The Chevy Volt concept, shown at the Detroit show, is a car designed
to be a plug-in hybrid from the start. The Volt is based on a roughly
Cobalt-size platform and is said to weigh 3200 pounds, while a 160-hp
electric motor drives the front wheels. That motor is powered by a 400-
pound, 16-killowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack (same kind of
batteries used in laptop computers). GM says this massive battery,
which stores as much energy as 12 Prius hybrids, can propel the Volt
for up to 40 miles.
pictures and more article here
http://www.zone-car.com/?chevrolet-volt-concept.php

"john" wrote in message
oups.com...
The Chevy Volt concept, shown at the Detroit show, is a car designed
to be a plug-in hybrid from the start. The Volt is based on a roughly
Cobalt-size platform and is said to weigh 3200 pounds, while a 160-hp
electric motor drives the front wheels. That motor is powered by a 400-
pound, 16-killowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack (same kind of
batteries used in laptop computers). GM says this massive battery,
which stores as much energy as 12 Prius hybrids, can propel the Volt
for up to 40 miles.
pictures and more article here
http://www.zone-car.com/?chevrolet-volt-concept.php

Like a laptop, eh?
So, let's see..... 40 miles first charge, 35 next, 30 next, then before you
know it you have to plug it in every time you want to use it and trail a
power lead around with you...... and when you complain you will be told "the
battery is a wear-and tear consumable part and not covered under warranty"!
I'll stick to petrol, thanks. ;-)
Badger

john wrote:
The Chevy Volt concept, shown at the Detroit show, is a car designed
to be a plug-in hybrid from the start. The Volt is based on a roughly
Cobalt-size platform and is said to weigh 3200 pounds, while a 160-hp
electric motor drives the front wheels. That motor is powered by a 400-
pound, 16-killowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack (same kind of
batteries used in laptop computers). GM says this massive battery,
which stores as much energy as 12 Prius hybrids, can propel the Volt
for up to 40 miles.
pictures and more article here
http://www.zone-car.com/?chevrolet-volt-concept.php

An interesting idea that could catch on. There must be plenty of cars
on the road that just do the school runs and an occasional trip to the
supermarket, all well within a 40 mile range. There must be quite a few
people commuting less than 20 miles each way too. And a
charge-as-you-drive engine does allow the occasional long run to be a
practical proposition. You would have thought that they might have
considered a small bio-diesel unit rather than a petrol engine though,
wouldn't you?

My main worry is what happens if you try to drive this up a 1 in 3 hill?
L-Ion batteries get pretty hot when they are worked hard, and laptop
batteries have caused fires in the past. Just imagine how something as
big as a 16 KWh one would burn.

Jim

In article ,
Badger wrote:

"john" wrote in message
oups.com...
The Chevy Volt concept, shown at the Detroit show, is a car designed
to be a plug-in hybrid from the start. The Volt is based on a roughly
Cobalt-size platform and is said to weigh 3200 pounds, while a 160-hp
electric motor drives the front wheels. That motor is powered by a 400-
pound, 16-killowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack (same kind of
batteries used in laptop computers). GM says this massive battery,
which stores as much energy as 12 Prius hybrids, can propel the Volt
for up to 40 miles.
pictures and more article here
http://www.zone-car.com/?chevrolet-volt-concept.php

Like a laptop, eh? So, let's see..... 40 miles first charge, 35 next, 30
next, then before you know it you have to plug it in every time you want
to use it and trail a power lead around with you...... and when you
complain you will be told "the battery is a wear-and tear consumable
part and not covered under warranty"! I'll stick to petrol, thanks. ;-)
Badger

It's also interesting that these concepts rely on the difference in fuel
costs which are brought about by taxation. Which can be changed overnight.

For domestic energy - where taxation doesn't really apply - electricity
is a more expensive form of energy than oil. Of course it depends on how
that electricity is generated - but the US gets its majority from fossil
fuels same as the UK.

Tax electricity in the same way as other 'road' fuels and the idea of
storing it in an inefficient expensive battery becomes a joke.

--
*The more I learn about women, the more I love my car

Dave Plowman London SW
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