Volt will get 230 mpg?

[SkywlkrSnd]

Associated Press: GM says new Volt to get 230 mpg in city driving (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090811/ap_on_bi_ge/us_gm_volt_mileage)

Looks like GM is today claiming up to 230 mpg for the perpetually forthcoming Volt. Sounds good on paper, but I'm not sure about it. It still only has a 40 mile range for its electric motor and battery, after which it must rely on an internal combustion engine to reach a 300 mile range.

That is not what I consider a true EV. That's a hybrid. Sure, a kick-butt hybrid...but a hybrid nonetheless. I'm not a fan of them trying to sell it as an EV. (Which is why this is not in the EV thread.)

What do you guys think? A potential game-changer? Or marketing hype?

[asif_a]

Probably both, more so hype. I think the Big Three are half-committed to this switch to electric cars; they don't actually want to be fully innovative if they think they can still tweak a few things here and there and pass it off as innovation.

I couldn't find the article but Wired did a story a couple months back about how they think the future of the auto industry will be driven by 3rd party companies. Instead of GM dictating to all the 3rd party companies how they want their fuel injection system, there would be a level of standardization so that GM could shop around different companies for fuel injection systems. So these 3rd party companies would then be competing with each other and creating innovative/efficient products naturally instead of waiting around for GM to give the signal.

I hope they're right. Detroit is doing pretty bad (1 job per 17 applicants) and both my parents work for 3rd party manufacturers.

[explorer]

Agreed. Both... but definitely a marketing angle.

At least companies are starting to feel the pressure to move into the eco-friendly/green space. We'll have some great green cars soon enough.

[sheelcofe]

in my gsi bus on the motorway i get 34ish mpg doing 80mph and thats with a k&n, powerpipe, dumpvalve and cat back miltec exhaust not saying they make a great deal of difference dont really know how many miles i do to a tank though

[fbrown295]

Marketing hype all the way... it won't be a game changer. Good but not a game changer.

[Kermit]

It is not a hybrid, nor should it be considered the same, here is why. A hybrid requires gas in the system for it to run as it uses them interchangeably, basically using mostly gas, but supplementing with the electric motor for things like acceleration. This allows for the gas engine to run more efficiently and use less, and that is basically a hybrid.

The volt on the other hand, allows you to drive on electricity alone. Meaning that if you drive your car like most people do, and just use it to get to work and back and maybe a quick trip to the grocery store, you will run only on electricity, and can probably never buy gas again. However, Chevy realized that on occasion people like to take road trips or drive somewhere far out of range. so the option is given to also fill up a tank. This not limiting someone to an hour of driving even though this person just bought a brand new car.

Essentially the Volt is the best of both worlds. The short commuter can be green, while the long hauler will have to use the old technology as there is nothing currently out there to allow him to do so.

i mean really, would you spend $40, 000 on a new car that couldn't take you more then an hour away, even though 90% of all your trips are less then 20 minutes?

In reality land, not idealist land, this is an amazing option to have.

[vista]

i like that car so much...

[SnellExperts]

Marketing hype all the way... it won't be a game changer. Good but not a game changer.

I wouldn't say marketing hype all the way, I'm sure its going to have some great features, true it may not be a game changer, but it still sounds like a great car!