Electric Cars

Politicians has not only proclaimed victory over oil companies everywhere, but also set foot inside the Chevy Volt. Though many people consider this to be a good move, the reality of the situation is much darker. Politicians everywhere have to consider the high costs involved in the experimentation of electric vehicles that are most likely to be funded by the hard-earned money of the people while their financial security remains extremely flimsy at the moment.

As such, any person who believes beyond a shadow of a doubt that electric vehicles are the best economic solution should consider the following points:

Over the coming decades, garbage dumps will see a huge growth of discarded batteries. These batteries are composed of heavy metals that take a long time to decompose, if they decompose at all. And these will definitely have an adverse effect on the environment. Presently, no one seems to be considering that almost every electronic gadget these days run on Lithium batteries – from cell phones to computers – and that when these batteries no longer function, they are to be recycled. However, we must ask ourselves where the batteries go on from there. After all, batteries are not the easiest thing to recycle.

If electric vehicles such as the Volt were to be purchased by even half of the people living in a particular neighborhood, all of these would be charging throughout the night. This would cause the transformers to blow up, completely frying every household appliance that you may have and cherish. For instance, the neighborhoods in New England would not be able to handle mass drainage of power by electric vehicles considering that the voltage in such neighborhoods is low compared to what is actually required for fully recharging a battery pack. And the installation of high voltage circuits can be quite expansive. This is why the most likely scenario is that neighborhoods will have to suffer a blackout before they realize that it is the recharging process that’s the cause. After this realization, they will either have to get rid of the cars or spend even more money on new circuits.

These electric vehicles will consume a lot of carbon-based fuel, and as such, we can safely assume that a single year would see more fuel being used up by these cars in comparison to the conventional vehicle. Also, people will probably leave their cars charging even after the battery is full to avoid running out of charge during the day. A gas powered vehicle would not have this problem. Thus, EVs are definitely not a green as they make them appear.

Taxes collected from the people will be used to further advertise these vehicles so that mainstream society will accept them. These taxes are earned by hard-working Americans that deserve better usage of their money. It is not fair to them that they be pushed by businesses to buy these overly expensive “smart” cars.

This is why electric vehicles such as the Volt cause more damage to the environment and the people than the current existing cars. Any electric car enthusiast should carefully weigh in all these topics before pushing them on to the public.

The Chevy Volt could very well be the automobile that changes the way the world sees General Motors (GM). Indeed this car fits everyone’s criteria – size, budget, and features – thus making it extremely popular within some audiences. Not only that, but the Volt is a feast for the eyes, designed to utter perfection. The only question that is on everyone’s mind is whether the Volt will spawn a whole new generation of Electric Vehicles or gradually fade out from existence.

Any car enthusiast would already know that the Volt was named the 2011 Car of the Year by Motor Trend. This was done after a thorough inspection of each and every feature that was installed in the car. One of the things that make the Volt stand out so much is the fact that it can blend into every need that a person may have. It can function as a family sedan, commuter vehicle or smart car. Those who have personally handled the car remarked that after a single charge, the Volt seemed to drive on forever. This alone has convinced an entire population of EV skeptics that electric vehicles can provide more than their oil consuming counterparts.

If you were to travel from Detroit to Chicago under 40 miles, you will have all the time in the world to spend taking those scenic country routes and reach earlier than expected. Drivers can expect to enjoy a ride that is comfortable, smart and jam-packed with adventure. If the distance between your place of residence and work is less than 10 to 15 minutes, then you can just recharge your car each night before going to bed, and it should be ready to take you to work the next morning. You might also want to take note that the Volt automatically adapts to the preferences of the driver. This way, instead of you having to adjust to the car, it is just the opposite.

There is a pleasant surprise that many will definitely notice with the Volt. Once you hop on the driver’s seat, you will probably experience a similar feel to the Chevy Cruze. The reason for this is because the two vehicles are about the same size. Additionally, the positions of the car controls on the steering wheel are the same as well. The only difference in terms of external appearance is that the Volt is more streamlined whereas the Cruze is more bulky. So, if you like the Chevy Cruze, you are going to love the Chevy Volt.

