Comments on: The Chevy Volt’s All Electric Range (AER) Will be 40 Miles Both at Beginning and End of Life http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/30/the-chevy-volts-all-electric-range-aer-will-be-40-miles-both-at-beginning-and-end-of-life/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:54:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Herm http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/30/the-chevy-volts-all-electric-range-aer-will-be-40-miles-both-at-beginning-and-end-of-life/#comment-77716 Herm Thu, 06 Nov 2008 19:49:00 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1307#comment-77716 --I am sure that a dealer or a repair shop will be more than willing to test your batteries to make sure they are in good shape before you buy, just as they do today for a used car.--- Very hard to impossible to test a lithium battery for remaining life.. it usually either works or does not, it may be on the last 20% of remaining cycles and you will not know it. Hopefully GM will make the pack tamper proof. –I am sure that a dealer or a repair shop will be more than willing to test your batteries to make sure they are in good shape before you buy, just as they do today for a used car.—

Very hard to impossible to test a lithium battery for remaining life.. it usually either works or does not, it may be on the last 20% of remaining cycles and you will not know it. Hopefully GM will make the pack tamper proof.

]]> By: Michael http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/30/the-chevy-volts-all-electric-range-aer-will-be-40-miles-both-at-beginning-and-end-of-life/#comment-77255 Michael Mon, 03 Nov 2008 16:02:26 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1307#comment-77255 #7 “There will be a hack for this in short order. Which means that buying a used volt will be a very serious risk” I am sure that a dealer or a repair shop will be more than willing to test your batteries to make sure they are in good shape before you buy, just as they do today for a used car. #7
“There will be a hack for this in short order. Which means that buying a used volt will be a very serious risk”

I am sure that a dealer or a repair shop will be more than willing to test your batteries to make sure they are in good shape before you buy, just as they do today for a used car.

]]> By: GSP http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/30/the-chevy-volts-all-electric-range-aer-will-be-40-miles-both-at-beginning-and-end-of-life/#comment-76999 GSP Fri, 31 Oct 2008 22:25:41 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1307#comment-76999 Statik said: "Good article Lyle, It would be interesting to understand the inner workings of how exactly it gives out the same approximate range from beginning to end. I guess that means it expands pack usage over time, but I wonder if this expansion comes from data on charge cycles, linear usage or real-world practical performance metrics It would seem they are really trying to optimize the life of this battery, I wonder if that is out of a true desire for efficiency or a serious concern about the viability of the pack over time. I will also note this statement with a little concern, “So that fact whether its 38.2 miles or 40.2 miles when you’re out of electric range….” is the first time I have ever heard any number but 40 from GM, and we are talking potentially on the very first use. It sounds like my Volt out of the box might not be getting 40 miles." -------------------------------------------------------- I agree, another 5 star article from Lyle. He is so good at cutting thru the BS and getting good info straight from the original source. I'm just guessing (but I'm pretty sure about this guess) that GM will program the Battery Controller so that you always get enough energy required to drive 40 miles *on the EPA prescribed drive cycle* (say 8 kWh, or whatever the exact figure is). The battery could give more than that when new, but not giving more energy extends the battery life. And it is very important to get maximum battery life! Now, if you drive exactly like the EPA, you get 40 miles. If you drive more carefully, you can go more miles on the allocated kWh of energy. If you drive like I do, it takes more energy to go 40 miles, so the engine will kick on before I get 40 mi. :-) BTY, I really enjoy reading your posts here at GM-VOLT. GSP Statik said:

“Good article Lyle,

It would be interesting to understand the inner workings of how exactly it gives out the same approximate range from beginning to end. I guess that means it expands pack usage over time, but I wonder if this expansion comes from data on charge cycles, linear usage or real-world practical performance metrics

It would seem they are really trying to optimize the life of this battery, I wonder if that is out of a true desire for efficiency or a serious concern about the viability of the pack over time.

I will also note this statement with a little concern, “So that fact whether its 38.2 miles or 40.2 miles when you’re out of electric range….” is the first time I have ever heard any number but 40 from GM, and we are talking potentially on the very first use.

It sounds like my Volt out of the box might not be getting 40 miles.”

——————————————————–

I agree, another 5 star article from Lyle. He is so good at cutting thru the BS and getting good info straight from the original source.

I’m just guessing (but I’m pretty sure about this guess) that GM will program the Battery Controller so that you always get enough energy required to drive 40 miles *on the EPA prescribed drive cycle* (say 8 kWh, or whatever the exact figure is). The battery could give more than that when new, but not giving more energy extends the battery life. And it is very important to get maximum battery life!

Now, if you drive exactly like the EPA, you get 40 miles. If you drive more carefully, you can go more miles on the allocated kWh of energy. If you drive like I do, it takes more energy to go 40 miles, so the engine will kick on before I get 40 mi. :-)

BTY, I really enjoy reading your posts here at GM-VOLT.

GSP

]]> By: RB http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/30/the-chevy-volts-all-electric-range-aer-will-be-40-miles-both-at-beginning-and-end-of-life/#comment-76962 RB Fri, 31 Oct 2008 18:20:59 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1307#comment-76962 #100 Grizzly Agreed. In fact I think I'll splurge and put in two gallons. :) #100 Grizzly

Agreed. In fact I think I’ll splurge and put in two gallons. :)

]]> By: Grizzly http://gm-volt.com/2008/10/30/the-chevy-volts-all-electric-range-aer-will-be-40-miles-both-at-beginning-and-end-of-life/#comment-76909 Grizzly Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:24:37 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1307#comment-76909 RB #79 "But I’ll live with it and realize that it is good that the Volt is an E-REV rather than a BEV." *** *** *** Yes, you have two energy sources in the Volt. Your current car has only 1 unless it's a hybrid like the Prius. I'm just not sure why people are always looking for a safety net against their own miscalculations and poor judgment. How difficult is it to keep a gallon of gas in the tank which will give you 50 miles, or enough to get to almost any gas station? RB #79

“But I’ll live with it and realize that it is good that the Volt is an E-REV rather than a BEV.”

*** *** ***

Yes, you have two energy sources in the Volt. Your current car has only 1 unless it’s a hybrid like the Prius. I’m just not sure why people are always looking for a safety net against their own miscalculations and poor judgment. How difficult is it to keep a gallon of gas in the tank which will give you 50 miles, or enough to get to almost any gas station?

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