EPA numbers are out for the Volt.

[Jesda]

http://gm-volt.com/2010/11/24/official- ... -released/
http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php ... y-Released

The leaf:
http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/22/autos/n ... /index.htm


I'm not crazy about the EPA's choice to label electric range as MPGe.

[Razi]

Do they all come with a male masseuse in the back?

[PEZi]

I'm not crazy about the EPA's choice to label electric range as MPGe.

i actually like it... lets the treehuggers know they are still consuming non-renewable resources (unless they live somewhere with nuclear power)

keeps them from saying "my car doesn't use any gas"................... although i know the idiots still will

[themadscientist]

I see no d-bag quotient listed, this must be factored in.

[MinisterofDOOM]

All that engineering and hype and it only returns 37mpg?!?! FAIL GM. Fail. This is a bigger fail than the Aztek.

I called it years ago when it was announced. It's a joke. 37 effing miles per gallon.
I hope the engineers go back to their basic physics books after this one. Energy conversion is NEVER EFFICIENT. Adding more steps IS NOT THE ANSWER.

[Jesda]

The great thing about the Volt is that you aren't chained down to one source of energy. As gas prices rise, you can keep charging. If electricity goes up (say, the whole country goes electric), you still have gasoline to burn.

[nissangirl74]

All that engineering and hype and it only returns 37mpg?!?! FAIL GM. Fail.

My 1979 Datsun 210 got 45 mpg with 189,000 miles on the odometer AND it passed emissions.
Go back to the drawing board, you idiots.

[Jesda]

All that engineering and hype and it only returns 37mpg?!?! FAIL GM. Fail.

My 1979 Datsun 210 got 45 mpg with 189,000 miles on the odometer AND it passed emissions.
Go back to the drawing board, you idiots.

Indeed, but if I hit you with my Cadillac, you'd be toast.

I'm eager to see lighter and stronger materials in mainstream cars. This trend of fattening can't just keep going.

[elwesso]

I am not impressed by 35 miles on electric power! There is a startup in my hometown, www.brightautomotive.com that is making a 3500lb van that gets 100 miles on a charge... It would also be programmed to charge itself over night when electricity is cheaper! However, a 4 hour charge time is pretty nice.. It would be cool to drive to work, plug your car in and charge it while you work.. then you're commuting expenses are on the company!

I think electric vehicles are definitely the future, because an electric motor is more efficient than a gasoline engine.. However, CURRENTLY in order to charge the batteries in one of these vehicles you're most likely getting the electricity from burning coal or natural gas, which coal related emissions are far more harmful than petroleum emissions. Also, don't get me wrong i am not against coal-fired power plants, but all those hippies that think they're saving the environment by driving electric cars are retarded!

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

All that engineering and hype and it only returns 37mpg?!?! FAIL GM. Fail.

My 1979 Datsun 210 got 45 mpg with 189,000 miles on the odometer AND it passed emissions.
Go back to the drawing board, you idiots.

It's unfair to compare manufacturers with 30 years worth of safety crap glued onto the sides of the car. Add 800 pounds of batteries...Something's not right here.

If you had the choice, would you purchase a car with only a driver airbag, little sound deadening, and none of the safety features the feds mandate? (Not a question to you. to people in general)

[Dattebayo]

Further proof that we need to mine the moon. TONS of titanium ready to take, only three days away by rocket. Lets get on this stat!

[MinisterofDOOM]

It's unfair to compare manufacturers with 30 years worth of safety crap glued onto the sides of the car. Add 800 pounds of batteries...Something's not right here.

Not really fair to compare a carbureted, pushrod, mechanical ignition engine with 30 years of technology advancement and modern fuel injection, variable timing, OHC, and electronic ignition. Yet the 210 still wins.

Still fail.

[PoorManQ45]

Further proof that we need to mine the moon. TONS of titanium ready to take, only three days away by rocket. Lets get on this stat!

I <3 Dave!

[PoorManQ45]

It's unfair to compare manufacturers with 30 years worth of safety crap glued onto the sides of the car. Add 800 pounds of batteries...Something's not right here.

Not really fair to compare a carbureted, pushrod, mechanical ignition engine with 30 years of technology advancement and modern fuel injection, variable timing, OHC, and electronic ignition. Yet the 210 still wins.

Still fail.

I always found that really funny! We talk about all the advancements, but we end up behind where we were!

[AZ89two4Tsx]

This is just the beginning guys. As the years go on, there will be more available infrastructure in the way of "plug in" stations. That's what is holding electric vehicles back. Full electrics aren't practical yet as a primary/only car as they take something like 12hours to fully charge on a 110 volt outlet. But, on a 440 volt charging station, the Nissan Leaf could get around an 80% charge in 30mins. It's pocket change if you calculate the cost of electricity, and for most that's plenty of range to get you where you need to go within the city.

