Chevy Volt: 230 mpg

[Eastoff]

My understanding of the Volt, is that it gets 50mpg when running on gas. The estimate cnn gave for electricity consumption is 88cents per 40 miles. I think it uses 8kwh if anyone knows their exact rates. Also here in the NW we use mostly water, so it would still be very clean for us. Another issue to consider is how you get that gas to the fuel stations. You have a big diesel truck drop it off. If you were able to get everyone to use these Volts, then you would cut back unnecessary costs in fuel transportation.
They said the price of manufacturing is 40k$ that was not the price they were going to sell it for... expect 50k or 60k. BUT there is a 7.5k government kick back for purchasing one. Knowing the car companies they'll probably include that discount in their advertised price.

 

[andalusian]

The makers of the S-Cargo fight back:

http://www.autoblog.com/2009/08/11/nissan-pokes-fun-at-the-volt-claims-367-mpg-equivalent-for-leaf/

 

[Denny Crane]

My understanding of the Volt, is that it gets 50mpg when running on gas. The estimate cnn gave for electricity consumption is 88cents per 40 miles. I think it uses 8kwh if anyone knows their exact rates. Also here in the NW we use mostly water, so it would still be very clean for us. Another issue to consider is how you get that gas to the fuel stations. You have a big diesel truck drop it off. If you were able to get everyone to use these Volts, then you would cut back unnecessary costs in fuel transportation.
They said the price of manufacturing is 40k$ that was not the price they were going to sell it for... expect 50k or 60k. BUT there is a 7.5k government kick back for purchasing one. Knowing the car companies they'll probably include that discount in their advertised price.

$.88 x 365 / 12 = $27/month. I pay less than that for gas in my Prius each month for a ~10 mile commute.

Add in $7500/5 years (fair depreciation?) and you get $1500 / 12 = $125/month more.

Figure the Prius costs $25K. For a $50K car, you need to save $25K in gasoline over, say, those 5 years, too. That $5K/year turns out to be $417 in gas you could have bought. At $4/gallon, that $417 buys about 100 gallons of gasoline, enough to get you 4000 miles in the Prius.

Feel free to work out the numbers for a Toyota Corolla and it exposes how much of a waste of taxpayer dollars that $7500 is.

 

[Eastoff]

$.88 x 365 / 12 = $27/month. I pay less than that for gas in my Prius each month for a ~10 mile commute.

Add in $7500/5 years (fair depreciation?) and you get $1500 / 12 = $125/month more.

Figure the Prius costs $25K. For a $50K car, you need to save $25K in gasoline over, say, those 5 years, too. That $5K/year turns out to be $417 in gas you could have bought. At $4/gallon, that $417 buys about 100 gallons of gasoline, enough to get you 4000 miles in the Prius.

Feel free to work out the numbers for a Toyota Corolla and it exposes how much of a waste of taxpayer dollars that $7500 is.

I don't think the main point is that it's cheaper than a prius. The point is that if you were only driving your 10miles a day, you would never produce any emissions from your car. Also that 88cents is for 40 miles, so you should recalculate that.

 

[Denny Crane]

I don't think the main point is that it's cheaper than a prius. The point is that if you were only driving your 10miles a day, you would never produce any emissions from your car. Also that 88cents is for 40 miles, so you should recalculate that.

Again, that $7500 of taxpayers' money is really expensive and a waste. I actually take the bus home from work, and I like it just fine. I'd rather see the $7500 spent on making public transportation better, if the money is to be spent. I don't advocate it being spent, FWIW.

 

[Eastoff]

Again, that $7500 of taxpayers' money is really expensive and a waste. I actually take the bus home from work, and I like it just fine. I'd rather see the $7500 spent on making public transportation better, if the money is to be spent. I don't advocate it being spent, FWIW.

I understand your point, but in some places public transportation isn't a fully viable option. Although I would like to see some maglev trains in the US!

 

[Eastoff]

I actually take the bus home from work, and I like it just fine.

HOLD UP! you own a prius AND you take the bus?! are you SURE you don't live in oregon

 

[Denny Crane]

HOLD UP! you own a prius AND you take the bus?! are you SURE you don't live in oregon

My wife drops me at the office on the way to work, she drives home when her day is done there, and I take the bus.

 

[BlazerWookee]

If you are getting plowed into by a semitruck you have much more serious issues than worrying about a battery. Now if it was another passenger car or a slow speed wreck, that is much different.

All cars have to pass safety standards. I do not know what those are for batteries, but seeing as how car safety has been improved over the last 20 years I am not too worried.

