Holden to Release a New Electric Car "The Volt"

[VTSSDUDE]

Be interesting to see how it compares to the Honda and Toyota Hybrids. Even though this car isn't a hybrid.

http://finance.ninemsn.com.au/newsbusiness/8387151/holden-unveils-long-range-electric-car

[the big fist]

Looks pretty slick:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt

Reminds me a bit of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Motors_EV1

[macca_779]

60-80km. Long distance. Give me a break


Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

[boggers007]

50-70grand for a car that can run an extra 60k's more then a barina.........................yeah ok see that one really working.

[ClubManic]

60 - 80 km is long range?

I expect the distance to be greater than the speed I use to cover it.

But then the Veyron only covers the same before needing a fill up.

[boggers007]

Pretty sure the mitsubishi miev or watever the thing is goes about 300k's range wise.

[smokey777]

60-80km. Long distance. Give me a break


Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

thats just on batteries though after running out of fuel though. but ya its pretty piss poor once fuel runs out lol

[HazzaHSV]

500+ k's is heaps of range. And the 60-80 battery only is perfect for the work commute. A real winner. Except for that price tag. :eyes: :confused: :hide:

It would be good if they could offer a electric only model, and get rid of the associated costs and weight of the petrol engine, fuel tank/pumps, hybrid drive components and the range extending circuitry. That way as a work hack it could be much more affordable, similar to the price of a normal Cruze.

[planetdavo]

60-80km. Long distance. Give me a break


Sent from my iPad 2 using Tapatalk

It's not like it leaves you on the side of the road after 80 kms. It's more than enough for most people's daily usage, but has over 400kms of range extending petrol engine electricity generation if you exceed it's pure battery range.
PS: I'd suggest that people using high drain Apple products shouldn't slag Volt off for a short lifespan too quickly!

[planetdavo]

thats just on batteries though after running out of fuel though. but ya its pretty piss poor once fuel runs out lol

It runs primarily on battery charge. The petrol engine is to extend it's range beyond battery charge. The engine wont even start if you don't drain the battery between mains recharging.
Your post sounds like you are thinking of it in reverse to how it works. Volt doesn't directly drive the car off the petrol engine. It's only to run the alternator to charge the battery pack, which powers the electric motor to drive the car. Any car is ultimately p!ss poor once it runs out of petrol...

[planetdavo]

500+ k's is heaps of range. And the 60-80 battery only is perfect for the work commute. A real winner. Except for that price tag. :eyes: :confused: :hide:

It would be good if they could offer a electric only model, and get rid of the associated costs and weight of the petrol engine, fuel tank/pumps, hybrid drive components and the range extending circuitry. That way as a work hack it could be much more affordable, similar to the price of a normal Cruze.

Bit like anything where you are one of the first to buy, before high volume reductions kick in.
Think of the price of flat screen TV's when they came out, compared to now...:eek:

[mrtockley]

Bit like anything where you are one of the first to buy, before high volume reductions kick in.
Think of the price of flat screen TV's when they came out, compared to now...:eek:

Bzzzt wrong. Hybrids have been around since the Prius was introduced in the late 90's. TV's were expensive when the technology first came out but now they're not. $70k for a hippies car is a joke. How much to replace the batteries when the cells diminish?

[steve_t]

Bzzzt wrong. Hybrids have been around since the Prius was introduced in the late 90's. TV's were expensive when the technology first came out but now they're not. $70k for a hippies car is a joke. How much to replace the batteries when the cells diminish?

And are the batteries lasting beyond 3-5 years yet?

[HSVREDSLED]

As a country...we should be embracing this with open arms.

We have coal. Coal produces electricity.

The sooner we rid ourselves of the dependence on oil from our arab brothers the better!!

Oil has caused waaaay to many wars and conflicts.

[planetdavo]

Bzzzt wrong. Hybrids have been around since the Prius was introduced in the late 90's. TV's were expensive when the technology first came out but now they're not. $70k for a hippies car is a joke. How much to replace the batteries when the cells diminish?

