GM: Yes, the Volt's gas engine can power the wheels

LOL!

It reads, "23 'plug-in/EV' MPG" to me.

Somebody in the PR Dept should be in deep doo-doo for that one.

 

does obama have a birth certificate? I thought he was the
missing link.

 

:focus:

Here's a link that'll help some folks understand how COMPLEX GM made the volt:

Chevrolet Volt Surprise - Battery-Electric Propulision - Automobile Magazine

Man . . . talk about yer built-in maintenance requirements, imo . . . take a look at that tranny!

 

CNBC had the topic of the EPA and what they would do on the sticker today on their website:

News Headlines

They also discussed the fact that the Volt would also power the engine via Gasoline as well as the battery.

 

Yup, EPA classifies Volt as a plugin hybrid and leaf as an EV.

 

is that ad photoshopped?? it cant be real can it?

all, in all; i dont care how the Volt moves as long as it has the potential to reduce oil consumption which it definitely can do. our move to oil independence will not happen overnight. there is no magical solution.

it will take hundreds of baby steps to get there and it will be very tough real estate to conquer. the Volt is a baby step in the right direction.

but its not for me. it does not fit my needs (i would strongly consider buying it if were $25,000) as a long distance vehicle. imm; i have a MUCH better options for short distance traveling in the Leaf (at $8,000 LESS money...actually with discounts i am getting its about $10,000 less) which i am getting. Even if not for the HUGE support provided by WA State toward EV's i would still get the Leaf. but around here, the support really makes it a no-brainer for a two car household

the Volt has the advantage over the Leaf as it would provide somewhat less risk (discounting the maker) but the Volt just appears to be so mismanaged right now. i cant help but wonder what is it we have not found out. what has been kept under wraps tightly enough to have not been leaked out? maybe nothing...but i just feel that something is amiss here.

 

In view of these newest revelations ..... how? why? is the Volt purchaser entitled to government credits? I cannot understand why Prius purchasers would not be entitled to the credits as well. It appears that only the Leaf should qualify.

But then, the governments owns GM .... and knows their vehicle would not sell without incentives.

 

Yea, the government tax credit only looks at the size of the battery that move the vehicle. 4 kWh is the minimum. 16 kWh is the maximum.

It appears, the max was set for the Volt while Leaf does not benefit from the extra 8+ kWh (total 24+ kWh).

The min was set so Prius or any other hybrids would not qualify. PHV Prius should qualify since it has 5.2 kWh battery.

 

IMO this is the germ of the real story here.

Not only does it turn out that the Volt is not using a completely electric power train; the clutches put the transmission closer to the dual-mode hybrid tech that seems to have all but crashed-and-burned in other GM products. And we bailed GM out for this? Baby steps? Bah!

I'm still driving a 2002 Prius. It's the most reliable car I've ever owned, and the silky smooth, step-less acceleration is just as much of a joy today as when I first drove it off the lot.

I will never again buy a car that uses mechanical clutches, torque converters, or any other of the failure-prone crap associated with conventional trannies.

GM is WAY too far behind the technology curve on this. And until such time as someone else builds a mass-market hybrid (PHEV or otherwise) that has no mechanical connection between the ICE and wheels, Toyota's HSD is simply the most elegant power train on the market... save for a pure EV like the Leaf.

 

Over the Leaf...Besides eliminating the risk of getting on the lane with an empty battery, IMO Volt does present on a periodic basis ICE maintenance, and obviously wear, rising costs and reliability problems.
Prius PHV should be in the middle, because its ICE is much simpler, and PSD does not have 3 clutches like the Volt has.

 

i agree. my long term plans is to have a 100% EV and a plug in. that still gets good mileage when burning gas. at this point the HEV Pri is the front runner, but that is probably 2 years off. should have plenty of options by then

 

EV and HV for me.

 

Dude you are so all over the gm-volt.com comments sections racking up negative after negative after negative feedback that even I, a non-hybrid owner of any kind but researching my next purchase, am getting tired of your trolls/flame bait.

Love your prius and let the volt fans love theirs. K?

 

There are Prius trolls there bashing Prius. Posting factual information get rated down anyway. I was trying to "fight fire with fire".

I did cool it down when the news came out about the ICE directly powering the wheels.

Thanks for taking your time to post your feedback here.

 

the strength of your reaction should tell you that others feel just as strongly as you do about this and not all will not agree with you.

one thing we need to keep in mind here, on the boards there is all types of info

1) an informed OPINION based on correctly interpreted facts

2) an honest opinion based on a flawed interpretation of facts

3) an opinion based on information distributed for the sole purpose to create false general consensus or to mislead

4)an opinion based on preconceived notions developed over years formed by incorrect or out dated information that have not changed significantly in the recent past (VERY politically correct statement here, this is known by other less appropriate words)

now, if that were all the categories, then life would be easy. problem is, there is literally an unending combination of the 4 possibilities (for u statistic nuts, i do know the formula for # of combinations of a 4 number set, but since each scenario has varying degrees of truth, that makes possibilities endless)

so a couple of things to keep in mind...

* opinions are part of EVERY scenario

*facts based on research are complete in a very very very small part of our world. the rest of world is in a state of ongoing discovery which means what is true today is SUBJECT TO CHANGE!!

as far as calling someone a troll. there are a lot of people much more qualified for that distinction than the person you have designated.

now, i dont always agree with him, (i dont always agree with ANYONE) but one thing that i can say without reservation;

1) he admits his mistakes very readily
2) is very very open to new ideas
3) has provided tons of very pertinent data here
4) frequently posted data and link to support his OPINION

 

Really, they label troll to anyone who disagree with their heavenly ideology.

When they were sure the Volt would get 50 MPG in CS mode, I posted pictures of the Volt MFD screen that showed 33-37 MPG.

When they believed Volt was a pure series hybrid, I pointed out that Volt had a planetary gear-set and more than one clutch, based on the statement Rob Peterson made.

Of course, I was labeled as a troll and my posts got rated down. I was right and I had the data to back up all my statements. Months later, they found out I was right. No apologies were given.

I just brought up CARB emission certification of ULEV. It wasn't welcome either. I was labeled again as a troll for posting off-topic info.

 

That transmission is from another discontinued project. I appears they changed horses in midstream.

 

well they did not change enough of them. if they dont make a bigger version, the Volt WILL FAIL

 

When I asked what criteria would be used to determine success or failure, the response was calling me out as a troll. Talking about an over reaction! All I did was ask an open-ended question.

They have many choices of how to respond. Unfortunately, if they don't like the message, they shoot the messager.

The topics of engine-efficiency, emission-rating, and price really anger the enthusiasts. They know GM didn't achieve those goals yet and are really starting to worry that consumers won't be able to see beyond that.
.

 

At least Honda had the good sense to (somewhat) quietly begin selling the Insight Gen II ... without the massive multi year long campaigns of how it would be the ultimate hybrid. And at least it was cheep.