Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

I am thinking about the launch of the Chevy Volt sometime on or about
year 2010. This is an electric car with an internal engine that is
designed to run only when the battery becomes discharged enough to
need it. Otherwise, the car is supposed to run 40 'city' miles on a
charge that requires 6.5 hours to accomplish.

Now, how many people can get by with <40 miles of driving a day? I
think a whale of a lot of them. With an overnight charge, a huge
number of people could get where they need to go, and back again,
without burning a drop of gasoline/diesel/ethanol/whatever. The
energy could be transferred to sources that the USA has plenty of
within its borders - coal, nuclear, wind, and maybe eventually solar,
geothermal, etc.

Not only does this seem to me to be a great breakthru, but it should
make economic sense as well. The price of electricity to go the same
distance as the gasoline required to do it is said to be one quarter
as much. For those who don't hit the road for long distances very
much, not buying a drop of gasoline all year would be a significant
savings, especially if they can buy this car for 100% of their needs.
The car should have an unusually high resale value as there are fewer
moving parts that are easier to repair (electric motors are dead-
simple in this respect) and by the time the car expends its battery,
battery technology _should_ be such that a replacement battery will be
even cheaper than it will be upon initial release of the car.

So, is the Chevy Volt the beginning of the end of the oil problem, the
refining capacity problem, and other oil-related problems?

Dave Head

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

"Dave Head" > wrote in message
s.com...
>I am thinking about the launch of the Chevy Volt sometime on or about
> year 2010. This is an electric car with an internal engine that is
> designed to run only when the battery becomes discharged enough to
> need it. Otherwise, the car is supposed to run 40 'city' miles on a
> charge that requires 6.5 hours to accomplish.
>
> Now, how many people can get by with <40 miles of driving a day? I
> think a whale of a lot of them. With an overnight charge, a huge
> number of people could get where they need to go, and back again,
> without burning a drop of gasoline/diesel/ethanol/whatever. The
> energy could be transferred to sources that the USA has plenty of
> within its borders - coal, nuclear, wind, and maybe eventually solar,
> geothermal, etc.
>
> Not only does this seem to me to be a great breakthru, but it should
> make economic sense as well. The price of electricity to go the same
> distance as the gasoline required to do it is said to be one quarter
> as much. For those who don't hit the road for long distances very
> much, not buying a drop of gasoline all year would be a significant
> savings, especially if they can buy this car for 100% of their needs.
> The car should have an unusually high resale value as there are fewer
> moving parts that are easier to repair (electric motors are dead-
> simple in this respect) and by the time the car expends its battery,
> battery technology _should_ be such that a replacement battery will be
> even cheaper than it will be upon initial release of the car.
>
> So, is the Chevy Volt the beginning of the end of the oil problem, the
> refining capacity problem, and other oil-related problems?
>
> Dave Head
>

Yeah right, how soon the fergit the GM's EV1!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Who_Kil...lectric_Car%3F

Keep kiddin' yourself,
DanlK
www.collectibles.fyis.org
RSS Feed Subscription @ http://tinyurl.com/38qpt9

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

Dave Head > wrote in
s.com:

> I am thinking about the launch of the Chevy Volt sometime on or about
> year 2010. This is an electric car with an internal engine that is
> designed to run only when the battery becomes discharged enough to
> need it. Otherwise, the car is supposed to run 40 'city' miles on a
> charge that requires 6.5 hours to accomplish.
>
> Now, how many people can get by with <40 miles of driving a day? I
> think a whale of a lot of them. With an overnight charge, a huge
> number of people could get where they need to go, and back again,
> without burning a drop of gasoline/diesel/ethanol/whatever. The
> energy could be transferred to sources that the USA has plenty of
> within its borders - coal, nuclear, wind, and maybe eventually solar,
> geothermal, etc.
>
> Not only does this seem to me to be a great breakthru, but it should
> make economic sense as well. The price of electricity to go the same
> distance as the gasoline required to do it is said to be one quarter
> as much. For those who don't hit the road for long distances very
> much, not buying a drop of gasoline all year would be a significant
> savings, especially if they can buy this car for 100% of their needs.
> The car should have an unusually high resale value as there are fewer
> moving parts that are easier to repair (electric motors are dead-
> simple in this respect)

you still have a gasoline engine that needs service and repair,PLUS the
electrics(including the generator).

