Comments on: Think Announces US Electric Car Factory Plans http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/12/think-announces-us-factory-plans/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Mon, 22 Mar 2010 00:05:01 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Michael Robinson http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/12/think-announces-us-factory-plans/#comment-100697 Michael Robinson Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:05:04 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1566#comment-100697 Think approached bankruptcy for a reason. Lithium ION batteries depend on Lithium which comes from unstable unfriendly parts of the world. There is a Lithium shortage looming. Too much focus on Lithium ION based EVs instead of fuel cell based EVs is a huge mistake. Nitrogen doped vertical carbon nanotubes can replace platinum in fuel cells already and these are resistant to CO poisoning. Battery electric cars that are not fuel cell cars are a huge mistake. Lithium ION is already a developed technology that doesn't promise to get much better or cheaper. Gas isn't going to get cheaper, why should Lithium which is more rare? Think approached bankruptcy for a reason. Lithium ION batteries
depend on Lithium which comes from unstable unfriendly parts
of the world. There is a Lithium shortage looming. Too much
focus on Lithium ION based EVs instead of fuel cell based
EVs is a huge mistake. Nitrogen doped vertical carbon nanotubes
can replace platinum in fuel cells already and these are resistant
to CO poisoning. Battery electric cars that are not fuel cell cars
are a huge mistake. Lithium ION is already a developed technology
that doesn’t promise to get much better or cheaper. Gas isn’t going
to get cheaper, why should Lithium which is more rare?

]]> By: jbfalaska http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/12/think-announces-us-factory-plans/#comment-100648 jbfalaska Sun, 15 Mar 2009 17:02:13 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1566#comment-100648 GM announces first and appears destined to enter in the back of the pack. Typical fashion for the company. Took GM 8 years to put together the Saturn brand and made a profit only once - now, after 20 plus years, cancelled the brand. Come on GM, take a chance on your inventions. I'm a 3 car Buick owner and recently moved over to Lincoln (2 this year). Speed up the line please. Get the Volt out there. GM announces first and appears destined to enter in the back of the pack. Typical fashion for the company.

Took GM 8 years to put together the Saturn brand and made a profit only once – now, after 20 plus years, cancelled the brand. Come on GM, take a chance on your inventions. I’m a 3 car Buick owner and recently moved over to Lincoln (2 this year). Speed up the line please. Get the Volt out there.

]]> By: Reel$$ http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/12/think-announces-us-factory-plans/#comment-100448 Reel$$ Sat, 14 Mar 2009 00:53:55 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1566#comment-100448 It is a positive move for Enerdel, to have saved this Norwegian outfit from going BK. But you have to wonder just what the government in Norway, with the world's second largest petroleum trust $+400 billion and growing - is doing letting a Norwegian alternative energy business fail? Sometimes these nations that lecture the rest of the world on conduct - do not set a very good example. It is a positive move for Enerdel, to have saved this Norwegian outfit from going BK. But you have to wonder just what the government in Norway, with the world’s second largest petroleum trust $+400 billion and growing – is doing letting a Norwegian alternative energy business fail? Sometimes these nations that lecture the rest of the world on conduct – do not set a very good example.

]]> By: jake http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/12/think-announces-us-factory-plans/#comment-100401 jake Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:47:26 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1566#comment-100401 #134 Dave G Simple: an EREV costs more money. If they have a gas car already, the ideal situation is they leave that car at home for longer trips and just get a small BEV (if they can make one in the $20k range it'll be perfect) for daily commuting. This also guarantees they will make their whole commute on electricity alone. If the EREV & BEV costs the same then it depends on if the EREV makes enough of their commute and whether they care about using some gasoline in the daily commute. So it's not a forgone conclusion that the EREV is always the better choice. It really depends on the price point of EREVs vs BEVs and the customer's situation. The thing I don't like about the Th!nk is the battery leasing. Sure, there are some advantages, but I don't like being tied down by monthly fees. #134 Dave G

Simple: an EREV costs more money. If they have a gas car already, the ideal situation is they leave that car at home for longer trips and just get a small BEV (if they can make one in the $20k range it’ll be perfect) for daily commuting. This also guarantees they will make their whole commute on electricity alone.

If the EREV & BEV costs the same then it depends on if the EREV makes enough of their commute and whether they care about using some gasoline in the daily commute.

So it’s not a forgone conclusion that the EREV is always the better choice. It really depends on the price point of EREVs vs BEVs and the customer’s situation.

The thing I don’t like about the Th!nk is the battery leasing. Sure, there are some advantages, but I don’t like being tied down by monthly fees.

]]> By: BillInInd http://gm-volt.com/2009/03/12/think-announces-us-factory-plans/#comment-100344 BillInInd Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:58:40 +0000 http://gm-volt.com/?p=1566#comment-100344 I'm all for BEVs but a battery lease agreement is a deal breaker for me. I’m all for BEVs but a battery lease agreement is a deal breaker for me.

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