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RE: Electric?
By Avatar28 on 11/30/2009 3:32:32 PM , Rating: 4
It sort of is electric, actually. Let me explain.

A normal hybrid uses an electric motor to supplement a gasoline or diesel engine that also provides power directly to the drive train. Some can run entirely on electric power up to a certain speed (eg the Ford Fusion can go up to 45mph on the electric motors alone). Others always require the internal combustion engine to be running to move the vehicle. The batteries are charged entirely through regenerative braking (and possibly through the alternator as well? not sure on that). In other words, to this point hybrids are basically normal internal combustion powered vehicles with an electric boost.

The volt is a different animal entirely. It is one of if not the first (mass production) plug-in hybrid. The car runs ENTIRELY on electrical power. There is an electric motor that provides ALL of the power to the drive train. The car has a much larger battery pack than traditional hybrids and it is charged by connecting it to a special charger in your home or business. There is a smallish onboard internal combustion engine that drives an electric generator. This is used to recharge the batteries as you near the end of their range (around 40 miles I believe) and doesn't even kick on until they are depleted to a certain point. It does not move the car directly in any way. In short, the Volt and other plug-in hybrids are electric vehicles with an onboard electrical generator to provide additional range.

On a related note, it should be interesting to see how the Volt competes with the new plug-in hybrid that Nissan is building. They are working to deploy a network of fast charge stations at gas stations and businesses (such as Wal-Mart) in Tennessee and a couple of other states (to start) where you could plug in your car to top it off in a short amount of time. It seems to me this is exactly where some sort of standard needs to be reached. If all of the auto companies would work together on this then they could greatly accelerate the deployment of these stations (and thus the adoption of the technology).

RE: Electric?


RE: Electric?

RE: Electric?
By FaaR on 11/30/09, Rating: 0
RE: Electric?


RE: Electric?
You can check out the offical chargers already


RE: Electric?

RE: Electric?

Ummm... nothing wrong with that at all.



RE: Electric?

RE: Electric?
And if you don't make it aerosolized.

Then again anything can burn if its dispersed enough...

RE: Electric?


