Comments on: Volt One Step Ahead of the Prius! http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:26:48 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: kubel http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-86052 kubel Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:26:21 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-86052 Battery technology is good enough. It has been since NiMH. It may not be a superior alternative to gas tanks, but what they have works very well. The ultimate battery will be some form of ultracaps or ultracap hybrid. Battery technology is good enough. It has been since NiMH. It may not be a superior alternative to gas tanks, but what they have works very well.

The ultimate battery will be some form of ultracaps or ultracap hybrid.

]]> By: Harleigh Kyson Jr. http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-85638 Harleigh Kyson Jr. Fri, 12 Dec 2008 09:21:47 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-85638 I like the Prius except for its rear window, which doesn't seem to have much visibility. (I must admit, however, that I have never driven a Prius.) Here's what I find exciting about the Volt: (1) Its drive is all electric. (2) Its range can be extended by charging the battery with an inernal-combustion engine coupled to a generator and running at an optimal speed for efficiency. (3) Its mechanical simplicity. With an engine directly coupled to a generator and with electric motors driving the wheels, there is a great reduction in mechanical components that can break down. This means much easier maintenance. THE BIG PROBLM, however, may be battery technology. From what I have read, it is not likely that batteries are good enough yet to power the volt. Quite naturallyl, I hope I am wrong about this. I am sure, however, that if the Volt works reasonably well, Toyota will come out with a similar car that will probably work better. I like the Prius except for its rear window, which doesn’t seem to have much visibility. (I must admit, however, that I have never driven a Prius.)

Here’s what I find exciting about the Volt:

(1) Its drive is all electric.

(2) Its range can be extended by charging the battery with an inernal-combustion engine coupled to a generator and running at an optimal speed for efficiency.

(3) Its mechanical simplicity. With an engine directly coupled to a generator and with electric motors driving the wheels, there is a great reduction in mechanical components that can break down. This means much easier maintenance.

THE BIG PROBLM, however, may be battery technology. From what I have read, it is not likely that batteries are good enough yet to power the volt. Quite naturallyl, I hope I am wrong about this.

I am sure, however, that if the Volt works reasonably well, Toyota will come out with a similar car that will probably work better.

]]> By: Greg Simpson http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-85333 Greg Simpson Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:58:59 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-85333 Until I saw this photo I hadn't realized just how ugly and stupid the Volt grill looks. A sop, I suppose, to those who preferred the ridiculous looking Volt concept vehicle, since it seems to show somewhat the same lack of style. I think the Volt does have the best idea for a hybrid drivetrain, and I hope it does well. Until I saw this photo I hadn’t realized just how ugly and stupid the Volt grill looks. A sop, I suppose, to those who preferred the ridiculous looking Volt concept vehicle, since it seems to show somewhat the same lack of style. I think the Volt does have the best idea for a hybrid drivetrain, and I hope it does well.

]]> By: hagar http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-85232 hagar Wed, 10 Dec 2008 05:12:32 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-85232 The first 50 commnets here are obviously from the GM cheerleading squad. The Volt is a rehash of the Precept from 1993. GM (and the rest of te American auto industry) has had since 1973 to deal with the high cost, both financial and enviromental, of petroleum fuel. In 1994, all three of "The Big 3" proved the whining today to be a lie. They all produced functional Hybrid cars. And then dumped them when Congress, and subsequently the White House, went far to the right, or was it for the cash. Same difference. Give them a dose of Republican "personal responsibility", and let them die. The first 50 commnets here are obviously from the GM cheerleading squad. The Volt is a rehash of the Precept from 1993. GM (and the rest of te American auto industry) has had since 1973 to deal with the high cost, both financial and enviromental, of petroleum fuel. In 1994, all three of “The Big 3″ proved the whining today to be a lie. They all produced functional Hybrid cars. And then dumped them when Congress, and subsequently the White House, went far to the right, or was it for the cash. Same difference. Give them a dose of Republican “personal responsibility”, and let them die.

]]> By: Dan Frederiksen http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-85167 Dan Frederiksen Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:34:49 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-85167 well depending on very serious financing for GM, the volt might be one step closer to the grave than the prius seeing as Toyota is well running and GM is the walking dead. well depending on very serious financing for GM, the volt might be one step closer to the grave than the prius seeing as Toyota is well running and GM is the walking dead.

]]> By: Jeff M http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-85119 Jeff M Tue, 09 Dec 2008 16:58:33 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-85119 Someone may have already reported this... but it appears the Volt was *not* driven to DC as GM had implied... it was trucked to DC and driven only a few miles (w/MI Sen. Levin and Levin's brother in the back seat). See http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20081205171416.aspx Someone may have already reported this… but it appears the Volt was *not* driven to DC as GM had implied… it was trucked to DC and driven only a few miles (w/MI Sen. Levin and Levin’s brother in the back seat). See http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20081205171416.aspx

]]> By: Josh http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-84934 Josh Mon, 08 Dec 2008 16:19:30 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-84934 I don't know what you mean about being one step ahead. As best I can tell, teh Prius is in production and the Volt powertrain hasn't even pet the Volt body yet. I don’t know what you mean about being one step ahead. As best I can tell, teh Prius is in production and the Volt powertrain hasn’t even pet the Volt body yet.

]]> By: LB http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-84872 LB Mon, 08 Dec 2008 05:40:46 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-84872 It's a drag race! I'm betting on the Volt It’s a drag race! I’m betting on the Volt

]]> By: Santa Claus http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-84825 Santa Claus Sun, 07 Dec 2008 19:51:31 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-84825 Good luck to you GM fanboyz. 3 yrs after I 1st head "don't buy a Prius- wait for the Volt" I'd still be waiting AT LEAST another 2 yrs for a car that, surprise, looks very much like a tarted up prius, will cost at least 10k more, & uses the ice soley to recharge the li-ion batteries! Ask yourselves: - how did the PNGV (80 mpg by 2003) work out for you? - how many li-ion devices do you own whose batteries have performed at an acceptable level for an acceptable time? - can an ICE powered generator ever be as efficient as an ICE that can power the drive wheels directly? Not bloody likely. Toyota made a intelligent choice going with NiMh batteries and the PSD is an elegant piece of engineering. GM has yet to equal the EV-1. Good luck, you'll need it. Good luck to you GM fanboyz. 3 yrs after I 1st head “don’t buy a Prius- wait for the Volt” I’d still be waiting AT LEAST another 2 yrs for a car that, surprise, looks very much like a tarted up prius, will cost at least 10k more, & uses the ice soley to recharge the li-ion batteries!
Ask yourselves:
- how did the PNGV (80 mpg by 2003) work out for you?
- how many li-ion devices do you own whose batteries have performed at an acceptable level for an acceptable time?
- can an ICE powered generator ever be as efficient as an ICE that can power the drive wheels directly? Not bloody likely.
Toyota made a intelligent choice going with NiMh batteries and the PSD is an elegant piece of engineering. GM has yet to equal the EV-1. Good luck, you’ll need it.

]]> By: nataraj http://gm-volt.com/2008/12/05/volt-one-step-ahead-of-the-prius/#comment-84814 nataraj Sun, 07 Dec 2008 18:12:03 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1409#comment-84814 Yawn ... wake me up when Volt has actually out-sold Prius. Or atleast when it saves more gas than Prius compared to a similar conventional gas car. Yawn … wake me up when Volt has actually out-sold Prius.

Or atleast when it saves more gas than Prius compared to a similar conventional gas car.

]]>