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General Motors' upcoming plug-in hybrid, the Chevrolet Volt, at this juncture appears to be priced at a level that guarantees it will not be a game-changer -- which says something about the state of electric-car technology, or at least the technology's deployment, as of early 2010. GM plans to sell the car for about $40,000, not including a $7,500 tax credit, and at that price level it remains to be seen whether enough consumers will purchase the car for its more-fuel-efficient transportation technology, if not its more-efficient economics.
The Volt, which plugs into any standard home electric outlet, will enable a driver to travel a maximum of 40 miles on electric power before needing a recharge from an outlet or from the car's built-in, range-extending gas generator. Will the car save you money in total transportation costs in the long run? Carnegie Mellon University found that, at current gas prices ($3 per gallon), the Volt won't: a lifetime savings of $4,875 or not enough to justify the Volt's higher sticker price, spectrum.ieee.org reported.
Energy Analysis: Of course, there will be those who opt to purchase the car due to its decreased consumption of gasoline alone, but significant questions remain. The chief of which is: How is it that after more than 30 years of research dedicated to battery technology, U.S./Europe/Japan auto makers still don't have a vehicle battery of reasonable size and cost that lasts at least 100 miles (160 kilometers)?
Also, why is it that auto manufacturers have not done more with composites and other materials to reduce vehicle weight, a major factor in fuel/energy consumption? It seems like the West, and in particular the U.S., has been in a state of suspended animation regarding vehicle weight -- with cars basically weighing the same amount that they did a decade ago -- and that's hardly a practice that makes energy-conservation sense.
Energy Analysis: Of course, there will be those who opt to purchase the car due to its decreased consumption of gasoline alone, but significant questions remain. The chief of which is: How is it that after more than 30 years of research dedicated to battery technology, U.S./Europe/Japan auto makers still don't have a vehicle battery of reasonable size and cost that lasts at least 100 miles (160 kilometers)?
Also, why is it that auto manufacturers have not done more with composites and other materials to reduce vehicle weight, a major factor in fuel/energy consumption? It seems like the West, and in particular the U.S., has been in a state of suspended animation regarding vehicle weight -- with cars basically weighing the same amount that they did a decade ago -- and that's hardly a practice that makes energy-conservation sense.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-26-2010 @ 9:50AM
Dan Barnett said...
I believe Tesla Motors does have an electric vehicle that will go 100 miles. It's priced about $100g.
By the way, the Volt's 40 miles is for a clear, sunny day. I'd like to see range when you need the lights, heater, & windshield wipers. At this level, I agree that the Volt is not the answer to America's transportation problem.
1-26-2010 @ 10:08AM
Greg Gebhardt said...
The USA will never be able to compete as the Unions have killed the auto industry! Next, they will kill your healthcare and YOU!
1-26-2010 @ 10:24AM
Mike O said...
They haven't done anything about weight? They have tried and people complain that cars look and feel "cheap". I remember some referring to early Saturn's as "toys".
You also have the safety factor. Nobody wants to step down to a lighter car because they fear being crushed by someone else's monster SUV. Once you add in all the safety gear, it jacks the weight up.
Manufacturers are becoming more cognizant of weight and are trying to find ways to shave off a few pounds. Some of the lighter weight materials that don't compromise safety are still too expensive.
If carbon fiber was cheap to make, everyone would use it.
1-26-2010 @ 11:11AM
veyron3k3 said...
It's not about the savings, its about supporting the technology. All new technology costs more initially. But if you get 10k of these cars out there, in the real world, there would be significant information to be learned. The batteries have been a problem for a long time. The chemist have not kept up with the engineers.
1-26-2010 @ 12:06PM
Sean M. said...
The Chevy Volt is a series hybrid which means only the electric motor drives the wheels. The gas is fuel for a generator to charge the batteries. This is a great idea in some applications - they use it in diesel-electric locomotives. For my money, though, I want to buy a 100% battery-electric vehicle (BEV) just to get the stinking gasoline and all its evils out of my daily transportation equation. There are BEVs available now and many more coming in the very near term. BEVs are the first step toward weaning ourselves from oil.
1-26-2010 @ 6:21PM
al coholic said...
Mike in comment #3 has it right.
American drivers are not dumb. They know that weight equals safety in an accident. No matter how you slice it that is the biggest factor in whether you are the windshield or the bug.
I drove a Toyota Corolla for about a year and a half until a deer ran into me on the interstate and I was lucky not to lose control. In my Silverado 2500HD I hardly would have flinched when he hit.