Imiev uses more of the 16kwh pack than volt

[g4qber]

New I MiEV      via iTube for YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRobVq-AquM

[acmotor]

That is just part of the crazy concept of hybrid.

The single most expensive and heavy item in the EV (or want to be EV ) is the battery pack.
So, here is a really smart idea (not)..... lets only use 10/16kWh (~60%)of the battery capacity, have a shorter EV range and not get value for those expensive $ lithium cells and lug around the whole pack weight even though we don't use it, and lets add a dirty, polluting ICE and its servicing costs along with a complex drive train.
Yes, but the battery pack may last longer ? Well not if the emotor is 111kW in the volt and 49kW in the iMiEV for the same (at least in capacity) 16kWh pack. That's over twice the current and a vehicle that weighs 50% more. Maybe chevy couldn't take the SOC lower in that case !
Don't worry, you can always start that ICE add on that you paid for ! It is quiet, and you can still claim to be driving an 'EV' unless someone actually cottons on.

OK, so I want pure EVs for some reason, not hybrids. I'll try to think up a reason why.

[bladecar]

AC,

If I had a Volt, I would always intend to drive it within its ev range as much as possible.

If they want to call it a 'range extender', that is the reason I would own one. I'd say you would own one car only in this case.

I remember the interview with that wartime-jet-owning executive (who claimed to be instrumental in talking his company into making a battery car of any kind (in a magazine)) talked about GM pricing the Volt high enough to take care of unexpected warranty problems, but that if there were very few or none, then it was already a successful product (making money).   Probably the battery situation is in the interests of insuring against future warranty claims. But as I said before, where is the updated ev1?

Edit: more syntax

[acmotor]

AC,
If I had a Volt, I would always intend to drive it within its ev range as much as possible.

If they want to call it a 'range extender', that is the reason I would own one. I'd say you would own one car only in this case.....

But there you go, that sums it up. If I had a volt I wish it would go further in EV mode.... well it could have done, maybe 150 or 200km if it didn't have to lug that ICE around.   

Own one car ?? well that is probably all folk could afford after paying for the volt !!!!
Two vehicles are still waaaaaay cheaper and that way you can have a good EV AND a good ICE rather than having to compromise both !!

Sorry, hybrids just hold up getting to even better EVs.

Nothing wrong with the volt as a car (other than price, complexity, range, fuel consumption etc.)
It may suit some folk right now, but average journey statistics suggest otherwise.
And yes, I would have one if it was $25k. As a second vehicle.

[bladecar]

Completely agree    

[BigMouse]

But as I said before, where is the updated ev1?

Chevy Spark EV

Less than US$20k after gov't rebate. C'mon Australia, catch up!

BTW, That same rebate makes the Volt US$31k, and that's before STATE gov't rebates. In California, Colorado, and several other states, you can get one for less than $30k. That cheap enough for you?

[bladecar]

Thanks BigMouse. I haven't been looking at these at all. Looks good at first glance   

[Simon]

I don't think servicing costs should be too much on the Volt?
If you use the average of 60% miles done on EV then the average Australian would only do 6000km a year on petrol. That's only 60,000km over 10 years. So should be no major servicing costs just oil and filter changes and coolant.


2014 Chevy Volt price drop


US 2014 Chevy Volt is now only $35,000!

[acmotor]

Coolant requires change every 24 to 36 months regardless of use. (actually same on EVs just less coolant)
Brake fluid flush typical 36 months (same on EV)
Engine oil for ICE change every 12 months regardless of use.
Petrol must be replaced/used every 12 months whatever.

What are the service intervals on a volt and the cost ?

[Simon]

http://email.holden.com.au/2012/septemb ... age-2.aspx


According to this it's fixed price $185 (cheaper than an iMiEV ) for the first 3years/60,000km and service intervals are every 9months/15,000km.

[acmotor]

Ah good, thanks for finding that.

Volts capped price servicing is for 9 month, 15,000km intervals for max 3 years or 60,000km.
3 year 100,000km vehicle warranty and 8 year 160,000km battery warranty.

Volt servicing over 3 years 36/9 = 4 x $185 (2012 price) = $740
Volt servicing over 60,000km 4 x $185 = $740
Volt servicing over 4 years or > 60,000km (now out of warranty) >>$740 + $185 = >>$925 !!

iMiEV capped price servicing is for 12 month, 15,000km intervals for 4 years or 60,000km (with 5 year overall warranty) (10 year on power train not including battery).

iMiEV servicing over 4 years 2 x $230 + 2 x $430 (2012 price) = $1320
(iMiEv servicing over 3 years 2 x $230 + 1 x $430 = $890 )
iMiEV servicing over 60,000km 2 x $230 + 2 x $430 = $1320

Did I get that right ?

Yep, volt servicing is cheaper up to 3years/60,000km and then ?

But what about the $20k higher capital cost and then there is the energy/fuel cost ? Yep it is a bigger vehicle than an iMiEV .... with a much bigger carbon footprint and maybe you are 'doing' even more money as an early 'EV' adopter. You could just buy a Leaf.

Energy/Fuel..

iMiEV petrol NIL operating emissions NIL
volt, well folk say they won't use any petrol, or try not to (why buy a hybrid then ??)

iMiEV 135Wh/km real world data my log plug to wheel
volt 230Wh/km real world data g4's log plug to wheel
So over 60,000km the iMiEV will use 8.1MWh energy at say conservative 30c/kWh = $2,430
volt over 60,000km as an EV will use 13.8MWh energy at say conservative 30c/kWh = $4,140 , or higher cost if petrol used.
($1,710 at least more than iMiEV)

The iMiEV is ahead on lower overall costs, but still a smaller vehicle.
Someone can do the Leaf comparison, It will still be cheaper than the volt and at least a pure EV and that is important.

So hybrid... there is a lot of making up to do and not even a pure EV to drive around in.   

[g4qber]

ac how did you manage to get the special capped price of $230 / $430 from mitsu?
on the official sheet it is

$260 / $460 for 2012MY Pre October 1st 2012
and
$280 / $480 for 2012MY Post October 1st 2012

http://www.mitsubishi-motors.com.au/upl ... ice_v4.pdf

[g4qber]

volt price drop another source - Nikki GB
http://www.plugincars.com/2014-volt-dro ... 27919.html