Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.




--
Birther-Deather-Tenther-Teabagger:
Idiots All

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

On 10/1/09 10:12 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400, H the K
wrote:

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.

I am still having problems getting the money to work out. When you
amortize the cost of the batteries across 40,000 miles or so and then
add in the electric bill you could be driving a real car. These
glorified golf carts cost more than my wife's Lincoln.


My assumption is that we're only enjoying a temporary lull in the price
and supply of gasoline, and that its price will once again climb to more
than $4.00 a gallon, and it will be in short supply and rationed.

Thus, a plug-in car that would cover *my* commuting needs would be
invaluable. My farthest client is exactly 45 miles away.





--
Birther-Deather-Tenther-Teabagger:
Idiots All

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

On 10/1/09 12:20 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:15:49 -0400, H the K
wrote:

On 10/1/09 10:12 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400, H the K
wrote:

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.

I am still having problems getting the money to work out. When you
amortize the cost of the batteries across 40,000 miles or so and then
add in the electric bill you could be driving a real car. These
glorified golf carts cost more than my wife's Lincoln.


My assumption is that we're only enjoying a temporary lull in the price
and supply of gasoline, and that its price will once again climb to more
than $4.00 a gallon, and it will be in short supply and rationed.

Thus, a plug-in car that would cover *my* commuting needs would be
invaluable. My farthest client is exactly 45 miles away.

I bet your electric bill is going to be a lot higher too. They will
also find a way to tack on some road tax as soon as these electrics
become a significant part of the vehicles. Right now you are getting a
free ride on that.
If you are willing to drive a 2000 pound vehicle with minimal
passenger protection, limited performance and no a/c you have some
choices that do quite well on fuel a whole lot cheaper than a $40,000
electric. You can buy a lot of $4 gas for the difference.




No A/C?

Well, so much for *that*!

I'll keep on looking.

:)


--
Birther-Deather-Tenther-Teabagger:
Idiots All

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

"H the K" wrote in message
m...
On 10/1/09 12:20 PM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:15:49 -0400, H the K
wrote:

On 10/1/09 10:12 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400, H the K
wrote:

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.

I am still having problems getting the money to work out. When you
amortize the cost of the batteries across 40,000 miles or so and then
add in the electric bill you could be driving a real car. These
glorified golf carts cost more than my wife's Lincoln.


My assumption is that we're only enjoying a temporary lull in the price
and supply of gasoline, and that its price will once again climb to more
than $4.00 a gallon, and it will be in short supply and rationed.

Thus, a plug-in car that would cover *my* commuting needs would be
invaluable. My farthest client is exactly 45 miles away.

I bet your electric bill is going to be a lot higher too. They will
also find a way to tack on some road tax as soon as these electrics
become a significant part of the vehicles. Right now you are getting a
free ride on that.
If you are willing to drive a 2000 pound vehicle with minimal
passenger protection, limited performance and no a/c you have some
choices that do quite well on fuel a whole lot cheaper than a $40,000
electric. You can buy a lot of $4 gas for the difference.




No A/C?

Well, so much for *that*!

I'll keep on looking.


The 2011 version seems pretty full-featured to me.

http://www.edmunds.com/chevrolet/vol...sandspecs.html

I like the idea but I'm skittish about buying GM. I'd like to see what the
competition will bring before I make a decision.


--
Nom=de=Plume

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

On 10/1/09 1:29 PM, CalifBill wrote:
"H the wrote in message
m...
On 10/1/09 10:12 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400, H the K
wrote:

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.

I am still having problems getting the money to work out. When you
amortize the cost of the batteries across 40,000 miles or so and then
add in the electric bill you could be driving a real car. These
glorified golf carts cost more than my wife's Lincoln.


My assumption is that we're only enjoying a temporary lull in the price
and supply of gasoline, and that its price will once again climb to more
than $4.00 a gallon, and it will be in short supply and rationed.

Thus, a plug-in car that would cover *my* commuting needs would be
invaluable. My farthest client is exactly 45 miles away.



Makes a 90 mile trip. then you get to run the engine for a couple hours to
get the batteries recharged. Cheaper to get a taxi. Plus no parking
problems.




Yes, well, since you have *no* idea of how I would want to use this
vehicle, or where, even, I'll give your advice the usual
consideration...none at all.

A 90-mile round trip, by the way, would be perfect for my commuting
needs. And, gosharoonie, I have electric plugs in my garage.



--
Birther-Deather-Tenther-Teabagger:
Idiots All

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

"H the K" wrote in message
m...
On 10/1/09 10:12 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400, H the K
wrote:

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.

I am still having problems getting the money to work out. When you
amortize the cost of the batteries across 40,000 miles or so and then
add in the electric bill you could be driving a real car. These
glorified golf carts cost more than my wife's Lincoln.


