If everything in the world is "Bush's Fault", this thing is "Zero's Volt."
Posted on 07/30/2010 10:39:00 AM PDT by mudblood
I am hopping mad right now because our side is winning, and yet all of them are afraid of the Republican so-called "backlash" in the September election. Basically, President Obama forced GM to make the Chevy Volt, which is great. This car gets something like 40 miles on a single charge, and only uses gasoline if you have some capitalist need to go out of your local community. So it FORCES people to conserve more, which is great for the environment, and good for everyone. Its incredible. Personally, they needed to lose the stupid gas tank, but again, our side caved to the special interests. Anyway, the car costs $40,000, which isn't that much if EVERYONE is paying it (after all, if everyone can jump 10 feet in the air, rather than about 3 feet, then people wouldn't be surprised at all - 10 feet would seem like it was 'normal').
(Excerpt) Read more at collectivewishes.blogspot.com ...
If everything in the world is "Bush's Fault", this thing is "Zero's Volt."
I think the trick was to fill the ullage in all our gas tanks. On average tanks are probably half-full, but during the crisis we all topped up, so possibly millions of gallons got sold during that period.
Plus it was an experiment in people-control. We all put up with a LOT without much protest.
actually it was Nixon in 71 I believe. I was Commuting about 100 miles in my 68 GMC PU. If I was able to come home I had th fill a drum during the week. One time I managed to turn the drum over and I had to get help to set it upright. I switched to 5 gal cans
barbra ann
I took my 2007 dodge in for an NC state emissions inspection yesterday and the dealership would not allow it to pass because on new cars the federal government is requiring what is called a "readiness code". I'm not sure of the details of what this code provides the inspector (chime in if you can explain) but the inspector told me, ...get this, that I have to go out and drive 50 - 100 miles and bring the car back in once the code has (hopefully) reset to pass inspection. Talk about ridiculous! The liberals have really screweed this country up. I'm seriously thinking about expatriotizing if we don't make some major changes (that I can believe in) in the next two years.
Plus, I bet the last 5 miles of the 40 are like a golf cart going up a hill to the clubhouse after finishing the 18th hole.
My husband and I are sitting here laughing and laughing!
Very good observation!
Right you are! (I apologize for going off thread topic)
http://nixon.archives.gov/forkids/speechesforkids/energypolicy/energycrisisspeech_transcript.pdf
And this from a kid’s site:
What would you do if there was a gasoline shortage? How would you get to school?
Background
In October 1973, OPEC [Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries] reduced the oil supply by 5% and placed an embargo on countries supporting Israel in the Yom Kippur War.
The embargo created a crisis, especially in the form of dramatically increased fuel prices and a shortage, in the United States. Nixon addressed the country about the crisis and had a special adviser for energy issues.
Strategies for dealing with the crisis included government buildings were fixed at 68 degrees, the speed limit was lowered to 55 mph, day lights savings time was moved to Februrary, gas stations were closed on weekends, and conservation measures encouraged. In the winter of 1974, fuel shortages created policies where even-numbered license plates could buy gas on even numbered days and odd-numbered license plates could buy gas on odd numbered days of the month.
Many citizens wrote to the President and his energy advisers offering ideas and voicing concern over the effects of different policies.
One of the truly ugly cars of the 20th century and, yes, I was alive when it was being built.
But heat costs you in an electric car, in a gas powered car its a by-product,
The 40,000 price tag is because that’s what it costs to build. Currently. Here’s the issue: none of this stuff is currently made in bulk or has a long history. These are new types of batteries. New types of inverters/motors (high-power IGBTs running a highly compact 3-phase AC induction motor). New types of everything. There’s no volume and no process optimization. Just buying a low end AC drivetrain and charger will cost you $10k. There’s no reason it should be that expensive except that they’re all handmade from parts not available or purchased in volume.
The battery cells can be bought as low as $300 per kilowatt hour (Volt = 16kWh, Leaf=24kWh) if you buy them in China, but if you want better ones, you’ll pay more, and you need to add a couple thousand for the pack hardware and management systems. So the Volt’s pack is currently almost $10k. Again, there’s no reason it should be that expensive except that there’s no volume or production optimization history on them; the raw mineral component costs are not high.
