Check out the Dell Store on CNETChevy Volt snags 230 mpg city EPA rating
Toyota is NOT going to be happy about this...
(Credit: Chevrolet/GM)For the last few weeks, we've been seeing a mysterious teaser ad all over the web. The ad simply displayed the number 230 (the "0" represented by a smiling electrical outlet) and a date. Well today's the day and the secret is revealed. The number 230 is significant because the Chevrolet Volt plug-in series hybrid has received an EPA estimated 230 city miles per gallon.
If that number sounds a little high to you, remember that for about the first 40 miles of driving on a full charge, the Volt uses no fuel. And once the batteries are low on juice, the gasoline generator kicks in to sustain the charge, not to motivate the vehicle--as is the case in parallel and two-mode hybrid.
The EPA has had to completely rethink its fuel economy standard for extended-range EVs like the Volt. For the Volt, that drafted number is based on combined electric only driving and charge sustaining mode with the gasoline generator running, although how much driving of each mode is still under wraps. The new draft works in GM's favor as the automaker now has bragging rights the the first ever triple digit fuel economy rating.
In addition to new fuel economy numbers, the new EPA stickers may also feature electric efficiency ratings. The Volt will consume 25 kW/hours per 100 miles.
Update: The EPA has subsequently stated that it hasn't actually tested the Volt to confirm or refute GM's claims.
Toyota did a similar thing with the first 2 generations of the Prius and are only recently starting to make money from their hybrids. Of course, now they're raking in the dough, so it was a gamble that paid off.
To samhardin : While yes you are right gm is now govermenet owned... you're only part right, the majority stake in GM is well.... UAW, sorry to burst your bubble there.
to ritoman: Um...im guessing in your driveway sits a japanese car, that explains the 5 year old like comment.
Now to some real business...
GM Needs to price this bad boy in the mid 30's so that after the tax credit it comes to like the mid 20s which would make it more affordable, just imagine when america starts to take this car out and the amount of oil the U.S consumes now 8.5Billion barrels a day or so starts to drop, what's going to happen to the price of oil?
Which reminds me, if gas goes back down to oh say $1.50 because of mass adoption of this vehicle, does that mean communistical countries like Venezuela will go bankrupt and have no funds to buy weapons? or how about the other OPEC nations, hmmmm this is the beginning of the end of petroleum.
Just my 2 cents worth...
You're right, they don't own a majority. I still, however, see two major problems regarding conflict of interest. First, the obvious: The government still maintains a holding in the company. Second, and still not so subtle, with all of the meddling that Congress and the White House have partaken in with GM, they have a vested interest in seeing it succeed for political purposes. While seeing Toyota succeed in the U.S. is good for the country in the form of overall economics, seeing GM succeed has the added benefit of being able to take political credit at the stump.
Just one more huge reason why government has no business as a stockholder and/or bailout source.
Isn't that so much easier to put on the sticker and easier to understand?? Come on people!!!
What a load!
Besides, your math is off. 230 miles - 40 from full charge = 190 Miles when the range extender is used to recharge the battery, using 1 gallon of gas. The gas isn't moving the vehicle, it's charging the battery. The 300 mile range is from a full charge and a full tank, obviously that hold more than a gallon of gas. 230 miles in a single day's commute is more than most will use in a given day. The argument holds up.
Most people know how far they drive and can determine on their own the benefit they'll get out of it. For me, I know I would probably only end up filling this thing a dozen times a year and getting way over the average if I charged it at night, but long commuters won't. And if you can't figure it out for yourself, then you should probably turn in your license because you're not smart enough to operate a motor vehicle!
Oh, and I hope they give away a free bottle of Sta-Bil, because if you leave your gas sitting in the tank for too long it's going to go stale!
I don't believe that the "generator" will charge the car to run an additional 190 miles on one gallon after you deplete the charge. What does it cost for the electricity?
I agree with Fleurya - "put on the sticker : full charge: 40 mile, gasoline: 30 city, 25 highway"
Lets all hold their feet to the fire on this one and by the end of next year (when they say these cars will be ready for sale) lets have a reality check.
History is not on their side with this one.
why cant we go with something like miles per charge...
i remember when GM always talked about themselves as revolutionary...whats so revolutionary about a 40 mile battery
Tesla's first, mind you, FIRST car into the market can go 6 times as far. their second will go even farther and seat 5, with way more cargo space than the volt. and dont forget their 17 inch infotainment touchscreen AND 3G in the car..
<a href="aquazullauderdalebythesea.com/">Michael from Fort Lauderdale</a>
Just because it gets plugged into the wall when your sleeping
DOES NOT mean that coal plant used to make said electricity has been turned into a bowling alley!
Which is easier, making sure that the thousands of cars in any given metro area run cleanly, or cleaning up one dirty powerplant? Now offset that single powerplant with cleaner alternatives (i.e. solar panels on homes or *gasp* nuclear) and you have a formula for overall cleaner air in a given region.
I don't think that anyone thinks electricity comes from the sky (well, unless you count lightning) but there are far fewer variables when you reduce the number of polluters.
-
by roadbase
August 15, 2009 7:52 AM PDT
- It's just a MPG spin made especially for the Volt who lives in its own little world. So now we have another way to figure MPG. Remember that it?s GM speaking-spinning.
-
Like this
Reply to this comment
-
Showing 1 of 2 pages (28 Comments)