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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/11/autos/volt_official_reveal/index.htm?cnn=yes
DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors unveiled the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle on Tuesday, allowing outsiders their first full look at the car GM says will go on sale in 2010.
"The Volt symbolizes GM's commitment to the future," said Rick Wagoner, the company's chairman and CEO.
The Volt will be driven by electricity stored in a large T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack running the length of the car. After charging for several hours, the Volt will be able to run for up to about 40 miles without using gasoline.
GM did not announce pricing for the car, which will have the equivalent of about 150 horsepower and a top speed of 100 mph, the automaker said.
To charge the batteries, drivers will plug a cord into one of the ports just ahead of each of the side mirrors. The cord can then be attached to an ordinary home electrical outlet.
The car will cost "less than purchasing a cup of your favorite coffee" to recharge, and use less electricity annually than a refrigerator. The Volt should cost less than 2 cents per mile to drive on electricity, GM said, compared to 12 cents a mile on gasoline at a price of $3.60 a gallon.
As the battery begins to run down as the car is in use, a small gasoline engine will turn on and generate enough electricity to drive the car about 300 miles.
I wish they would at least publish an approximate price range...  I would like to know if it's even remotely feasible to look into. I am glad that they toned down the look of the car a bit. The original concept drawings looked too sci-fi movie-ish. This looks like a regular car. I could definitely see myself driving one of these. 
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Posted 9/16/08 10:48 AM  |
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CouponKT
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Member since 6/06 16494 total posts
Name:
K
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
I do like it, but I think the cost will be too high for the normal person to buy. So, only rich people will be able to afford it, but those are the people that don't care about gas prices to begin with. Round and round we will go....
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| Posted 9/16/08 10:55 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
Posted by BabyCote2006
I do like it, but I think the cost will be too high for the normal person to buy. So, only rich people will be able to afford it, but those are the people that don't care about gas prices to begin with. Round and round we will go....
That's probably why they aren't giving out a price range. They want people like me to show interest, and talk about it for a while. If the car was $50k or more, there's no way I would even think about it, or talk much about it.
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| Posted 9/16/08 10:58 AM |
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Cpt2007
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Member since 1/08 5946 total posts
Name:
Liz
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
while great for commuting, it's impractical for those of us that regularly drive on the eastern seaboard b/w the Boston/Washington Corridor. That's too bad.
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| Posted 9/16/08 11:07 AM |
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Lisa
I'm a PANK!!!
Member since 5/05 22334 total posts
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Professional Aunts No Kids
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
that would be a GREAT car for me to get back and forth to the train station!
I have to look into this further.
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| Posted 9/16/08 11:10 AM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
Posted by Cpt2007
while great for commuting, it's impractical for those of us that regularly drive on the eastern seaboard b/w the Boston/Washington Corridor. That's too bad.
You can still drive it like a traditional car, and use the gasoline engine to charge the batteries. It gets about 300 miles on a full charge and a full tank. With a 40 mile pure electric run, that means a full tank gets about 260 miles. That's pretty average for most other cars.
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| Posted 9/16/08 11:16 AM |
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MrsRJP
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Member since 12/07 2151 total posts
Name:
Rena Marie
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
It looks nice but i am going to wait until the verdict is really out on this one. It sounds like alot of people are iffy in the article. I have a Honda Civic Hybrid and get 40 MPG but it doesn't say how much the Volt gets unless I missed it. But also in the beginning it says it runs 40 miles on electric charge but the gas doesn't kick it at all to turn the wheels. I am alittle concerned about that since by Hybrid runs on both to turn the wheels. I don't think I would want to be stuck when the electric runs out.
Message edited 9/16/2008 11:36:19 AM.
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| Posted 9/16/08 11:33 AM |
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JennChris
life moves fast
Member since 5/05 4225 total posts
Name:
Jenn
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
Didn't they start by saying it would be aroun $30000 but now do to production issues it's closer to $35000 or $40000.. I would totally rock one of them! 
ETA - did you ever watch the documentary 'Who killed the Electric Car?'... I thought it was interesting!
Message edited 9/16/2008 12:02:24 PM.
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| Posted 9/16/08 12:00 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
Posted by MommyTo3
Didn't they start by saying it would be aroun $30000 but now do to production issues it's closer to $35000 or $40000.. I would totally rock one of them!
ETA - did you ever watch the documentary 'Who killed the Electric Car?'... I thought it was interesting!
From the article: GM did not announce pricing for the car, which will have the equivalent of about 150 horsepower and a top speed of 100 mph, the automaker said.
I saw the documentary. It was a very good movie. I definitely recommend it.
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| Posted 9/16/08 1:23 PM |
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TheLorax
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Member since 2/06 5581 total posts
Name:
Suzanne / SuzBride
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
Posted by MommyTo3
Didn't they start by saying it would be aroun $30000 but now do to production issues it's closer to $35000 or $40000.. I would totally rock one of them!
ETA - did you ever watch the documentary 'Who killed the Electric Car?'... I thought it was interesting!
$35,000 is the latest projection.
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| Posted 9/16/08 1:24 PM |
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GoldenRod
10 years on LIF!
Member since 11/06 26792 total posts
Name:
Shawn
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Re: Electric car: Chevy Volt unveiled
Posted by MrsRJP
It looks nice but i am going to wait until the verdict is really out on this one. It sounds like alot of people are iffy in the article. I have a Honda Civic Hybrid and get 40 MPG but it doesn't say how much the Volt gets unless I missed it. But also in the beginning it says it runs 40 miles on electric charge but the gas doesn't kick it at all to turn the wheels. I am alittle concerned about that since by Hybrid runs on both to turn the wheels. I don't think I would want to be stuck when the electric runs out.
I agree that I want to wait until it's been in use for a while. I usually don't like being on the "bleeding edge" for big ticket items.
When the electric runs out, the gas engine runs an alternator to power the batteries. As long as you have gas in the tank, the electric will never run out (similar to a Hybrid car).
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| Posted 9/16/08 1:25 PM |
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