Posted on 03/05/2011 6:30:36 AM PST by Oldeconomybuyer
The potential popularity of electric vehicles has always been tempered in cold climates like here in Canada because of the concerns that freezing temperatures will reduce the range of an EV’s batteries.
And now a long-tem test report of the Chevrolet Volt, in the U.S. magazine Motor Trend, has confirmed that fear and also suggests you may have to keep your winter clothes on while driving the plug-in electric hybrid during colder days.
The magazine found that the Volt uses up a “considerable” amount of battery range to heat up its cabin on colder days, reducing its range to well below 30 miles (48 kms) before draining the battery and reverting to its gas generator to recharge the batteries and power its electric motor — much lower than the optimal 64 km estimate.
The result led to the review calling the Chevy EV as “a sweater and gloves commuter car for northern-tier Volt owners.”
(Excerpt) Read more at wheels.ca ...
Using the same coin mechanisms attached to obamacare hospital beds (for the "service fees")
I had a ‘65 with a gasoline auxiliary heater located in the trunk just forward of the glove box. The exhaust came out in the front wheel well on the passenger side. It worked OK...but it stunk and we often got dizzy, which we always blamed on the CO...honest!
Since the Volt runs on energy produced by coal anyway, why not add a small coal-fired stove - like in Dickens novels.....I’m thinking Scrooge’s office.
Yep, the old Beetle...get snow in the car in December, it’s still there in March.
New Ad Slogans~
Winter Ad
Chevy Volt: “Look Ma, no Wind Chill”
Summer Ad
Chevy Volt: “But it’s a Dry Heat”
I had trouble believing that even the best case reports on the Volt were serious. My initial reaction was that theOnion.com had written a spoof making fun of how little an electric car would be able to do, and the media had fallen for it. It took me a long time to realize that the $41k, 35 mi range car really was what Government Motors planned to sell. [Not being totally stupid, once I realized the electric cart was not a spoof, I immediately believed that hundreds of far left libs in big cities who never drive anyways would buy a Volt just so they could show off the keys at pot parties.]
Using battery power for a heater might reduce driving range...
Does that even require a duh?
As far as considerably less than 30 miles...
I wonder how much less is considerably less. Trying to power a resistance heater from a battery at sub-zero temperatures might drain the battery in a matter of minutes. It wouldn’t surprise me if the battery mileage went to less than 3 miles.
What about electrically powered safety features such as the window defroster, wind shield wipers and of course headlights? Could you expect to get to your destination and home again on a dark and stormy night? I am sure that using the stereo system also saps the meager battery power and forget about using the air conditioner. I hope the windows are hand cranked as using electric windows could mean the difference between getting home or walking.
Basically anyone foolish enough to buy a Volt plans to drive their $40,000 vehicle only when the sun is shining, the roads are level, there is no head wind, the ambient temperature is 70 degrees, their total trip is less than 40 miles and they have the hours needed for a plug in recharge before they drive again. Motor Trends Car of the Year award for the Volt seems as hollow as Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize.
In one other industry would a manufacturer even attempt to sell such a patently inferior product? For instance, would an iPad competitor try to market a tablet that had to be charged every 30 minutes and needed to be plugged in to access the internet? It would be preposterous.
*In WHAT other industry
(My bad.)
Why Oh Why does The United States Of America put up with this Crap?
Is that one undoctored? It should be labelled as such if so!
The beatle is an upgrade to this boondoggle. You likely won’t get out of your driveway in snow let alone 20 miles and will be sitting in an ice cube.
Pray for America
I drove '72 VW van to Western NY (Lima) in December, 1976. We scraped and couldn't keep up! Got there on a Friday pm, after driving through a just-dumped foot or so, and on Sat PM, had another storm with additional foot or more.
The bus did fine in the snow, but we didn't! I bought a gas heater for it... from VW!
I’m surprised Motor Trend would diss the Volt. Apparently someone didn’t grease a palm or two.
I would have expected Motor Trend to proclaim the Volt..’Car of the Year’
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