Comments on: GM CEO Rick Wagoner Now Says 2010 a “Stretch” for Chevy Volt Production but he is Optimistic

By: Ed

Ed — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 15:54:18 +0000

I don’t know about you but 100-120 miles all electric sounds great to me. Eliminating the ICE also saves oil needed to lubricate the ICE. Not to mention other fliuds. The Miev fits my needs. How can all the Volt fans say that 40 miles all electric is great but 100-120 miles won’t due. True you may have to rent a vehicle or have a second vehicle for long trips but the savings in fuel is extreme. The more EV’s the better. I need a car next year and whoever has a viable EV will get my money.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 18:37:48 +0000

Ames Lab Researchers Design New Permanent Magnet Alloy for More Efficient and Cost-Effective Electric Drive Motors
9 January 2008

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2008/01/ames-lab-resear.html#more

By: kert

kert — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:13:18 +0000

As to posing a threat to Volt’s waiting list, Mitsu has said the price bracket for the MiEV is $25 000 initially. Thats different market segment than either Tesla Roadster or Volt is aiming for, so its not even aimed as direct competition. Nevertheless, viable car for quite a lot of folks.

By: kert

kert — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:09:25 +0000

No, they dont have MULES, they are well beyond the mule stage. Mules are production vehicles used to tests components and technologies of the new vehicles, these are beyond that stage.
Mitsubishi used Colt’s and Eclipses as mules for these development programs quite a few years ago.

What they have now are production prototypes, where all components have been put together into the final car configuration.

By: Tagamet

Tagamet — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 16:03:15 +0000

kert:

Do you really believe that those wind-up eggs should be compared to a Volt on ANY level? Even if they were in US showrooms today, I don’t think that they would pose any threat to the Volt’s waiting list. Comparing any of their development stages to those of the Volt (”But THEY have mules”) is clearly comparing apples to raisins.
T

By: kert

kert — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:46:11 +0000

I have done my math, and so has TEPCO ( Tokyo Electric Power Company ) , and thats the reason they developed the charge stations for these cars, did you even read any of the links ?
There are even pictures of the cables and stations there.

If you dont have incoming line with enough power ( like at your home ) you can use a temporary power storage solution ( spare stationary battery pack, flywheels ) for quick charging. Yes, it costs extra should you want that fast charge luxury.

Read the electricdrive.org whitepaper i linked to. “The rest of the facilities” info is there.

By: Storm Connors

Storm Connors — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:08:57 +0000

Before you get excited about the “10-15 minute recharge, do some simple calculations. If the battery pack holds 18 KWH, then it will take 10 hours to replace it with a 15 amp 120 v outlet. With a 50 amp 240v stove outlet it would take 1 1/2 hours. If you had 200 amp service (many older homes have 60 amp service) and hooked your charger directly up to it, it would take a minimum of 22.5 minutes. To charge in 12 minutes would require 400 amps at 240 v. The cables would have to be welding cables and the charger would have to be able to handle this massive amount of current.

The batteries might handle a 10 minute recharge, but the rest of the facilities needed don’t exist

By: kert

kert — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 14:03:23 +0000

Oh and just so you know, TEPCO/Fuji/Mitsubishi etc. are all working on versions with range extenders as well, its just that they are working on electrics first, take a look at their roadmap here:
http://www.electricdrive.org/index.php?tg=fileman&idx=get&inl=1&id=36&gr=Y&path=&file=Ishitani.pdf

By: kert

kert — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:58:15 +0000

Yes, those are fully electric.

:: especially when it takes HOURS to recharge

Well, thats where you are wrong. It doesnt, there cars are recharged to near full capacity in anywhere from 10-15 minutees, and last i heard they had ~120 mile range. More than enough for most of my needs.
http://www.nec.co.jp/eco/en/annual2007/02/2-1.html

By: Leon

Leon — Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:18:53 +0000

JDowdle: I sold my last Nissan when it had 260,000 miles and it is still on the road as far as I know. It’s not that the car won’t last that long, but that I don’t think I’ll be able to stand driving it any more at that point.

Kert, I checked out the Subaru and it looks to me like it is purely electric, with no range extender. Am I correct? If so it is worthless to me. It is the electric in combination with the range extender that has me excited about the Volt. I DO NOT want a 40 (or even 120) range car, especially when it takes HOURS to recharge. I need the on-board recharging system. Period.