Comments on: 2011 Chevrolet Volt Pre-Production Test Drive | Popular Mechanics http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/ What is the future of fuel? What's new? What's next? Since 2007, Gas 2 has covered a rapidly changing world coming to terms with its oil addiction. Sat, 26 May 2012 14:59:56 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Tim Cleland http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-12991 Tim Cleland Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:24:52 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-12991 Probably the Chevy Cruze would be the best comparison. The Cruze is purported to get 40+ mpg with a 1.4L turbo engine. If it comes in near that (especially since the downward adjustment of EPA mileage estimates starting in 2008), that would be quite an achievement for a car of that size (bigger than the Cobalt XFE which already has best-in-class fuel economy, 25/37, and power). Probably the Chevy Cruze would be the best comparison. The Cruze is purported to get 40+ mpg with a 1.4L turbo engine. If it comes in near that (especially since the downward adjustment of EPA mileage estimates starting in 2008), that would be quite an achievement for a car of that size (bigger than the Cobalt XFE which already has best-in-class fuel economy, 25/37, and power).

]]> By: Tim Cleland http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-36749 Tim Cleland Wed, 02 Dec 2009 16:24:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-36749 Probably the Chevy Cruze would be the best comparison. The Cruze is purported to get 40+ mpg with a 1.4L turbo engine. If it comes in near that (especially since the downward adjustment of EPA mileage estimates starting in 2008), that would be quite an achievement for a car of that size (bigger than the Cobalt XFE which already has best-in-class fuel economy, 25/37, and power). Probably the Chevy Cruze would be the best comparison. The Cruze is purported to get 40+ mpg with a 1.4L turbo engine. If it comes in near that (especially since the downward adjustment of EPA mileage estimates starting in 2008), that would be quite an achievement for a car of that size (bigger than the Cobalt XFE which already has best-in-class fuel economy, 25/37, and power).

]]> By: John http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-12990 John Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:16:46 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-12990 It will be very interesting to see what kind of mileage they get when running purely off of the gas engine and how that compares to a car of similar weight and aerodynamics that uses a similar gas engine connected directly to the powertrain (rather than going through an electric motor intermediary). Of course, that kind of direct comparison might not actually be possible. It will be very interesting to see what kind of mileage they get when running purely off of the gas engine and how that compares to a car of similar weight and aerodynamics that uses a similar gas engine connected directly to the powertrain (rather than going through an electric motor intermediary). Of course, that kind of direct comparison might not actually be possible.

]]> By: John http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-36748 John Tue, 01 Dec 2009 21:16:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-36748 It will be very interesting to see what kind of mileage they get when running purely off of the gas engine and how that compares to a car of similar weight and aerodynamics that uses a similar gas engine connected directly to the powertrain (rather than going through an electric motor intermediary). Of course, that kind of direct comparison might not actually be possible. It will be very interesting to see what kind of mileage they get when running purely off of the gas engine and how that compares to a car of similar weight and aerodynamics that uses a similar gas engine connected directly to the powertrain (rather than going through an electric motor intermediary). Of course, that kind of direct comparison might not actually be possible.

]]> By: Tim Cleland http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-12989 Tim Cleland Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:27:21 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-12989 I didn't realize that either regarding the engine not charging the batteries, but it does make sense that it's not efficient to do so. "And it seldom needs to rev at a high rpm, since the control computers on board the Volt can vary the alternator load and maintain high efficiency (cranking out plenty of juice) with lower revs. " From the above sentence, it sounds like they can achieve the optimal gas-engine rpm by adjusting the alternator load, so it may be the best of both worlds in a sense. I didn’t realize that either regarding the engine not charging the batteries, but it does make sense that it’s not efficient to do so.

“And it seldom needs to rev at a high rpm, since the control computers on board the Volt can vary the alternator load and maintain high efficiency (cranking out plenty of juice) with lower revs. ”

From the above sentence, it sounds like they can achieve the optimal gas-engine rpm by adjusting the alternator load, so it may be the best of both worlds in a sense.

]]> By: Tim Cleland http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-36747 Tim Cleland Tue, 01 Dec 2009 16:27:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-36747 I didn't realize that either regarding the engine not charging the batteries, but it does make sense that it's not efficient to do so. "And it seldom needs to rev at a high rpm, since the control computers on board the Volt can vary the alternator load and maintain high efficiency (cranking out plenty of juice) with lower revs. " From the above sentence, it sounds like they can achieve the optimal gas-engine rpm by adjusting the alternator load, so it may be the best of both worlds in a sense. I didn’t realize that either regarding the engine not charging the batteries, but it does make sense that it’s not efficient to do so.

“And it seldom needs to rev at a high rpm, since the control computers on board the Volt can vary the alternator load and maintain high efficiency (cranking out plenty of juice) with lower revs. ”

From the above sentence, it sounds like they can achieve the optimal gas-engine rpm by adjusting the alternator load, so it may be the best of both worlds in a sense.

]]> By: John http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-12988 John Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:09:58 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-12988 Very interesting. I hadn't realized that the gasoline engine would never be used to recharge the battery, but it sounds like it's more efficient to feed the electric motor directly. I guess some people might have expected that, but I think there must be a tradeoff here -- in order to feed the motor directly, the gasoline engine will not necessarily be running at peak efficiency all the time (or so I would assume). So I guess they found that the loss of energy from recharging the battery is greater than the gain of running the engine at peak efficiency all the time. I find that somewhat surprising, but of course I trust that they have studied this thoroughly. Very interesting. I hadn’t realized that the gasoline engine would never be used to recharge the battery, but it sounds like it’s more efficient to feed the electric motor directly. I guess some people might have expected that, but I think there must be a tradeoff here — in order to feed the motor directly, the gasoline engine will not necessarily be running at peak efficiency all the time (or so I would assume). So I guess they found that the loss of energy from recharging the battery is greater than the gain of running the engine at peak efficiency all the time. I find that somewhat surprising, but of course I trust that they have studied this thoroughly.

]]> By: John http://gas2.org/2009/11/30/2011-chevrolet-volt-pre-production-test-drive-popular-mechanics/#comment-36746 John Tue, 01 Dec 2009 13:09:00 +0000 http://gas2.org/?p=4219#comment-36746 Very interesting. I hadn't realized that the gasoline engine would never be used to recharge the battery, but it sounds like it's more efficient to feed the electric motor directly. I guess some people might have expected that, but I think there must be a tradeoff here -- in order to feed the motor directly, the gasoline engine will not necessarily be running at peak efficiency all the time (or so I would assume). So I guess they found that the loss of energy from recharging the battery is greater than the gain of running the engine at peak efficiency all the time. I find that somewhat surprising, but of course I trust that they have studied this thoroughly. Very interesting. I hadn’t realized that the gasoline engine would never be used to recharge the battery, but it sounds like it’s more efficient to feed the electric motor directly. I guess some people might have expected that, but I think there must be a tradeoff here — in order to feed the motor directly, the gasoline engine will not necessarily be running at peak efficiency all the time (or so I would assume). So I guess they found that the loss of energy from recharging the battery is greater than the gain of running the engine at peak efficiency all the time. I find that somewhat surprising, but of course I trust that they have studied this thoroughly.

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