Chevy Volt will move without gas in the tank
Chevy Volt- Click above for high-res image gallery
With the big Chevy Volt = 230 mpg push by General Motors, there's understandably going to be a lot of interest in just what that numbers means and people trying to understand how the car actually works. Here's the reality: you can't put a gallon of gas into the Chevy Volt and then drive 230 miles. Don't try it, because you'll get stranded and need to let the friendly OnStar folks help you out. But, one thing that you will be able to do is put zero gasoline into the tank and then drive.
We heard from GM about a similar issue when we visited the Warren Tech Center campus a little over a year ago, how long gas could sit in the
Here's how it'll work, according to Tony Posawatz, vehicle line director of the Chevrolet Volt. To make the Volt as easy to operate as possible – i.e., so there's no need to rush to the owner's manual all the time – the engine will want to turn on at least every few months, just to keep things lubricated and running smooth. If you dutifully plug the Volt in each night and never go more than ~40 miles between charges then, at some point after two or three months, the car will alert you to put fuel into the tank soon. Posawatz didn't say what would happen if you ignored that warning, but if you're interested in performing such a feat, perhaps you should be buying a pure electric vehicle. Still, if you're interested in making the Volt act like an EV, now you know it'll be possible.
[Source: GM]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Ray 9:36PM (8/12/2009)
Better stock up on gas treatment.
Yes I am tempted to buy a Volt and never put gas in it. It would be fun to drive around with 700 LBS of extra weight in exhaust pipe, ICE, starter, useless oil, oil filter, radiator, radiator fluid, fuel tank, gas lines, fuel pump, fuel filter, engine computer, air cleaner and all the extra wiring that goes with it.
Perhaps I will just buy it and never plug it in and charge off ICE only. Damn, I am confused already.
Let see, use the electric motor with no gas and be 90% efficient in energy to the wheels and have 10 moving parts or use gas and have 20% efficiency in energy to the wheels and use 900 parts. Hmm, wonder which one utilizes our natural resources better.
I'll take EV's for $1000 please. Damn look at that, it's the Daily Double!
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KLR 9:48PM (8/12/2009)
You apparently don't understand the Volt powertrain architecture. The onboard ICE is nothing more than a generator and it never directly drives the wheels.
Ignatius 9:53PM (8/12/2009)
Yeah... so how do we travel in those awesome EVs with 200+ mile range?
My closest relative that my family visits regularly is about 500 miles away. What, do I just call it quits at 180 miles and stop and charge overnight?
Right now, we still have a range issue even with EVs (god forbid FCs... I hope they never see the light of day) and the Volt's generator will allow people to travel without worrying about the range of the vehicle. There's a gas station every 50 miles or so.
Ray 9:58PM (8/12/2009)
@KLR
The way I understand it is it is a ICE with a generator so it would have, exhaust pipe, ICE, starter, useless oil, oil filter, radiator, radiator fluid, fuel tank, gas lines, fuel pump, fuel filter, engine computer, air cleaner and all the extra wiring that goes with it as well as a generator.
Your right KLR, I left out the generator, thanks.
GoodCheer 10:23PM (8/12/2009)
Ray, you forgot the fun part
... catalytic converter, O2 sensors, exhaust gas recirculation values, exhaust gas recirculation pump... and the check engine light that will go on if any of those things goes bad and fails to do its job up to factory spec.
Lad 1:31AM (8/13/2009)
Wondered how the Volt could get 230 mpg on gasoline?. Founded out that that this claim is true only if you drive the car 51.3 miles; that would be 40 miles on the battery only and then 11.3 miles on the ICE genset. However, if you only drive it 40 miles on the electric battery then the mpg on gasoline is infinite.
This is a PR stunt, means nothing in fact, and is an insult to one's intelligence; GM must think the American Public is stupid...Daddy! do reindeers really fly? "Yes my son and everything GM says is truthfully adjusted!"
Mike 10:18PM (8/12/2009)
Ray, purely electric vehicles would leave most people stranded. Maybe when capacity gets better or recharge times are short ev's will be good to go. In the near future though, cars like hte volt are a better answer. On the otherhand, I think the Volt would make more people happier (including myself) if it had a much larger electric range with a much smaller gasoline engine for a generator.
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Ray 10:22PM (8/12/2009)
Ignatius,
You would expound about the virtues of EV's to your family on that 500 mile trip. You could say, yes most lethargic Americans would get in there ICE cars go across country as it is all about convenience and inability of people to change or do something better. Though it cost more time son we are promoting the future and some sacrifices have to be made. Because of us soon there will be more charging stations, they will be quick charge stations to boot and you will look back on this and say I remember when...
Besides Ignatius maybe there is a nother relative along the way you could stop and visit with while charging. For many people, if they planned a little better they could make a EV work. I admit a 500 mile trip is a little adventurous in a EV.
