Been hearing a lot of promotion for the coming Chevy Volt. It sounds good doesn't it? That is until you begin to think about it.

Right now, we are being asked to turn our air conditioners up a few degrees in the summer to conserve energy. Why is that? Because the grid is already loaded just about to the max, as shown by brown outs and some rolling black outs and the threat of more to come unless we conserve. How long will it be before thet ORDER us to turn the thermostat up?

Given the Democrats' propensity for refusing to drill more, build nuclear reactors, and insistence on solving the problem by more conservation, we may get that order to live warmer in August sooner than we think.

You say we are going to solve the problem with wind and solar?

If you think it will take too long to increase drilling, how long do you think it will take to get enough wind turbines and solar panels in place with all the infrastructure to support it?

So back to my question of how are you going to run that Chevy Volt? When you add millions of them to the equasion, unless there is a corresponding growth in electricity generation (which seems unlikely at this time) there is not going to be enough electricity to run them.

Won't that be grand!

http://www.villagehatshop.com/media/....jpg&width=375

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Originally Posted by tomder55

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The solar revolution will start on the roofs.

So you can only drive the VOLT on a sunny day ?

Not sure when the revised target date for introduction is (2010 seems unrealistic to me) ;but last news I heard was that Chevy had not come close to solving the challenge of the battery for the Volt yet.

I have also read articles about the possibility of using the wheel mechanism as a charging device. Michellin has an idea to have the whole electric engine built into the wheels.
By the time the Volt is introduced it may be obsolete.

Chevy should go bankrupt and restructure under bankruptsy laws instead of asking for a bail-out that would lock them into their failed business model.

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Originally Posted by Galveston1

So back to my question of how are you going to run that Chevy Volt?

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Hello Gal:

I don't know. You ask pretty silly questions... Let me ask you this. What would you put in your Chevy Volt had McCain won??

See?? You're just putting down Obama because he's black. I know how you Texans are. Come on, Gal. You can tell us the truth.

excon

Tom of course the solar panels are by no means perfect but it is a start. And if it is a cloudy day and your battery isn't charged in the Volt you use the gas engine. Like I said this is just a start.

I made a solar charger for my cell phone it's not perfect but it does the job in a pinch. Just don't try to take it on a plane they look down on wired wires with electrical tape on them.

How to make a solar cell phone charger.

Just in case anyone is interested.

Actually all of these battery powered cars could be used to help power the grid.

We waste a lot of electricity here in the US because as it is being generated if it doesn't get used it's gone. So if have a lot of smart batteries plugged into the grid that can be charged when demand is low and pulled from when demand is high. You can get rid of brown outs without generating more electricity and still keep your car batteries at 98% charged

Of course this requires some investment into smart grid technology but that investment is comparable to building new plants. So there is your answer. Smart grid technology it's going to be needed anyway as power generation comes to more homes as solar, wind and biomass power become more viable at home.


Of course now that gas is down to $1.92 a gallon who is going to buy it for the projected 40 thousand dollar price tag?

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Originally Posted by michealb

Of course now that gas is down to $1.92 a gallon who is going to buy it for the projected 40 thousand dollar price tag?

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I paid $1.83 the other day here in South Texas; besides, back in 2005 I bought myself a Toyota Echo Hatchback (think Yaris) and get anywhere from 30 to 40 miles per gallon. I have an 11 gallon tank, you do the math, it's not affecting me all that much. However with the price low again I can now take our second vehicle out for a longer drive, it's a gas guzzler SUV.

Gas will continue to go up, in 7 years time (economic ups and downs tend to occur in 7 year cycles); gas will likely be $8 per gallon. So if you are making a new purchase, think ahead.

As long as the electricity they add to the grid isn't oil based (hydro, nuclear, clean coal, wind, etc.) I would think that it will be a better deal to charge up the Volt than run your car on gas.

Oh, and good point michaelB; there is so much capacity in the non-peak hours that it shouldn't be a problem charging the new cars.

Anyone who can afford 40k for a car isn't going to keep it for 7+ years.

I think Chevy double downed on the wrong hand on this one. Just not for the same reasons as Galveston.

Of course batteries are eventually disposable .One environmental concern is solved but another one created .

You know if they can miniturize clean coal technology we could go back to steam powered engines ;)

On board separation of H2O into HHO looks promising.

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Originally Posted by excon

Hello Gal:

I dunno. You ask pretty silly questions.... Lemme ask you this. What would you put in your Chevy Volt had McCain won????

See??? You're just putting down Obama because he's black. I know how you Texans are. Come on, Gal. You can tell us the truth.

excon

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Wow! You are really GOOD! You are a mind-reader in addition to your many other talents.:)