Update: The Chevy Volt, the Electric Car of the Future

papastardust hit the nail on the head. GM has some of the best spin doctors anywhere. They have managed to get press releases and articles published in trade-related consumer magazines for decades. Half a century ago, they were trumpeting the "wonderful" advances GM cars pioneered which made all cars safer or smoother riding or whatever. Actually, at that time, they weren't stretching too far. Alfred Sloan and his contemporaries were great innovators, and working for a large corporation like GM ensured that at least some pf their best ideas would be applied to GM vehicles. Alas, since the sixties (more or less), American car makers have been outpaced in design, innovation, overall quality, and value by manufacturers which are based, in many cases, in countries which were at war with the Allies in WWII. But GM still is able to convince the media that they have great ideas. Like the Vega, Chevette, and other models with great concepts but poor execution.
Chevrolet keeps promising the stars and delivering dust, while the public increasingly votes with their pocketbooks - across the street.
How they plan to market a car with a non-existent technology (at the price point they are proposing) is a great mystery. Perhaps when it doesn't work out, they will try to shift the blame to Panasonic or Epson; nobody would believe them if they pointed to Toyota or Hyundai anymore.
It is wishful thinking by a bunch of desperate, rich executives, I fear.

I'm glad to see us getting somewhere...

...if only within the stupid, greedy, profit-driven structure. We've got to work with what we have. It's not ideal in any way, but that's what's there. Until we manage to change what motivates our society, that's what we've got to work with. If we can't (or won't) do that, in the big picture, we won't get anywhere at all.

Unfortunately, a $30-40K four-seater isn't realistic-- or even really viable-- for a family of five on $27K a year. So for us, it looks like it's going to be being as sparing as possible with the most efficient used compact conventional or gas/electric hybrid vehicle we can get our hands on for the forseeable future. Probably for a lot of other families, too.

It's too bad everything "has" to be driven by the profit motive.

Why don't they put a photovoltaic cell in the roof of the car to charge it while it is sitting at the office for 8 hours a day! wouldn't that make the car truly green and help extend your range for your commute. With the advances in technology in the PV industry you would think that it could be installed so that it would be integral and not look like a piece of plywood on the roof.

Sounds good- on paper- except for 3 things:

#1 Cost.

#2 Still fossil fuel-dependent. Sure, the engine isn't run directly by gasoline power, but it still utilizes it indirectly, *and* the electricity that the engine is charged with at night is produced largely by...wait for it...coal-burning power plants. If, in fact, we are using up all our fossil fuel resournces, we still have to find a replacement.

#3 Expecting employers to install charging stations in parking lots for the benefit and convenience of the employees is unrealistic. It's expensive, time-consuming and inconvenient, and at a time when employers are doing everything they can to reduce their operating costs, it's unlikely they'll be willing to accomodate electic car drivers. Those who do will pass on the cost to the employees (plus a little profit, of course), resulting in a hit to the workers' pockets.

Nice theory, though.

WHAT A LAUGH. Chevy had a great electric car and they shut it down..wouldn't extend thier lease or let them be bought outright.CRUSH EM?? Ford's electric Ranger recieved praise from its owners ,TEN YEARS AGO. Can you imagine a car company that would give up the money that is made on maintenance, no oil changes and engine overhauls. Call Texaco if you want the worlds best batteries, but they won't admit they have them. Mother Earth News, are you really for MOTHER EARTH???

Brian,
The increased drag of a turbine mounted on the car would require more motive power which would require more energy which would negate any " ongoing" charge from the turbine.
Alas, perpetual motion is still out of reach until we rewrite the laws of physics.

I have read that current L.I. batteries are good for about 2000 recharges. That's about three years of twice a day recharges. Since replacement parts usually cost about five times O.E. parts how much will it cost to replace the L.I. batteries when they fail?

$0 miles for $30,000 +. Tesla motors is giving close to 200 mi. for $110,000. Tesla is a small company with little backing. GM should bew able to equal thir efforts for less money. Very disapointed
Ken

what is keeping someone from mounting a wind power turbine on the hood or roof of the car to provide ongoing charge for the batteries?

Todd

I'm sure you will be as disappointed as I was to hear that the gas engine in the Volt will not have the ability to recharge the battery. The engine will only power the electric motor. I am hoping that as time goes on GM will add the recharging feature. GM has given the impression that recharging is possible using some tricky wording in their ad campaign.

Gale

When I first heard of the Volt it was supposed to be ready by 2008 and cost about $20,000.I was pretty excited.Then it would be ready in 2010 and cost $30,000.Less excited.My quess is if it ever ready it will cost $40,000 or better.Not excited at all.It will not be within the reach of the average car buyer and it can't be.GM had the future in it's hand with the EV-1. They crushed the EV and the company with it.Now Toyota is the world leader.