[Dave B]

Now that GM (Via Bob Lutz) has acknowledged serious thought was given to the icar or BEV Volt, how much would people be willing to pay for a BEV without the range-extender?

I'd be more than happy to pay $30-35K for a Volt with 100 mile range. Thoughts on this? How much would a li-ion pack cost??? You'd have to save some of the complexity, maintenance, etc. in the final design by going with a pure EV, wouldn't you.

 

[Dave B]

Also, why not award the loser of the pack contract the contract for the longer range BEV Volt. THAT sounds fair and a way to keep progressing to the Volt Gen 2.

 

[Jason M. Hendler]

Considering that A123 is partnering with Hymotion to convert the Prius to a Volt type configuration, as well as supplying Th!nk with their battery packs, I don't think A123 is too concerned if they don't become a partial supplier for the Volt.

 

[Dave B]

Considering that A123 is partnering with Hymotion to convert the Prius to a Volt type configuration, as well as supplying Th!nk with their battery packs, I don't think A123 is too concerned if they don't become a partial supplier for the Volt.

The GM contract is THE contract for A123. And I'd like to stay away from conversions for obvious reasons as a consumer. Warranty issues would ease consumer hesitations about buying this new technology.

 

[Koz]

Based on what we've been told by GM, A123, and the media; I'm guessing 100 mile BEV version will cost about the same as an E-REV version of the Volt for first production run or two. The BEV should get cheaper from there.

 

[KariK]

GM will of course also need a supplier for the upcoming hybrid Saturn VUE battery packs as well. Maybe they use that as a lure to make sure they have multiple suppliers.

 

[Dave B]

Based on what we've been told by GM, A123, and the media; I'm guessing 100 mile BEV version will cost about the same as an E-REV version of the Volt for first production run or two. The BEV should get cheaper from there.

We keep guessing about costs of the Volt. I'm sure LG and A123 have a better idea about costs of packs than even GM. Lyle may have better luck with those guys.

 

[Robert Neighbour]

Why reinvent the wheel?

I'm the guy that asked the question at the NY auto show about the BEV version of the Volt. I wanted the GM folks to know that there clearly IS a market for an all electric version.

But, why reinvent the wheel? Whichever supplier coughs up the battery for the "regular" REV Volt, why not just put 3 packs of the same battery in, packaging permitting? You might be able to squeeze in the extra two where the little ICE motor was.

Cost would be: Add- Engineering. Add- 2 battery packs. Subtract- ICE, smog controls, complex computers, radiator(May need one for the electrics anyway), gas tank, and all the other junk a pure EV just doesn't need....

I remember one very telling comment at the CARB Hearings. Not the recent ones, but a few years ago. Someone worked out the numbers, and figured that Toyota could do EXACTLY this with the Prius, and sell it for about the same price as the hybrid version. And get about 120-150 mile range. (Before you get into the size-of-the-Prius-motor argument, realize that the current generation Prius motor is about the same size as the RAV-4 EV that Toyota had made earlier).

Just a thought.

Thanks again, Lyle, for all your good work!

 

[Texas]

In retrospect, what has been going on in the automobile industry makes so much sense. First we have big gasoline-burning cars. We start having some problems with oil (embargoes, wars, etc.) so some of us decide that switching to pure BEVs would be a good idea. I imagine it went something like this:

"I think we should try to get away from burning petroleum in our cars. Why don't we build a battery powered car?", says the guy sitting at the bar. The guy sitting next to him says, "Yeah but batteries suck." The first guy retorts, "You are right that battery technology sucks so why don't we make a car that has both? That way we can get a little help from the battery and slowly ween ourselves from the big smelly ICE." The guy siting next to him then says, "Yeah! After that we can just keep making the engine smaller and the battery bigger until Poof - no more ICE." The first guy raises his glass of beer and says, "Now that, my friend, makes perfect sense... Cheers!"

So, Let's just get going and buy our Volts with the crappy 40 miles or less range and be part of the equation to transform the automobile from an ugly duckling ICE to a beautiful BEV swan.

 

[solomantiger]

I think the only reason they don't want a BEV just yet is because of the simple fact that you can't recharge unless you're home. I personally would love a full electric car... that being said, can you imagine how much crap GM would get if some idiot ran out of energy on the highway without a way to recharge it.

 

[&eye]

BEVs had damn well better be the widely accepted solution of the future...

3 ideas to make them more efficient:

1. thin-film solar panels on the roof
2. small wind turbines built into the front grill to lessen the drain on the battery/recycle some of the energy
3. capacitors to supply bursts of energy for acceleration to lessen drain on the battery

 

[Slipslider]

I think the only reason they don't want a BEV just yet is because of the simple fact that you can't recharge unless you're home. I personally would love a full electric car... that being said, can you imagine how much crap GM would get if some idiot ran out of energy on the highway without a way to recharge it.

Yeah, idiots run out of gas all the time and it's readily available..
Roadside assitance would be really busy.... "Dammit, not another BEV, won't these guys learn!"

Or how about being stuck in an unexpected traffic jam for a few hours ...

For me a BEV is out of the question.. I'm just trying to save on the cost of gas, not reorganize my life around a car...

(.. I have no Idea what a BEV is .. but i'm assuming it is a full electric vehicle from reading the threads)

 

[zzyzzx]

BEVs had damn well better be the widely accepted solution of the future...

ideas to make them more efficient:

2. small wind turbines built into the front grill to lessen the drain on the battery/recycle some of the energy
3. capacitors to supply bursts of energy for acceleration to lessen drain on the battery

Where did you get your engineering degree from?

 

[OPEC SUCKS]

Uh, I don't think so...

&eye, you do realize that is not feasible ??

 

[TedinFortMyers]

Never heard of that happening in California with the EV-1. Probably idiots are too embarrased that they ran out of energy to report it. TED

 

[Dave B]

Where did you get your engineering degree from?

Not exactly constructive criticism, but certainly all of these ideas have been hammered by the respected engineers in the field.

HOWEVER, the same names have indicated that BEVs have perfectly reasonable and sustainable in this marketplace. I'd cite to my sources but there are too many. Deutsche Bank was the first major that said it was feasible. Now can we get back on track?

Why not just use the Volt's plumbing, subtract the range extender and have a new "pack" that can handle 150 miles plus? This was easily accomplsihed by Tesla for a pack that cost $26,000 (I could be off on my figure, but not that far off). And the rage was 250. I want my BEV.