In short, yes, if EVs do catch on, their price will drop dramatically. Will it drop “enough”? Who knows. Certainly one segment of the population will pay a significant amount extra to buy them for some combination of “greenness”, energy security, low operating cost, low maintenance, the geek factor, and the convenience of never having to go to a gas station. But what’s the public’s sweet spot when it comes to price, the tipping point? If you knew the answer to that, you’d be in hot demand by automotive market research firms.
One thing is for sure: the way to know whether it’s actually an economical choice is to watch fleets. Private citizens tend to only look at the operating cost savings over the first couple years and assume massive depreciation no matter what the vehicle. Fleets look at the long-term picture (including depreciation). So the sweet spot for fleets should be hit well before that for most private citizens.
No. Charge state and whether the generator is running or not has no affect on vehicle performance. The motor/inverter is the limiting factor, not the battery pack. The small depth of discharge used means there’s little voltage drop over the cycle, and the high power output of the type of cells they’re using would sustain it even with a high depth of discharge.
GM recommends layers of clothing, thick socks, and woolen mittens. And cover the head, 70% of heat escapes from there.
I can understand your sentiment. Though the the Mary “co-redemptrix” [sp?] assertion (which *does* tie in with the perpetual virginity thing mentioned earlier) I’ve heard several times is... well, blasphemous. (To paraphrase: “There is no other name [than Jesus] by which man can be saved.”)
Same with the Sprint, it had about 100,000 on it when we traded it in on a Saturn wagon...now that sucker had fuel issues, ran well in the winter, ran ragged in the summer. Had to keep fuel injector cleaner in it at all times. My Saturn coupe ran well regardless, and is still running today, my son now owns it. LOL I’ve got a Corola coupe and love it. Depending of how much driving we do, we fill the tank 2-3 times a month. Have a ‘06 Honda van, we use as needed.
That is the problem with small cars, they aren’t designed to sustain accidents well. Especially with something many times bigger than they are. We had a head on in a Chevy van totaled it, it was dark, mal-function junction in Memphis, another accident had occurred, they left no flashers on, we top a small rise and our headlights reflect off their’s, and then we were into them, other than some bruising from air bags, neither of us had any real injuries.
Wow, looks like the air bags really did their job. I drive a Chevy Suburban now, hate the gas mileage, love the comfort, smooth quiet ride, and of course the protection. I do miss the nimbleness of a small car and parkability, but not enough to go back.
I no longer drive the nightmare 40/240 in Memphis, kamakazi drivers. They scare the living daylights out of me and leave me shaking. So hubby has to take me to doctors appointments. I can do any of the city streets, and even the interstate, but no thanks on the ‘freeway’. It is comical in a way, he gets us out of town and about 100 miles away, then I take over at a rest stop. Before we get into another big city we stop and he takes over for awhile. Speed doesn’t bother me, it is the CRAZY drivers coming at me from 6 lanes! 2 even 3 lanes I can handle.
The Honda van doesn’t do to bad, it has a ECO mode that shuts it down to 3 cyl. But it is hard to park, and not nimble at all. We use it for long trips or hauling stuff.
Why did you excerpt this article?
I would like to read it but I am not going to give some blog a hit to do so.
Blogger pollution is ruining FR.
Gee. Maybe the highway department can plant current bushes along the roadside, just so we can plug in and charge up.
Major towns here (pop >10,000) are about 120 miles apart, but that won't get you to the next small town (the nearest place with a gas station) and back (50 mile r/t).
I'd bet that rating wasn't with a headwind in -30F temperatures, either (run the heater or freeze!).
Forget those deathtraps.
At least...not until Methanol—fed fuel cells are perfected...and at a reasonable cost too.
THEN..WATCH OUT GASOLINE!!
But...not for right now, and for the rest of this decade,most likely...or even longer.
Well, it was posted under “bloggers and personal”.
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