Mlive.com: Rush Limbaugh blasts Motor Trend for Chevrolet Volt award, editor fires back.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I assume the Volt is intended as a commuter car right now, or other limited types of driving. You're not going to road trip across country in it. It does have a small gas tank powering an internal combustion generator that kicks in when the electric power gets low. From the link above:

"After the first 40 miles, the combustion engine generator will kick in. This will keep the battery at a 30% state of charge. This 3-cylinder 1L engine will get 50 mpg fuel efficiency. To calculate the fuel efficiency for drives longer than 40 miles use the following formula: Total MPG = 55*M/(M-40)."

http://gm-volt.com/chevy-volt-reasons-for-use-and-cost-of-operation/

The Leaf has no gas tank, which makes me a tad nervous. It advertises a 100-mile range, but they claim you can get 120 on a freeway with no traffic and about 80 in heavy traffic. It would be a great car if you had a 20 to 30 mile commute everyday, but you would obviously need another car. Still, it costs pennies to charge the battery so the savings on your commute would be significant. I'm spending about $35 a week now just to drive to my office.

[Wrong Direction]

Of topic - but Verizon's VCast lets you watch live sporting events on your phone.

http://products.verizonwireless.com/index.aspx?id=fnd_video

Awesome. I will definitely forward that link to my wife.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I've been hearing about plug-in cars for years. Is the volt really a new technology? I'm seriously asking.

It's new in the sense that the design of the batteries is a leap forward. Theoretically, we've always been able to run cars on batteries, the problem is the amount of power a battery can generate versus the weight of the car.

I actually won a bet years ago against my then girlfriend (now wife) who said in 5 years we'd have cell-phones that played live TV. That was 11 years ago. We still don't as far as I'm aware, though videos and internet are a major step forward. The only reason is because of battery power, I believe. I could totally be proven wrong though.

Slingbox has been around for a few years, hasn't it?

Anyway, you can watch live tv on a computer now. (ESPN3 is awesome). I don't see why phones can't do that.

[Destino]

First of all watch the how it works video you lazy ****s

My understanding of this particular car is that it's a bridge between gas powered automobiles -> electric by creating a scalable design. The Volt has a tiny electric only drive distance (35 milies) and a long recharge time (like 8+ hours). The idea is that you park it at night plugged in and your trip to the store and to pick up the kids are entirely electric... which is why it has a gas engine allowing unlimited range. Thus those that are worried about an electric cars range can find peace. They can drive to miami if they want to without having to take a difference car.

The beauty of this design is that it allows for battery technology to improve (increased range and superior charge time) without having to worry about overall range and availability of infrastructure immediately (like electric outlets at a work parking lot). I think this plays a major role in why it won car of the year.

I'd like to see it get the charge time down to 40minutes or less and the range to 80 miles. That IMO would be an ideal car. I can charge it during a lunch hour and get to work and run errands with no gas but still drive out of town when I want to.

[Stadium-Armory]

Translation: Yeah it sucks but look at the Good Intentions, instead of the results. Show your support by wasting your money on the BetaMax of Automobiles

Not quite, in my estimation. It doesn't just -"suck with good intentions", it serves as a valuable test step in the process of evoloution. Meaning, it is another iteration of the new model that developers and innovators will use to build on. We will learn from it. The next iteration will be better. Sure, its not the perfect solution, but when is any great innovation perfect on the first try? Look at the big picture.

[Wrong Direction]

It's new in the sense that the design of the batteries is a leap forward. Theoretically' date=' we've always been able to run cars on batteries, the problem is the amount of power a battery can generate versus the weight of the car.[/quote']

In that case, I think it's at least worth of consideration for car of the year. As a man who makes frequent 4-5 hour car rides, I wonder how it would help me say 5-10 years from now, but I assume those practical concerns would be overcome if the technology is indeed viable.

[Edit: Just saw Destino's post above.]

Slingbox has been around for a few years, hasn't it?

I'm busted for being a few years behind on technology. I'd still wager that phones don't currently have this built-in capacity/widespread use because of battery limitations.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

I'm busted for being a few years behind on technology. I'd still wager that phones don't currently have this built-in capacity/widespread use because of battery limitations.

There is no difference between streaming a show and playing a youtube video when it comes to the battery. The issue is bandwith.

I can play a two-hour movie on my Ipod or Iphone when it is fully charged, but the battery is deep in the red at the end of it. But I'm also told that the Iphone 4 has a stronger battery.

[Destino]

There is no difference between streaming a show and playing a youtube video when it comes to the battery. The issue is bandwith.

I can play a two-hour movie on my Ipod or Iphone when it is fully charged' date=' but the battery is deep in the red at the end of it. But I'm also told that the Iphone 4 has a stronger battery.[/quote']

Angry birds owns my iphone battery.

[Dan T.]

