Chevrolet Volt Problem

Does anyone else see the potential problem with the Chevrolet Volt concept? It is supposed to be able to drive 40+ miles without using the ICE (internal combustion engine). Theoretically, if you only drove the car back and forth to work, you would never use the ICE.

However, as most of you know, gasoline will eventually go bad over time. Additionally, engines can deteriorate if they do not run for long periods of time. Engine oil can build up contaminants if the oil isn't periodically warmed up. If the engine is used sparingly or not at all for a long period of time, what happens when it does need to be used?

There could be a mandatory period of time that the engine must be used. However, this won't make some of the environmentalists happy.

Alternatively, there could be a service interval to change the oil AND gasoline. The engine would have to be designed for long term storage (similar to an emergency generator).

Thoughts?

While I am sure they have thought these things through, I think the pros of the program far outweigh those cons.

Not to mention, how long does it take for gas to go "bad" and under what conditions?

I think that under projected normal use, this wouldn't be much of an issue anyway.

Good questions, for sure!

I wish u would have asked this yesterday...I could have gotten the answers! Interesting yes, but why would you put gasoline in the car to begin with if you're daily commute to work is less than 40 miles?

I think that most users would probably only plug the car in every other day, (laziness) and the gas engine would be used to make up the difference....JMHO

That or during a normal week, extended trips would kick-in the gas engine....it's that or Sta-Bil. OL!

whats the cost of $/mile when running on electricity? For say, 10 cents a kilowatt?

Does anyone else see the potential problem with the Chevrolet Volt concept? It is supposed to be able to drive 40+ miles without using the ICE (internal combustion engine). Theoretically, if you only drove the car back and forth to work, you would never use the ICE.

However, as most of you know, gasoline will eventually go bad over time. Additionally, engines can deteriorate if they do not run for long periods of time. Engine oil can build up contaminants if the oil isn't periodically warmed up. If the engine is used sparingly or not at all for a long period of time, what happens when it does need to be used?

There could be a mandatory period of time that the engine must be used. However, this won't make some of the environmentalists happy.

Alternatively, there could be a service interval to change the oil AND gasoline. The engine would have to be designed for long term storage (similar to an emergency generator).

Thoughts?

It is a good question, but it would be an easy fix. Everything is computerized so if I were an engineer I would have it monitor the engine. If the engine had not been run in X number of days, I would have it automatically start and run through a full tank of gas, whether the battery was charged or not, while driving with a warning to the driver an hour or so in advance this was going to happen. I would also educate the buyers to expect this.

I think that under projected normal use, this wouldn't be much of an issue anyway.


Under normal use, yes, but it has to be engineered to work in all situations.

It is a good question, but it would be an easy fix. Everything is computerized so if I were an engineer I would have it monitor the engine. If the engine had not been run in X number of days, I would have it automatically start and run through a full tank of gas, whether the battery was charged or not, while driving with a warning to the driver an hour or so in advance this was going to happen. I would also educate the buyers to expect this.

I agree that this would be an ideal fix, but I see it being criticized by uninformed environmentalists if it did this.

I wish u would have asked this yesterday...I could have gotten the answers! Interesting yes, but why would you put gasoline in the car to begin with if you're daily commute to work is less than 40 miles?

Sorry, I thought about it yesterday, but didn't post it until today. :(

You would want to have gasoline in it for those "just in case" moments when you need the extra range. Also, you typically don't want to run the tank dry since it can overheat the fuel pump.

whats the cost of $/mile when running on electricity? For say, 10 cents a kilowatt?

For the Tesla roadster it is about 1 cent. Volt is a bigger car, maybe 2 cents? Don't forget gasoline prices are about 40% tax.

For the Tesla roadster it is about 1 cent. Volt is a bigger car, maybe 2 cents? Don't forget gasoline prices are about 40% tax.

When the politicians figure out that electric cars a numerous enough, they will tax electicity with "highway taxes" and the like, just like gasoline and diesel. It's the way politicians think.

Seems an easy fix. I highly doubt most people are going to charge to completion every night and drive less then 40 miles.

Am I to assume that like the prius the electric engine is only useful for city driving? If thats the case its even less of a problem. If not a few lines of code could get the engine to run for a while if it hasnt.

Seems an easy fix. I highly doubt most people are going to charge to completion every night and drive less then 40 miles.

Am I to assume that like the prius the electric engine is only useful for city driving? If thats the case its even less of a problem. If not a few lines of code could get the engine to run for a while if it hasnt.

Nope, your assumption is incorrect. The Volt is always propelled by the electric motor, the gas engine is just a generator to charge the batteries.
That's why this car is so different from cars like the Prius.

Interesting. At first the consensus seemed to be that electric motors ceased to be efficient at highway speeds. Suppose its not suprising that has changed.

I agree that this would be an ideal fix, but I see it being criticized by uninformed environmentalists if it did this.

I doubt they would be screaming very loudly about an engine that rarely runs. They dont seem to complain about the hybrids which run all the time. In addition to that I think Gas stabalizer that is used to winterize boats and show cars would help if it really ran that infrequently. I think the best solution would be to force it to run every few days though.

I'll add "how does the heater work?"

I'll add "how does the heater work?"


Excellent question, wish I knew the answer.

I'll add "how does the heater work?"

Ive built two RC cars as a kid. Both had resistors that got pretty hot. They would blister your finger if you happened to touch it. Im sure with a motor big enough to run a car you could find components that get hot easy enough. You could draw heat from something Im sure.

Excellent question, wish I knew the answer.
All HVAC can be done using electric. It's expensive and a big battery drain though.

Air Conditioning - Electric Compressors are already used on several mid or rear engine cars.

Heating - Large power draw, but not the end of the world. Lets not forget that the electric motor in this car generates a lot of heat in its windings. I bet you could duct air with that in mind and get a good chunk of heat off it, but that complicates design more than a resistance element in the dashboard. Noting how many kW this thing runs off of though, I really am not too concerned. Also charging the battery pack is going to generate heat, and plugging it in overnight might keep the car nice and toasty...

My question is, does the Volt have regen. braking? It would add complexity to the system, but increase efficiency. With a *wimpy* 40mi range on a full charge, I'm guessing it doesnt. The Tesla (while smaller and over half the weight) with regen braking has a range upwards of ~300mi. Is the 40mi spec with current battery power, or with the theoretical Lithium pack? Questions that need clarity before a production version comes out.

Well, if someone is going to get upset that every so often, they have to let the I.C.E. run, they are a bit picky. It's not like they are asking people to rev the engine up to a high r.p.m. just before they shut it off.... lol

I thought I read somewhere that the Volt does have regen. braking.
If it has that AND a small engine that recharges the batteries, then it should go a lot further than 40 miles, no?

I thought I read somewhere that the Volt does have regen. braking.
If it has that AND a small engine that recharges the batteries, then it should go a lot further than 40 miles, no?

40 miles is without using the ICE to recharge the batteries. Total range is around 600 miles.

Air Conditioning - Electric Compressors are already used on several mid or rear engine cars.



Can you give a couple of examples?

I know that some newer hybrids have the electric compressors so that they can run with the ICE off, but I believe they use a higher voltage than normal cars.

I'm looking to find an application that runs on a normal 12 volt system.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16580894/from/RS.3/

In this Q&A Lutz mentions regenerative braking. It's a good read on his opinion of the Volt.