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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2012/02/fox-tests-volt-runs-out-of-juice-in-lin- coln-tunnel/
But if a Volt "runs out of juice" the car doesn't DIE.....the gas engine charges the generator and the car still runs until it runs out of gasoline...
So...
The EPA has determined through testing that the Chevy Volt would go a typical 35 miles on a full battery charged. Using the full 10.4 kwh of stored battery energy available, GM has determined the majority of drivers will experience from 25 to 50 miles of range.
http://gm-volt.com/2010/12/29/getting-25-miles-of-range-or-less-in-the-chevy-vol- t/
Which means with our high priced electricity in San Diego it would cost about $3.22 to go 25 miles. Hardly a good deal for a car that costs $46k.
For example, I pay about 7.7 cents per kwh (offpeak) here in Phoenix, and it never gets cold enough to use the heater in the mornings.
So for me, driving 17 miles per day for my commute, I could charge the Volt for about $0.84 cents per weekday (assuming a 25-mile EV range limit), and hardly ever need to use the gasoline engine.
With gas at $3.30 and me getting 34 MPG in my TCH, that would be $1.65 per day to drive the TCH.
So over a year, I'd save $228 versus buying gas for the TCH. Not much, but my case is unique because I'm already driving a fairly fuel-efficient car.
Obama hikes subsidy to wealthy electric car buyers
The White House intends to boost government subsidies for wealthy buyers of the Chevy Volt and other new-technology vehicles — to $10,000 per buyer.
That mammoth subsidy would cost taxpayers $100 million each year if it is approved by Congress, presuming only 10,000 new-technology autos are sold each year.
But the administration wants to get 1 million new-tech autos on the road by 2015. The subsidy cost of that goal could reach $10 billion.
The planned giveaway will likely prompt populist protests from GOP legislators, but it will likely also will be welcomed by auto-industry workers in the critical swing state of Michigan.
That welcome is critical for President Barack Obama, who is touting his support for blue-collar manufacturing programs to help offset his low public approval ratings.
The new subsidy level represents a 33 percent jump from the current $7,500 government payout for each Volt buyer, even though the Volt’s buyers are already among the wealthiest Americans. It will be offered to buyers of any new-technology autos, including battery-powered autos and cars powered by natural gas, said a White House official.
The extra money for wealthy buyers will be borrowed funds, eventually paid off by future taxpayers in all income brackets.
Kind of a shame, however, that the Leaf went up nearly $2500 in base price this year, thereby offsetting the proposed increase in the credit.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
Volt sales likely to jump in Cali
Dismal sales of the Chevrolet Volt called into question whether the GM could sell the 30,000 Volts it’s said it wants to this year. But part of the problem was the original car, although it operates without gasoline for short trips, didn't meet California’s emissions standards to qualify for carpool access (without a passenger) and a state tax rebate of $1,500.
Today GM announced that Volt’s with a new low emissions package meet the state's standards, and will be available at 140 dealerships in California by the end of the month. That’s too late to help February sales figures, but it could give sales a boost in March.
Carpool access is a big deal on the crowded highways of Southern California. GM says commuters who use them cut their driving time by 36 minutes per day.
Unfortunately, the Chevy Volt—one of the star plug-in cars—will not receive the coveted $5,000 California rebate because the vehicle does not qualify as an Advanced Technology-Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV). A number of conventional hybrids, like the Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, have qualified as AT-PZEVs for years. The Nissan LEAF is a pure zero-missions vehicle, and will therefore be designated as a ZEV.
The lack of a $5,000 rebate will put the Volt at a cost disadvantage compared to the Nissan LEAF, which will indeed qualify for the $5,000 California rebate. The net result could mean that the Chevy Volt has a net price $10,000 or more than the LEAF.
G.M. announced that the warranty all of the Volt’s electric-drive and battery components for 8 years or 100,000 miles. However, CARB requires that the emissions equipment of AT-PZEVs have a warranty of 10 years or 150,000 miles. If the Volt’s battery pack, for example, is considered part of the emissions control system, then G.M. would need to warranty the pack for 10 years or 150,000 miles, which apparently the company is not willing to do. That’s probably the right business decision.
