GM says new Volt to get 230 mpg in city driving

[Moby]

In The South it seems almost un-American to drive a car that gets low gas mileage so I wonder how they feel about this.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gm_volt_mileage

By KIMBERLY S. JOHNSON and TOM KRISHER, AP Auto Writers Kimberly S. Johnson And Tom Krisher, Ap Auto Writers – 1 hr 54 mins ago

WARREN, Michigan – General Motors Corp. said Tuesday its Chevrolet Volt rechargeable electric car should get 230 mpg in city driving, more than four times the current champion, the Toyota Prius.

The Volt is powered by an electric motor and a battery pack with a 40-mile range. After that, a small internal combustion engine kicks in to generate electricity for a total range of 300 miles. The battery pack can be recharged from a standard home outlet.

GM is marketing the 230-mile figure following early tests using draft guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for calculating the mileage of extended range electric vehicles.

The EPA guidelines, developed with guidance from automakers, figure that cars like the Volt will travel more on straight electricity in the city than on the highway. If a person drives the Volt less than 40 miles, in theory they could go without using gasoline.

Highway mileage estimates — which are generally higher than city ones — for the Volt have yet to be released using the EPA's methodology.

"We are confident the highway (mileage) will be a triple-digit composite," GM CEO Fritz Henderson said.

If the figure is confirmed by the EPA, which does the tests for the mileage posted on new car door stickers, the Volt would be the first car to exceed triple-digit gas mileage.

EPA said in a statement Tuesday that it has not tested a Volt "and therefore cannot confirm the fuel economy values claimed by GM." The agency said it applauded "GM's commitment to designing and building the car of the future — an American made car that will save families money, significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create good-paying American jobs."

GM has produced about 30 Volts so far and is making 10 a week, said during a presentation of the vehicle at the company's technical center in the Detroit suburb of Warren.

Henderson said charging the volt will cost about 40 cents a day, at approximately 5 cents per kilowatt hour.

Most automakers are working similar plug-in designs, but GM could be the leader with the Volt, which is due in showrooms late in 2010.

Toyota's Prius, the most efficient car now sold in the U.S., gets 48 mpg. It is a gas-electric hybrid that runs on a small internal combustion engine assisted by a battery-powered electric motor to save gasoline.

Although Henderson would not give details on pricing, the first-generation Volt is expected to cost near $40,000, making it cost-prohibitive to many people even if gasoline returns to $4 per gallon.

The price is expected to drop with future generations of the Volt, but GM has said government tax credits of up to $7,500 and the savings on fuel could make it cost-effective, especially at 230 mpg.

"We get a little cautious about trying to forecast what fuel prices will do," said Tony Posawatz, GM's vehicle line director for the Volt. "We achieved this number and if fuel prices go up, it certainly does get more attractive even in the near-term generation."

The mileage figure could vary as the guidelines are refined and the Volt gets further along in the manufacturing process, Posawatz said.

GM is nearly halfway through building about 80 Volts that will look and behave like the production model, and testing is running on schedule, Posawatz said.

Two critical areas, battery life and the electronic switching between battery and engine power, are still being refined, but the car is on schedule to reach showrooms late in 2010, he said.

GM is simulating tests to make sure the new lithium-ion batteries last 10 years, Posawatz said, as well as testing battery performance in extremely hot and cold climates.

"We're further along, but we're still quite a ways from home," he said. "We're developing quite a knowledge base on all this stuff. Our confidence is growing."

The other area of new technology, switching between battery and engine power, is proceeding well, he said, with engineers just fine-tuning the operations.

"We're very pleased with the transition from when it's driving EV (electric vehicle) to when the engine and generator kick in," he said.

GM also is finishing work on the power cord, which will be durable enough that it can survive being run over by the car. The Volt, he said, will have software on board so it can be programmed to begin and end charging during off-peak electrical use hours.

It will be easy for future Volt owners living in rural and suburban areas to plug in their cars at night, but even Henderson recognized the challenge urban, apartment dwellers, or those that park their car on the street might have recharging the Volt. There could eventually be charging stations set up by a third-party to meet such a demand, Henderson said.

