The New Chevy Volt - Give It To Me, Baby!
So far, so good.
I like what I see in the new Chevy Volt.
A common theme here has been that the successful electric car will be one that not only has the benefits of running on batteries but also LOOKS GOOD. This car looks pretty good ( it doesn't look like a carnival ride ) and could pass for most new cars these days. I think that is very important.
For me, the 40 miles on a battery charge would almost get me to work and then back home each day....the specs say that after the 40 miles the gas engine charges the battery to go another 300 miles. That works great.
The claim is 2 cents a mile is the cost to run this car. My current gas engine car is probably more like 18 cents a gallon. So, if I drive 15,000 miles a year and save about 15 cents per mile then I figure I save about $2200 per year. Plus, in theory, the Volt won't have as many mechanical issues as a gas engine car.
If the Volt turns out to be a solid, well made car then I want one.
Labels: chevy volt, electric car, electric cars
Lost Opportunities with Electric Cars
If one or two automakers in the US had already developed a nice, midsize electric car by now do you think they would have any trouble selling them this summer? With gas prices finally rising up to $4 a gallon I think the market will start to demand electric vehicles.....but the real opportunity for car makers to take advantage and make good money might be lessened. They could do very well right now if they had the vehicles.
Here's a new one to check out ....the Ox ....out of Norway I think. Very interesting features.
The Ox
Electric Cars. Are We There Yet?
At the Detroit auto show this week, Chrysler showed off three green car concepts, including an all-electric one called the Zeo that will go from zero to sixty in 5.7 seconds and hit 130 miles per hour. The car can also go 240 miles on a single charge.
Unlike Nissan, which is looking at electric town cars, Chrysler seems to be touting performance. The speeds and range of the Zeo rival the upcoming Tesla Roadster. The Zeo even has four seats and four doors, unlike the two-seater Roadster. The big difference, of course, is that the Zeo is a concept car and many of those never make it out of the convention. (Note the crazy doors.) The first Tesla Roadsters will hit the road soon.
Ready to but one?
Well, it will be a few years before they are ready.
It's a good sign though that more automakers are giving it a try....
Just a Matter of VOLT-age
Is it possible that we will have an American car company take a leading role in breaking out the electric car/mostly electric car to the masses?
And that company will be CHEVROLET?
Just my thought. This could be a terrific thing for Chevy. I like what I see in the CHEVY VOLT.
This car is "sweet". Real possibilities for the future if this car is a winner.
All propulsion is accomplished by the electric engine which, in turn, is powered by the lithium ion batteries. The batteries are charged by plugging them into the wall. For the first forty or so miles of driving, the batteries have enough power to move the car from zero to sixty in 8 seconds and hit a top speed of 120 mph.
Then, after all that aerodynamic, electric, regenerative-brake-using driving, an ultra-efficient, small, inexpensive gasoline engine kicks on and recharges the battery. Using only power generated by the gas generator, the car gets about 60 mpg.
If they sell this car around $20k to $30k I think they will have a home run on their hands.
Labels: chevy volt, electric cars
ZAP me with that !
Electric-vehicle maker Zap says it will come out with an electric car that will go about 100 miles on a charge but cost only $30,000, a combination of features that so far hasn't been achieved. Can they really do this?
An all-electric, family size sedan. Now we're talkin'!
How about an all electric, crossover vehicle? You bet!
We've said here over and over. Make a car that "average" folks will buy ( not a car that looks like a moon buggy ) and make that electric car "convenient" ( long battery life ) and they will sell. The phrase "If you build it, they will come" is appropriate with electric cars.
Check out the new vehicles being developed at
Zap Motors.Labels: electric cars, ev's
Electric cars going more mainstream?
Normal. Nice. Practical. Comfortable.
Those are words that need to describe new electric vehicles that are sold in the U.S....when that happens we will start to see real progress with the use and support of those electric cars.
Here's one. Zenn cars. They have 15 to 20 dealerships that sell them across the United States right now. Check out
http://www.zenncars.com/ to find out more. Looks like a fairly normal, nice, practical, comfortable compact car. Still, the downside is the technology of the batteries....this one can go about 35 miles on a charge. That would get me to work....but could cause problems on the way home! Someone who works 5 miles from home might be able to use it fine.
We need more developments in the batteries that power these vehicles in order really have them take off. "Most" folks would consider an electric vehicle if they could go 150 to 200 miles or so on a charge ( you figure an SUV with a 15 gallon tank and 15 miles to the gallon would go 300 miles on a full tank ). And if they feel comfortable about how to charge it up when away from home( could electric car "recharging" become a viable side business for gas stations? ).
Come on innovation!
Labels: electric cars
Electric Car video - includes Natalie!
GREAT video clip from the Today show with Natalie Morales test-driving a Tesla! Along with some other good electric car information. Check it out here
http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=98835414-1D35-4DE6-9A2F-BF846BCCA9C7&f=&fg=copyThis is exactly the kind of exposure we the new breed of electric cars to get. The "funky" electric cars are fine and help provide advances in the field but the real gains will come when mainstream folks are really excited about buying and considering an electric car. The Tesla Roadster is just one step towards the goal of producing midrange and attractive cars for the masses. The benefits to our future energy security are tremendous if we could reduce our oil dependency by 10-20%.
