Comments on: Chevy Volt Solves Zombie-Induced 'Range Anxiety'

By: Dave M

Dave M — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:04:56 +0000

GM is not hiding anyting about how the volt works.
I have read the technical papers, and seen the animated demonstrations. The car runs 100% on electricity most of the time.
Through a set of planatary gears, the main motor is connected to the sun gear, and the wheels connected to the planet carrier. Mode 1, the ring gear is locked to the case, forcing the main motor to provide all the drive through the reduction of ratio created by the planet carrier, and planatary gears. In mode 2 the ring gear is unlocked from the case, and connected to the secondary motor, to split the load between 2 motors. This allows the 2 motors to run at a 1:1 ratio when less torque is needed such as for cruising, as 2 motors running at lower speed will consume less electical power.
Once the battery runs down, mode 3 is entered. In mode 3 the ring gear is again locked to the case, so the main motor provides all the porpelling of the car. The second motor is disengeged from the ring gear, and is coupled to the gas engine. The second motor is used to start the gas engine, and then produces the electrical energy to maintain the charge in the battery, and provide electrical power to drive the main motor. In this mode, the gas engine cycles on and off depending on the speed of the car, and the charge level of the battery. At low speeds the generator produces more power than the motor uses, and this excess energy goes into the battery. Once the battery has a bit of extra charge, the gas engine shuts down untill they extra charge is used up, and then it starts again.
There is a 4th mode of operation that can be engaged. If the computer determines that it is more efficent to transfer some of the excess energy from the engine into the planatary power split drive this can be also done, by unlocking the ring gear and also connecting it to the secondary motor, which is coupled to the now running gas engine. In this mode, power from the engine is driving the generator, and passing also onto the power split planetary gear set. The electricity produced by the generator us totally consumed by the main motor, which must also be running. In my year of ownership I have only had my volt enter this mode once, and that was when I was driving through the mountains and did not enter mountain mode first. The switch over was noticable, and a message came up on my display telling me that my speed was limited to 115KMh due to available electical energy reserve. I switched it back over to moountain mode, and a few minutes later I felt the system switch back to mode 3, which is the normal mode used when in extended range, where the engine operates at a single speed just to generate power. In mode 4, engine coupled to drive train, the engine speed varies just like ina prius. No mystery here, no deception. The engineers figured that they could imporve efficency in specific conditions by doing this. The volt is the most technically advanced car in the world, and all the other card makers wish that they had thought of it, but GM holds the patent on the design. Good on them.

By: Thomas J. Thias

Thomas J. Thias — Sat, 26 May 2012 12:28:34 +0000

Oops, Just want to point out that the source of this entertaining Volt piece is The 2012 Barcelona Video Contest.

http://www.mofilm.com/competitions/barcelona2012/index.html?v=5

“We’re pleased to announce the winners of the 2012 MOFILM Barcelona Video Contest. A massive thank you to everyone who entered and an even bigger congratulations to all our winners.”

As you can see, the Zombie Ad was one of the 5 finalists. While the category may of been sponsored by Chevrolet, in no way is this video from the official GM Mad Men Devision!

The Amazing Chevy Volt E.R.E.V.- Facts Guy-

By: MarkW

MarkW — Sat, 26 May 2012 01:53:24 +0000

What type of zombies have you guys been drinking? The point that Gm is making very clearly is that the volt is one of the most efficient cars on the road. Even running on all gas it's real world gas mileage is awe inspiring !
we are not talking about a 90lb driver going around on an EPA test track at a constant 45 mph with no wind or rain to slow you down. This is 600 lbs of zombie food making a get away in a new tech car of the future!

By: perfectapproach

perfectapproach — Fri, 25 May 2012 13:10:43 +0000

Firstly, there isn't anything snarky about my post. The article asks the question, "Why doesn't GM attack other electric cars for their lack of range?" My post is the answer to that question.

Secondly, what damage are the Volt and Volt owners doing to electric cars? Are they somehow making people shy away from electric cars? I don't understand what you mean.

Thirdly, if GM "won't admit how the engine really works," how does it REALLY work? Because I've seen some pretty detailed analyses as to how the Voltec system works, complete with diagrams and fancy big words like "epicyclic" and "planetary."

If you're going to make exaggerated claims like the ones in your post, you should be prepared to explain why you're making them.

By: MKW

MKW — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:36:48 +0000

The problem with GM and the Volt is they honestly don’t know what they are fighting for. Trying to market burning gas as an “advantage” when the whole point of electric cars is to not burn gas comes across as a bad joke. Each new GM ad is in another random direction and annoys potential customers that are very suspicious of GM’s corporate greenwashing and lobbying connections with oil companies. GM has spent years saying Prius as if it were a dirty word and now they are trying to sell a hybrid. Two years later and GM still won’t admit how the engine really works. Talk about a huge red flag! All the damage the Volt and their owners are trying to inflict on electric cars is just proof that they are no friend of EV’s and cannot be trusted. Check out the snarky first post for an example.

By: perfectapproach

perfectapproach — Thu, 24 May 2012 13:24:15 +0000

I would rather NOT see GM attack other auto manufacturers’ electric cars (and their limited range). Electrics cars are hard sells as it is. GM doesn’t need to make any enemies at this point. It’s no big deal to poke fun at old, clunky gas-guzzlers (even GM’s own cars), but start poking fun at Ford’s, Nissan’s, and Mitsubishi’s current offerings, and they might poke back. An electric car war wouldn’t be good for anyone.

But just for the record, I DO think the Voltec powertrain is superior to anything else on the market. If there was a war, the Volt would win it.