Not wrong. Volt is a VERY different car to "normal" hybrids like Prius.
You should watch a doco on Foxtel about the Volt to gain some knowledge on the subject. :)

[VYBerlinaV8]

And are the batteries lasting beyond 3-5 years yet?

http://www.caradvice.com.au/14639/toyota-prius-the-taxi-champion/

Distance doesn't seem to be a problem.

[Toddler78]

watching the news article about it they were talking in the $30k range to purchase.

this is a daily driver type of car to get to and from work not to go on holiday trips for. this is one of the first vehicles availabe for sale that is plug in electric, where as the pirus still requires the petrol engine to charge the batteries (however they have just released the plug in version) I think we shouldnt be so quick to discount this car as GM have gambled alot of their future on this car. I love my v8 and couldnt see myself ever getting rid of it however this car really does interest me and I am keen on its release in aus

[steve_t]

http://www.caradvice.com.au/14639/toyota-prius-the-taxi-champion/

Distance doesn't seem to be a problem.

I was just doing some reading and though distance isn't an issue, the batteries appear to still have a finite life but the replacement battery packs actually appear to be quite cheap

[VYBerlinaV8]

I was just doing some reading and though distance isn't an issue, the batteries appear to still have a finite life but the replacement battery packs actually appear to be quite cheap

Time is definitely an issue. The questions I have are:
1) How much time?
2) How much does the lifetime vary from car to car?

[mrtockley]

Not wrong. Volt is a VERY different car to "normal" hybrids like Prius.
You should watch a doco on Foxtel about the Volt to gain some knowledge on the subject. :)

How is it different? The ICE doesn't drive the wheels but it still is required to go more than 80 kays. They are IMO way overpriced. If they want people to embrace the car and the technology then it should be accordingly priced. The Volt is priced from $40k in the states. I just don't see the tech taking off after how ever many years the Prius and alike have been around. They should be everywhere but they're not. People are still scared because of the time it takes to charge and the price of the product. There are still other options such as Dimethyl Ether diesel and the abundance of LPG that we have that IMO are a much better, cheaper and economically viable alternative.

[HazzaHSV]

Bit like anything where you are one of the first to buy, before high volume reductions kick in. Think of the price of flat screen TV's when they came out, compared to now...:eek:Yeah although my point was more about an electric only which would make it much cheaper. Using your analogy I would buy the non-3d flat screen model (electric only), as I wouldn't need the 3d feature (range extending). ;)

I would love to embrace this with open arms, but there's no way I would pay more than double compared to a Cruze and then have a more complicated (an engine and a motor), and more expensive car in maintenance costs (replacing cells). I would however pay similar money for an electric only version.

[VYBerlinaV8]

Yeah although my point was more about an electric only which would make it much cheaper. Using your analogy I would buy the non-3d flat screen model (electric only), as I wouldn't need the 3d feature (range extending). ;)

I would love to embrace this with open arms, but there's no way I would pay more than double compared to a Cruze and then have a more complicated (an engine and a motor), and more expensive car in maintenance costs (replacing cells). I would however pay similar money for an electric only version.

Here you go mate! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REVAi

[v8dude78]

As a country...we should be embracing this with open arms.

We have coal. Coal produces electricity.

The sooner we rid ourselves of the dependence on oil from our arab brothers the better!!

Oil has caused waaaay to many wars and conflicts.

And how much pollution do our COAL FIRED power stations produce????????
Sorry but i find these electric/Hybrid cars a bit of a joke, where does everyone think the electricity comes from :doh:


badoMjA_rW0

[SilverVH]

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/12/ethics-group-says-government-suppressed-chevrolet-volt-evidence/

The NHTSA is investigating three fires in the battery packs of GM’s Chevy Volt following collision tests. The NLPC alleges that the NHTSA “may have withheld information of this potential safety problem from the public for several months.”

Says a NLPC statement:

“The United States government still owns a significant stake in GM. There’s an obvious conflict of interest in a government agency investigating a government-owned company. Moreover, the NHTSA cannot be impartial because it has become a cheerleader for electric vehicles.”

Interesting to say the least.

