EREVs don't need more range, that's why they have engines. The Voltec system is a marvel, but it's far from refined or simple. Making the system an order of magnitude simpler (which for example would get rid of half the theoretical discussions on this board, and make the average IQ salesman look like he knows what he's talking about) and getting enough battery range to achieve a similar range in a somewhat larger vehicle would do wonders for sales. A little marketing would help too, and once the system gets simpler the marketing can focus on what the average idiot cares about in a car.
Multiple choice - What could GM do to increase EREV sales? Ideas? (2nd try)
[Disclaimer - opinions and poll setup here entirely my own - not speaking for anyone else].
[Also - sorry to a few who already voted - the original setup I had was missing at least one key option, so it seemed best to delete and repost.]
There have been stories recently that GM is considering ending Volt sales. As well there is some indication it is headed in a strong BEV direction. This poll is to brainstorm a bit as to ways that GM could improve sales of vehicles equipped with its impressive EREV technology.
[Also - sorry to a few who already voted - the original setup I had was missing at least one key option, so it seemed best to delete and repost.]
There have been stories recently that GM is considering ending Volt sales. As well there is some indication it is headed in a strong BEV direction. This poll is to brainstorm a bit as to ways that GM could improve sales of vehicles equipped with its impressive EREV technology.
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When was the last time you saw a Volt or Bolt commercial? They barely existed, and are non-existent now. How are people supposed to know about these cars? I see at least one Chevy commercial every day, yet the Volt and Bolt are nowhere to be seen.GM and others are pretty good at marketing. Having them spend more and do a better job explaining these wonderful vehicles isn't likely to lead to big changes in the proportion of EREV or BEV vehicles on the road.
People vote with their wallets, and they'll vote for ease and convenience. The easiest, most convenient and cheapest vehicles to this point are ICs.
I love my Volt and, now living in CA, I'm not alone. But even there, the market seems saturated as sales have stalled.
BEVs and EREVs can be promoted best by government (think regulations that eliminate or discourage ICs). But who wants that?
Promoting what's best for us. Isn't that the role of government? Certainly no company is going to do that. They are only out for profits. Did you ever see Phillip Morris telling us that cigarettes were harmful? Of course not -- even though they knew all along.
All you have to do is look at the solar powered car challengers to see what the most efficient drag profile looks like.It's not quite that easy. And little front end treatments on a vehicle are only going to buy you so much. Interesting aside to that - I worked on a project a bit where we generated a NEGATIVE CdA on a semi truck via active blowing on the back end of the trailer. A small 2 stroke could supply enough power to turn a blower and basically cancel out any drag force on the truck. Net benefit was way less fuel consumption even with the extra engine. Little tiny treatments like keeping wind off wheels, sloping the back etc help, but if you want the same trailer access as all semis today - you're stuck with A LOT of base drag on the trailer due to that huge dead space.
A little CUV can probably be fine with a bit of a battery bump over a current Volt, but it will need a bit more battery to give the same ~50 mile AER, which I think is what most of the public is going to want to see.
Trucks need a huge amount more energy to move around with their current size and styling. No way around it. I'm betting the Tesla "truck" will be more like a mini-truck in comparison to the "half-ton" gas trucks you see today.
As an engineer I have great hope continual improvements can be made, but there's also the reality of the very basics of the vehicle type being against efficiency. If you make it ultra efficient, it's not really a "truck" in most people's mind anymore, is it?
This is what it takes to get a small truck down to just below the CdA drag of a stock Volt.
The idea of a 100 mile range EREV presents an interesting thought. With that much range, how useful would the ICE be other than a boat anchor to be lugged around. The ICE (on average) would be used so infrequently that EMM and FMM modes would prevail for it. I imagine there's a tipping point where an EREV is no longer a cost effective model.Dream on.... I wanted this in 2013 when I bought my volt.... still waiting.... these EVs are getting released at a glacial pace. In 2010 the Volt was released with 35 miles of range. 7.3 years later we're only in the 50s. I'd love to get 100 miles plus fuel backup, but have given up holding my breath for it.
No one would ever call you "average"I would use the ICE all the time as I have a 50 mile round trip commute, no convenient charging at work, and a long distance trip every few weeks or so to Chicago, St. Louis, Bloomington, or Indy. Give me 200 miles with fast charging (without the goofy Bolt/Fit body style) and I could probably live without the ICE.
I think a potential end game (which looks nothing like today's market) could easily involve some modularity. You chose the car, then you choose what propulsion system makes sense for you. Instead of choosing between a V8 and a V6, you choose between an ICE or a battery.At least Tesla give you the option to pick a smaller or larger battery. I wish GM did this. I'd pay extra for the bigger battery. End user upgradable would be awesome, but even a dealer-installed option would be nice.
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