So has GM raised the warranty bar to 10 years and 150,000 miles?
Google this phrase if you still are doubting me:
"chevy volt california carpool lane tax credit"
"The first 35 miles or so that you drive in a fully charged Chevrolet Volt are emissions-free, but until now, that hasn't been good enough to make it eligible for a highly coveted Clean Air Vehicle Decal in California. Chevrolet has added a Low Emissions Package to the Volt that lets it achieve the California Air Resources Board's Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle rating (AT-PZEV).
High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in California require two or three occupants in the car to drive in the faster, less congested lanes. However, certain alternative fuel vehicles are approved for green or white Clean Air Vehicle stickers that give them single-occupancy access to the state's carpool lanes.
The Chevrolet Volt, which is an extended-range electric vehicle that uses electricity stored in a battery to propel the car for 35 miles before kicking on the gasoline engine, wasn't eligible to apply for one of the 40,000 decals. To join the clean vehicle fleet, Chevrolet created a Low Emissions Package for the Volt. The new package brings its tailpipe emissions down to near zero, extends the emissions systems warranty to 15 years or 150,000 miles, and extends the battery warranty to 10 years or 150,000 miles.
Commuters who use carpool lanes in Southern California save an estimated average 36 minutes a day, according to GM. The Volt's new status as an AT-PZEV vehicle in California will make it qualify for the green Clean Air sticker. It also makes them eligible to receive up to $1,500 in state rebates through the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project.
But not all Volts can apply; only the extended range hybrids with the Low Emissions Package are on the Clean Vehicle list. Production of Volts with this new package began this week and should be available for sale in California Chevy dealerships by the end of the month. You'll be able to tell if the Volt qualifies by checking the Vehicle Identification Number, which will have an E, F, G, or H in the fifth position of the VIN number."
Volts achieve AT-PZEV and earn a rebate and a car pool sticker
"The 2012 Volt with the Low Emissions Package should begin arriving in California in the next two weeks. It will cost the same as the regular version: $39,145 plus an $850 destination fee."
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/zevprog/factsheets/clean_vehicle_incentives.pdf
Notice that the Prius Plug-in Hybrid will be competing for the 40k green HOV stickers and tax rebate.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm
This will make the Volt models sitting on the showroom now about worthless. Bet that made the CA Chevy dealers real happy. No wonder so many were refusing to take the Volt. They had insider knowledge. Better bet for a HOV sticker would be a i-MiEV or Leaf. No limits and $2500 rebate.
btw, does anyone know percentage of drivers who routinely & strategically ignore the HOV rules, in areas where the separation is paint not an actual barrier?
i'll drive my Cruze to Sacto from Boston tomorrow to trade for a Volt, using the carpool lane along the way if that's what it takes.
"Even with sales up in February over January, we are still seeking to align our production with demand," GM spokesman Chris Lee said. The car company had hoped to sell 45,000 Chevy Volts in America this year, according to the Detrot News, but has only sold about 1,626 over the first two months of 2012.
End of the Volt? Harumph..... :shades:
http://energycenter.org/index.php/incentive-programs/clean-vehicle-rebate-projec- - t
PS
You can get a Leaf at near invoice now. With the two rebates at $10k less than $23k.
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My prediction, they will still be available made in China. GM already mentioned that months ago. Very convenient closing. They are mostly made in China anyway. May as well assemble them there.
After Receiving Bailout, GM May Move Volt Production to China
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The catch is that you need to buy a 2012 Chevy Volt equipped with a low emissions package. These are being made available for Volt’s built and sold in the state of California. Keep in mind not ALL 2012 Chevy Volt have the low emissions package and will not qualify. GM only started to produce the Volt’s with low emissions packages as of February, and will start to deliver low emissions Volt’s in March.
If you are on a dealer lot and want to make sure the Volt you are buying will qualify for an HOV sticker, you can check the VIN number of the Volt. Look at the 5th position of the VIN for the letters (E, F, G, or H) For example, my Chevy Volt VIN number is 1G1RD6E4XBU100010. The 5th position is a “D” so it does not qualify for HOV lane privileges. Older Volts cannot be retrofitted to include a low emissions package so if you bought in the first year you are out of luck!
important to me. Will be wife's car - daily commute 31 miles. Yearly 9000 miles. Hoping to get
by on one tank per year. The electricity comes from my solar panels.
