Comments on: Chevy Volt Still Expected to Get 50 mpg In ICE Mode After Battery Depleted http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/22/chevy-volt-still-expected-to-get-50-mpg-in-ice-mode-after-battery-depleted/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Fri, 25 May 2012 14:26:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Geronimo http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/22/chevy-volt-still-expected-to-get-50-mpg-in-ice-mode-after-battery-depleted/#comment-140218 Geronimo Wed, 26 Aug 2009 03:31:25 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1231#comment-140218 They could pass legislation that quiet electric cars must always blast out "Freebird" from outward facing speakers. Or, tell people to "look both ways before crossing a street". They could pass legislation that quiet electric cars must always blast out “Freebird” from outward facing speakers.

Or, tell people to “look both ways before crossing a street”.

]]> By: Dan Petit http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/22/chevy-volt-still-expected-to-get-50-mpg-in-ice-mode-after-battery-depleted/#comment-73843 Dan Petit Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:15:27 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1231#comment-73843 I don't recommend leaving only one gallon of gas in any fuel tank. Two reasons for that are: 1. The in-tank electric fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline surrounding it. When heat builds up in the fuel pump otherwise, the heat travels to the bearings and causes very slight but definite wear on one side. Over time, this causes the impeller to scrape the wall and reduce fuel pressure. One of my customers who always drove her SUV all the way down to the "Distance to Empty" mile of 4 or 3 miles, believing it to be the efficient use of fuel. She needed a new in-tank fuel pump for her Asian vehicle at 60.000 miles. 2. When there is a lot of empty space in the fuel tank, the daily temperature change makes it breathe deeply. Breathing in all that moist air every day and night allows for accumulated condensation which is absorbed by the ethanol component of the fuel. This degrades the fuel A LOT. NON - "TOP-TIER" fuels are absolutely the worst regarding this!!! You are never saving anything at any time when NOT using a "TOP - TIER" fuel. The key is to keep the tank "FULL TO THE CLICK-STOP". Also, going on a trip a minimum of twice a year to clear out the fuel is wise. My two trips a year in my Winnebago (which I am selling to make way for a Volt) has always had the gas tank kept full for the 7 years I've had it. Not a speck of anything in the tank when it needed an in-tank fuel pump (after 16 years). (Shell 87 if I may say so.) Dan Petit Austin, TX I don’t recommend leaving only one gallon of gas in any fuel tank.
Two reasons for that are:
1. The in-tank electric fuel pump is cooled by the gasoline surrounding it. When heat builds up in the fuel pump otherwise, the heat travels to the bearings and causes very slight but definite wear on one side. Over time, this causes the impeller to scrape the wall and reduce fuel pressure.
One of my customers who always drove her SUV all the way down to the “Distance to Empty” mile of 4 or 3 miles, believing it to be the efficient use of fuel. She needed a new in-tank fuel pump for her Asian vehicle at 60.000 miles.
2. When there is a lot of empty space in the fuel tank, the daily temperature change makes it breathe deeply. Breathing in all that moist air every day and night allows for accumulated condensation which is absorbed by the ethanol component of the fuel. This degrades the fuel A LOT. NON – “TOP-TIER” fuels are absolutely the worst regarding this!!! You are never saving anything at any time when NOT using a “TOP – TIER” fuel.
The key is to keep the tank “FULL TO THE CLICK-STOP”.
Also, going on a trip a minimum of twice a year to clear out the fuel is wise. My two trips a year in my Winnebago (which I am selling to make way for a Volt) has always had the gas tank kept full for the 7 years I’ve had it. Not a speck of anything in the tank when it needed an in-tank fuel pump (after 16 years).
(Shell 87 if I may say so.)
Dan Petit Austin, TX

]]> By: ShadowT http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/22/chevy-volt-still-expected-to-get-50-mpg-in-ice-mode-after-battery-depleted/#comment-62405 ShadowT Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:32:03 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1231#comment-62405 Jackson earlier commented on Dynamic braking vs Regenerative braking; in fact, there are several locomotive models now available that do have batteries that support regenerative braking. They are mostly used for switching and local use in heavily polluted areas like Houston and Los Angeles, and not so much for long hauls. Check out http://www.railpower.com/products_hl_ggseries.html for one example. Jackson earlier commented on Dynamic braking vs Regenerative braking; in fact, there are several locomotive models now available that do have batteries that support regenerative braking. They are mostly used for switching and local use in heavily polluted areas like Houston and Los Angeles, and not so much for long hauls. Check out http://www.railpower.com/products_hl_ggseries.html for one example.

