For the Apartment Dwellers

[ToAllPointsWest]

GM Engineers, would it be possible to have a Charging Mode wherein the onboard gas engine could recharge the car for a time while it's parked?

I don't really know how useful this might be but for those of us who want to purchase a Volt, but live in a Hi-Rise, it might be useful. Especially since right now, there's no available option at all.

[Altazi]

GM Engineers, would it be possible to have a Charging Mode wherein the onboard gas engine could recharge the car for a time while it's parked?

I don't really know how useful this might be but for those of us who want to purchase a Volt, but live in a Hi-Rise, it might be useful. Especially since right now, there's no available option at all.

The Toyota Prius is less expensive. Why mess with a Volt if you're not going to plug it in?

[omnimoeish]

I agree that you should just buy a Prius, or maybe in a Chevy Cruze when they come out (which I believe will be around the same time as the Volt). But this is an issue that hopefully we as a country can address. Most of the major cities are predominately apartment dwellers. One solution is the wireless electricity transfer that Nikolai Tesla could do and MIT is currently trying to duplicate.

[ToAllPointsWest]

I don't really want a Prius, I want to see GM succeed and I believe they're working hard to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory but building a car that would work very well in cities (one of their target markets) but can only be used sparingly in one.

[G35X]

“ One solution is the wireless electricity transfer that Nikolai Tesla could do and MIT is currently trying to duplicate… “ – Omnimoeish

Yesterday the City of Tokyo started commercial (as opposed to academic) test run of its diesel/electric hybrid bus with induction (non-contact) charging system. A big induction coil embedded in the ground supplies electric energy to the bus, which has similar receptor coil underneath the chassis. Fully charged its range is said to be 15km or a little less than 10 miles. The same system has been in operation at the Haneda International Airport in Tokyo for terminal shuttle buses since February last year. Induction system is workable, at least in its early stage, for vehicles like city buses and delivery vans. Also, taxi cabs are suitable for this system since they have to keep running air conditioner while waiting for a fare at airports, railroad stations etc.

[zhackwyatt]

How would this be more benneficail than just driving the volt in its "Range Extended Mode"?

Anyways, I still see value in the volt as a vehicle that never gets plugged in (because you can't). That is if it has a high MPG rating. Do we know what the MPG rating is w/ a dead battery? Basically a volt that has long ago run its 40 AER.

[Altazi]

How would this be more benneficail than just driving the volt in its "Range Extended Mode"?

Anyways, I still see value in the volt as a vehicle that never gets plugged in (because you can't). That is if it has a high MPG rating. Do we know what the MPG rating is w/ a dead battery? Basically a volt that has long ago run its 40 AER.

But is the value of the Volt such that you can justify the cost differential between it and the Prius or Insight? For me, the value of the Volt lies almost entirely in its plug-in capability. I still may end up with a Prius for that fifth seat . . .

[zhackwyatt]

But is the value of the Volt such that you can justify the cost differential between it and the Prius or Insight? For me, the value of the Volt lies almost entirely in its plug-in capability. I still may end up with a Prius for that fifth seat . . .

Thats an interesting question. Does the volt have any value as a non-plugin hybrid? Basically what apartment dwellers have w/o a public charging infrastructure.

As a side note, I agree about the fifth seat. I live in Phoenix an area perfect for driving a volt, but if its initially released in San Francisco and Washington DC, I may not be able to get one until Gen II anyways, (which probably will have a fifth seat, as they are putting almost all focus into the battery).

[fishmahn]

I don't think GM has submitted the volt to EPA for the mileage tests but they are saying 50mpg. Don't know if that's city, hwy, combined or a pipe dream...

If you can't plug it in, the prius would be a more economical solution. Costs a 'few' thousand less (umm, 10-15 thousand less?) and gets similar gas mileage.

I doubt it would be economical to charge the battery from the generator - you might as well run it in charge-sustaining mode all the time if you can't recharge from an outlet.

I've done some thinking about parking in an apartment. I have a house now, but I won't be able to garage it so my plug in will have to be outside.
- If you're on a low floor and you can stretch an extension cord to the parking lot, you're in.
- If you park in a garage you may be able to get mgt to supply charging stations - there's a couple threads in the last section (community development?) giving starting points.
- If you park on the street you will likely have to wait for the city to provide charging stations (see the community development section...)

Outside of that, I don't think there's much else to do.

This is one of the biggest hurdles affecting electric vehicles until fast-charging takes reasonable time - any more than 15 min is too long.

The other of course being range anxiety. If you can go 200 miles on the highway and fast-charge in 15 min - and recharge stations are as common as gas stations - then range anxiety is mitigated.

Fishmahn