First of all watch the how it works video you lazy ****s

[YouTube clip]

So the range is not limited by the battery. The gasoline power internal combustion generator keeps the battery charged, at a gas usage rate of 50 MPG, with the gas tank capacity at 9.3 gallons.

http://gm-volt.com/chevy-volt-reasons-for-use-and-cost-of-operation/

Total range, with battery and full tank of fuel = 379 miles.

http://www.chevroletvoltage.com/index.php/Volt/2011-chevrolet-volt-receives-new-fuel-economy-label-from-epa.html

And it's not a bad looking car:

[Stadium-Armory]

I also find it tragically ironic (but not surprising) that a supposed conservative is poo-pooing the free market for trying to iterate its way through the process of solving for the energy problem. He should applaud the VOLT, and urge them to make the next revision better than the last.

[88Comrade2000]

1, the Volt is way over priced

2. Electric cars are a joke, because you are still powering them from Oil based energy.

3. The Ford Focus uses less energy, took no bail out, even though it was offered.

4. Rush is a joke

and I could say much more on this

Still don't know why people honestly care about every single thing he says. I like Rush, but you have to take him for what he is and nothing more. I probably disagree with most of what he says but I don't take him too seriously.

I think the Volt is a joke. Also, the Volt isn't a pure electric car; it still has a gas backup. They rushed this and I think it will come back to bite them. Also, there is no way in hell I am going to pay close to $50,000 for that type of car.

Speaking of Focus, I think the 2012 Focus; especially the 5 Door Hatchback looks great. I can't wait for my local dealership to get one in. I am having to travel alot for the job opportunities I've been getting so far since I moved to Florida last month and my Forester sucks to much gas. So, I'm looking to get that Focus as my next car.

[Wrong Direction]

There is no difference between streaming a show and playing a youtube video when it comes to the battery. The issue is bandwith.

I can play a two-hour movie on my Ipod or Iphone when it is fully charged' date=' but the battery is deep in the red at the end of it. But I'm also told that the Iphone 4 has a stronger battery.[/quote']

Is there an issue with bandwidth between streaming a movie and a show?

My reasoning actually had nothing to do with bandwidth. It was simply that people watch TV shows for longer than they watch videos (for the most part), and the battery obviously works more if it's streaming for 1-2 hours than it doesn for 1-2 minutes. That was really the crux of my now dated point.

[88Comrade2000]

Do you ever post anything that is true? I mean this in all seriousness: Do you just post what you think is true and then just assume that no one will call you out on it?

Natural gas drilling is like the Wild Wild West Right now. In Pennsylvania' date=' Ohio, and West Virginia, every other person has a well in their backyard. It's insane and there are apparently no restrictions.

[url']http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/553285/Drilling-Growth-Rapid.html?nav=515[/url]

If anything, there is now a movement in state houses to actually start monitoring this. Ohio wants to shut off state parks to drilling. Arkansas wants to create an agency to monitor the wells since again, apparently all that is required is some land and a drill.

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=427016

I need to tell my parents to drill baby drill; though all they would hit is a coal mine about 700 feet below.

[Wrong Direction]

I also find it tragically ironic (but not surprising) that a supposed conservative is poo-pooing the free market for trying to iterate its way through the process of solving for the energy problem. He should applaud the VOLT, and urge them to make the next revision better than the last.

I haven't heard Rush on this, but I'm guessing his angst is over the link between the Volt and the bailout, which wouldn't happen in a pure free market.

[China]

So the range is not limited by the battery. The gasoline power internal combustion generator keeps the battery charged, at a gas usage rate of 50 MPG, with the gas tank capacity at 9.3 gallons.

http://gm-volt.com/chevy-volt-reasons-for-use-and-cost-of-operation/

Total range, with battery and full tank of fuel = 379 miles.

http://www.chevroletvoltage.com/index.php/Volt/2011-chevrolet-volt-receives-new-fuel-economy-label-from-epa.html

So really, it's a hybrid being billed as an electric car, but it is the next step towards an all electric car.

[joeknows]

you would be hard pressed to find someone who dislikes Rush more than me but in this case i think he has a point. first off.... we give a all that money to GM and THIS is the car we get in return? <from what i understand it only get s about 40 miles to a charge.... on flat testing roads> but seriously, i can be open minded about the car despite all that. The problem i have is that it was named car of the year and isnt even on the road yet? wtf?

[Stadium-Armory]

I haven't heard Rush on this, but I'm guessing his angst is over the link between the Volt and the bailout, which wouldn't happen in a pure free market.

Tax breaks to stimulate investment and innovation are valuable tools IMO. And they are designed to allow the free market to do the heavy lifting, the government only provides the catalyst (a tax break).I think his problem is with anything "green" (but I could be wrong).

[88Comrade2000]

Speaking of electric car, I think one version of the upcoming Ford Focus is going to be an electric version. That version is due this fall. If it is a pure electric car, bound to cost less than GM's VOLT.

