Comments on: GM Considering a Pure Electric Chevy Volt Without a Range Extender

By: Wayne P. Bishop

Wayne P. Bishop — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:21:47 +0000

I have an idea / invention that would make an All Electric vehicle’s propulsion system so efficient that it would be able to get the 200+ mile range that everyone has been looking for without any larger battery then is presently in the Volt.
If anyone has any suggestions as to who or where I can present this concept please let me ( wbishop321@comcast.net ) know so that it may be evaluated and if they find it to be as exciting an idea as I believe it to be then we can move forward quickly with prototyping, testing and implementing to make the True All Electric Vehicle finally a reality.

By: Herm

Herm — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 08:28:18 +0000

The Volt motor is built-in to the “trans-axle” looking thing, with also the generator and the half-shafts going to the front wheels.. if you remove the ICE you are still left with a substantial piece of equipment, granted the generator, ICE, radiator and gas tank would be gone.. lots of weight savings, no idea on cost savings.

If the Volt used in-wheel motors then removing the ICE would leave a huge empty compartment.. a large battery pack could be placed there to replace the weight of the ICE. Disadvantage is cost, you would need TWO motors and two power controllers (vs. one of each for the standard Volt).. Unsprung weight is no big deal, in-wheel motors can come very close in weight to standard equipment.

GM would benefit from mass production of 60kw in-wheel motors and motor controllers (they would build 2 each for each Volt), they can also be used in other cars with very little (to none) redesign.. and dont forget they can also be used to make electric 4wd vehicles with no efficiency penalties. You would also increase redundancy and reliabilty by having extra motors/controllers.

For long range travel just attach a small trailer with a generator (you could easily make one), maybe buy one or just rent it for the weekend.. obviously it could also serve to provide backup power. I already have a 12kVA generator, a small $200 trailer would carry it. Diesel generators are also available.

The present battery with no ICE would be perfect for me…

By: Shawn Marshall

Shawn Marshall — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:21:21 +0000

An ICE could be a trunk mounted or trailer mounted option along with more batteries. To help the feeble hearted with the idea of a trailer for long trips, the trailer could be restricted in freedom of movement so that you essentially have a six wheeled vehicle. You could even rent the trailer when needed for long trips or use it for back-up home power. Just add an inverter. Until the battery packs get a lot cheaper, the trailer option is a good bet. If GM doesn’t do it, guess who will? That’s why markets work – you cannot repress innovation.

By: Dave G

Dave G — Thu, 01 May 2008 04:01:11 +0000

I would never buy an EV without an ICE range extender.

By: noel park

noel park — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:15:03 +0000

The more i think about this the better I like it.