Just drove a Chevy Volt

[mitt]

I could embrace it, once I achieve all of my other "green" to do's in my house.  It drove really nice, and was well put together IMO.

I will not argue the environmental benefits or the politics, since those are no win discussions with bad data supporting both sides, but I think everyone can agree the technology is pretty amazing, and it is forcing design and manufacturing engineers to get creative and use new technology that could have great results in other products too (energy creation, storage, regeneration, fly by wire, controls, HMI, etc).

Not to mention we are hoping to sell a lot of EV charging stations 

mitt

[duccarlos]

It's still a Chevy 

[lethe]

It and any other manufacturer's take on it would probably be better with a little diesel acting as the generator

[Le Pirate]

It and any other manufacturer's take on it would probably be better with a little diesel acting as the generator

agreed.

I'm really suprised no one has put out a diesel/electric hybrid. They've been doing it in trains for years?


The volt is pretty cool tech...I'm just not impressed with the car I guess. I like the idea of the new electric ford focus though. How long until some craft electrical engineers mod it up into a eHot Hatch? 

[VisceralReaction]

Don't they explode or something? 

[Goat_Herder]

It's still a Chevy  

Chevy or not, the Volt still gets a thumb up from me.  I am glad to see more and more car manufacturers start to think more creatively at how to make the cars more efficient.  I haven't seen any Volt on the road yet but I have seen quiet a few Nissan Leafs (or is it Leaves) around Seattle.  

[zooom]

I am highly critical of hybrids for many reasons, but I am not going to get into that...I give the Volt thumbs up in the styling and fit/finish department as I saw the VERY European influences executed in the interior. The exterior lends itself to individuality for sure, as there is no mistaking that car for any other, especially at night with it's very Tron-like exterior lighting. The other thing that I give it credit for is the fact that the Volt is its own vehicle chassis, and not a Hybrid implemented in an existing chassis, like the Lexus and Toyota offerings. That takes some serious money and investment of time and effort and general resources to put something out on the market that you have to support for 10 years that is it's own proprietary everything, as apposed to a modification of preexisting stuff with adaptation parts. That to me said they are hoping it will be the great white hope and success that they have pitched it to be for the time put in to develop it.

[RAT900]

looks a heck of a lot better than that bastard child of the Aztec known as the Prius

if you're not into fossil fuel power

[ducatiz]

It and any other manufacturer's take on it would probably be better with a little diesel acting as the generator

I'm really suprised no one has put out a diesel/electric hybrid. They've been doing it in trains for years?

I tell people that and they say HUH?  for some reason people think those are pure diesel driven -- about 1/3rd the length of the car is the alternator!

[lethe]

I tell people that and they say HUH?  for some reason people think those are pure diesel driven -- about 1/3rd the length of the car is the alternator!

remember, most people know next to nothing

[thought]

I think VW is working on a diesel hybrid.  I read something about it this year I think, but I cant remember where.  It makes sense though as VW is one of few car makers that offer diesels almost across their whole line.

And I do have to say that the Volt came out a lot better than I expected and the technology is also a lot more real world than a pure EV car.  I would love to try one out too.

[Triple J]

I've seen a couple Volts aroung Seattle (and a few Leafs). The Volt is a good looking car, and a friggin' supermodel compared to all other hybrids and electrics!

Car and Driver (maybe Motortrend) did an interesting article comparing the Leaf, Volt, & Prius. They basically said the Volt is the most user friendly for people who actually like cars. The other 2 are OK, but more suited to people trying to make an environmental statement.

The most interesting part of the article was comparing which was the most environmentally friendly based on emmissions from how power is produced in the region. Basically, if your power is supplied by dams (like here) a plug-in option is best. If power is supplied by coal, then any plug in option is worse than a gas/electric hybrid. They had a map of the US color coded to show which vehicle was the most environmentally friendly vehicle for every region. Very interesting.

edit...Motortrend...found it:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/alternative/1108_2011_chevrolet_volt_vs_2011_nissan_leaf_vs_2011_toyota_prius_comparison/

[Speedbag]

Meh.

Cool and all from a tech point of view, but until you can buy one at the same cost as an equivalent gas car, who cares?

I looked at one out of curiosity and thought it was overpriced by about $10K...

[Monster-Jay]

I have been wanting to build my own home brew electric car for some time now, could be pretty quick around town and wouldn't be terribly expensive to build compared to the price of a new volt.

Inspired by the white zombie http://www.plasmaboyracing.com/whitezombie.php

Sure, it may not have fancy features such as regenerative braking, but it would still be one mean street machine.

[Drunken Monkey]

I drop the kids off at school then drive home and take the moto to work.

Rain or shine. Year round.

I'm realizing that for all of my driving needs all I need is an electric golf cart.