Comments on: Renault-Nissan To Spend $1 Billion Building Electric Cars, and Already Shows One Off http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 02:48:14 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ken Grubb http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-42125 Ken Grubb Fri, 23 May 2008 13:47:41 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-42125 Everyone's situation is different. A 40 mile EV mode PHEV, even up to only 35 MPH, would suit me for 99% of driving. Last trip I took over a 100 miles was probably 2 years ago. Last trip of over 300 miles was 5 years ago. A 125 mile EV. I can do that. Everyone’s situation is different. A 40 mile EV mode PHEV, even up to only 35 MPH, would suit me for 99% of driving. Last trip I took over a 100 miles was probably 2 years ago. Last trip of over 300 miles was 5 years ago.

A 125 mile EV. I can do that.

]]> By: JP http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-41919 JP Thu, 22 May 2008 15:02:44 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-41919 I think you may be right about the 125 mile range on the nissan, it is being engineered for driving range, not recharge cycles. Hence the weird battery lease / car ownership arrangement. The Volt may very well get far in excess of 40 miles per charge when it is new, and by the time it needs a new pack, batteries will have progressed even further in terms of charge density and service cycles. I don't see why you couldn't add on a couple of cheap deep cycle batteries yourself if you wanted to. Or if you were worried about running out of juice, keep a few spares in the trunk, maybe add a marine battery switch if you were real handy and another bank of batteries in the trunk. Maybe I'm a little more adventurous than some, but I couldn't live with 40 or even 80 miles per charge. I think you may be right about the 125 mile range on the nissan, it is being engineered for driving range, not recharge cycles. Hence the weird battery lease / car ownership arrangement. The Volt may very well get far in excess of 40 miles per charge when it is new, and by the time it needs a new pack, batteries will have progressed even further in terms of charge density and service cycles. I don’t see why you couldn’t add on a couple of cheap deep cycle batteries yourself if you wanted to. Or if you were worried about running out of juice, keep a few spares in the trunk, maybe add a marine battery switch if you were real handy and another bank of batteries in the trunk.
Maybe I’m a little more adventurous than some, but I couldn’t live with 40 or even 80 miles per charge.

]]> By: David http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40939 David Thu, 15 May 2008 16:33:12 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40939 @ #121 We don't want, or I don't want a glorified golf cart. Some people use the term "clown car" to describe these vehicles. Yes, they are great commuters, but people with families do not want these vehicles....at least in the U.S. @ #121

We don’t want, or I don’t want a glorified golf cart. Some people use the term “clown car” to describe these vehicles. Yes, they are great commuters, but people with families do not want these vehicles….at least in the U.S.

]]> By: Ken Grubb http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40892 Ken Grubb Thu, 15 May 2008 14:19:40 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40892 http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/rav4ev/index.html One could always harp on Toyota to revive the RAV4 EV. http://www.toyota.com/vehicles/rav4ev/index.html

One could always harp on Toyota to revive the RAV4 EV.

]]> By: ppedro moren http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40843 ppedro moren Thu, 15 May 2008 08:19:33 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40843 you never mention the city think all electric made in Norway.Goes 180 klms .This is far enough for me.Why does no one ever mention it has been around for some time already.Another idea is to require car manufactureres to produce cars to run on LPg or CNG .instead of having to convert.NOt 100% but to start just about 2% per year.It was a good idea when done years ago in australia. you never mention the city think all electric made in Norway.Goes 180 klms .This is far enough for me.Why does no one ever mention it has been around for some time already.Another idea is to require car manufactureres to produce cars to run on LPg or CNG .instead of having to convert.NOt 100% but to start just about 2% per year.It was a good idea when done years ago in australia.

