ABG: Chevy Volt completes 1776-mile Freedom Drive in just 3 days; EVs can't match that

i suspect incompetence is the most likely reason. The second reason is likely that they are still deciding on software, and depending on how they use the batteries in charge sustaining mode they may increase battery life or increase efficiency. Another reason is they do not want to put out a low or high number until they know how the epa is going to test it. This avoids another set of articles like those written about the 230mpg rating. It also avoids the Leaf fiasco of putting out 100 mile range, but causing articles to be written that if you actually drive it the range is much lower since nissan used the bad old la4 test.

 

i thought they already did the leaf thing with their 230mpg number.

 

I have no idea what "class" GM is referencing; but if compact is indeed the group, then doesn't the Honda Insight set the bar ?

I'm more inclined to think that GM puts the Volt in the "E-Rev" class ;-)

It is awfully pathetic that GM is advertising a long trip as a major milestone in the summer of 2010, 3 - 4 years after starting the media blitz and presumably less than half a year from the car in dealer showrooms. What next, AC ?

 

True an EV couldn't drive 1776 miles in three days.
Luckily, since I don't have the NEED to drive 1776 miles in three days, I will be just fine with an EV

 

Volt accelerates from 62 - 79 MPH in 10 seconds. I am pretty sure Prius can do it faster than that!

 

Actually, the Tesla Roadster and Leaf should have no problem driving the same distance in the same amount of time, as long as the right charge stations are available. It would be very difficult to do that trip today even with some planning, but it will get easier once we start seeing some decent numbers of EVs on the road and demand for quick charge infrastructure goes up.

That said - Eric Loveday @ ABG is a horrible writer.

 

IT'S like saying ANY ICE can travel, if it gets fuel. It says and means nothing.

.

 

I can confirm Prius can do 62-79 MPH in 7 seconds on a flat highway. That's 3 seconds faster than the Volt. Can someone confirm with 2010 Prius?

 

That is one of the stupidest headlines by ABG. Just 11% of that drive (max) was electric. Infact I'd say Prius would have used less gas than Volt ...

 

^^ very little doubt about that.

The economics of the Volt are just so out of wack. Few single people have $40k to spend on cars, and a large fraction that can want a sports car. Families that spend $40k on cars will be better off with two cars: a ~ 40 mile BEV and a Prius for the same price as a Volt, but more convenience, and less fuel use.

Rational purchases of a Volt will be in short supply.

 

Yes, at $40K it will be difficult to justify. I expect to buy a BEV (LEAF) and a PHEV later, once the price comes down. That would reduce my oil consumption the most ... and yet allow us to drive around.

 

The thread title is funny. Sure, the Volt can drive as far as you like. It's a gasoline car, for crying out loud!!! ANY gasoline car can do that! And as evnow points out, the Prius would do it on less gasoline even with the Volt recharging its batteries over night. Sheesh!

 

I completely agree with Daniel. What would be most interesting are the details explaining how the drive was accomplished. I am reserving WOW comments until after the details are revealed. A 600 mile day is no real feat whatsoever, except I am suspicious the Volt in pure CS mode might be "uncomfortable" to sustain the 600 mile/day speed. Plus, with only a 9 gallon tank, there would be frequent stops to refill .... so that would lower the daily average mph. But who knows, they easily could have carried additional fuel ... and what else, there are additional "fudges" that could have been made.

The Volt seemingly is designed for the short daily commuter, and this was an attempt to "demonstrate" that it can be an over-the-road vehicle. The danger is, many uninformed "mom and pops" are going to buy this car, and it will deliver performance that falls short of the advertised performance.

 

Why? The Volt will get at least 35 mpg on the highway, probably 40 mpg+ easily. That's at least 300 miles per fill-up in CS mode, which is about the same as my gas guzzler which works just fine on 500-600 mile/day road trips. 2 10 min stops/day for fuel is not a big deal at all when you are comparing it to an EV which in the best case (Tesla Roadster, 245 mi range) will likely need at least 2 multi-hour stops to charge and worst case (Nissan Leaf, 100 mi range) will need 8+ 30 min stops to refuel.

The Volt will do quite well in a single-car household as it will not use gas for most normal use and then use gas efficiently for longer trips.

Now - if the Volt does cost $40k compared to the $33k of the Leaf, I would instead recommend getting two cars, anyway. Get the Leaf for your daily short-trip driving, then get a used 4-cyl sedan for your highway road trips.

That said for two car households, I can easily see them a Leaf/Volt household as being best of all situations as most two car households I know of, both cars are used for short trips on a daily basis, but you still need one that can drive 200-500 miles/day with relative ease and that's just not yet possible with EVs (unless you own a Tesla and there is a convenient charging spot and you can wait to charge at the max rate of 56 miles/hour).

 

Most of the comment here is what I hear from people who do not have Prius
The Volt is new technology
What this show is that you need only one car either to drive around town or go going across the country
The Volt is a start to something new just like a Prius was a start to a hybrids


We should be happy that companies are trying new things
If there no new technology we should all happy driving Sequoia and get 18.1 l/100km in the city

 

With no technical or engineering background to support my doubts .... I am merely responding to things I have read. I get the feeling that the "range extender" will struggle to generate sufficient power at 60-70 mph, climb hills, run the A/C, water pump, lights, radio and etc. I can easily be proven wrong.

I have read articles that even the Tesla's range at freeway speed is significantly reduced. In time these questions will be answered.

 

Tony, that was a good one.