Detroit Auto Show: Chevy Volt vs GM EV1 by the numbers
How does the Chevy Volt Concept compare to the GM EV1? Here is the run-down:
If they can just sort out the lithium ion battery issues, then the Volt could be a really winner. Read all about it here.
| EV1 | Volt | ||
| Battery type: | Lead Acid | LiIon | |
| Battery volume: | 300L | 100L | |
| Charging voltage: | 220V | 110V/while driving | |
| Charging Time: | 8 hours | 6-6.5 hours | |
| QuickCharge Capable | NO | YES | |
| Passenger capacity: | 2 passengers | 4 passengers | |
| Acceleration (0-60) | 8-9 sec | 8-8.5 sec | |
| Top speed: | 80 mph | 120+ mph | |
| Pure EV Range: | 60-90 miles | 40 miles | |
| Total Range | 60-90 miles | 640 miles | |
| Curb weight: | 3084 lbs | 3140 lbs | |
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
ronniecool 10:39AM (3/11/2008)
GM had best be building this and quick, with the advent of fuel prices rising to the 4 dollar a gallon range soon. They need to build something like the German-made Loremo which weighs in the thousand pound range and will get around 150 MPG with a 1.0 liter turbo diesel. Then GM could truly compete in a global market. It seems as if they like to keep all such products away from American consumers, but they're all over Europe!
Reply
moon1234 6:00AM (6/12/2008)
I personally would much rather have the EV1 than the Volt. I like the styling of the EV1. The Volt looks like a muscle car. The first buyers of this type of vehicle will be the average mom and dad not the muscle car guy.
The EV1, had it not been scrapped could have been up to a 150-200 mile range on a single charge with quick charging as an option.
I would much rather have an EV1 for my daily commute than wasting energy on the gas engine in the Volt. GM is going to shoot themselves in the foot AGAIN!
Tesla motors already gets an average range of 125-150 miles on their all electric car. It looks better, performs better and is being sold now. They even have the 1000 cars for 2008 already sold.
GM should just take out the plans for the EV1 version 2 with the NiMh batteries and build the damn thing. It WILL sell.
As for speed, you foget that a modified EV1 set the land speed record for electric vehicles at 183 MPH. The EV1 was artifically limited to 80 MPH. The regular production model had a top speed of over 150 MPH without the artifical limit.
Had their been no limiter the average cop probably would not be able to catch an EV1.
Also remember the EV1 had the lowest coefficient of drag of ANY consumer vehicle EVER MADE including today. The car was entirely silent below 30 MPH except for a small whine from gearing connected to the motor.
I would much prefer to have a near silent car that one with an engine running.
The EV1 is needed NOW much more than the Volt is. The Volt is a dead concept already. Tesla Motors is already way ahead on technology and has already hinted that other companies are licensing their drive train. Nissan has announced all electric cars within 5 years that have at least 150 mile range.
Reply
Tim Cantrell 9:49PM (8/12/2008)
What I don't understand is why everyone thinks that we have to use batteries to run the electric motors for the cars. We have the technology to replace those batteries with solid state electrical generators. And yes the do work I have a working model that produces 128 volts at 1.5 amps DC. Put that in the Tesla Roadster and you'll have an electric car that does 0-60 in 3.9 seconds and unlimited range.
Reply
Tim Cantrell 9:53PM (8/12/2008)
Also just to recap the previous comment I due understand that these cars consume about 200KW at peak consumption. These solid state generator can produce the power needed while staying in the same weight and deminsion of the lithium ion batteries.
Reply
Chris Reeves 4:38PM (10/11/2008)
Your numbers on the EV1 are off. Not all EV1s where lead acid. Most of the gen2 where Nickle-Metal with a range of 140 miles. 0 to sixty was 7.5 seconds. Recharging was four hours or less. Quick recharging was tested and worked, but was never implemented. If you are going to post something like this, at least get the numbers and the story correct.
Reply
Bear 7:34PM (12/22/2008)
It is so easy to become jaded after all; year after year we are informed of the newest technologies, the newest developments,from the brightest minds in our counties.
And i haven't even mentioned the true brain trust of North America "The back yard inventor" with no budgets with little or no technical support who churn out invention after invention just for the shear enjoyment of doing so.
And so we come again to the electric car, after more than a hundred years, the wheel has turned and we are back where it all began.
Please remember the first automobiles where pure electric.
And again we must wait upon the good graces of the robber barons to release vehicles and designs which where ancient history before they where even re-invented.
We need President elect Obama to hold the robber barons feet to the fire and make them retool their factories for making
economical vehicle's before they ever get to see one red cent of that bail out money.
This all should be a matter of National interest, the makers of the Tesla Electric should be brought under the control of the Federal government and then we will see Millions of electric cars on the roads in a very short time.
Reply
jcwinnie 9:51AM (1/07/2007)
Sam, you left our a field: crush-able: yes yes
Reply
Marcel 11:26AM (1/11/2007)
Why didn't you compare it to the second generation EV1? it has much better specs!
EV1 (Gen 2)
Battery type: NiMh
Battery volume: 250L
Charging voltage: 220V
Charging Time: 6-8 hours
QuickCharge Capable NO
Passenger capacity: 2 passengers
Acceleration (0-60) below 8 sec
Top speed: 80 mph
Pure EV Range: 75-150 miles
Total Range 75-150 miles
Curb weight: 3084 lbs
Reply
Doug 2:00PM (1/07/2007)
Only a moron would drive around a Suburban or Tahoe
to go buy groceries. First your destroying the environment, second your burning a huge amount of money that could be used for many worthy causes. Lastly parking and driving around in such a huge vehicle is a major pain in the ass. Try parking it
before you throw down your dollars for a monument to
greed and materialism.