Any electric vehicle out right now needs some kind of gasoline assistance to make it practical for everyday use. Full electrics just don't have the support they need to make them usable, yet.

And remember guys, on the Volt, that 37mpg is on GAS ONLY.

[PoorManQ45]

With that charge rate on the Leaf I sure hope they're using LiPo batteries!

Otherwise there are going to be a lot of cars burning down...

[Jesda]

A road trip in the Leaf would take weeks due to charging time. The solution is faster recharging. Until then, its useless to me. The Volt is something I'd consider leasing if they put the technology into something nicer, like a Cadillac.

10 more years...

[Mr1der]

I think we're totally missing the point.

LEXUS PRIUS!



f*** li-ion batteries. gimme sweet sweet corn juice cars.

[driverdriver]

The great thing about the Volt is that you aren't chained down to one source of energy. As gas prices rise, you can keep charging. If electricity goes up (say, the whole country goes electric), you still have gasoline to burn.

I like options.

[nissangirl74]

My 1979 Datsun 210 got 45 mpg with 189,000 miles on the odometer AND it passed emissions.
Go back to the drawing board, you idiots.

It's unfair to compare manufacturers with 30 years worth of safety crap glued onto the sides of the car. Add 800 pounds of batteries...Something's not right here.

If you had the choice, would you purchase a car with only a driver airbag, little sound deadening, and none of the safety features the feds mandate? (Not a question to you. to people in general)

Good thing that wasn't for me. Only 3 of our 9 have airbags, 4 only have lap belts. Included safety features in the classics: a keen awareness of the dipshits driving around you and good reflexes.

[nissangirl74]

A road trip in the Leaf would take weeks due to charging time. The solution is faster recharging.

Solar panel mounted to the roof? Continuous charging?

[PoorManQ45]

A road trip in the Leaf would take weeks due to charging time. The solution is faster recharging.

Solar panel mounted to the roof? Continuous charging?

It's a good suggestion, but it would take a ridiculous amount of time to even charge the battery without the vehicle being in use. You're looking at ~175~250w from a panel about the size of the roof.

[AZhitman]

It's a good suggestion, but it would take a ridiculous amount of time to even charge the battery without the vehicle being in use. You're looking at ~175~250w from a panel about the size of the roof.

Correct. Even less than that, realistically.

We ran into that when we were working on the X-prize car... external solar cells, even maxed-out, are insufficient thus far (they're also heavy and add drag). Net gain = zilch.

We're getting there, though.

[Jesda]

A road trip in the Leaf would take weeks due to charging time. The solution is faster recharging.

Solar panel mounted to the roof? Continuous charging?

Maybe we'll use diet coke to run our cars in 2020. I'm looking forward either way.

[nissangirl74]

Maybe we'll use diet coke to run our cars in 2020.

Would that mean coffee would be "Boost"?

[OriginalWheelman]

And Espresso for NOS!

[Dattebayo]

Maybe we'll use diet coke to run our cars in 2020.

So we can't use corn or water, but Diet Coke is fine?

[Red coupe]

All that engineering and hype and it only returns 37mpg?!?! FAIL GM. Fail. This is a bigger fail than the Aztek.

I called it years ago when it was announced. It's a joke. 37 effing miles per gallon.
I hope the engineers go back to their basic physics books after this one. Energy conversion is NEVER EFFICIENT. Adding more steps IS NOT THE ANSWER.

All that engineering and hype and it only returns 37mpg?!?! FAIL GM. Fail.

My 1979 Datsun 210 got 45 mpg with 189,000 miles on the odometer AND it passed emissions.
Go back to the drawing board, you idiots.

Ummmm, aren't you all completely missing the point by focusing on the 37mpg?
37 mpg has absolutely nothing to do with the electric drive part of the car.

The car, when ran as a purely gas standard car with no electric drive, but still carrying a ton of equipment achieves 37mpg, perfectly acceptable if not decent mileage for a heavy four seater.

Any time you are not making a road trip, it gets significantly better...
I don't want a volt, but you both either do not understand how this car works, or are more likely twisting things to make the car fit your opinion.


What numbers exactly were you guys expecting to put up when running in gasoline only mode, and why on earth would you expect them to be better then any other car?

[Jesda]

Maybe we'll use diet coke to run our cars in 2020.

So we can't use corn or water, but Diet Coke is fine?

I'm 98% sure diet coke comes from the urine of squirrels with kidney problems, and I believe in recycling.

[Jesda]

Maybe we'll use diet coke to run our cars in 2020.

Would that mean coffee would be "Boost"?

I like the cut of your jib, Mrs C.