[Predicto]

It's really too bad that it has become a requirement of the current conservative mindset that anything that is environmentally positive must inherently be a bad thing because if you support it, you are "siding with" Al Gore and the hippies.

Conservatives forget how terribly the real communists treated the environment. Free market environmentalism can be a truly powerful force for good, but it feels like there is no room for nuance in the "us vs. them" conservative world these days.

[Dan T.]

So really, it's a hybrid being billed as an electric car, but it is the next step towards an all electric car.

It's almost a reverse hybrid - electic first, with gas auxiliary, rather than gas first electic auxiliary.

I don't understand the naysayers on this. It's an intruiging concept, and a bold step in the industry. The performance reviews have been outstanding. Gene Weingarten, the Washington Post's snarky, curmudgeonly columnist, was one of the 150 journalists invited to test drive it. He went in wanting desperately to HATE the car. He just couldn't. His column about the expericne is definitely a good read:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012105347.html

---------- Post added March-23rd-2011 at 12:22 PM ----------

you would be hard pressed to find someone who dislikes Rush more than me but in this case i think he has a point. first off.... we give a all that money to GM and THIS is the car we get in return? <from what i understand it only get s about 40 miles to a charge.... on flat testing roads> but seriously,

You really should read more about the car. Its range is 379 miles.

---------- Post added March-23rd-2011 at 12:27 PM ----------

I haven't heard Rush on this, but I'm guessing his angst is over the link between the Volt and the bailout, which wouldn't happen in a pure free market.

The conception, planning, and engineering of the Volt occured way before the bailout.

[Destino]

It's almost a reverse hybrid - electic first, with gas auxiliary, rather than gas first electic auxiliary.

I don't think it has a traditional gas engine that can power the car. The engine provides electricity like a generator instead of power directly to the drive train. So yes it's not what we would typically refer to as a "hyrbid".

[Dan T.]

The auto critic of that liberal rag The Wall Street Journal is Pulitzer Prize winner Dan Neil. Here's his take on the Volt:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304510704575562363168727230.html

An excerpt:

I get it. A lot of people don't like GM because: 1) the bailout, or 1a) Obama; or 2) the United Auto Workers; or 3) because some Monte Carlo or Cutlass Sierra or deuce-and-a-quarter left them walking a long time ago. That's understandable. These are sour times. But for the moment, we should suspend our rancor and savor a little American pride. A bunch of Midwestern engineers in bad haircuts and cheap wris****ches just out-engineered every other car company on the planet. And they did it in 29 months while the company they worked for was falling apart around them. That was downright heroic. Somebody ought to make a movie.

And now we have this little bit of science fiction: a four-seat, five-door electric car that doesn't run out of electricity—well, unless it runs out of gasoline. The Volt is powered through the front wheels by a tourbillon of electric motors and a 1.4-liter in-line four-cylinder engine. Serenely running off electricity stored in its 16-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack (435 pounds), the Volt can travel 25 to 50 miles per charge (depending on weather, terrain and driving behavior) using the electric traction motor and generator, which does double-duty as traction motor. On a test drive here last week, my driving partner and I got about 49 miles in all-electric range, with three people in the car, but conditions were perfect and we were driving like funeral directors.

And it works like a champ. Actually, it's extraordinarily efficient. Consider that the operable range of charge in the battery is 65%, or 10.4 kWh. At 40 miles all-electric, that's 260 watt-hours per mile, or about the power necessary to run a hand-held hair-dryer for 15 minutes. We're talking about an object that, with passengers, weighs two tons.

How the Volt got to be so efficient is a long, complex story that starts with a huge bolus of computer coding that manages the battery and the Voltec propulsion system. Then there's a few thousand hours of aero analysis and optimization, low-rolling-resistance tires, and a ruthless whittling down of vehicle weight.

[Destino]

It's really too bad that it has become a requirement of the current conservative mindset that anything that is environmentally positive must inherently be a bad thing because if you support it, you are "siding with" Al Gore and the hippies.

Conservatives forget how terribly the real communists treated the environment. Free market environmentalism can be a truly powerful force for good, but it feels like there is no room for nuance in the "us vs. them" conservative world these days.

They didn't forget... just look how they bring up China every time the environment comes up. They are talking out of both sides of their mouths. The truth is that there is no natural environmentalist connection with capitalism or communism. It's cheaper and easier to destroy ****.

[Lombardi's_kid_brother]

The Volt has been in development for about three years. It is not a product of the bailout at all.

I still encourage everyone to test drive a Leaf if you get the chance. The fact that Nissan went all-in with electric is amazing to me.

[The 12th Commandment]

The problem i have is that it was named car of the year and isnt even on the road yet? wtf?

That's the way they do it at Motor Trend. Like it explains in the article, reliability etc., isn't what the award is for (we have the more mundane Consumer Reports for that). It's for design basically and bleeding edge automotive ideas. They get them before they go on sale too.