Any one heard of the GM Volt, coming out in 2010?

Question

This is an electric car for 40 miles, then when the battery runs out, you use the gas to recharge the electric engine...i thought it was a cool idea.

Answer 1

"Ecch. American Car. Drive 100,000 miles, then dispose of it."

Wow... what an ignorant thing to say. Making generalizations about a car because of it's origins.

Guess you better stop liking Toyota. A lot of their vehicles including the AMAZING Camry are American designed, engineered, and built.

Answer 2

Well let's see here... I'll read you the article/advertisement I found about it in the newest "Popular Science" magazine:

"Imagine: A daily commute without a drop of gas. We have put tremendous design and engineering resources in place to make the Concept Chevy Volt a reality. The Volt, with its revolutionary GM E-Flex Propulsion System, is different than any previous electric vehicle because it will use a High-Energy Battery and range-extending onboard power source that can run on gas, ethanol, or biodesiel to recharge the battery while driving. For someone who drives less than 40 miles a day, Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions."

So that's what they say.. but who doesn't want to make their product look the best!? Personally, I think it's a good alternative to the other things on the market for someone who is just doing menial errands daily or just for a little get-around-quick and not-waste-gas-car... but I also think if we can get enough pressure on those car companies we could probably get a car similar to this but with much more reliability and long-term benefits within a few years... I'm one of those people who not too long ago thought Global Warming was a myth, but heck, why not save gas, make the earth better, and satisfy all those dang democrats at the same time!?!?!? I think we're heading in the right direction.

Answer 3

The Volt will surpass the Prius as the best hybrid car available when it comes out. Toyota is working on a plug-in version of the Prius, but it probably won't be available for another 5 years. GM has gotten to advanced lithium-ion battery technology faster than Toyota, surprisingly.

To respond to Jeffy above, no, Honda will not have a commercially available fuel cell car anytime in the near future, nor will anyone else. Hydrogen powered cars are still decades away from being a viable option.

Electric cars like the ZAP-X Crossover will be competing with the Volt for the title of greenest car on the road until Toyota comes out with the plug-in Prius.

http://zapworld.com/ZAPWorld.aspx?id=4560

I just wonder how much the Volt will cost. The Prius is reasonably affordable as compared to other cars at around $23,000 and the ZAP-X will have a model for about $30,000, so the Volt will have to be in that price range to be competetive.

Answer 4

Yes, I like the car and would love to go test drive one. But it needs to be on the road today, not in 2010. By then, Toyota will have released a newer, even better Prius. The Volt had better be well worth waiting for if they plan to compete. I hope they really plan to make this car in large quantities, instead of just using it as an excuse to get out of higher government fuel economy standards. GM is notorious for getting out hopes up and then discontinuing the car, just as it is starting to look promising. Remember the EV-1?

Answer 5

heard of it
heard they promised fuel cell vehicles on the road 5 years ago
heard they produced an all electric vehicle that performed 150miles per charge at highway speed, beloved by drivers, back in the 90s

Know they recalled and crushed them all http://www.whokilledtheelectriccar.com

It is just a stalling tactic to stop new alternative companies, like Tesla, getting a business case together - it's saying "if you try to go to market with a desirable decent performance alternative to their old noisy, smelly, high maintainace, clunky machines they will bury you".

GM & their oily friends just want us to keep buying the same stuff and won't tolerate any alternative.

Answer 6

It is a great idea. Problem is that GM "plans" to launch it in 2010, "IF" they can come up with the battery technology to make it work. BY that time Honda will have a fuel cell car in production , as well as turbo-diesels, in the US.

Answer 7

Everything we have heard and read is that this project is tracking. Big things in the scope of where all this technology is and where it will eventually be. All signs are turning green finally!

Answer 8

I've heard of it, and my parents were considering getting it when it came out. Of course, I'll be old enough to drive by then ;-)

Of course, we were also considering a Toyota hybrid since we trust the Toyota brand more.

Answer 9

From I've seen of it, it's going to be a death trap. They were having a problem with "thermal events" aka spontaneous fires. Plus small Chevy cars are tin cans. Look at the Cavalier, Aveo and Cobalt.

Answer 10

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