The dealer cannot keep them on the lots - already pre-sold 3 of the 4 new CA ones allotted
to him. If Chevy is having trouble selling the car elsewhere maybe it can send all of them to the
Bay area .
I checked CA DMV site, and I have to wait until I have DMV registration card before I can apply for green HOV sticker.
US Bank uses $7500 to reduce lease rate. HOWEVER, (this is kind of strange) residual is increased by $7500, so it won't make sense for me to purchase the car after the lease because residual is very high. I think it was around $26000 after three years and 15K per year.
About the Volt, it drives really well. Electric mode is buttery smooth with 0-60 about 8 sec. 0-30 is better than a 3 series due to the instant electric torque. The handling is excellent due to the low center of gravity resulting from the batteries. In gas mode with complete battery depletion, it is a bit sluggish at times but very quickly the generator builds up supplementary battery power and again you are good to go for those occasional high accelerations. You with hit 80-85 mph very often if you do not pay attention. The seamless drive train integration is a marvel of automotive engineering. No wonder it is car of the year in US and Europe. It is unfortunate that people trash this car for political reasons. This is what US innovation is all about.
Ethanol can be a solution if used in moderation. In case of a flex fuel plug in hybrid 80% of the miles will be in electric and just 20% in ethanol. US already has the capacity to support that. It takes less than $500 to convert a gas engine to flex fuel and existing gas pumps can support it with minor modifications. The Govt can create enough incentives so that people remember to charge as often as possible and use Ethanol only on long drives where waiting to charge is not an option.
I am not a fan of ethanol. I think the damage to the environment far outweighs any positives it presents. The only viable alternative I can see for the future is Algae biodiesel and other biofuels. It still has a long way to go. Do keep us posted on your Volt.
sometimes lately as i sit stopped in commute/rush-hour traffic I wonder about getting a vehicle with mpg better optimized for immobility.
it's true about the EEs in silicon valley. i had solar heat panels when I lived out there, but no PVs... a pal tried work installing home PV systems here on the east coast but not enough business in that as of a couple years ago... maybe better now.
First off, I'm sorry to hear you are so unhappy. Cheer up.
Secondly, as all "generalities" tend to be, your brush is a little too wide.
Anyone who owns/uses solar panels and drives an electric car is driving a "solar powered" EV.
People near (or who get power from) nuclear power plants are driving a "nuclear powered" EV.
People near (or who get power from) wind farms are driving a "wind powered" EV.
People near (or who get power from) geothermal sources are driving an "earth powered" EV.
People near (or who get power from) hydro electric plants are driving a "water-force powered" EV.
People near (or who get power from) "clean coal" power plants are driving a "clean coal powered" EV.
People near (or who get power from) natural gas power plants are driving a "natural gas powered" EV.
The goal is to drive a vehicle that is AT-PZEV or cleaner. Many EVs fall into this category, depending on the power source for the electricity.
I'm just curious to see how the package operates. Neither of them are a practical option for me, so I'm interested to see what I'll wind up thinking about them afterwards.
The main issue with the Leaf is the range anxiety. It basically limits you to within a 40 mile radius from home unless you can charge at work. Volt has no such drawbacks though it just seats 4 against the Leaf's 5.
We use the Volt as the family sedan for our family of 4 and wife's commute car (28 miles total). I will get a Leaf or Ford Focus Electric for my commute (about 18 miles total). I personally do not like the styling of the Leaf but that is a personal matter.
The second car I drive now is the Toyota Highlander Hybrid. That will remain as the third car for vacations and long trips. I think currently this is the most optimal scenario from gas consumption point of view - gas free in day to day life with about 100 gallons per year for vacations/long trips.
An interesting observation is if everybody drove a Volt for commute and just charged overnight in their garage/carport like a cellphone, US could get rid of ALL crude oil imports right now. Now that would be something to look forward to.