How will the Chevrolet Volt be better than a Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid?

While I typically agree with the majority of your posts, this portion I'd challenge. Our typical production is around 2 billion barrels, versus the demand of 12-14 billion. So I'd propose we are a bit lower than half. ;-)

 

Only have 2010 data. We produced 7.55 millions per day. We imported 9.44. Out of that 9.44, most of them (about 2/3) are from Canada or Mexico. Only 1/3 of 9.44 are from the unfriendly countires.

This political angle was made very out of blown at GM-Volt. A lot of people bought that "domestic" idealogy and Prius was treated as if we are at war with Japan.

RITA | BTS | Table 4-1: Overview of U.S. Petroleum Production, Imports, Exports, and Consumption

 

Is this the same GM that destroyed the cable car inductry in San Francisco, took tax-payer money to keep from going under, regularly lobbies against environmental regulation, that continually praises and builds dirty inefficient vehicles while greenwashing with a few efficient vehicles? If so I would rather not support them regardless of what soil they are based on..... which may change soon considering all of the overseas contracts and markets they are trying to enter.

 

That is great justification. You should find those GM executives graves and stomp and spit on them. Then we'll go to Japan and find the graves of the folks in Pearl Harbor and ... see how stupid this rational is?!?

 

Read the entire story.
[ame=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_Streetcar_Conspiracy]Great American streetcar scandal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia[/ame]

 

Read this entire story.
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor"]Attack_on_Pearl_Harbor[/ame]
[ame="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pearl_Harbor"]Pearl_Harbor[/ame]
Both are historical and based on PEOPLE in command at a single point in time of history and do not represent every GM employee nor Japanese person. (FYI, I have nothing against Japan - ancient history)

BTW, every electric vehicle forum wants the visitors to read the EV1 one story as well. All this is so shortsighted and not for the good of our future generations and families.

 

Whatever happened to saving gas and not sending money outside the US?

Let's not go into historic war like the Civil war or the fight against GB. They have nothing to do with the Volt nor PiP.

Let's focus on efficiency, emission and cost.

 

I agree but FL8 brought this up. Right?

My reasons for owning a Volt are so many. As an early adopter of new technology I had no illusions of saving big money. I've saved and sacrified for many years driving old cars or cheap econo cars. This car is a dream come true almost. Early adopters help technology such as early buyers of cell phones, VCRs, flat screens, etc. I did buy my 1st Chevrolet, the Volt, because I had so much confidence in GM and what it it meant to them and fellow American workers in that auto supply, plant, etc. Eventually I'll break even and even be ahead.

Aside from what you mentioned I do love the car because it is sporty (electric "instant" torque & regen (manual feel) engine breaking), fun, smooth, quiet, loaded with features, and gets noticed. A few hours ago I got some compliments at the stoplight. Everyone is impressed with out well they made the car look and how it is different looking than most econo cars.

 

And should I go find the current executives and punch them in the gut as well? GM has not changed and I simply won't support them any more. Nationalism is a joke when it comes to vehicle manufacturers.

 

Actually, I'm supporting your stand.

 

The past is the past. But unfortunately, GM continues to oppose the public interest in a myriad of ways. The present management of GM is the reason I dislike the company so strongly, and the reason I would not buy a GM product unless it were really head and shoulders above the other alternatives. The Volt, to my mind, is the worst of both worlds: as an EV it is mediocre, as a gas car it is lackluster. The Leaf has more than double the EV range; the Prius gets way better gas mileage.

I do not criticize anyone who buys a Volt. I just consider it an overpriced car that as they used to say, is neither fish nor fowl. Neither one thing nor the other. It does both, but does neither very well. And it's priced to fail: GM does not want electric cars on the road, so their half-hearted venture into "range-extended EV" is priced so high that relatively few people will buy it, and they'll be able to either cancel the program after a few years, or keep production numbers minimal.