[HazzaHSV]

Here you go mate! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REVAiNo offence, but I think I might wait for the Holden version, or the Nissan Leaf. :rofl:

[02PRUV]

We need better battery technology before I would even consider going electric even for a daily sh!tter.

[Nastas]

Using the engine to charge the batteries then the batteries to power the car sounds unefficient to me, Would be interesting to see what the economy would be like when running on fuel

[Big_Valven]

I think a lot of people are missing the point of the limited electric range. Think about your daily commute - 60-80km is a long way.

Most urban users could drive 5 days of the week without even having the petrol engine run - reducing emissions in the busy metro areas. Go for a drive out of the city on the weekend and it can kick in the petrol once it needs it. Unlike pathetic "cars" like the iMIEV, you're not stranded when you run out of battery. It is also a good looking car without the joke factor of most of the all-electric ideas.

Current battery technology will not support a power system which can get a real car as far as a tank of petrol will, nor will it charge as quick as you can fill. It was the same deal 6 years or so ago when the Prius came out. But most people of a technical disposition can tell that batteries aren't the solution long-term anyway.

This car is a great way to utilise the technology we have now in a way which is useful to typical commuters, unlike most of the crap we've seen.

[Evman]

Jay Leno did 11,000 miles without refuelling his Volt. Moral to the story is, if the car doesn't suit your needs it doesn't mean it wont suit the needs of others.

If you're concerned about the environmental cost of recharging a battery from a coal fired power source then you'd best question your entire lifestyle. If you can turn a blind eye to using coal fired power for everything else then you're simply being a hypocrite if you start to pick on a plug in electric car. The electric car is overdue, with the biggest restriction still being battery technology. However, coal fired power should have been abolished for nuclear power 30 years ago. Even the most "wasteful" of the current nuclear power generator technology is lightyears ahead in terms of minimising environmental impact compared to coal. It just has a stigma about it that is compounded by ignorance and stupidity.

To a point, much like the electric car. It has a place and its place is only becoming more and more prominent. It wont suit the needs of everyone, yet, but small steps have to be taken before the investment in R&D even begins to compare to that of hydrocarbon powered engines.

[VYBerlinaV8]

No offence, but I think I might wait for the Holden version, or the Nissan Leaf. :rofl:

None taken... :thumbsup:

[smokey777]

It runs primarily on battery charge. The petrol engine is to extend it's range beyond battery charge. The engine wont even start if you don't drain the battery between mains recharging.
Your post sounds like you are thinking of it in reverse to how it works. Volt doesn't directly drive the car off the petrol engine. It's only to run the alternator to charge the battery pack, which powers the electric motor to drive the car. Any car is ultimately p!ss poor once it runs out of petrol...


Not wrong. Volt is a VERY different car to "normal" hybrids like Prius.
You should watch a doco on Foxtel about the Volt to gain some knowledge on the subject. :)

lol ya i had it in my head that the motor basically runs as a "generator" to power electric motors & such and keep battery charged (and ive even seen the doco lol)

[Goggles]

The problem I have with any or all of the alternative powered vehicles is the sheer (expensive) cost and all of the other unknowns about them.

The other unknowns include battery life and replacement battery cost.

The battery life in my current mobile phone was great when I got it in May 2010 - the charge lasted two days with moderate use. My use has not changed, but now the charge lasts no more than a day.

The same story occurred with my last laptop. Over time, the ability of the battery to hold a charge decreased dramatically.

Will the batteries in an electric car be the same?

Also, batteries are not exactly environmentally friendly to dispose of.

Finally, I do acknowledge that the cost of consumer goods does go down over time, but I can't see the value of a Volt (which is a fancy Cruze) at Clubsport prices.

I don't have the luxury of owning numerous cars to suit my day-to-day needs and other occasional needs (long distance trips). Sorry but my SSV does very well in both, and I can comfortably afford to run it.

[Uncle Tone]

Whats the range of something like a Fisker or a Tesla compared to this?

[steve_t]

Whats the range of something like a Fisker or a Tesla compared to this?

