Today GM announces, the Chevrolet Volt, their electric car that’s expected to go on sale in late 2010, is projected to get an estimated 230 miles per gallon – this by way of a not-yet-approved technique for calculating electric power into MPG’s.
I’m not always an umber-trusting consumer…. but this has me interested more then the Toyota Prius ever did. The basic premise of GM is that the car will go 40 miles on a single battery charge with no fuel assistance what so ever. This means no emissions too. This distance derived based on statics for the average commute distance (sans sitting in traffic I guess). Chevy also says they decided on this distance per charge based on battery performance, battery size, and passenger/driver comfort and driving experience. Longer distance per charge, bigger, heavier battery needed, less room for you and your passengers, heavier vehicle. Once the initial charge is utilized the gasoline on board is used to power the battery, not power a combustion engine. They made no comment on technology or the “enviromental-emissions” impact as a result of this energy conversion. The other aspect of this auto-power-techology not addressed is what impact the actual charging of the vehicle has on your electic bill, or the environmental impact made by using that electicity – emissions may not be coming out of the back of the car, but there is a by product from producing the electricity needed to charge the battery. Right?
Still – I like this. I won’t speculate how long Chevy has been sitting on this solution, but it may just save their government-assisted hineys! The car doesnt’ look half bad either!
and Check It Out here too!
Filed under: techy things