On that note I will leave. I did not go to the gym today so I am going to go get a couple of donuts.
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Ignatius 11:39PM (8/12/2009)
It doesn't excuse the fact you can make a 500 mile trip in one day, but an EV would currently force you to stop several times and wait for that long charge. I love electric vehicles, but for now, the stopgap EREV that GM is building is going to be the best of both worlds, EV for short range trips and long-range is still available using the generator.
mesama 9:45AM (8/13/2009)
It's a bigger problem than even Ignatius is explaining. A car with 100 mi range will take easily over 8 hours to charge. That's totally impractical for the majority of us, unless you want two cars: an EV for the daily commute, and a conventional gas powered car for longer travels. I think that's the beauty of the Volt in hitting the sweet spot. I can drive most days with 0 gas. At the same time I can also go on the longer trips. Most importantly, I don't have to worry about an emergency trip that comes up after work and I don't have a chance to charge overnight.
You will see more companies copying the Volt's architecture because of its genius. You already have Fisker and Jaguar announcing the same exact design: 40 miles all electric, plus a gas generator for anything more.
turbomonkey2k 10:30AM (8/13/2009)
To not accept the brilliance of a range extending ICE is nothing less than an exercise in willful ignorance. A vehicle which can only travel a few hundred miles OR LESS before requiring a charge is woefully limited. From my perspective an electric car is years, possibly decades, away from practicality and efficiency. Nissan leaf is cute, but try driving one from DC to Miami in under a week- I got news for ya, it ain't happenin'. On the other hand, buy a Versa and with the money you save over a Leaf you can probably buy 8 to 10 years worth of gasoline... oh yeah and drive it from DC to Miami in less than a day.
Ray 12:26PM (8/13/2009)
I love it when people post that have never owned an EV and tell of all of there vast knowledge and experience with EV's. (none)
Whats going to happen when they stop keeping the numbers from you and it (Volt) gets 35 mpg with gas? What is brilliant is there add campaign, these adds have kept you hooked on oil for 100 years and the saga continues. Bob Lutz, what a putz.
EV's won't ever have an infrastructure as there is too many kool aid drinking Volt wannabes. If every one drove a hybrid in the year 2020 we will be burning 20 million barrels per day in oil, same as we are now. 150,000 college students will want to burn oil each year when they graduate and that is just in the United States.
If Tesla is anything like Volt, yes they will not have a 300 mile EV out for ten years. Thank god they are not like Volt and GM.
Thats ok when I want, I will get in one of my V8's and burn up gas right along with the rest of you. Why should Volt drivers get to use up all the worlds natural resources, I want to be inefficient and wasteful too. (ICE) Nothing like the sound of V8 kicking into passing gear.
Yes buy a Versa instead of a Volt, with the money you save you will be able to buy gas for 8 years or so, I agree. Now your showing some brilliance instead of ignorance.
Best thing about the Volt is finally GM is forced to have batteries manufactured once again.
Ray 10:23PM (8/12/2009)
Unfortunately you right on the first point. I concure with the second. How's my spelling.
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Ray 10:25PM (8/12/2009)
@Mike Sorry I thought I hit the reply button. The, how is my spelling was directed at you Mike.
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Ray 10:27PM (8/12/2009)
Yes Goodcheer and then it won't pass DEQ.
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Rick 11:14PM (8/12/2009)
an ev with a range extending trailer would be an answer except everyone hates trailers so I guess the volt is gonna be the thing.
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Ray 1:12AM (8/13/2009)
Wonder how my little Yaris would pull a trailer? How far I would go would depend on the pack I was towing.
It would be even better to be able to through a extra battery pack in the back of the car and go. The pack I have is 400 lbs, 35Kwh. I think I would only like to put 200lbs in the back. Guess that is why a trailer is better.
http://www.evalbum.com/1892
Chibi Chaingun - blackhivemedia.com 10:19AM (8/13/2009)
A range extender trailer? Man that is complete fail. How much would an EV cost WITH an "extended ranger trailer"? Cost on top of impracticality, on top of just plain goofy = the difference between what a "greenie" and your average "environmentally aware" American thinks is a good idea. Over complicate the idea of driving a green car, people will be turned off (sorry but its true.). The Volt is just a better idea and works with today's energy infrastructure. In the future, it might be different but in 2011 the Volt's tech is a necessary step.
Anth 2:24AM (8/13/2009)
Oh the humanity, you might have to put a gallon of gas in the fuel tank every 3 months!
Hopefully this system is also smart enough to figure out average gas age of the fuel in the tank and burn it if its starting to get too old.
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CaramelZappa 3:55AM (8/13/2009)
So basically, even if you never exceed the ev range of 40 miles, you'll still have to burn some gas.
Ideal.
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