> and by the time the car expends its battery,
> battery technology _should_ be such that a replacement battery will be
> even cheaper than it will be upon initial release of the car.
>
> So, is the Chevy Volt the beginning of the end of the oil problem, the
> refining capacity problem, and other oil-related problems?
>
> Dave Head
>
>

If you can recharge from an electric outlet in 6.5 hrs,you could plug it in
while AT work,and double your range.

Will the Volt have airconditioning and rearwindow defrosters?

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

Dave Head wrote:
> I am thinking about the launch of the Chevy Volt sometime on or about
> year 2010. This is an electric car with an internal engine that is
> designed to run only when the battery becomes discharged enough to
> need it. Otherwise, the car is supposed to run 40 'city' miles on a
> charge that requires 6.5 hours to accomplish.
>
> Now, how many people can get by with <40 miles of driving a day? I
> think a whale of a lot of them. With an overnight charge, a huge
> number of people could get where they need to go, and back again,
> without burning a drop of gasoline/diesel/ethanol/whatever. The
> energy could be transferred to sources that the USA has plenty of
> within its borders - coal, nuclear, wind, and maybe eventually solar,
> geothermal, etc.
>
> Not only does this seem to me to be a great breakthru, but it should
> make economic sense as well. The price of electricity to go the same
> distance as the gasoline required to do it is said to be one quarter
> as much. For those who don't hit the road for long distances very
> much, not buying a drop of gasoline all year would be a significant
> savings, especially if they can buy this car for 100% of their needs.
> The car should have an unusually high resale value as there are fewer
> moving parts that are easier to repair (electric motors are dead-
> simple in this respect) and by the time the car expends its battery,
> battery technology _should_ be such that a replacement battery will be
> even cheaper than it will be upon initial release of the car.
>
> So, is the Chevy Volt the beginning of the end of the oil problem, the
> refining capacity problem, and other oil-related problems?
>
> Dave Head
>

HAHAHA. Another stupid expensive technological solution. The answer to
the oil problem is smaller cars and lower speeds.

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

Dave,

Only if the electricity to charge it is generated by other than fossil
fuels. Otherwise, it just promotes electricity generation and distribution
infrastructure, and pumps as much carbon oxides into the air as gasoline
would have.

Physics rulez. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed in form.

If hydrocarbons must burn to power the vehicle, what does it matter _where_
they are burned? The results still wind-up in the same atmosphere.

Allan

--
One asks, many answer, all learn - Plato, on the 'Forum
--
True civility is when every one gives to every other one every right
that they claim for themselves.

"Dave Head" > wrote in message
s.com...
>I am thinking about the launch of the Chevy Volt sometime on or about
> year 2010. This is an electric car with an internal engine that is
> designed to run only when the battery becomes discharged enough to
> need it. Otherwise, the car is supposed to run 40 'city' miles on a
> charge that requires 6.5 hours to accomplish.
>
> Now, how many people can get by with <40 miles of driving a day? I
> think a whale of a lot of them. With an overnight charge, a huge
> number of people could get where they need to go, and back again,
> without burning a drop of gasoline/diesel/ethanol/whatever. The
> energy could be transferred to sources that the USA has plenty of
> within its borders - coal, nuclear, wind, and maybe eventually solar,
> geothermal, etc.
>
> Not only does this seem to me to be a great breakthru, but it should
> make economic sense as well. The price of electricity to go the same
> distance as the gasoline required to do it is said to be one quarter
> as much. For those who don't hit the road for long distances very
> much, not buying a drop of gasoline all year would be a significant
> savings, especially if they can buy this car for 100% of their needs.
> The car should have an unusually high resale value as there are fewer
> moving parts that are easier to repair (electric motors are dead-
> simple in this respect) and by the time the car expends its battery,
> battery technology _should_ be such that a replacement battery will be
> even cheaper than it will be upon initial release of the car.
>
> So, is the Chevy Volt the beginning of the end of the oil problem, the
> refining capacity problem, and other oil-related problems?
>
> Dave Head
>

