Comments on: Production Volt to Have Left and Right Charging Ports http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:46:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Joe http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-35737 Joe Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:47:14 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-35737 They are certain choices that GM has to make, which are not really choices. It is certain that the volt will be duel voltage. To start with,the regular 120v will be the one of choice. Two hundred forty volts is a better choice for many reasons. At the beginning though, 240v will not be the one of choice because of availability Also, thee cord you see used in the picture will have to be physically twice that size. What I saying are not hunches, physics and common sense dictates these these statements. They are certain choices that GM has to make, which are not really choices. It is certain that the volt will be duel voltage. To start with,the regular 120v will be the one of choice. Two hundred forty volts is a better choice for many reasons. At the beginning though, 240v will not be the one of choice because of availability Also, thee cord you see used in the picture will have to be physically twice that size. What I saying are not hunches, physics and common sense dictates these these statements.

]]> By: Joe http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-35728 Joe Sat, 05 Apr 2008 18:21:39 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-35728 Why should people get angry at GM for not divulging every little details of the Volt. If it were Toyota doing the same project, nobody would dare to complain and nobody would know anything. As a matter of fact, Toyota is working on such a project. For the complainers, why don't you all go on the Toyota WEB site and do your complaining there. GM, thanks for being so opened and telling us about the Volt years in advance. Why should people get angry at GM for not divulging every little details of the Volt. If it were Toyota doing the same project, nobody would dare to complain and nobody would know anything. As a matter of fact, Toyota is working on such a project. For the complainers, why don’t you all go on the Toyota WEB site and do your complaining there. GM, thanks for being so opened and telling us about the Volt years in advance.

]]> By: Luke http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-20162 Luke Mon, 17 Dec 2007 18:09:59 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-20162 wirenutjd@48, Not all solar systems work this way. A grid-tie system is cheaper since you don't need batteries and can provide the homeowner with a carbon-neutral house (or other environmental benefits) -- so they're quite popular. However, if you you want to shell out the cash for a few dozen lead-acid batteries, then an off-grid solar system may what you're looking for. Google for "off-grid solar" for more information. As with all of this kind of thing, one must engineer a solution that matches your needs -- and your needs (including your need for independence) may be different than those of the average homeowner. Happy reading! -- P.S. I know not to feed the trolls, but it seems like this guy has probably only seen a couple of solar installations -- and didn't ask any questions. wirenutjd@48,

Not all solar systems work this way. A grid-tie system is cheaper since you don’t need batteries and can provide the homeowner with a carbon-neutral house (or other environmental benefits) — so they’re quite popular.

However, if you you want to shell out the cash for a few dozen lead-acid batteries, then an off-grid solar system may what you’re looking for.

Google for “off-grid solar” for more information. As with all of this kind of thing, one must engineer a solution that matches your needs — and your needs (including your need for independence) may be different than those of the average homeowner.

Happy reading!

–
P.S. I know not to feed the trolls, but it seems like this guy has probably only seen a couple of solar installations — and didn’t ask any questions.

]]> By: David http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-20087 David Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:01:32 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-20087 #20,Scott... I agree. Personally I'd like to see the plug in port located inside the glove box. #20,Scott… I agree. Personally I’d like to see the plug in port located inside the glove box.

]]> By: q http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-20016 q Mon, 17 Dec 2007 03:54:16 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/15/production-volt-to-have-left-and-right-charging-ports/#comment-20016 Well the initial sales of Volt will probably not be big enough to cause a sudden surge of consumption during night (or day). As already pointed out there is supposed to be a lot of space capacity at night. However, the next Toyota Prius is supposed to add charging capability (from current HEV to PHEV). Toyota already has a significant production capacity for Prius, so between Volt and Prius we have a decent sales volume. Not to mention the specialty smaller manufacturers of smaller/slower/limited range electric vehicles. Thus in a not too distant future there may be enough PHEVs and EVs to start causing issues on the grid. Still I don't think this is either GM's or Toyota's problem, just as shortage of oil is not their problem to solve (at least not directly). It will be first and foremost our own problem, the drivers'. The most practical solution will be installation of a combination of solar panels and/or wind turbines that will provide most of the power to charge our cars. The tricky bit is that solar panels generate the most power when car is not in the garage - day time. So there are problems to solve ... In any case, some power will have to come from local sources, close the the house/garage where our cars will consumer it. The grid just cannot handle millions of cars on top of all the existing power users. This will be our own task, hopefully with some government aid (incentives, tax credits, etc.) Well the initial sales of Volt will probably not be big enough to cause a sudden surge of consumption during night (or day). As already pointed out there is supposed to be a lot of space capacity at night.

However, the next Toyota Prius is supposed to add charging capability (from current HEV to PHEV). Toyota already has a significant production capacity for Prius, so between Volt and Prius we have a decent sales volume. Not to mention the specialty smaller manufacturers of smaller/slower/limited range electric vehicles.

Thus in a not too distant future there may be enough PHEVs and EVs to start causing issues on the grid.

Still I don’t think this is either GM’s or Toyota’s problem, just as shortage of oil is not their problem to solve (at least not directly). It will be first and foremost our own problem, the drivers’.

The most practical solution will be installation of a combination of solar panels and/or wind turbines that will provide most of the power to charge our cars. The tricky bit is that solar panels generate the most power when car is not in the garage – day time. So there are problems to solve …

In any case, some power will have to come from local sources, close the the house/garage where our cars will consumer it. The grid just cannot handle millions of cars on top of all the existing power users.

This will be our own task, hopefully with some government aid (incentives, tax credits, etc.)

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