Regarding your reply #98 – I’m glad I didn’t miss something in the video. I really am trying to learn. If, as you believe you’ve read elsewhere, the 2-mode Plug-in Vue can attain an overall average ~56MPG … It certainly sounds like this may well be a viable option for me if the Volt is too expensive or delayed or something. Thank you. I’ll have to keep a closer eye on this option.

That does sound much more impressive than what I understood the plug-in Vue to be. It might be a good interim for a would-be EREV truck owner. At the moment, that does not include me; but it’s certainly more worthy of my attention as the whole electrification thing proceeds. I am already attentive to any move by Saturn to adopt Volt technology.

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I agree that “Tacuma” is a terrible name.

Poor CT! My adopted state does have a a lot going for it:

Days I used AC: 2
Days I evacuated: 0
Days my house was damaged by natural disasters: 0
Hours I sat in traffic of no sane origin: 0
Days I was told there was a water shortage: 0
Days that I ate REAL apizza, not that crud the rest of you think is a pie: 365

The worst part about CT is not ENOUGH snow to teach people how to drive it propperly.

Oh, and a mini mini-van is a perfect match for e-rev, even a 20-30 mi e-rev. Most mini-van rides are less than 7 miles round trip, I’d guess from our experience. The plug-in vue would be perfect.

With the larger frontal area, probable worse Cd, and more weight (yes Virginia, weight does count), it’s hard to see the AER or mileage being as good as the Volt, however. Maybe by the time this comes out, the technology will have improved?

Based on this, here’s my view of what to reasonably expect, assuming GM makes full use of the fact the 2-Mode base vehicle has two separate 74Hp electric motors (either of which can propel it at well beyond 70mph with NO assistance from the gasoline engine)…..

Assume the vehicle is operated mostly, if not entirely on battery power for its first 20 miles, meaning its equivalent mpg is something like 150mpg (i.e., the same as the Volt achieves for 40 miles)*. Then, with the battery depleted, it continues for another 20 miles at 28 mpg to complete the NHTSA’s “40 mile range for 78% of all driver’s daily requirements criteria” also used for the Volt. With the first half of the 40 miles at 150mpg & the second half at 28mpg, the equivalent overall mpg (including cost of electricity to recharge the battery, as well as fuel) would be…..

(150mpg + 28mpg) / 2 = 89mpg, which I think may very likely OVERstate the equivalent mpg for a 40 mile range. However, I believe there’s a very strong likelihood GM will achieve what the other GM officials I cite above have publicly (in print) indicated —- i.e., about 56mpg, over a 40 mile daily driving distance. I hope this helps.

*Assumes current average electric KWH costs & gasoline costs across the U.S.

The bases are loaded with two outs and Lutz is due up at bat.

On 3rd: Chevy Volt (E-Flex 2010 Production)
On 2nd Chevy Tacuma (E-Flex 2010 Production)
On 1st Cadillac Provoq (E-Flex 2010 Production)

The loyal GM fans are roaring, stomping, and praying. They have been waiting eagerly for such a moment. The players on the opposing team nervously twitch with a common perplexed expression screwed onto their faces; they are wondering how GM was able to sneak up on them with such brute force. Coach Wagner gives Lutz a thumbs-up as Lutz steps up to the plate. Whack! The clear sound only heard from a solid square hit. It’s out of the ballpark! What an upset! This will go down in history.

Just a dream?
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Even if this is not an eflex platform it is good to see that GM is taking what they haved learned to other vehicles. I’m just bummed that they shared these tips with the competition.

I’d like to see a design for eflex with a CNG powered motor for fleets. It would be interesting to know the impact of the weight/space requirements for the conversion kits. We have so many city/county/state vehicless that just don’t need to run on gasoline. I’m thinking of most patrol vehicles, meter readers etc.

#85 nasaman
“The Plug-in VUE’s overall mpg of 56-60 mpg …”

Interesting. That is not what the gentleman from GM said in the GMNext video linked above. He states a 20 mile battery range and also that “you get double the mileage while the battery lasts”. He didn’t say anything about doubled mileage *overall*. Can you provide a link to where that’s been suggested or indicated? If this is the case, the Vue may wall be a very good option for me since I’ve had a good experience with a Saturn in the past.

Thanks