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

On 23 May 2007 15:12:02 GMT, Jim Yanik > wrote:

>Dave Head > wrote in
ps.com:
>
>> I am thinking about the launch of the Chevy Volt sometime on or about
>> year 2010. This is an electric car with an internal engine that is
>> designed to run only when the battery becomes discharged enough to
>> need it. Otherwise, the car is supposed to run 40 'city' miles on a
>> charge that requires 6.5 hours to accomplish.
>>
>> Now, how many people can get by with <40 miles of driving a day? I
>> think a whale of a lot of them. With an overnight charge, a huge
>> number of people could get where they need to go, and back again,
>> without burning a drop of gasoline/diesel/ethanol/whatever. The
>> energy could be transferred to sources that the USA has plenty of
>> within its borders - coal, nuclear, wind, and maybe eventually solar,
>> geothermal, etc.
>>
>> Not only does this seem to me to be a great breakthru, but it should
>> make economic sense as well. The price of electricity to go the same
>> distance as the gasoline required to do it is said to be one quarter
>> as much. For those who don't hit the road for long distances very
>> much, not buying a drop of gasoline all year would be a significant
>> savings, especially if they can buy this car for 100% of their needs.
>> The car should have an unusually high resale value as there are fewer
>> moving parts that are easier to repair (electric motors are dead-
>> simple in this respect)
>
>you still have a gasoline engine that needs service and repair,PLUS the
>electrics(including the generator).

When's the last time you actually had an _engine_ repair? Probably the most
reliable piece in the car. And... it could be a diesel. Even more reliable.

Electrics are pretty reliable, too. Hardly anything ever goes wrong with a
motor. Bearings. Replace 'em yourself, easily. More likely for the control
electronics to go south, but this is true for engine computers too.

Meanwhile, there's that 1 to 4 ratio of the cost of electricity and the cost of
gasoline, with gasoline much more likely to get more expensive than electricity
is.

>> and by the time the car expends its battery,
>> battery technology _should_ be such that a replacement battery will be
>> even cheaper than it will be upon initial release of the car.
>>
>> So, is the Chevy Volt the beginning of the end of the oil problem, the
>> refining capacity problem, and other oil-related problems?
>>
>> Dave Head
>>
>>
>
>If you can recharge from an electric outlet in 6.5 hrs,you could plug it in
>while AT work,and double your range.

Exactly, if you can get your company to agree to that. They'd probably do so,
and would likely get incentives from the government to do so when there's a
certain density of electric vehicles on the road.

OTOH, a lot of people will be less than 20 miles from work, and not need to do
that. I would guess that daytime electricity will become more expensive than
nighttime electricity when the power grid has to start supplying electric for
both air conditioners _and_ battery charging. The thing that makes electric
cars viable immediately is the fact that the electric grid is only near
overload during the day, with very much excess capacity when the sun goes down
and we don't need the power hungry air conditioner.

>Will the Volt have airconditioning and rearwindow defrosters?

I don't know those particulars, but I'm betting it'll fail if it doesn't -
people want at least air conditioning. RW defrosting too is nice, but prolly
not a reason not to buy it.

Dave Head
You have all the rights that you're willing to fight for.

