battery but cost less)

2 option 50 miles ( Larger Battery Cost more)

3 option 100 miles ( Most expesive battery)

This way let the consumer decide how far they can go on electic charge. This way they can bring it out sooner. By offering a much larger range but charging the customer for it will allow the car to market to all segments.

The larger battery model could also have a more powerfull electric motor for faster 0-60 times.

GREG

By: Drake

Drake — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:42:42 +0000

I agree with OptimisticMF too- gas prices will only continue to go up. Here are a *few* of the reason I see:

1) Massive increases in demand for oil (specifically from India & China).

2) Terrorism – just imagine if those terrorists (?) a few months back HAD actually hit that Saudi refinery.

3) Aging oil infrastructure- old refineries are the main concern here. There is a refinery near my town that has gone down a number of time over the past year.

4) Iraq. Every time there is a flair up there prices go up a bit.

5) Iran. Nuff said..

6) Venezuela.

7) Riots in oil-producing African countries.

I am sure there are more. Thank goodness for GM (did I just say that?) and Toyota.

By: Matt986

Matt986 — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 03:03:00 +0000

Hoang, mass production is a very good way to get the cost down!

I think if the Prius gets a battery unit with a good enough range at a good price, the unit for the Volt couldn’t cost much more, so it’s better for the Volt if the Prius is successful.

I really do hope you’re right, a $2000-ish battery unit would be excellent. It will bring the cost of the Volt down to very affordable levels.

By: Hoang

Hoang — Wed, 08 Aug 2007 00:23:15 +0000

Matt986,

40 miles/10k battery is about right. I quote from Hymotion’s FAQ:

“While driving range will depend greatly on driving style and road conditions, under optimal conditions the L5 module will provide an all-electric equivalent range of approximately 30 miles on the Toyota Prius. Heavy use of air conditioning can shorten this range.”

Also the price for 1000-car fleet is $6500:

http://www.soultek.com/clean_energy/hybrid_cars/hymotion_plug_in_conversion_kit_announced_today.htm

“For a single system the cost is $9,500. For those interested in starting a Prius conversion operation or for fleets, the Hymotion system is $6500.00 for orders of 1000 or more”

What the price will be for 100000 car or 1 million car. Yes, I am talking about automakers. The point is who can put things together faster will win. I bet Toyota or any Japanese’s automaker will.

I think in a few more years, $2000 / 40 miles is very possible.