As for environmental impact, if legislation is in place to ensure all batteries are recycled, it would help a lot.

It's not about the person in the car. It's about the batteries rupturing and spewing acid all over the place. It's about very hazardous materials leaking into streams. It's about toxic fumes from car fires billowing into the air.

 

[crowTrobot]

this technology is unlikely to be any kind of long-term solution due to finite lithium supply.

 

[BlazerWookee]

this technology is unlikely to be any kind of long-term solution due to finite lithium supply.

Plus, when the lithium runs out, the bipolar segment of the population will become more annoying and/or dangerous...

 

[barfo]

It's not about the person in the car. It's about the batteries rupturing and spewing acid all over the place. It's about very hazardous materials leaking into streams. It's about toxic fumes from car fires billowing into the air.

I think you are thinking about typical lead acid car batteries. The batteries used in hybrids, as I understand it, don't contain liquids.

barfo

 

[NJNetz]

My wife drops me at the office on the way to work, she drives home when her day is done there, and I take the bus.

Good cover. That better not be your Prius.

 

[Denny Crane]

this technology is unlikely to be any kind of long-term solution due to finite lithium supply.

Truth.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Plus, when the lithium runs out, the bipolar segment of the population will become more annoying and/or dangerous...

And that means things will be a bit more testy around here.

The really good news is that this is just the beginning. From Prius to Volt to.... to..... to.... each new generation of vehicles will just get better and better.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I saw a billboard the other day for "3rd generation Prius".

Since I'm basically ignorant about these cars, can anyone tell me what the differences are? What upgrades have been made over the last decade or so? Seems like it'd be a pretty decent way to extrapolate tech transfer in forward-thinking auto design.

 

[Anima]

Human waste people, human waste. It's always the answer.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/jun/21/energy.renewableenergy

 

[Anima]

I saw a billboard the other day for "3rd generation Prius".

Since I'm basically ignorant about these cars, can anyone tell me what the differences are? What upgrades have been made over the last decade or so? Seems like it'd be a pretty decent way to extrapolate tech transfer in forward-thinking auto design.

One of the biggest differences is that you can use soler power to power your AC. Pretty freaking cool.

 

[hasoos]

It's not about the person in the car. It's about the batteries rupturing and spewing acid all over the place. It's about very hazardous materials leaking into streams. It's about toxic fumes from car fires billowing into the air.

Yes, but think about things. Any car company that put out an unsafe vehicle would be cutting their own throat. Competition is too tough, and safety standards in the USA are too tough for this to happen. One of the reason we can't get good gas mileage cars right now in the USA when they are available in Europe already is because they are undergoing safety test that almost take a year to complete if not more before they can even go on the market here.

What do you think would happen to a company who was already on the brink of going under if they produced the equivelent of the 70's Pinto that blew up, but this time with Batteries.

They have too much on the line for this to take place, and there are people who get paid to ensure we get safe vehicles that spend a lot more time worrying about this stuff than you do who do this for a living.

 

[Denny Crane]

I saw a billboard the other day for "3rd generation Prius".

Since I'm basically ignorant about these cars, can anyone tell me what the differences are? What upgrades have been made over the last decade or so? Seems like it'd be a pretty decent way to extrapolate tech transfer in forward-thinking auto design.

The first generation Prius looked like a corolla:

I own a 2nd generation Prius. It was one of two hybrids specifically designed to be a hybrid. From the tires to the air conditioner to the aerodynamics... It also has a forward/reverse only transmission - it never shifts gears as you go faster and faster - it's an electric car with gas engine as a boost and to recharge the batteries.

The 3rd generation Prius has more energy saving features to reduce battery consumption.

Yes, but think about things. Any car company that put out an unsafe vehicle would be cutting their own throat. Competition is too tough, and safety standards in the USA are too tough for this to happen. One of the reason we can't get good gas mileage cars right now in the USA when they are available in Europe already is because they are undergoing safety test that almost take a year to complete if not more before they can even go on the market here.

What do you think would happen to a company who was already on the brink of going under if they produced the equivelent of the 70's Pinto that blew up, but this time with Batteries.

They have too much on the line for this to take place, and there are people who get paid to ensure we get safe vehicles that spend a lot more time worrying about this stuff than you do who do this for a living.

When I got my prius, there was a lot of concern about its safety. It has 6 air bags, so it's not about collisions. The fire departments and other rescue workers were afraid to use the jaws of life on them for fear of electrocution.