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

On Wed, 23 May 2007 22:46:16 -0400, "Allan Smith" >
wrote:

>Dave,
>
>Only if the electricity to charge it is generated by other than fossil
>fuels. Otherwise, it just promotes electricity generation and distribution
>infrastructure, and pumps as much carbon oxides into the air as gasoline
>would have.
>
>Physics rulez. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only changed in form.
>
>If hydrocarbons must burn to power the vehicle, what does it matter _where_
>they are burned? The results still wind-up in the same atmosphere.
>
>Allan

Well, I'm for nuclear power, but even if it comes from coal, part of the
equation that is beneficial for us is to _not_ be importing our energy. We
have plenty of coal. So, at least _part_ of the equation is satisfied even
when coal is the source of power. But agree that something else, such as
nuclear or wind (or solar or geothermal or biofuels when they become practical
on a large scale) would be better.

Dave Head
You have all the rights that you're willing to fight for.

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

> Meanwhile, there's that 1 to 4 ratio of the cost of electricity and the cost of
> gasoline, with gasoline much more likely to get more expensive than electricity
> is.

Until everyone starts plugging in their cars, that is!

Everyone always looks at the price of the alternate energy as the
price is now, without demand from 100 million vehicles.

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

Dave Head > wrote in
:

> On 23 May 2007 15:12:02 GMT, Jim Yanik > wrote:
>
>>Dave Head > wrote in
ups.com:
>>
>>> I am thinking about the launch of the Chevy Volt sometime on or
>>> about year 2010. This is an electric car with an internal engine
>>> that is designed to run only when the battery becomes discharged
>>> enough to need it. Otherwise, the car is supposed to run 40 'city'
>>> miles on a charge that requires 6.5 hours to accomplish.
>>>
>>> Now, how many people can get by with <40 miles of driving a day? I
>>> think a whale of a lot of them. With an overnight charge, a huge
>>> number of people could get where they need to go, and back again,
>>> without burning a drop of gasoline/diesel/ethanol/whatever. The
>>> energy could be transferred to sources that the USA has plenty of
>>> within its borders - coal, nuclear, wind, and maybe eventually
>>> solar, geothermal, etc.
>>>
>>> Not only does this seem to me to be a great breakthru, but it should
>>> make economic sense as well. The price of electricity to go the
>>> same distance as the gasoline required to do it is said to be one
>>> quarter as much. For those who don't hit the road for long
>>> distances very much, not buying a drop of gasoline all year would be
>>> a significant savings, especially if they can buy this car for 100%
>>> of their needs. The car should have an unusually high resale value
>>> as there are fewer moving parts that are easier to repair (electric
>>> motors are dead- simple in this respect)
>>
>>you still have a gasoline engine that needs service and repair,PLUS
>>the electrics(including the generator).
>
> When's the last time you actually had an _engine_ repair? Probably
> the most reliable piece in the car. And... it could be a diesel. Even
> more reliable.

My 79 Accord needed a new camshaft,it wiped a lobe.
Damn Honda didn't comp any of the repair,either.Hondas are pretty
reliable.Can't say that for "American" autos,though.Then,I consider the
motor drivetrain,ignition and cooling part of
"repair",too.starter,clutch,hoses....
>
> Electrics are pretty reliable, too. Hardly anything ever goes wrong
> with a motor. Bearings.

and brushes or contacts. DC motors need brushes,AC motors may not,but do
need an inverter to provide the AC from the DC battery.



--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

Is the Chevy Volt Our Energy Salvation?
 

Larry Bud > wrote in
ups.com:

>
>> Meanwhile, there's that 1 to 4 ratio of the cost of electricity and
>> the cost of gasoline, with gasoline much more likely to get more
>> expensive than electricity is.
>
> Until everyone starts plugging in their cars, that is!
>
> Everyone always looks at the price of the alternate energy as the
> price is now, without demand from 100 million vehicles.
>
>
>

I note my electic bill mentions a higher electric rate for consumption over
a certain # of KWHrs.

I read yesterday that the Browns Ferry nuclear plant restarted one of their
nuke plants,after a 30 yr shutdown. Good news.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net