Comments on: Chevy Volt to Have 50/50 Weight Distribution

By: RyanP

RyanP — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:21:12 +0000

Sacre Bleu! Why don’t WE (as Americans) do something like this:

Electric cars RACING in the French Alps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkOzGQ9NllY

By: David

David — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:19:43 +0000

Does this 50/50 weight distribution thing mean I will need to start going to the gym again if I’m going to sit next to my wife?

By: xbgs351

xbgs351 — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:12:26 +0000

According to Ron Tauranac the ideal is within 1% of 40/60. If you don’t know who Ron Tauranac is google him.

By: Van

Van — Sun, 13 Jan 2008 14:16:07 +0000

I think rear wheel powered cars with the weight distribution forward tend to spin out, like my 57 Chevy. My front wheel drive, weight distribution forward Olds held the road ok, but certainly not like a mid engined, rear wheel drive vehicle with a driver that uses power to come out of a curve. 50/50 is going to be fine, especially if electrically powered AWD is offered down the line.

I suspect, but have not studied it, that low rolling resistance tires do not feature the gummy texture of high road adhesion tires.

By: David L

David L — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 04:06:57 +0000

[quote comment="26339"]
You’re right. I wasn’t thinking about the people who don’t have access to a garage or plug. I would think that for them, the Volt isn’t an option. Maybe in Canada where they have to plug in there car during the winter months, but not here in the USA.[/quote]

Not all places in Canada are that cold! I live on the west coast where the climate is similar to Seattle/Portland. Many parts of the North East US are just as cold as Canada in the winter (at least my friend from Wisconsin assures me of this).

When I was visiting Calgary a couple of summers ago, I noticed that the parking lots at the University of Calgary have an electric plug in each parking stall (used for plugging in engine blocks in the winter). Just imagine being able to plug in your car to “recharge” if you parked a Volt there!