Chrysler Group, Ford Motor Co. and Daimler AG are all developing plug-ins and electric cars, and Toyota Motor Corp. is working on a plug-in version of its gas-electric hybrid system. Nissan Motor Co. announced last month that it would begin selling an electric vehicle in Japan and the U.S. next year.

[MintJulep]

The mileage is unbelievable but the price tag is a bit steep.

[Smurf-Herder]

Wasn't any of the money from all the different bailouts and stimuli supposed to go toward affordable hybrid and electric cars?

[SeniorChief]

Can it tow a 6K boat?

Of course it can't.

POS

[Bill Cosby]

Sell your yacht & get a kayak.... lol

That sounds like a lot of millage.......... Especially in stop & go traffic...

[doctordog]

If you have more than one kid, you would have to make a lot of trips to practices, hell as small as it is you might have to make two trips to the grocery.

[Bill Cosby]

Yea it is very small.....

I have seen some of these tiny cars on the street.......... It is almost scary when you see them between a couple SUV's..........

[MintJulep]

If you have more than one kid, you would have to make a lot of trips to practices, hell as small as it is you might have to make two trips to the grocery.If you want to have a dawg, you better stick with a chihuahua! :lmao2:

[doctordog]

If you want to have a dawg, you better stick with a chihuahua! :lmao2:

Can you imagine that "hooch" dog in it?:lmao2:

[Bill Cosby]

I just meet my new neighbor & their dog. It is a toy something. Smaller than a chihuahua....... But long hair........

[Mason66]

They are saying this car can go 40 miles without using one drop of gasoline so with that it can get 1 million miles to the tank.

Why and how did they come up with 230 for the MPG?

I just hope they sell a ton of these cars so there will be more gas for me to use in my old cars.

[SeniorChief]

They are saying this car can go 40 miles without using one drop of gasoline so with that it can get 1 million miles to the tank.

Why and how did they come up with 230 for the MPG?

I just hope they sell a ton of these cars so there will be more gas for me to use in my old cars.

I'd like to know exactly where do you fill it/charge it on a cross country trip? I don't seem to recall seeing any "electrical charging stations" along the I-95 corridor here in Virginia....

Perhaps Obama hasn't gotten around to that yet.

[kres24GT]

Would like to report Moby for his bigoted comments against the South. Disgusting comment.

I am from the South, have been all my life,m and drive a Toyta Yaris. Moby's comment was both offensive and biggoted. Hopefully he will obey his own rulkes and ban himself.


The car actually gets around 50 MPG, you can drive it on a charge for 40 miles, after that it kicks over to gas and gets about 50 MPG. For a lot of Americans that would not be bad at all, depending on the price.

[SeniorChief]

Would like to report Moby for his bigoted comments against the South. Disgusting comment.

I am from the South, have been all my life,m and drive a Toyta Yaris. Moby's comment was both offensive and biggoted. Hopefully he will obey his own rulkes and ban himself.

Bigoted? Nah.

Ignorant? You betcha!

[Bill Cosby]

I'd like to know exactly where do you fill it/charge it on a cross country trip? I don't seem to recall seeing any "electrical charging stations" along the I-95 corridor here in Virginia....

Perhaps Obama hasn't gotten around to that yet.

Yea I am not seeing that discussed either.???

Also the talk about it being cleaner is questionable as well.....

If they are burning coal to make the electricity????? That is not green...

[Independent Harry]

They are saying this car can go 40 miles without using one drop of gasoline so with that it can get 1 million miles to the tank.

Why and how did they come up with 230 for the MPG?

I just hope they sell a ton of these cars so there will be more gas for me to use in my old cars.

Do you have reading compreshension issues? It runs on a battery, until the battery runs out, then a motor with an alternator powers the electric motor...

[Mason66]

Do you have reading compreshension issues? It runs on a battery, until the battery runs out, then a motor with an alternator powers the electric motor...

First of all don't try to insult me, little man.

I understand exactly what this car is. They are selling it to people that run errands under 40 miles, for $40,000, so if the engine never kicks in, it can get over the 230 obviously. I don't beleive the 1.4 litre engine gets 50 mpg around town sitting at red lights. How much gas is it going to take to haul around that heavy battery everywhere.

Hell the Chevy Sprint with the 3 cylinder 1.0 litre engine didn't get anywhere near that and the engine was smaller and the car was a whole lot lighter.

