Canceling my PiP order.

The question was asked what blended meant and provided an example of maybe 1% Ice usage. You provided another possible answer (using "mostly"). I provided a more precise answer based on science/engineering and what EPA does. That is not spin -- its a clarification of the facts/definitions.

The definition is important because it about the design spaces to consider. If Honda did a plug-in Insight with their IMA, it would likely be a mainly ICE model but would still be blended! An if that let them bring the Insight-II up to say 60MPGe or even 70 MPGe it would stil be a good thing. One can have EV dominated EREV, EV-first PHEV, and ICE-dominated PHEV and HV. Its a spectrum with likely good choices for different people in different spaces.

 

How were you able to sign up for one of those new Volts already? The dealers here are saying they are not yet available...

 

They are not being delivered yet but have have been in production since Feb 6 (at a production the rate of nearly 4000/month). If your dealer does not know how to order or is out of allocations they are jerking your chain and wasting your time. Call another dealer or a Volt advisor at (877) 486-5846.

 

You're #$%# crazy! Ask Dianne, she knows what's going on and doesn't BS anyone.

 

Isn't Diane's job to sell Prius?

How does she know more about GM's production change date than an activist Volt owner/engineer?

 

She knows everything!

 

His isn't available yet either, thats why he said it had a March 1 delivery date. I'm assuming someone else ordered it and canceled so he was able to jump into one further down the supply chain than starting from scratch.

 

I sure appreciate the praise and high esteem but I really know very little about VOLT. Just that their engineering change to qualify for the HOV lane sticker in CA was to draw in clean air at the end to mix with the not-clean-enough air to dilute the air till it was clean enough.

If that's what it takes to get HOV access for Volts, then oh well. It's kinda techinically cheating but what can one say. It was ok'ed.

 

What will you do in few years IF they stop allowing electric vehicles to drive in the HOV lanes just as they did Hybrids?

 

There's no "IF", the green access stickers are scheduled to expire December 31, 2014. There's a possibility they could get extended (like the yellow stickers), but I wouldn't bet on it. Be that as it may I also have a Volt on order, March 5 build date, so I can get 2.5+ years of access.

 

Minor point, but 100% electrics get a WHITE sticker, not green, although the expiration date is still Jan 1, 2015.

 

That is not all all what was done to clean up the Volt's emissions. Its not pumping in air to "dilute", its pumping in oxygen to support the catalytic conversion process.

The secondary air inject process ly its drawing in air to inject air into the catalytic converter which uses the added oxygen to improve the conversion during the cold start. The image below (from 12v.org) can help explain the process.




The basic concept of a secondary air injector is that an engine requires a relatively rich mixture for smooth operation on cold start, but the oxygen sensors (5,8) between the engine and the catalytic converter don't operate well at cold temps (< 500C or so) so cannot control the fuel mixing well enough. For this reason, the engine control unit operates in more of an open loop mode until the system and the oxygen sensors have heated to operating temp, which takes the the first 30 to 90 seconds of engine operation . Because of this, exhaust gases contain high levels of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons after cold starts.

The unburned hydrocarbons could be further oxidized, except there is no oxygen left after combustion. By adding the secondary air injector they are feeding air (i.e. adding oxygen) into the exhaust manifold, so the CO and HC are oxidized through after burning form water and carbon dioxide. The exothermal reaction also increases the exhaust gas temperature, which warms the catalyst more quickly. To achieve efficient warmup operation, a high secondary air flow rate must be achieved within the first few seconds of engine startup, and the air flow rate must be maintained until oxygen sensor control is in operation. Air flow is maintained by an electric air pump (6). Once the oxygen sensors and catalytic converters have reached their operating temperatures, valves (4, 7) cut off the secondary air flow. In less the 2 min the system is at operating temperature and the secondary air injector turns off.

Secondary air injectors are used on a range of vehicles, including multiple Toyota models.

 

How much does this emission control add to the price? It's common practice for a manufacturer to offer seperate Carb and Fed models, but that's mostly with models with larger production runs. Why doesn't GM just put these added controls onto every Volt? It would be simpler. Are they just using up the old parts first?

 

Nothing according to the Volt's build page. Click POWERTRAIN and you can see it is available at no extra charge.

 

Not charging anything does not mean it does not cost anything.. just that they did not want to anger CA buyers.

The parts fo a secondary injector, ignoring labor, is probably 70-90$ (replacements parts are about $180-240).

I do hope they just install them on all cars, I just have not seen a statement either way. I can see that even if they install on all new cars, they might want the option since that may also be needed to track the warranty extensions).

I've already asked if I could get mine upgraded (even if I have to pay).. and was told there are not plans to have a retro-fit kit at this time.

 

GM may not charge more, but it's got to cost more, otherwise they'd make it a standard option. They should make it a standard option - why only offer it to CARB states as a no cost option? Can you get it outside of CARB states? Isn't cleaner air one of the main reason people buy a Volt?

 

Cleaner air is just one reason some people buy it (others are more anti-oil, or cost, or green (which is not just clean) or just fun) . But the emission standards don't actually account for how often the engine runs, they just account for how clean it is when it runs. If one is running 70% EV and 30%, the effective emissions is 30% of the measured numbers. And since most emissions happen on cold-start, its even less because most of the CS miles for Volt owners are on longer trips, so few starts. A day with errands may have multiple very short trips (each of which start the car and most emissions happen then). For the Volt owner, those are likely all EV. I've had about 58 cold-starts of my engine since August. Most people have more than than in a month. So in a cost-benefit analysis is less clear how much cleaner it needs to be.