CaptJackSparrow :
Yeah, I like to dump in clean places myself.
Hate it when the TP roll looks like somebody pissed on it.  

I just go in the back seat and pick it up when I stop.

 

It doesn't really matter to me what size it is .
If it is what I want , I will buy it .
If it isn't what I want I wont buy it regardless.
But , hey I am a Canadian.

 

Keep in mind that this is just Gen 1 Volt. No doubt, GM will be looking at customer feedback when redesigning its future versions.

For example, if the average feedback that GM is getting from its customers indicates that they would tend to prefer a 350 or 400 mile gas tank range instead of 300, then management may consider adopting a larger tank.

Similarly, I had read that GM will be looking at the feedback that it gets from its initial customers concerning the 40 miles of pure electric range. If customers say that they would have preferred to have 45 or 50 miles of pure electric range, then this might be a consideration in future designs as well.

Hopefully also, the ICE will become more fuel-efficient, say by adopting the Atkinson instead of Otto stroke etc., but that's another matter which will also have to be left to future designs.

Best regards, George, Sudbury, Canada...go volt...

 

Rashiid Amul : CaptJackSparrow:
Yeah, I like to dump in clean places myself.
Hate it when the TP roll looks like somebody pissed on it.

I just go in the back seat and pick it up when I stop.

So you don't stop to GO in the back seat? Now THAT'S distracted driving! (g)
Be well,
Tagamet

Let's Just Get The ***VOLTS'* * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS

 

off subject...Given Toyota's problems, there is more talk that the braking system problems are due to software....Does anyone know if the Volt's braking system is also based on software or is it actual mechanical. Very important..thanks!

 

Dave G : In the end, the windmills that Pickens is funding will mostly replace coal, which isn’t a bad thing, but it has little to do with energy independence.

Renewables and Nuclear have to do with cheap energy in the future (no fuel cost) and creating jobs now. So because of our economy it is a great time to move faster on these.

The importance of eliminating imported Oil - which we've gone over many times - is not talked about enough by our politicians. I keep wondering if this is because they are afraid to piss off the Saudis.

But we can reach this goal and everyone buying BEV/EREVs is a HUGE step along the way.

 

Dave G : Natural gas is an essential part of the fuel mix for electricity. It’s the only fuel that allows the burn rate to change very quickly

Actually leveling the electric load will reduce the importance of this issue.

And I believe it is a fact that Utilities could have dealt with this already but they didn't want to because they could get by regulators the need for building more plants to meet peak demands, when all they needed to do was have smart meters so they could charge a night , day and peak rate.

That way people would already be running their dish washers and dryers late at night etc. And electric cars in 10 years will allow utilities to balance their load.

Also they already have proven that Wind Power can be forecasted 24 hours in advance because of weather models, enough for them to manage their supply and demand.

So wind easily can support over 20% of Grid power, probably could do 30-40%. We do need more Nuclear, and all the other renewables as it is always good not to put all your eggs in one basket.

 

jeffhre : That sounds very heavy and inefficient. How about we get better mileage by tossing those bulky batteries. That genset seems kinda heavy too. Don’t need much regen on a 1000 mile trip, seems like a great way to lighten up. Perfect high mileage vehicle for those long trips. Great idea Noel!!

#105

Well, if Rashiid's commute is 100 miles uphill each way, maybe I can figure out how mine is downhill both ways. Let me get back to you on that.

 

CaptJackSparrow : Big whooptie dooodooo.

#107

My sentiments exactly. +1

 

#62 Estero : Everyone stops to rest and eat while on an extended trip. It is wishful thinking that you’ll be able to recharge the Volt battery during those stops.

Wishful thinking? I think NOT. I read about EV enthusiasts that have converted their ICE to lead acid battery BEV's that have charged their car while on the road. Charging Infrastructure is already under development in a number of locations across the nation. With public awareness, hotels, motels, restaurants, Malls, and other businesses will make 110V locations available to attract customers. Some utilities are already putting rapid chargers along the highway in sight of high tension transmission lines.By the year 2012, available infrastructure will be widespread. It won't be a problem.

In addition, by 2012, battery technology will give us the option of greater AER, and ICE technology will give greater CS mpg for EVERs. If demand for an EREV with over 500 miles range is sufficient, then all auto EV manufacturers will have to up-size their vehicles to provide a large enough gas tank.

As for your problem with how far away your relatives, I can only recommend moving closer to them, or forcing them to move closer to you. Then again you can always rent a vehicle for the trip, or own two cars (one EV and one ICE).

Happy trails to you 'til we meet again.

 

BillR : I wouldn’t be surprised if the Volt specifically prohibits trailers (too much added stress on the frame/transmission).

#106

Well, there's always the roof rack option, also suggested here recently. Not too good for the aero though, LOL.

 

prowler : that’s OK, I’m going to leave mine empty (if I can).  
Umm, I choose not to. Just in case I actually do use the engine/generator I don't want stale fuel. Nothing worse than running an engine on fuel and not maximizing the mpg.

 

CaptJackSparrow : All this trailer talk makes me feel at home.

#109

Glad to be of service, LOL. +1

 

Tagamet : When folks are buying a car
, are they more interested in Range or mpg? I think that the mpg in CS mode will need to be fairly impressive or it will be eclipsed by other hybrid (or non-hybrid) cars’ mpg in the minds of the man on the street buyer. Ads are built around mpg figures far more than range per tankful. It just makes more sense for the Volt to be able to go 50 mpg in CS mode and have a small tank, than to have consumers look at a lower mpg rating compared to other vehicles.

