My biggest interest in the Volt is first and foremost political. I want to be disconnected from the Middle East at least as far as oil is concerned. Secondly, for the environment, I would like to reduce our CO2 load.

For my political goal I feel the most important thing is to reduce the use of oil NOW. So, most simply stated I want the most miles per gallon; any kind of gallons. The Volt will do that in a few years. The VW Jetta TDI (late summer 2008) is supposed to get something like 50 MPG city and 60 MPG highway. Burning coal for the Volt and diesel for the Jetta still produces CO2 but puts the pinch on the Middle East. This sort of says I go for the Jetta in the short term.

For my environmental goal neither the Volt nor the Jetta are perfect. Coal and diesel both put carbon in the air with no current closed carbon cycle. I understand and believe the benefits of off-peak electrical usage for the Volt but in the end carbon is carbon. So now the choice is more complex but the Volt is very compelling here.

Which technology produces the better long term effect? If I go diesel I may encourage biodiesel research and investment and move to a closed carbon cycle. If I go electric I encourage better battery technology and, in a system like the Volt, the range extension can be anything. Sadly, I read that GM is rather cool on a diesel range extender.

Both choices are valid and both may be important in the long run. Biodiesel from foodstuffs is generally a bad idea but recent microbial research says there is a potential alternative. Biodiesel is probably the best choice for large vehicles for some time into the future. Batteries are good because of the existing power distribution and most individuals will be served well by their inclusion in automobiles.

I guess I can only hope that both batteries and biodiesel are pursued by manufacturers and consumers so that we may find them working together under the hoods of most vehicles in a few short years. Batteries for around town and high-torque needs and biodiesel helping out to take us on trips to see grandma.

Has anyone else been thinking about this? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

kenglen76, I think you answered you're own question. Why not have your cake and eat it too? I'm seeing a great deal of research and investment in both areas and hope it continues for all the reasons you listed. The current state of battery technology allows effective plug-in hybrids and the current state of biofuels allows low-use flex fueling.

The next generation of battery technology should make pure BEVs practical and their required high speed vehicle charging stations (solar farms feeding stationary battery banks with swap-out capability) can be an integral part of our next generation smart grid. Next generation biofuels (from algae and cellulose) should be able to handle most of our legacy equipment as well as applications that require extremely high energy to weight ratios (transport, shipping, planes, etc.).

I'm betting on advanced battery technology with quick charging capability as well as 2nd generation (and beyond) biofuels. If you think about it what good is having cake if you can't eat it. ;)

Why has GM been so cool on having a diesel ICE? I recall watching a video with Lutz where he was talking about consumers having the choice of which E-Flex vehicle they wanted "...I think I'll have the hydrogen one this time" or something to that effect.

Is GM afraid that we will make our own BioDiesel and totally cut out the sheiks who run OPEC? I would really like to know why this is not being looked at as an option rather than put forward crazy theories (like mine above ;-).

If I could have a wind turbine and solar cells to gather energy for my home and car. why can't I collect waste vegetable oil for use in that same car?

Harriet1970, Because diesels cost more to build. GM does not want to add perhaps another couple thousand bucks to the Volt at this time. Add to that, GM probably doesn't have small (1-liter or so) diesel engine that they could readily adapt to the task.

Harriet1970, Because diesels cost more to build. GM does not want to add perhaps another couple thousand bucks to the Volt at this time. Add to that, GM probably doesn't have small (1-liter or so) diesel engine that they could readily adapt to the task.

Thanks for the feedback but that does not quite make sense. GM is talking about making a Hydrogen version, which is something that costs an outrageous amount over other vehicle types (i.e. makes a Tesla Roadster look cheap). I can't believe that GM does not currently have or would be incapable of designing an appropriate diesel engine for the Volt.

Engineering a small diesel for the Volt is infinitely more expensive than talking about making a hydrogen version because talk costs nothing.

Engineering a small diesel for the Volt is infinitely more expensive than talking about making a hydrogen version because talk costs nothing.

I laughed out loud when I read that. Nice. :)

Anyway, am I missing something? I thought GM showed a diesel concept version in Europe already. These will be converted to run veggie oil by people within weeks of release.

