General Motors is excited and nervous about bringing to market a new electric powered car badged the Chevrolet Volt. I would be nervous as well, despite my appreciation for the vehicle.
The Chevy Volt is an electric car, meaning that it runs on battery power. It is charged up at home using a standard wall socket. It can travel up to 40 miles on a single charge. It also has an onboard gasoline fueled motor which is used as a generator to charge up the batteries when they run low. Using gasoline to generate electricity yields 50 miles per gallon. A 12-gallon tank plus a charged up battery pack has a potential range of (50 x 12) + 40 = 640 miles. The Volt will seat four people and has a hatchback style design.
The most interesting idea is that the engine will not directly drive the car, but rather act as a high-efficiency generator, converting gasoline into electricity + CO2. At 50 miles per gallon, this is better fuel efficiency than any other vehicle in GM's fleet. The inclusion of this generator broadens the market so it can compete with any similar sized vehicle.
Now, let's list the reasons we don't like the Chevy Volt.
It uses electricity, most likely from coal fired power plants, to charge batteries. Burning coal creates CO2 directly, and said coal is mined by strip mining and mountain top removal.
The generator increases the weight and size of the vehicle, plus it continues the expectation that gasoline will be available into the future. Without the generator and fuel tank, perhaps a 40 mile range would be a 50 or 60 mile range. GM produced a car named the EV-1 several years ago, so whatever range the EV-1 had, one would hope the generator free Volt could do the same or better.
Due to the doors, the back seat looks difficult to access. As a new parent, I know how important it is to have lots of space to fit in that car seat... namely, very important.
It is rather ugly. Looking at the front of the vehicle, it looks like any other unattractive Cadillac, with a huge flat front end that looks like it dams up the air as you attempt to cut through it. In other words, it doesn't look very aerodynamic from the front. Plus the grill is just ugly.
It attempts to maintain the status quo, despite the peak and decline of oil. Who will need or want a vehicle that heavy in 10 years time? The Volt promises to allow us to keep driving and driving despite the realities of oil depletion and much higher fuel prices.
Don't get me wrong, I think the Volt is pretty neat. In fact, the power system is almost the same as the one I would like for my home – powered by batteries, charged from the grid, and charged from a generator when the grid is not available. It is an efficient use of fossil fuel energy... but right there is the difficulty... the vehicle depends on fossil fuels, not only for the gasoline and electricity, but also undoubtedly in the production and manufacture. Then again, I suppose I should do my green best to applaud the introduction and promise of something "better".
Aaron Wissner is a teacher, educator, organizer and guest speaker. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan, with emphasis on mathematics, science, and education. Mr. Wissner has taught and consulted for sixteen years in public school, in areas ranging from mathematics, science, computers, to leadership and television news production. He is the founder and organizer of the grassroots Local Future Network, a non-profit educational outreach organization dedicated to saving Earth through culture change.
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.jpg "Chevy Volt")
General Motors is excited and nervous about bringing to market a new electric powered car badged the Chevrolet Volt. I would be nervous as well, despite my appreciation for the vehicle.