]]> By: Pat http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/22/chevy-volt-still-expected-to-get-50-mpg-in-ice-mode-after-battery-depleted/#comment-61555 Pat Tue, 26 Aug 2008 13:12:05 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1231#comment-61555 Imagine and dagwood55 Yes, you both have it right. I believe that the car will have the ability to be very efficient indeed as technology is added to the car. I don't expect that it will happen on the ver 1.0, but latter there would be expansion into new modes all of which could be automatic. I do believe that there will always be a need to some interaction with the driver. In the short run though it would be nice to have a distance entry mode so that one could improve the mileage on trips over 40 miles and maybe under 100. I have a chart I made that shows that the care could get 80+ MPG with this sort of capability. I know how far I have to drive to work which is 90 miles, more then the battery can do, under present programing, but if you know the distance then it can conserve the battery for the full 90 mile round trip then I charge it up again in the evening. In any case how ever this car comes out it will be a very efficient auto. Imagine and dagwood55

Yes, you both have it right. I believe that the car will have the ability to be very efficient indeed as technology is added to the car. I don’t expect that it will happen on the ver 1.0, but latter there would be expansion into new modes all of which could be automatic. I do believe that there will always be a need to some interaction with the driver. In the short run though it would be nice to have a distance entry mode so that one could improve the mileage on trips over 40 miles and maybe under 100. I have a chart I made that shows that the care could get 80+ MPG with this sort of capability. I know how far I have to drive to work which is 90 miles, more then the battery can do, under present programing, but if you know the distance then it can conserve the battery for the full 90 mile round trip then I charge it up again in the evening.

In any case how ever this car comes out it will be a very efficient auto.

]]> By: The Daily Five: Monday, 25 August, 2008 | EcoTech Daily http://gm-volt.com/2008/08/22/chevy-volt-still-expected-to-get-50-mpg-in-ice-mode-after-battery-depleted/#comment-61269 The Daily Five: Monday, 25 August, 2008 | EcoTech Daily Mon, 25 Aug 2008 10:56:47 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1231#comment-61269 [...] Chevy Volt Still Expected to Get 50 mpg In ICE Mode After Battery Depleted: It seems that pretty much every detail of General Motors’ upcoming Volt plug-in car has been mulled over by the automotive press, including its planned electric-only range of 30 miles. But what kind of fuel economy can motorists expect when the Volt’s engine kicks in? The GM-VOLT blog asked project chief engineer Andrew Farah. His response: a surprising 50 miles per gallon. And, then again, not a surprise — the Volt will use the same 1.4 liter 4 cylinder scheduled for the upcoming Chevy Cruze, which is targeting 40 MPG. The additional Volt efficiency will be derived from its hybridized drive train. (GM-VOLT blog) [...] [...] Chevy Volt Still Expected to Get 50 mpg In ICE Mode After Battery Depleted: It seems that pretty much every detail of General Motors’ upcoming Volt plug-in car has been mulled over by the automotive press, including its planned electric-only range of 30 miles. But what kind of fuel economy can motorists expect when the Volt’s engine kicks in? The GM-VOLT blog asked project chief engineer Andrew Farah. His response: a surprising 50 miles per gallon. And, then again, not a surprise — the Volt will use the same 1.4 liter 4 cylinder scheduled for the upcoming Chevy Cruze, which is targeting 40 MPG. The additional Volt efficiency will be derived from its hybridized drive train. (GM-VOLT blog) [...]

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