Comments on: Enter Mitsubishi to the Plug-in Race: i MiEV Sport http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 09:55:54 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: fred http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-125937 fred Mon, 13 Jul 2009 21:13:27 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-125937 Seeing as I will never be able to buy an Aptera, this iMiev will be my other choice if the Volt is way to expensive. My previous experience with a mitsubishi car left me impressed with it's durability and reliability. In wheel motors is the way to go. I need 44 mile range so it will work for me. Seeing as I will never be able to buy an Aptera, this iMiev will be my other choice if the Volt is way to expensive. My previous experience with a mitsubishi car left me impressed with it’s durability and reliability. In wheel motors is the way to go. I need 44 mile range so it will work for me.

]]> By: Don http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6827 Don Sat, 08 Sep 2007 22:29:35 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6827 Thanks for the figures. Thanks for the figures.

]]> By: Dave G http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6777 Dave G Sat, 08 Sep 2007 12:40:05 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6777 Don - For the solar panel, ballpark around 200 watts for a car roof, so 8 hours would get you 1.6 kwh. We know 40 miles is 8 kwh, so a solar panel would get you around 5 miles down the road after parking on a sunny summer day, assuming you don’t use the air conditioner. Thin film solar panels may become cheap to build. Prototypes have efficiency up to 20% (same as polycrystalline silicon). Don – For the solar panel, ballpark around 200 watts for a car roof, so 8 hours would get you 1.6 kwh. We know 40 miles is 8 kwh, so a solar panel would get you around 5 miles down the road after parking on a sunny summer day, assuming you don’t use the air conditioner.

Thin film solar panels may become cheap to build. Prototypes have efficiency up to 20% (same as polycrystalline silicon).

]]> By: Mike G. http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6766 Mike G. Sat, 08 Sep 2007 09:34:18 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6766 Screwed up, about 2 weeks I should have said. Screwed up, about 2 weeks I should have said.

]]> By: Mike G. http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6765 Mike G. Sat, 08 Sep 2007 09:33:25 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6765 I think it takes about a two for a solar panels to charge the volts battery one time assuming no clouds. Pretty much pointless until they panels are much cheaper. I think it takes about a two for a solar panels to charge the volts battery one time assuming no clouds. Pretty much pointless until they panels are much cheaper.

]]> By: Don http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6692 Don Fri, 07 Sep 2007 23:49:20 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6692 Any idea how much charge a rooftop panel can give over 8 hrs in typical weather conditions for say the MidWest? Thing is that it may not really be so goofy. Park in the lot in a sunny spot and by end of work day it may be possible that your 10 to 20 miles to work is replenished. We're looking for 2 or so mWh's is all. Then only half of your power is grid derived and that much less carbon emission. Problem is that the solar panel cannot be a cost-effective way to generate that power. Solar is still expensive compared to typical grid sources even when giving the panels a 30 year amortization. A car has significantly less than that of usable life. Agreed that a moderate range BEV is second choice to the functionality of a BEV with range extender (PHEV) but IF the price reflected that decreased functionality I'd still consider it. Thing is that these vehicles with less functionality seem to cost more, not less. Look for example at this fun little thing http://www.flytheroad.com/ and notice that the all electric model is $5K more than the hybrid version that gets 3X the range without a fill-up (and forever with) and goes 33% faster. (Cool vehicle but priced too high to just seat two, and short of details on the site, like how far battery capacity only) Any idea how much charge a rooftop panel can give over 8 hrs in typical weather conditions for say the MidWest?

Thing is that it may not really be so goofy. Park in the lot in a sunny spot and by end of work day it may be possible that your 10 to 20 miles to work is replenished. We’re looking for 2 or so mWh’s is all. Then only half of your power is grid derived and that much less carbon emission.

Problem is that the solar panel cannot be a cost-effective way to generate that power. Solar is still expensive compared to typical grid sources even when giving the panels a 30 year amortization. A car has significantly less than that of usable life.

Agreed that a moderate range BEV is second choice to the functionality of a BEV with range extender (PHEV) but IF the price reflected that decreased functionality I’d still consider it. Thing is that these vehicles with less functionality seem to cost more, not less.

Look for example at this fun little thing http://www.flytheroad.com/ and notice that the all electric model is $5K more than the hybrid version that gets 3X the range without a fill-up (and forever with) and goes 33% faster. (Cool vehicle but priced too high to just seat two, and short of details on the site, like how far battery capacity only)

]]> By: Dan http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6670 Dan Fri, 07 Sep 2007 21:32:08 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6670 Thanks for the updates on other PHEVs. Thanks for the updates on other PHEVs.

]]> By: kent beuchert http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6665 kent beuchert Fri, 07 Sep 2007 20:50:28 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6665 This is the same car that Mitsubishi introduced over a year ago, then realized how much it would cost to develop, redesigned it to have a single, inexpensive non-inwheel motor, and then dropped the whole thing. Now they've popped back up again. The idea of a solar panel for forward propulsion is totally ludicrous. To run a fan to cool the interior, perhaps, but those you can buy for $10. This is the same car that Mitsubishi introduced over a year ago, then realized how much it would cost to develop, redesigned it to have a single, inexpensive
non-inwheel motor, and then dropped the whole thing. Now they’ve popped back up again. The idea of a solar panel for forward propulsion is totally ludicrous. To run a fan to cool the interior, perhaps, but those you can buy for $10.

]]> By: George K http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6651 George K Fri, 07 Sep 2007 19:10:51 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6651 Well, I guess you could call the solar panel, a “Range extender”. If you run out of gas, you could always sit for 8 hours in the sun and get that xtra 3 miles. May be just enough??! I believe that, where we are now with batteries, a PHEV is the most practical. But, I’m still very glad to see Mitsubishi throw their hat in the ring. For some life styles, this could be a great way to jump into EV technology, as long as it isn’t too pricey. Oh, yeah. I just remembered, we can’t buy a PHEV yet either! Well, I guess you could call the solar panel, a “Range extender”. If you run out of gas, you could always sit for 8 hours in the sun and get that xtra 3 miles. May be just enough??!

I believe that, where we are now with batteries, a PHEV is the most practical. But, I’m still very glad to see Mitsubishi throw their hat in the ring. For some life styles, this could be a great way to jump into EV technology, as long as it isn’t too pricey.

Oh, yeah. I just remembered, we can’t buy a PHEV yet either!

]]> By: Matt986 http://gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6645 Matt986 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 18:53:15 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/09/07/enter-mitsubishi-to-the-plug-in-race-i-miev-sport/#comment-6645 I wouldn't yawn so much if they came out with something like that for $10-15k. That would be a great commuter, and would allow you to have a decent $15k gas powered car for longer range driving. I wouldn’t yawn so much if they came out with something like that for $10-15k. That would be a great commuter, and would allow you to have a decent $15k gas powered car for longer range driving.

]]>