[Mason66]

It is reported the gas tank is a 6 gallon tank so with the estimated range of 230 miles the mpg is closer to 31.6 and not 50, that is if you fill the tank and then drive until it runs out of gas. Take out the 40 miles on the battery then you have 190 miles left onthe 6 gallons.

They are playing with the numbers.

[Dale escondido]

This is just a door opening and we will see where it goes.
I have an electric car that never uses gas, although I am limited by the length of the extenion cord.

[Betty Blowtorch]

Looks like this new car might be another big mistake from GM.
How can GM expect to compete with the Toyota Prius which
costs almost $20,000 less?

Who the hell will be willing to fork over $40,000 to be the
first guinea pig to try out GM's new overpriced hybrid, which
will probably have some bugs that need to be worked out
in the first year or two?

Toyota has already worked out the bugs on its Prius, and
they've been thoroughly road-tested, with thousands of
Prius owners having put millions of miles on these cars.

I would like to think that GM got it right this time, but the
$40,000 price tag tells me that GM is going to take a bath
on this car. They need to get the price below $25,000
if they want to compete with the Japanese.

[Moby]

How many people commute less then 40 miles a day? If the average auto drives 12,000 a year than that's 1,000 a month or less then 40 miles a day.

if the tech ever takes off, then why wouldn't there by charging stations in major cities and office parks?

This isn't great tech by any means but it's a step in the right direction, even though it will fail.

Sooner or later the people will get tired of Saudi Arabia making policy in Washington massive tax credits will be given to purchase low mileage vehicles. Just think where we might be if the $trillions of dollars in tax cuts from the last administration came in for low mileage cars.

[Moby]

Would like to report Moby for his bigoted comments against the South. Disgusting comment.

I am from the South, have been all my life,m and drive a Toyta Yaris. Moby's comment was both offensive and biggoted. Hopefully he will obey his own rulkes and ban himself.


The car actually gets around 50 MPG, you can drive it on a charge for 40 miles, after that it kicks over to gas and gets about 50 MPG. For a lot of Americans that would not be bad at all, depending on the price.
But Kres, you spend most of your time being pissed off and bitching so this statement isn't instilling a different response than any other.

Besides, you didn't live in my neighborhood in South Carolina the past 5 years. Saving energy was always attacked and "drill baby drill" was the moto.

[Hog Trash]

Would like to report Moby for his bigoted comments against the South. Disgusting comment.

I am from the South, have been all my life,m and drive a Toyta Yaris. Moby's comment was both offensive and biggoted. Hopefully he will obey his own rulkes and ban himself.


The car actually gets around 50 MPG, you can drive it on a charge for 40 miles, after that it kicks over to gas and gets about 50 MPG. For a lot of Americans that would not be bad at all, depending on the price.I agree 100% Kres.

My post was just edited for content because of some gay comments which had none of the forbidden gay words.

This comment by Moby is just as offensive as anything in my post, maybe even more so.

The only difference being, southerners are not protected by the rules of political correctness that govern this site.

Such open, obvious and blatant double standards are disgusting...SirMoby, you need to clean your act up you fuckin bitch.

[Moby]

I agree 100% Kres.

My post was just edited for content because of some gay comments which had none of the forbidden gay words.

This comment by Moby is just as offensive as anything in my post, maybe even more so.

The only difference being, southerners are not protected by the rules of political correctness that govern this site.

Such open, obvious and blatant double standards are disgusting...SirMoby, you need to clean your act up you fuckin bitch.
The man that makes sweeping claims about liberals? Pot calling the kettle black.

[Hog Trash]

The man that makes sweeping claims about liberals? Pot calling the kettle black.And I stand by all my remarks about liberals because of the shit you just said is a common trait among all you pussy motherfuckin liberals.

Most southerners are a hell of a lot better class of people than the minority trash, homo perverts and cowardly murdering muslim savages that you protect and defend with your liberal fuckin politicaly correct bullshit rules.

You need to clean your fuckin act up bitch boy!

[Moby]

And I stand by all my remarks about liberals because of the shit you just said is a common trait among all you pussy motherfuckin liberals.