Tesla S - range approx 400km on a single charge. Recharge rate approx 90km for an hour of charging. Acceleration 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds!!

[Uncle Tone]

Tesla S - range approx 400km on a single charge. Recharge rate approx 90km for an hour of charging. Acceleration 0-60mph in 3.7 seconds!!

I'm confused.

Why would GM not have the technology available to them to compete with that?

[VZSSTT]

That's certainly an interesting read.
Couple of questions GM Quote up to 500Kms extended range when driving with motor (generator running). Does this mean that the generator produces enough power to keep the Volt running indefinitely? Or that the onboard tank only will keep enough fuel to keep it running for a max of 500Kms? Ie providing you have fuel to keep filling the small engine/generator or does the generator purely "Top Up" the charge but at a rate that can not long term keep up with electrical drain? If the generator would keep engine running on power produced alone i wonder what the fuel consumption would be like at normal running conditions.

[steve_t]

I'm confused.

Why would GM not have the technology available to them to compete with that?

Oops. It's the Roadster, not the S. I guess the range comes from increased battery capacity and there are lower capacity batteries in lower models. The Roadster also costs US$109,000 so there's probably quite a bit of cost that can be attributed to the batteries.

The petrol generator to charge the batteries on the fly for the Volt is a great idea but the extra cost of having it and the extra weight must be a bit counter productive. At least you won't run out of juice in the middle of nowhere and if you run out of charge AND petrol, you're a dumbass. :driving:

[A^K^T]

I did a quick search and found 2 Volt forums .

http://www.voltforums.com/forums/index.php

http://www.mychevroletvolt.com/chevyvoltowner/

This (http://www.mychevroletvolt.com/chevyvoltowner/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=115) thread is interesting , if i read it corectly it seems the owner has lost six miles in range (over the time he has had the car) after charging overnight and he has a 2011 Volt.

[Toddler78]

Whats the range of something like a Fisker or a Tesla compared to this?

taken from wikipedia


The Roadster is the first production automobile to use lithium-ion battery cells and the first production BEV (all-electric) to travel more than 200 miles (320 km) per charge.[8] The world distance record of 501 km (311 mi) for a production electric car on a single charge was set by a Roadster on October 27, 2009, during the Global Green Challenge in outback Australia,

reading info on the volt it even has KERS

[Xjas]

Low emission cars are the way of the future no doubt but I'd prefer they build me one like this...

VF SS hybrid, 300kw LS power to the rear wheels, 2x 50kw electrics driving the fronts (one each side). 100kws of power to the front when the missus wants to putt around the shops during the week, run the LS and electrics on the weekend to have some fun with a total of 400kw. Its not gonna happen, but its a nice idea.

[VYBerlinaV8]

Low emission cars are the way of the future no doubt but I'd prefer they build me one like this...

VF SS hybrid, 300kw LS power to the rear wheels, 2x 50kw electrics driving the fronts (one each side). 100kws of power to the front when the missus wants to putt around the shops during the week, run the LS and electrics on the weekend to have some fun with a total of 400kw. Its not gonna happen, but its a nice idea.

It's a great idea, as long as you don't mind your Commodore weighing 2 and a half tonnes.

[QldKev]

As a country...we should be embracing this with open arms.

We have coal. Coal produces electricity.

The sooner we rid ourselves of the dependence on oil from our arab brothers the better!!

Oil has caused waaaay to many wars and conflicts.


We also have sh!t loads of gas, but we are selling it off over seas for heaps cheaper than us locals get it.

We should have all our cars running gas and not worrying about petrol or charcol.


QldKev

[mrtockley]

We also have sh!t loads of gas, but we are selling it off over seas for heaps cheaper than us locals get it.

We should have all our cars running gas and not worrying about petrol or charcol.


QldKev

Yes exactly!! It's a disgrace that we sell BBQ gas overseas at around 8c (or so last time I checked?) and we get raped up to 70c / lt for it..

My car cost's roughly $40 to fill up and gets up to 500 kays around town, has around 270 rwkw's, is cheap to maintain and I can park it on the street without having to run an extension cord to charge the bastard so I can get to work the next day!