Comments on: The 2009 Detroit Auto Show Should be Electrifying

By: Detroit online pharmacy

Detroit online pharmacy — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 02:05:47 +0000

By: charlie h

charlie h — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 23:49:16 +0000

#125, BillR, “Where have you been? The 1.4L is more fuel efficient as a low speed generator drive than the original 1.0 engine.”

That’s the original 1.0 TURBOCHARGED engine. My experience with turbos is that they hurt fuel economy. It also might be the case that frequent start/stops erode turbo life (this was, for sure, the early experience with some turbo engines – getting the thing properly lubed at startup was a problem).

In any event, the Rav4-EV did just fine with a 500cc engine. It was probably lighter than the forever-forthcoming Volt but it also had much poorer aerodynamics.

#126, Mitch,

And then they abandoned the idea. Pity. I wonder who they stole it from? Those coal-and-wood-fired steam car conversions of wartime?

Whatever… the fact remains that GM’s chasing “range anxiety” when smart marketing should realize that a BEV is as good as an RE-EV for anyone with access to a second car for long-range trips. GM’s spinning a lot of gears, burning a lot of cash and taking a lot of time building an overpriced, overly heavy, overly complicated failure when they could get a much simpler vehicle on the road with much less effort.

But these are the decisions when some blowhard – I mean, “visionary” – at the top can make major product decisions in a vacuum.

I’m surprised the Volt isn’t being offered with a pickup body and hideaway hardtop and marketed as a dragster/roadster/coupe/pickup and called the SSR-EV.

By: Mitch

Mitch — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:51:09 +0000

Charlie..

“Of course, here’s the real genius of the Rav4-EV-RE effort; the range extender is mounted on a trailer”

It is SHEER GENIUS!!

In fact..THAT IS WHAT GM did with the EV1!! Imagine…

By: BillR

BillR — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:46:33 +0000

Charlie,

“GM’s 1.4L engine is overkill and is going to hold down ultimate fuel economy.”

Where have you been? The 1.4L is more fuel efficient as a low speed generator drive than the original 1.0 engine. You obviously don’t understand the Volt or ICE’s.

How does it feel to be technically incompetent? Fortunately for you, there is no law in this country against ignorance.

But I’m sure you will keep submitting your brainless posts.

By: Mike D

Mike D — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:40:37 +0000

Reasons why this year’s auto show will be very significant: (You will be able to see, if not sit inside, most of these vehicles)

1. Chevrolet Volt
2. 2010 Camaro
3. 2010 Fusion Hybrid
4. 2009 Honda Insight
5. 2010 Prius
6. PRODUCTION Fisker Karma
7. Pontiac G8 GXP
8. Corvette (used 05 C6’s are down around 28k)
9. New Mazda 6
10. New Mazda 3
11. BMW 135i (hopefully there will be one sitting around)
12. – 25. Lots of electric concepts with 2 years-till-production plans

Should be good! Despite all the negative media of automakers pulling out.