Volt chief engineer takes first drive in integration prototype [w/VIDEO]

[DaveinOlyWA]

Originally Posted by JSH

That is scary. A NEV that doesn't meet crash standards modified to go 60 mph.

very true, but i have an NEV that does 38 mph...not scary at all. have coasted down hills at 45 mph...that is getting on the edge.

but having a car that "can go" 60 mph means that i can get a car that "will go" 40 mph up that hill i travel to work every day...the one i currently do at 26 mph (pretty much the lowest speed my Zenn will go no matter how steep the hill)

plus, i would love the opportunity to "burn em off " every once in a while

[daniel]

People are modding the Xebra to go 50 mph, but I had mine up to 50 going downhill once, and it was very scary. OTOH, a Corbin Sparrow will go freeway speed, and if you put lithium in it, you can get pretty fair range out of it. Safety? It's a motorcycle! Safety is not a word you use when talking about motorcycles.

[hill]

Originally Posted by JSH

That is scary. A NEV that doesn't meet crash standards modified to go 60 mph.

Can't be any worse than being hit on a kawasaki at 60mph. And easier to keep upright in the rain.


.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by hill

Can't be any worse than being hit on a kawasaki at 60mph. And easier to keep upright in the rain.

When I ride my motorcycles I carry my protection on my person. Full-face helmet, armored riding suit, back protector, gloves, boots.

I would much rather crash my motorcycle at 60 than a non-compliant car.

[hill]

Originally Posted by JSH

When I ride my motorcycles I carry my protection on my person. Full-face helmet, armored riding suit, back protector, gloves, boots.

I would much rather crash my motorcycle at 60 than a non-compliant car.

ok, well good luck with that. I'd hate to see that happen to you. If I had a dollar for every youtube video showing dirt bike riders at MUCH lower speeds heading for the pearly gates, I'd be retired. btw ... what was the name of the trick rider we posted about not too long ago? ... attempting the flip? Fatal accident? can't remember.

[JSH]

Originally Posted by hill

ok, well good luck with that. I'd hate to see that happen to youl. If I had a dollar for every youtube video showing dirt bike riders at MUCH lower speeds heading for the pearly gates, I'd be retired. btw ... what was the name of the trick rider we posted about not too long ago? ... attempting the flip? Fatal accident? can't remember.

Riding on the street is much different than attempting to do no-handed backflips 60 feet in the air. Dirt bikers are usually hurt when the miss landings on jumps. While the speeds may look slow, most are traveling in excess of 50 mph.

Yes riders do crash and die while riding on the street. However, proper gear greatly reduces the chance of injury. (I've personally crashed 6 times, twice on the street and 4 times on a track.)

[DaveinOlyWA]

my cousins son is a pro rider (also a cage fighter!!) he hits 75 mph on the straights!! so its easy to see why the accident rate is high, but most accidents are caused by SOMEONE ELSE hitting you which causes you to lose control

[ljbad4life]

hey I just read on autobloggreen that Gm expects the Volt to the sportier alternative to the prius and the insight. That just doesn't fly IMHO. Maybe GM should have worried more about the EV range than the "sportiness" of it. By the time the volt is produced there will be plenty of sportier alternatives like Infiniti (their hybrid will be available in the M sedan next year)and Tesla Model S. If Gm were smart they would stop comparing it to the other hybrids and make a distinction that it is a ev first and it is range extended.

I honestly can't see that I-4 being that efficient once its going. The set up would give maybe a 20% rise in fuel economy vs the typical ICE config.

[daniel]

Originally Posted by ljbad4life

If Gm were smart ...

"If GM were smart"

[Muhahahahaz]

Originally Posted by daniel

Dream on! Evan will be driving his Tesla Model S before anyone can actually buy a Volt. And if they ever do build the Volt (I bet they won't) it will probably get about 25 mpg when the ICE kicks in, after 7 or 8 miles.

LOL. Your confidence in GM is amazing.

I was sort of a Chevy guy myself... <3 the new Corvettes!

(Also love the look of the new Camaro, although to start making them again NOW when we are finally making good headway with greener vehicles seems really stupid...)

But anyway, I'm only 22, and now that GM is going through these financial troubles, who knows where my loyalties may lie in the future...

All I know is that I'm never buying ICE-only again!