Let's first see how the new Blue-tech (names are changing all over the place but I'm referring to the technology where the engine is very clean and can pass US regulations) diesels do in the US market. If they do well GM will slap one in a US Volt in no time at all.

Why has GM been so cool on having a diesel ICE? I recall watching a video with Lutz where he was talking about consumers having the choice of which E-Flex vehicle they wanted "...I think I'll have the hydrogen one this time" or something to that effect.

Is GM afraid that we will make our own BioDiesel and totally cut out the sheiks who run OPEC? I would really like to know why this is not being looked at as an option rather than put forward crazy theories (like mine above ;-).

If I could have a wind turbine and solar cells to gather energy for my home and car. why can't I collect waste vegetable oil for use in that same car?

Diesel regulations in the US are actually more stringent in the US than in Europe, from my understanding. It is just simply harder to get an engine certified for the US than it is for Europe. Also, there is a switch over that happened recently to ultra low sulfur-diesel. So I think they are just biding their time till the dust settles.

http://www.greencarcongress.com/2006/06/ultra_lowsulfur.html

i think they want to make sure we've all forgotten that diesel fuel used to cost the same as regular unleaded and now it's $1 more per gallon before diesel cars start to enter the market for real... ;)

When Rudolf Diesel first invented his engine it ran on peanut oil so biodiesel isn't new. But American have proven time and time again that they don't want a diesel powered car. So why spend millions developing something that people don't want?

I'd bet the rent that the European version WILL have a diesel option.

Many areas of the country will let you choose who your energy provider is. The company that delivers the power, and maintains the lines is your local company, but you can buy "green" energy from any one of a number of different sources. Their prices may be a bit more per Kwh, but, at least it's green.

As far as the biodiesel thing is concerned, there is so much hype here about this, and though I do have several friends who run "veggie" cars, it takes then a good amount of time to collect the waste oil, and process it into biodiesel. Here in the Northeast, there are several companies who are manufacturing biodiesel for home heating fuel, and their prices are a little higher than standard fuel prices.

Not only is the time factor a problem for me, but there is the farm factor. With the current fad being ethanol, farmers are growing fuel crops that used to be food crops. This raises the price of food, and can, in some parts of the planet, cause food shortages, because farmers will choose to grow what makes them more money. This is already happening. Less wheat and barley are being produced, in favor of corn, for ethanol, so the price of things like bread and beer, are going up. Farmers need to make a fair living, but if they choose to be motivated more by profit than by the service that they provide in feeding people, and that sort of thing, than a part of the "culture" part of agriculture is lost. But that's just my highly biased opinion.

Many areas of the country will let you choose who your energy provider is. The company that delivers the power, and maintains the lines is your local company, but you can buy "green" energy from any one of a number of different sources. Their prices may be a bit more per Kwh, but, at least it's green.

As far as the biodiesel thing is concerned, there is so much hype here about this, and though I do have several friends who run "veggie" cars, it takes then a good amount of time to collect the waste oil, and process it into biodiesel. Here in the Northeast, there are several companies who are manufacturing biodiesel for home heating fuel, and their prices are a little higher than standard fuel prices.

Not only is the time factor a problem for me, but there is the farm factor. With the current fad being ethanol, farmers are growing fuel crops that used to be food crops. This raises the price of food, and can, in some parts of the planet, cause food shortages, because farmers will choose to grow what makes them more money. This is already happening. Less wheat and barley are being produced, in favor of corn, for ethanol, so the price of things like bread and beer, are going up. Farmers need to make a fair living, but if they choose to be motivated more by profit than by the service that they provide in feeding people, and that sort of thing, than a part of the "culture" part of agriculture is lost. But that's just my highly biased opinion.

Algae is the answer! Second generation biofuels do not use arable land that prevents food from being grown and enjoyed. Waste and cellulosic biomass baby. It's all good.

How about soylent green-based fuels? It's green technology and resolves the population problem at the same time.

How about soylent green-based fuels? It's green technology and resolves the population problem at the same time.
Soylent green is PEOPLE!

I agree that there are some people, some of them elected officials, who would make very good Soylent Green!

(Just think of how much better off we would be without Bushco, Inc.)