]]> By: Statik http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40648 Statik Wed, 14 May 2008 16:33:45 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40648 Just to follow up as well on #1 “every major automaker introducing EV’s for the 2010 model year?” Only Mitsu will be to market for the '2010 model year, no one else is even close. The Volt will be at best a 2011. Any car produced after September 1st, 2010 is a '2011'....and if the Volt is even a few months late, pushing production into 2011 (which is more than likely)... it will be badged a '2012' All 'new model' cars introduced in a calender year are badged with the next years date. So by my calculations that leaves about 20ish months to get a EV on the road before it is labelled 2011. ...but I still get you point. Just to follow up as well on #1

“every major automaker introducing EV’s for the 2010 model year?”

Only Mitsu will be to market for the ‘2010 model year, no one else is even close.

The Volt will be at best a 2011. Any car produced after September 1st, 2010 is a ‘2011′….and if the Volt is even a few months late, pushing production into 2011 (which is more than likely)… it will be badged a ‘2012′ All ‘new model’ cars introduced in a calender year are badged with the next years date.

So by my calculations that leaves about 20ish months to get a EV on the road before it is labelled 2011.

…but I still get you point.

]]> By: noel park http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40641 noel park Wed, 14 May 2008 15:51:50 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40641 #114 Vinayababu: Thanks for the cool link. Electric Cube? Oh, oh! #114 Vinayababu:

Thanks for the cool link. Electric Cube? Oh, oh!

]]> By: Ken Grubb http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40628 Ken Grubb Wed, 14 May 2008 14:08:45 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40628 So now Nissan and Renault are getting into the EV game. Very cool indeed. There will still be plenty of room in the pool for them to swim with cityZENN, ZAP-X, Phoenix SUT and SUV, Think and hopefully Tesla Whitestar. But, ya know, the range is only 125 miles per charge. About the same as the "failed" EV1 and RAV4-EV. Hmmmmm. Might be best to just scrap the whole thing now and put the idea in the crusher. Far better to build a Hummer alternative. Maybe 6 wheel drive and a 9 litre engine. So now Nissan and Renault are getting into the EV game. Very cool indeed. There will still be plenty of room in the pool for them to swim with cityZENN, ZAP-X, Phoenix SUT and SUV, Think and hopefully Tesla Whitestar.

But, ya know, the range is only 125 miles per charge. About the same as the “failed” EV1 and RAV4-EV. Hmmmmm. Might be best to just scrap the whole thing now and put the idea in the crusher. Far better to build a Hummer alternative. Maybe 6 wheel drive and a 9 litre engine.

]]> By: Ken Grubb http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40623 Ken Grubb Wed, 14 May 2008 13:56:53 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40623 #1 Jason "every major automaker introducing EV’s for the 2010 model year?" Umm, every? What are GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota and Honda doing for EVs in 2010? And Volt isn't an EV. It's a PHEV. #1 Jason

“every major automaker introducing EV’s for the 2010 model year?”

Umm, every? What are GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota and Honda doing for EVs in 2010? And Volt isn’t an EV. It’s a PHEV.

]]> By: Kevin R http://gm-volt.com/2008/05/12/renault-nissan-to-spend-1-billion-building-electric-cars-and-already-shows-one-off/#comment-40598 Kevin R Wed, 14 May 2008 11:24:52 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1061#comment-40598 #115 I.B. Waste But therein lies the opportunity to use alternative methods of generating your own power. You can save up to install solar panels on your garage roof. Better yet, when the flexible solar plastic strips come out you will be able to afford to do your house roof too. You could install a small wind turbine in your yard. They're blades are only six feet across. There are options to not incur additional taxes from the government when it begins to tax power companies more. You can produce your own power but you can't refine your own oil and produce your own gasoline. That's the beauty of electric vehicles......options, many of them. #115 I.B. Waste

But therein lies the opportunity to use alternative methods of generating your own power. You can save up to install solar panels on your garage roof. Better yet, when the flexible solar plastic strips come out you will be able to afford to do your house roof too. You could install a small wind turbine in your yard. They’re blades are only six feet across. There are options to not incur additional taxes from the government when it begins to tax power companies more. You can produce your own power but you can’t refine your own oil and produce your own gasoline. That’s the beauty of electric vehicles……options, many of them.

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