[nicollo]

Although I enjoy being called "staggering," you are, truly, freaking out. Of course the Volt is a hybrid: as an electric, it's basically useless. Just because the gasoline motor isn't connected to the drive train (goes to generator), doesn't mean it doesn't rely on the gasoline engine. Calling it an E-REV is a distinction without a difference. Instead of recognizing that, you're kicking around that term as if it's some magical property that makes this car a messiah. E-REV is just a made-up SAE category to save GM's butt by not having to call this thing what it is, a hybrid.

So riddle me this: how can an electric have an mpg rating? GM wants it to be an electric for the subsidies and a gasoline for the mgp ratings to be included in the overall CAFE totals. (See here for a Motor Trend discussion of this issue from last year.) It's a political problem involving hundreds of millions in incentives, tax breaks, and CAFE penalties.

And, btw, your claim that users of this car won't use much gasoline is ridiculous. I'll ask this of others, and not you: just how many miles do you put on your car on, say, a weekend day, or one of those days that you gotta get around on errands, to dinner, to visit friends, and not just a basic commuter day? Me, I keep to a straight 25 mile commute maybe twice a week, which is why I put well over 300 miles a week on my "commuter car." The idea that people only drive 40 miles a day is inane: even if they drive, say 24 miles in a single day, doesn't mean they won't need to drive 120 miles the next day. On average, Ameircans put 15,000 miles a year on their cars: that's gonna press that gasoline motor quite a bit.

This car can't manage one of the key benefits of the gasoline engine, potential and flexibility in use. And the only way it'll come close to it is by relying on its little gasoline engine. (Heh! just think, when the power grid is down, you can plug your home fridge into the car! -- so long as you have a full tank of gas...)

Meanwhile, here's a chill pill for ya, a true, pure electric:

and it could go 60+ miles on a single charge!

[truthguy]

75-80% of the American public drive less than 40 miles a day. That's why the battery is sized as it is. For me it would be great. My daily commute is 24 miles round trip. So on weekdays, I would not need to use gasoline. On weekends I can use the range extension feature when I go over 40 miles. Typically on weekends I will go about 50-80 miles so even then the first 40 will be on battery. So I will be able to use the electric feature about 80% of the time. That's a big deal. I can drastically cut my purchase of gas. Yes my electric bill will go up, BUT we don't use oil to generate electricity much anymore, only about 2% for a few old peaker plants.