Most southerners are a hell of a lot better class of people than the minority trash, homo perverts and cowardly murdering muslim savages that you protect and defend with your liberal fuckin politicaly correct bullshit rules.

You need to clean your fuckin act up bitch boy!
There's the calm and rational thinking that evolution or should I say intelligent design brings. :thumbsup:

[Bill Cosby]

And I stand by all my remarks about liberals because of the shit you just said is a common trait among all you pussy motherfuckin liberals.

Most southerners are a hell of a lot better class of people than the minority trash, homo perverts and cowardly murdering muslim savages that you protect and defend with your liberal fuckin politicaly correct bullshit rules.

You need to clean your fuckin act up bitch boy!

Sounds upset. I hope he took his meds...........

Now he is taking up for the "Southerners"...

Did any of them ask him for help???

I thought them ppl smart enough to handle their own affairs.......

I guess he didn't.......... :dunno:

[mwillman]

I tell you Moby sometimes I wish the south had never rejoined the nation.

I know some good people in the south its just a shame they are so out numbered by ignorant bible thumping inbreeds.

[Hog Trash]

There's the calm and rational thinking that evolution or should I say intelligent design brings. :thumbsup:There's also an unwritten rule which says if we practice what we preach, people will be more likely to listen to our messege and take us seriously.

In other words when you fair minded liberals are telling people to judge each human being as an individual instead of judging and ridiculing them as a group you should make sure you follow your own advise.

Do you know what a hypocrit is?....Like most liberals, I'll bet you don't think it applies to you, do you Moby?

[Independent Harry]

First of all don't try to insult me, little man.

I understand exactly what this car is. They are selling it to people that run errands under 40 miles, for $40,000, so if the engine never kicks in, it can get over the 230 obviously. I don't beleive the 1.4 litre engine gets 50 mpg around town sitting at red lights. How much gas is it going to take to haul around that heavy battery everywhere.

Hell the Chevy Sprint with the 3 cylinder 1.0 litre engine didn't get anywhere near that and the engine was smaller and the car was a whole lot lighter.

Again, you have trouble with reading comprehension. The combustion engine doesn't power the drivetrain. The engine powers an alternator that powers the electric motor. that's how it gets 230 miles to the galllon...

[Mason66]

Again, you have trouble with reading comprehension. The combustion engine doesn't power the drivetrain. The engine powers an alternator that powers the electric motor. that's how it gets 230 miles to the galllon...

No it doesn't

It is a 1.4 litre engine to power the car when the battery dies.

Thei is not a Prius.

The car has to be plugged in to charge the battery.

[Independent Harry]

No it doesn't

It is a 1.4 litre engine to power the car when the battery dies.

Thei is not a Prius.

The car has to be plugged in to charge the battery.

Unlike traditional electric cars, Chevy Volt has a revolutionary propulsion system that takes you beyond the power of the battery. It will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when you drive beyond the 40-mile battery range.

http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/fuel/electric.do

Again, you seem to be having trouble with reading comprehension. The article cleary states this, it's not written in code or anything. But just so you get it, here's the excerpt from the Volt website...

[Hog Trash]

My little gas powered golf cart with a 9hp one cylinder kawasaki motor only gets 45 mpg. :dunno:

[Mr, gone]

I love it when folks like Mason attempt to talk out the side of their ass.:lmao2:

[Independent Harry]

I love it when folks like Mason attempt to talk out the side of their ass.:lmao2:

I love it when people try to debate sometihng they won't even take the time to read an article on...

[Mr, gone]

I love it when people try to debate sometihng they won't even take the time to read an article on...


Agreed, I am waing with baited breath to see how successful GM's $40,000 over priced Volt will be. last month, my uncle who works for them - indicated that they were still having issues with 'thermal' events.:D

[Independent Harry]

Agreed, I am waing with baited breath to see how successful GM's $40,000 over priced Volt will be. last month, my uncle who works for them - indicated that they were still having issues with 'thermal' events.:D

lol shit keeps catching on fire, that sucks,,,

[Dale escondido]

Looks like this new car might be another big mistake from GM.
How can GM expect to compete with the Toyota Prius which
costs almost $20,000 less?

Who the hell will be willing to fork over $40,000 to be the
first guinea pig to try out GM's new overpriced hybrid, which
will probably have some bugs that need to be worked out
in the first year or two?

