Electric Chevy Volt debuts with lofty ambitions

Electric Chevy Volt debuts with lofty ambitions

news.cnet.com

The company also released photos and a number of technical details, including a projected top speed of 100 mph and two in-car touch-screen controls. The five-door sedan, which GM calls an extended-range electric vehicle, is scheduled to be available for purchase in the U.S. in late 2010.
The car will be able to drive 40 miles on its lithium-ion batteries. An internal combustion engine--able to run on gasoline or E85, a blend of ethanol and gas--will extend the car's driving range to hundreds

(visit the link for the full news article)

The car is due to be released in 2010. Why oh why wasn't this done 10 years ago????

Anyway thought we might use a little optimistic news today!!

The car should run for approx 2 cents per mile

news.cnet.com
(visit the link for the full news article)

Here is a photo...

I've been watching the forum at www.gm-volt.com (not GM-owned). A lot of people don't like the new design as much as the prototype. Plus, dropping from 5 to 4 seats makes the car more oriented towards singles, couples and not really families. Sure, electric car needs to be light and efficient so it's definitely not a Suburban SUV size.

The reason it wasn't 10 years ago was that battery technology has changed. Today, high-capacity LiPo and LiFePo batteries along with higher capacity NiMH batteries outshine the old lead-acid and NiCd batteries. LiFePo are basically what that A123 batteries are and cars should be using safe battery packs otherwise, collisions will be bad if they have exploding or shorting out batteries. A123 batteries are safer than LiPo and NiMH batteries if they are broken open (ie. in a collision).

I do a variety of small RC-car racing and battery technology there is basically the same that they are doing in cars like the Chevy Volt.

Of course, Toyota is also coming out with a car similar to the Volt in the next two years and I suspect that GM will get crushed by the foreign competition (as we have seen over the years). So, good to hear that GM is introducing the car - but the price point has got to be good otherwise it'll be a dud.