My assumption is that we're only enjoying a temporary lull in the price
and supply of gasoline, and that its price will once again climb to more
than $4.00 a gallon, and it will be in short supply and rationed.

Thus, a plug-in car that would cover *my* commuting needs would be
invaluable. My farthest client is exactly 45 miles away.



Makes a 90 mile trip. then you get to run the engine for a couple hours to
get the batteries recharged. Cheaper to get a taxi. Plus no parking
problems.

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

"H the K" wrote in message
m...
On 10/1/09 1:29 PM, CalifBill wrote:
"H the wrote in message
m...
On 10/1/09 10:12 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400, H the K
wrote:

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.

I am still having problems getting the money to work out. When you
amortize the cost of the batteries across 40,000 miles or so and then
add in the electric bill you could be driving a real car. These
glorified golf carts cost more than my wife's Lincoln.


My assumption is that we're only enjoying a temporary lull in the price
and supply of gasoline, and that its price will once again climb to more
than $4.00 a gallon, and it will be in short supply and rationed.

Thus, a plug-in car that would cover *my* commuting needs would be
invaluable. My farthest client is exactly 45 miles away.



Makes a 90 mile trip. then you get to run the engine for a couple hours
to
get the batteries recharged. Cheaper to get a taxi. Plus no parking
problems.




Yes, well, since you have *no* idea of how I would want to use this
vehicle, or where, even, I'll give your advice the usual
consideration...none at all.

A 90-mile round trip, by the way, would be perfect for my commuting needs.
And, gosharoonie, I have electric plugs in my garage.



--
Birther-Deather-Tenther-Teabagger:
Idiots All

Does your customer have a plug to freely charge the unit. And the 5 mile
extension cord to make it the last 5 miles. If they made the VOLT a hybrid
with a small diesel, would be a winner.

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

wrote in message
...
On Thu, 1 Oct 2009 20:57:53 -0700, "CalifBill"
wrote:

If they made the VOLT a hybrid
with a small diesel, would be a winner.


It would be a Volkswagon L1

The VW jetta diesel in Europe may get up to 80 mpg, beats the hell out of
any hybrid or VOLT we have here.

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

In article ,
says...

On 10/1/09 10:12 AM, wrote:
On Thu, 01 Oct 2009 08:25:38 -0400, H the K
wrote:

It's the new all-electric vehicle coming from GM. Runs 40 miles per
battery charge, then a gasoline generator kicks in to recharge the
battery and keep you running.

Seems like a perfect commuter car.

I am still having problems getting the money to work out. When you
amortize the cost of the batteries across 40,000 miles or so and then
add in the electric bill you could be driving a real car. These
glorified golf carts cost more than my wife's Lincoln.


My assumption is that we're only enjoying a temporary lull in the price
and supply of gasoline, and that its price will once again climb to more
than $4.00 a gallon, and it will be in short supply and rationed.

Thus, a plug-in car that would cover *my* commuting needs would be
invaluable. My farthest client is exactly 45 miles away.

Electricity isn't free. How much does it cost to charge the batteries?
And, how is this electricity being produced? Coal, oil? Is there an
outlet at your client's office 45 miles away?

What is the carbon footprint to produce the batteries that are in the
Volt? A 2.0 litre engine has a longer service life than a pack of
batteries and a smaller carbon footprint than the pack of batteries in
your Volt and then you have to add on the cost of the "generator".

The technology is interesting and holds promise. However, you have to
break it down to its component systems and evaluate it at that level to
determine how eco-friendly it really is.

Who wants to buy a used Prius that needs a new battery pack?

Any thoughts on the GM Volt?
 

On Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:35:54 -0400, gfretwell wrote:

On Sat, 3 Oct 2009 08:54:04 -0400, BAR wrote:

Electricity isn't free. How much does it cost to charge the batteries?
And, how is this electricity being produced? Coal, oil? Is there an
outlet at your client's office 45 miles away?

An electric with any range at all will be using about 25-30 KWH of
energy per charge (that is the typical Ed Begly home built) That
translates to $4-$4.50 at my electric rate. A car that has the
performance of that electric would easily get 40 MPG so it is maybe half
to 2/3ds the cost of gas, even with $4 gas ... if you are talking about
fairly well moving traffic.
Where the electrics and hybrids make sense is stop and go traffic in a
place that is cool enough to ride with the windows down. Then your
"sitting" time is free .
The flip side of that is the computer fuel injected engines idle cheaper
than the old cars.

In the long run, one of the pluses of electric cars is the possibility of
getting away from the use of oil, especially foreign oil. As it stands
now, our electric plants may not be that clean, but in the future?
Single source pollution is easier to clean up than multi-source pollution.