 

There are new Volt owners every week who are very pleased with their purchase and there are several month owners, such as myself, who are still thrilled with their purchase.

The ~40 EV miles (25-50) was very intentional as it covers more than 70% of peoples daily driving needs (see reference at bottom of this post). It's battery is also sized in this sweet spot so you can charge on 110/120v easily overnight. I have a neighbor doing exactly that. No 220v/L2 charger install required.

I and many are getting ~40 MPG. i) Compared to what ... 95% of the cars on the road this is excellent. ii) Prius is king but it makes no difference to most Volt drivers because the MAIN goal of the cars design is to drive on electricity. That is why it does not recharge the battery up when it is in Charge Sustaining (CS) mode. As varies GM sources point out they want you to charge at home off the grid.

My Volt wakes up and charges at midnight when my rates are lower and I have no impact on the grid. My electrical rates vary hourly but are pretty cheap at midnight. It probably cost me $0.50-$0.75/day depending on how much battery I used the previous day. After I switched to the hourly rate plan (vs fixed) and changed to CFL bulbs in several 'popular' areas of my house ... my electrical bill went down even tho I was now charging the Volt!! (I tracked my electricity for 2 years before the Volt and 6ish months after)

These pictures are from today Sun 23Oct2011. They show 3 things.

1. My last 7093 miles have used 12.3 gallons of gas (aka 0.173 gals/100miles)
2. Today I went 38 EV miles (ie. on the battery alone) and it shows I have 12 EV miles left on the battery.
3. My lifetime (Feb'11) Miles Per Gallons **used** is 211 (note: I bought the car in NY and drove it to IL)

I consider the car an enormous success!!!


.


Miles per day reference:

.
Published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the Omnibus Household Survey, or OmniStats data, were based on a household survey of 1000 randomly selected households asked about their driving habits in the previous one month (done in 2003).The entire report can be read here:
http://www.bts.gov/publications/omnistats/volume_03_issue_04/pdf/entire.pdf
.

 

We are a few lone voices among a sea of noise.

It's what the masses accept which determines actual merit.

Also, keep in mind when posting data that duration is needed. Without a frame of reference (ownership began when?) it doesn't allow people to consider how that information could apply to their situation.
.

 

No mention of kWh electricity used? Sounds like you have found a free energy.

 

Thanks. I updated my post with the inner quoted text.

 

In another word, we will never know how many kWh your Volt consumed?

 

I can't match Scott's usage percentage (I've used 82gallons in just under 11,000 miles), the Volt is the best car I have ever owned [mercury, pontiac, ford, jeep, dodge, and a prius].

I don't use gas 4 out of 5 weekdays, and when I do go over I am still hitting 70-80 mpg for the day.

Sporty EV driving is incredible. My wife borrowed the Volt yesterday and was alarmed when she realized she was doing 86 mph because there had been no audible clues to her she was going that fast, just smooth silent running.

I originally bought my prius because I wanted the most efficient car I could find that met my needs (translation - wife wouldn't let me get a Insight-I). The Volt s now the most efficient car that meets my needs.

 

From a rough calculation I would guess about 2200. However, what is most important to many people is using as little gasoline as possible.
If someone uses a tenth of the gas they would use in a Prius, many would count that as a good thing. Again, I am not saying everyone will get results like this (kudos to Scott for doing so!). Looks like he got the best car for his driving habits.
Shouldn't that be everyone's goal, getting the most efficient vehicle for their driving needs?

 

Curious. Did you ever eat that chocolate bunny?

 

New Volt owners every week? Sure, but how many? In a nation of 300 million very few indeed. I don't doubt that many owners are happy with it. There's a strong emotional/psychological drive to justify any big purchase. And a new car is always fun. I'll bet Edsel owners were absolutely thrilled with their car. And I'm sure that at half the price it would be a good deal. But it costs too much for what it is, and that will keep sales low so that GM can eventually cancel the project and claim "We tried, we really did."