I think you still don’t get what he is saying and how the Volt works. The ICE is tuned to run in, I believe, 3 specific power bands to maximize thermal efficiency, just as most generators are. It also has to, at any given time, be able to provide enough power to maintain normal operation. So with dead batteries, you could go from a downhill slope, to climbing Pike’s Peak, in a matter of milliseconds. Less severe would be that at any given time, the driver is fluttering the pedal to maintain a constant speed on a mildly varying grade. Since the ICE does not infinitely adjust its RPMs, there is a whole lot of time where it is generating more electricity than the actual drive motors need. Instead of throwing that power away, it is stored in the batteries, for use later. The gas burned when all the power is not needed does not go to waste since the drive motors will use the stored electricity. So driving around with a few hundred pounds of near dead batteries actually serves a purpose, and as a direct result, the total MPG is increases substantially.

You also seems to be someone who is against the obvious complexity of a system like this over a simple EV. I really can’t quite understand that when current battery technology simply makes it impossible to do what the author wants, at least at a reasonable price. You do know that GM decided to make it a 5 minute job to swap the battery pack, right? That’s with the forward thinking that battery tech will improve and customers will want to upgrade as time goes on. As I said, the ICE range extenders will be needed less and less, but needed they shall be for a decade at least. I also believe that we in the US shall not see EVs like the Leaf, Imiev, etc, until at least 2013, and at a much higher price point than their current pre-marketing is hinting. Just my opinion.

I think you still don’t get what he is saying and how the Volt works. The ICE is tuned to run in, I believe, 3 specific power bands to maximize thermal efficiency, just as most generators are. It also has to, at any given time, be able to provide enough power to maintain normal operation. So with dead batteries, you could go from a downhill slope, to climbing Pike’s Peak, in a matter of milliseconds. Less severe would be that at any given time, the driver is fluttering the pedal to maintain a constant speed on a mildly varying grade. Since the ICE does not infinitely adjust its RPMs, there is a whole lot of time where it is generating more electricity than the actual drive motors need. Instead of throwing that power away, it is stored in the batteries, for use later. The gas burned when all the power is not needed does not go to waste since the drive motors will use the stored electricity. So driving around with a few hundred pounds of near dead batteries actually serves a purpose, and as a direct result, the total MPG is increases substantially.

You also seems to be someone who is against the obvious complexity of a system like this over a simple EV. I really can’t quite understand that when current battery technology simply makes it impossible to do what the author wants, at least at a reasonable price. You do know that GM decided to make it a 5 minute job to swap the battery pack, right? That’s with the forward thinking that battery tech will improve and customers will want to upgrade as time goes on. As I said, the ICE range extenders will be needed less and less, but needed they shall be for a decade at least. I also believe that we in the US shall not see EVs like the Leaf, Imiev, etc, until at least 2013, and at a much higher price point than their current pre-marketing is hinting. Just my opinion.

I think you still don’t get what he is saying and how the Volt works. The ICE is tuned to run in, I believe, 3 specific power bands to maximize thermal efficiency, just as most generators are. It also has to, at any given time, be able to provide enough power to maintain normal operation. So with dead batteries, you could go from a downhill slope, to climbing Pike’s Peak, in a matter of milliseconds. Less severe would be that at any given time, the driver is fluttering the pedal to maintain a constant speed on a mildly varying grade. Since the ICE does not infinitely adjust its RPMs, there is a whole lot of time where it is generating more electricity than the actual drive motors need. Instead of throwing that power away, it is stored in the batteries, for use later. The gas burned when all the power is not needed does not go to waste since the drive motors will use the stored electricity. So driving around with a few hundred pounds of near dead batteries actually serves a purpose, and as a direct result, the total MPG is increases substantially.

You also seems to be someone who is against the obvious complexity of a system like this over a simple EV. I really can’t quite understand that when current battery technology simply makes it impossible to do what the author wants, at least at a reasonable price. You do know that GM decided to make it a 5 minute job to swap the battery pack, right? That’s with the forward thinking that battery tech will improve and customers will want to upgrade as time goes on. As I said, the ICE range extenders will be needed less and less, but needed they shall be for a decade at least. I also believe that we in the US shall not see EVs like the Leaf, Imiev, etc, until at least 2013, and at a much higher price point than their current pre-marketing is hinting. Just my opinion.

“..I fail to see your point with the nonsequitorial mentioning of a perpetual motion machine?..”

Didn’t expect you to. GM is not marketing to rocket scientists …nonsequitorial mentioning?

“..Color me fascinated, care to elaborate?…”

Color me wiping up the beer I just spewed on my keyboard, and sure, I’ll bite:

“..50mpg gets you power to drive normally and all excess power goes towards charging the battery when possible..”

That’s nonsensical. If you think the Volt can completely recharge its pack using a generator powered with an internal combustion engine without impacting gas mileage there would be no reason to plug it in. Just program it o idle in the drive until the batteries are charged and turn off when done.

Also, an electric car with an internal combustion reciprocating engine and its attendant fuel, cooling, lubrication, pollution control, and ignition systems is clearly more complex than an electric car without all of that. Have no illusions of you ceding that point. Debate is to convince the audience.

“..I fail to see your point with the nonsequitorial mentioning of a perpetual motion machine?..”

Didn’t expect you to. GM is not marketing to rocket scientists …nonsequitorial mentioning?

“..Color me fascinated, care to elaborate?…”

Color me wiping up the beer I just spewed on my keyboard, and sure, I’ll bite:

“..50mpg gets you power to drive normally and all excess power goes towards charging the battery when possible..”

That’s nonsensical. If you think the Volt can completely recharge its pack using a generator powered with an internal combustion engine without impacting gas mileage there would be no reason to plug it in. Just program it o idle in the drive until the batteries are charged and turn off when done.

Also, an electric car with an internal combustion reciprocating engine and its attendant fuel, cooling, lubrication, pollution control, and ignition systems is clearly more complex than an electric car without all of that. Have no illusions of you ceding that point. Debate is to convince the audience.

Greaseman,

I’m an experienced mechanical/structural engineer. Without fail when I try to explain the concept of a Volt perpetual motion machine I get a mechanic telling me I’m wrong. You just filled that niche.

Greaseman,

I’m an experienced mechanical/structural engineer. Without fail when I try to explain the concept of a Volt perpetual motion machine I get a mechanic telling me I’m wrong. You just filled that niche.