#110

Damn right! +1

 

RB : . For sure a PR disaster. On the other hand there are, after all, a lot of Toyota cars out there giving good service to their owners day after day with no issues. It is hard to maintain any sense of balance during a media explosion.

#122

I have to agree. +1

I'm as much of a GM loyalist as anybody here, but I personally don't think that GM and others do themselves any credit by appearing to kick Toyota while they're down. The rebates for Toyota owners are a prime example. Better to just keep on trying to develop better products and let Toyota's problems speak for themselves, IMHO.

I think it was Rashiid who comment to the effect that he among us who is perfect should cast the first stone. God forbid, but we could be next, you know.

 

Tagamet : It’s always about trade-offs, and in this case it’s far better in my mind to have a small tank and impressive mpg, as opposed to throwing in a big tank (and it’s extra weight) to improve range.
I agree with you 100% on this BUT you're assuming you can do one or ther other. I doubt the engineers can do anything about the MPG in CS Mode at this point. That would probably take a different engine or a big design change, something along these lines. Changing the size of the gas tank on the other hand is easily doable. In fact Farrah is basically saying that the size of the gas tank is a tweak they can do fairly easily.

 

Noel Park : I’m as much of a GM loyalist as anybody here, but I personally don’t think that GM and others do themselves any credit by appearing to kick Toyota while they’re down.
I'd like to agree with you but I'm not sure this is the case. The primary reason for this is that Toyota has been riding (coasting in my mind) on their reputation for quality and reliability for several years now. Since quality is in essence Toyota's positioning statement, raising doubts about Toyota's product quality might be effective in a way that raising doubts about another car maker, say Kia, would not be. Once those doubts are raised and people start actually looking at the reliability numbers they may draw different conclusions than they would have arrived at had they just relied on conventional wisdom.

This could be worth a point or two of market share, and since Toyota has a big market share that's a lot of vehicles.

 

Noel Park : I’m as much of a GM loyalist as anybody here, but I personally don’t think that GM and others do themselves any credit by appearing to kick Toyota while they’re down. The rebates for Toyota owners are a prime example. Better to just keep on trying to develop better products and let Toyota’s problems speak for themselves, IMHO.

Well said! I think that GM can stand tall on their own without having to stand on top of Toyota's problems.
What goes around, comes around, and Gm has a really neat new car about to be released!
Be well,
Tagamet

Let's Just Get The ***VOLTS'* * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS

 

A 300 mile range seems pretty typical in the US, although this metric, like everything else except fuel efficiency, saw a fair amount of bloat from 1970 to 2010. If you need more range, you can just fill your trunk and rear seats with gasoline, like the mini E did with its power pack to get a decent range, right?.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071220211509AAQnuJe

It turns out that gas station use frequency is determined more by gas tank size than MPG, so gas station use frequency is a pretty meaningless metric for efficiency or measuring gas usage by volume. That's why it's featured prominently in ads, which are usually almost completely informationless.

What's important in the photo to this article is that the challeges are laid bare to all. Combine (bio) diesel fuel and electric drive for best energy density and efficiency and improve everything in between them. Voltec turbo TDI, anyone? Gen IV?

 

DonC :
I agree with you 100% on this BUT you’re assuming you can do one or ther other. I doubt the engineers can do anything about the MPG in CS Mode at this point. That would probably take a different engine or a big design change, something along these lines. Changing the size of the gas tank on the other hand is easily doable. In fact Farrah is basically saying that the size of the gas tank is a tweak they can do fairly easily.  

Hi DonC,
It's just my personal belief that GM's Volt history has been pretty good at under-promising and over- delivering. I think that they are sensitive to the CS mpg as a key to out-shining it's competition - not "just" the facts that it has an AER of 40, no range-anxiety, and range of 300 or so. Because of this, I'm thinking that they already *have* the 50 mpg CS mode wrapped up. No changes necessary. Surely they have to keep *SOMETHING* amazing under cover prior to the spring EPA testing and the Volt's release. As always, I'm just making my own assumptions. The neat part is that we no longer have 3 years to wait to find out!
Be well,
Tagamet

Let's Just Get The ***VOLTS'* * * Wheels On The Road!!**********NPNS

 

300 gas-only range thus 340 total?

I think having a total ranger longer than most gas cars would be a great idea. It would put the bed the complaint about EVs having short range . . . he, this EV has range LONGER than gas cars!

 

600 miles was CRAZY. Use that space for storage. Or an area for battery expansion would be cool but that is dreaming.

 

DonC : This could be worth a point or two of market share, and since Toyota has a big market share that’s a lot of vehicles.

#141

This is clearly true, but the massive negative publicity noted above must surely be enough to get the public's attention without GM having to give the impression of piling on.

 

Tagamet : Because of this, I’m thinking that they already *have* the 50 mpg CS mode wrapped up.

#144

"From your lips to God's ear" as well. +1

 

Between 300 to 350 mile range sounds completely reasonable to me. That's roughly what my Jeep Grand Cherokee gets. I can understand people's opinions wanting more range to beat the Fusion Hybrid and so forth, but in reality, if the Volt scores a 300 mile range or better, it should match-up fine in comparison to everything else.

For the customers who are adamant that they need a vehicle with longer range, I suppose a larger gas tank option would be really easy to accommodate for GM provided they have the space under the car, (which I think they do looking at the pictures).