Reply
Stephan T 2:07PM (1/08/2007)
Yes for grocies Doug. But have you ever tried going to home depot in a little compact, and then loading it up? I agree most people don't need SUV/Trucks but when you do have one and every week someone asks you if they can borrow your truck for XYZ then you will understand they have their place and usefullness. Now if we could incorporate this great VOLT technology on a Chevy Silverado, then we are talking!
Reply
bokluk 10:46PM (1/08/2007)
Hey guys, GM is doing a little survey where they ask whether a) they should build this car and b) whether you would consider buying such a car. If you want GM to build this car then go and vote. Here is the link that can be also found directly on GM's website:
http://www.gm.com/company/gm_exp_live/events/naias_2007/index_flash.html?navID=3.0.1.1&seo=goo_volt
and then "vote for volt"
Reply
Dave Salzman 10:53PM (1/09/2007)
Now put in a one liter tubro diesel range extender to run on biodiesel and you'll sell a millon of them.
Reply
Nick 9:27AM (1/10/2007)
Doug, relax...if someone wants to drive a Suburban/Tahoe/Yukon etc., then that is their preference. I haven't been to enthused about vehicles like this until I read about the Volt concept. Sounds like a great idea, and certainly user-friendly.
Reply
Rareflight 5:06PM (1/10/2007)
Based on the side-by-side numbers above, GM's obviously worked out the specs they want the Volt to meet, including the to-be-developed Li Ion batteries that are the key to making this viable. However, looking at NREL's testing data (http://www.nrel.gov/vehiclesandfuels/energystorage/pdfs/40378.pdf, p. 17 of presentation) on existing Li Ion batteries, it looks like there are at least a few already out there manufactured by Saft (http://www.saftbatteries.com/120-Techno/20-10_produit.asp?paramtechnolien=20-10_lithium_system.asp¶mtechno=Lithium+systems&Intitule_Produit=VLMcells) that will meet the power/energy ratio needed. I know there are a lot of other factors to work out (thermal management, calendar and charge life, energy density, cost, safety). So is that more the sticking point? In other words, are we looking at more of an evolution in Li Ion battery design than some revolutionary design breakthrough?
Reply
Sam Abuelsamid 8:14PM (1/10/2007)
Saft in partnership with Johnson Controls was one the two recipients of LiIon battery development contracts from GM last week for the PHEV Vue program. http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/01/04/gm-awards-two-lithium-ion-battery-cont/ So GM is definitely looking at their technology and if may well end up in any production version of the Volt.
Reply
Rareflight 8:23AM (1/11/2007)
Thanks, Sam. Yeah, I saw that announcement. So do you think maybe the contractual award to the JCS and Cobasys-A123 joint ventures to develop a battery for the Vue - is a kind of "cover" to obtain the critical missing link that allows the VOlt (and possibly other platforms) to go to full production?
Reply
Sam Abuelsamid 8:35AM (1/11/2007)
It's not a cover, because the PHEV Vue is a separate production intent program, and those battery contracts are for that program. Having said that whatever is learned and developed on that program will go straight into a production application of E-Flex. Whichever of those companies, wins out on the Vue will have the head-start on the Volt. GM also said that they are also looking at other battery companies and we can expect to see further development contracts awarded in the coming weeks and months. No one is being ruled out.
Reply
Robert Requeny 8:59PM (1/21/2007)
I'm excited about the Chevy Volt except for the 40 mile range. If the EV1 with a lead acid battery had a range of 60-90 miles and the second generation with the NiMh battery had a 75-150 miles range,
it seems to me that the LiIon battery should have a longer range.
Is GM still protecting the interest of the oil cartel?
Reply
Chuong 2:21AM (3/07/2007)
I totally agree with your comment there Robert -- isn't anyone else out there shaking their heads?! It's been 10 years, and it's obvious from the specs that this new Volt is inferior to the EV-1. Anyone else see the documentary "Who Killed the Electric Car"?
So this is to prove that in 10 years, GM 1) makes an inferior electric vehicle using newer technology, and 2) is relying on us consumers to forget everything before the turn of the millenium. Sorry GM, but I've got a healthy brain and can clearly see you've done absolutely crap with your R&D department / funds. Well, worse than crap since you're building a crappier car than you did 10 years ago.
And when the hell are the japanese going to make some real ALL electric cars en masse? Someone really needs to off all those oil company big wigs.
Reply
Tim 9:38AM (3/07/2007)
Chuong- There have been many surveys which confirm that 78% of drivers commute less than 40 miles each day and return home to recharge each night.
The 40 mile E-Flex range was chosen so that 78% of driving could be all electric while keeping the battery size, weight and COST to a minimum.
A 40 mile all electric range with a range extender generator is balancing in the sweet spot. I’m sure that there will be an option to purchase more batteries to replace the range extender with for those who want it.
First they need LOTS of field testing on the new batteries to be absolutely certain that they will last a minimum of 10 years and will be completely safe. If only ONE family burns up in a battery fire the following litigation could kill the electric cars for years to come. Big Oil would love that!
Reply