Toyota has already worked out the bugs on its Prius, and
they've been thoroughly road-tested, with thousands of
Prius owners having put millions of miles on these cars.

I would like to think that GM got it right this time, but the
$40,000 price tag tells me that GM is going to take a bath
on this car. They need to get the price below $25,000
if they want to compete with the Japanese.

Theres a market for acura and lexus in the USA?
The car does have to work well for sure but dont count them out as incentives might be in place and a few of us still try to buy USA even if its more exspensive.
Now if they are all coming out of china, fuck em.

[Mason66]

Unlike traditional electric cars, Chevy Volt has a revolutionary propulsion system that takes you beyond the power of the battery. It will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power when you drive beyond the 40-mile battery range.

http://www.chevrolet.com/pages/open/default/fuel/electric.do

Again, you seem to be having trouble with reading comprehension. The article cleary states this, it's not written in code or anything. But just so you get it, here's the excerpt from the Volt website...

You are right I did not go to the site and read it.

I don't beleive what you posted however. It may be on their site but it doesn't make any sense. Are you sure you were not reading about a prototype instead of the production model?

Why would the gasoline engine have to be so big just to power a generator?

A 1.4 litre engine just for that?

Hell for years the Toyota Corolla only had a 1.3 litre engine to power the whole car.

A very very small gasoline engine can power a generator.

It doesn't make any sense and if it doesn't make sense it is not true.

[Independent Harry]

You are right I did not go to the site and read it.

I don't beleive what you posted however. It may be on their site but it doesn't make any sense. Are you sure you were not reading about a prototype instead of the production model?

Why would the gasoline engine have to be so big just to power a generator?

A 1.4 litre engine just for that?

Hell for years the Toyota Corolla only had a 1.3 litre engine to power the whole car.

A very very small gasoline engine can power a generator.

It doesn't make any sense and if it doesn't make sense it is not true.

Wow, talk about someone who can't admit being wrong... I didn't know you were the resident genius on all things knoweable. So if I ever have to determine if something makes sense I should definately come to you...


Here's an excerpt from an independent article...

Tuning of the gasoline engine. It wasn't operable in the test cars, so there was no hint of how smooth and quiet it'll be when it comes on to charge the batteries, if needed.


http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2009-04-30-chevrolet-volt-early-look_N.htm

[Binky]

Yea it is very small.....

I have seen some of these tiny cars on the street.......... It is almost scary when you see them between a couple SUV's..........


Scarier than a motorcylce caught between a semi and a big truck? Now that's scary. And yes, you can take my word for it. Been there, done that.

[Bill Cosby]

Scarier than a motorcylce caught between a semi and a big truck? Now that's scary. And yes, you can take my word for it. Been there, done that.

Yea like that............ SOme of them are so small they are like a gocart...

[doctordog]

Yea like that............ SOme of them are so small they are like a gocart...

Not even big enough to have sex in, what a waste!:D

[Bill Cosby]

Not even big enough to have sex in, what a waste!

LOL...........
I think it would be a challenge. Even driving it may be........ I think a full "growed" man may need to invest in a steeringwheel cover if he is living in an area prone to lots of sun...:talktothehand: :disbelief:

:lmao2:

I am sure a good bike helmet will suffice...

http://wayne-ortho.org/db5/00419/wayne-ortho.org/_uimages/NateTinyCarIMG022.JPG

[Bill Cosby]

LOL...........
I think it would be a challenge. Even driving it may be........ I think a full "growed" man may need to invest in a steeringwheel cover if he is living in an area prone to lots of sun...:talktothehand: :disbelief:

:lmao2:

I am sure a good safety bike helmet will suffice...

http://wayne-ortho.org/db5/00419/wayne-ortho.org/_uimages/NateTinyCarIMG022.JPG

.................

[ciaobox]

.................
why are you...............'ing yerself bill????

[Bill Cosby]

why are you...............'ing yerself bill????

Because you boX is full..........:taunt: :taunt:

:lmao2:

[ciaobox]

Because you boX is full..........:taunt: :taunt:

:lmao2:

it was too. :o

i even started a thread.

[Bill Cosby]

Your the best...........

:lmao2: :lmao2:

:melodramatic: