combjelly,
The Volt isn't all electric, but is the next best thing. You can charge the battery with a plug, but when the battery runs low, it fires up a small gasoline engine to charge the battery. A gasoline engine can be very efficient when run at a constant speed under a constant load. Which it can be when used this way. This is very different from the way most hybrids are built.
That's what I meant. Electric motor(s) are the only ones powering the car. The small motor is there just to extend range or in case of emergency.
Trains, for example, have used a similar system for decades because it is more efficient than anything else. If combined with regenerative braking, which converts the braking energy to electricity, cars can be extremely efficient.
Yup, efficient in 95% range. I used to study EE (not the micro side of things, but the big stuff.
And, if volume were high enough, there is no reason why the vehicles should be more expensive that what we have today. They might even be less expensive since the drive train would be a lot less complex with a lot fewer parts. And reliability would be a lot higher too. The big unknown is how far it is to travel on battery alone.
Yup, exactly (on cost). Another thing is, things that you have on luxury cars, such as four wheel drive, anti slip regulation system, anti lock breaks would be easy and cheap to implement. Cheaper than a standard no frills low combustion powered car without any of these features.
The challenge is still the battery technology (as far as weight, capacity and cost). But we are close enough already for day to day commuting.
Personally, I'd rather GM come out with one that can travel 10 miles on battery and do it sooner, than gamble on the battery tech. they need being ready later. But GM management is not know for their ability to make smart decisions.
That, unfortunately is true. The supplemental engine that has ability to charge batteries on the fly is good way to transition.
BTW, as far as GM is concerned, I think it is one of the few companies that has the capability to explain the benefits of electric cars vs. the standard combustion powered cars or hybrids.
Joe |