Of course, the Volt has its own unique features as well – such as the side panel that is truly eye-catching. Also, there are two LCD screens in the Volt, both of which can be used to control the car and browse the internet or display remaining charge etc.

As a matter of fact, the only complaint that critics can come up with is that the Volt does not stand out easily. Though this is true to some aspect, the interior of the Volt is anything but ordinary. Brimming with luxury, stepping into the Volt is indeed a privilege that few will have the benefit of enjoying.

Chevrolet just announced that they will accelerate production of the 2011 Chevy Volt to begin nationwide distribution by the end of the year. This comes after report from many Chevy dealers across the US that customers are extremely excited about the new American electric car.

Who wouldn’t be excited? Here is a list of some of the awards that the Chevy Volt has won since its release late 2010:

• 2011 North American Car of the Year
• Motor Trend 2011 Car of the Year
• Green Car Journal 2011 Green Car of the Year
• Car and Driver 10 Best for 2011
• Ward’s AutoWorld 10 Best Engines for 2011
• AUTOMOBILE Magazine 2011 Automobile of the Year
• 2010 Breakthrough Technology, by Popular Mechanics

Even though Nissan and General Motors promised to deliver electric cars for the general population this year, sales have been extremely low because of the scarcity in terms of supplies. As such, it will be a while before we can see more of these cars on the road. In the past month alone, only 250 to 350 Volts were sold by GM, whereas the Leaf sedan sold not more than 10 units in the last couple of weeks. However, the production of both these cars is set to accelerate, with projections showing a national availability for both by 2012. Even so, purchasing these cars will not be easy, considering that there is a waiting list of 50,000 people.

Pricing is one of the hardest factors to determine when it comes to these vehicles. The base price for the Volt is said to be $40,280, whereas it is $32,780 for the Leaf. These figures are considerably higher as compared to cars that run on gasoline, which might make these vehicles more exclusive than otherwise thought. Further, the leases that are being advertised heavily might not be permanent, and if Congress decides to remove EVs from its priority list, the $7500 may no longer be available.

When electric cars started becoming popular, buyers were treated like royalty at dealerships, as high-end executives of Nissan and GM would personally greet the buyers. Sometimes the purchasing was accompanied by an entire entourage of cameramen and news reporters swarming to gain insight into the buyer and why he/she chose to buy the car. If they were lucky, the buyers could see themselves in the newspaper the following day as well.

Initially, only 10 Leafs were shipped to the United States from Japan, but reportedly, a second shipment of 90 cars will be delivered to dealers around the country. Nissan revealed that they can manufacture 50,000 Leafs on an annual basis back in Japan. These will be sold in Europe, Japan and the US respectively.

The Nissan Leaf can go for 100 miles solely on electricity before it has to be recharged for 16 to 18 hours. If owners wanted to recharge their Leafs within 7 hours, they must have a 22./240-volt outlet handy.

The Volt can travel for 40 miles on electricity before owners need to recharge, but fortunately, the car comes equipped with a gas engine that can power the car for a good 375 miles. This engine automatically starts up when the batteries are dead and recharges them on the go. GM is convinced this backup unit will be successful among those who wish to travel long distances without having to worry about the batteries dying out.

The assembly for the Volt is done in Detroit, and GM estimates that in 2011, around 10,000 Volts will be sold with an increase to 35,000 – 45,000 by 2012. Within the first 11 months of the Malibu sedan’s release, Chevrolet sold 187,250 cars with a base price of $21,975.

According to Edmunds.com, out of the total car sales, 2.4 percent are made up of hybrids, with a corresponding estimate that the amount would rise to 4.8 percent as of 2013. Even so, electric vehicles are a small minority of the total and will stay like that for quite some time.

Buyers chose to close earlier than expected after rumors started swirling that the $350-a-month lease promotion by GM would end by Jan 3. According to Rob Peterson, spokesman of GM, the lease terms of the Volt “will extend into 2011, but I don’t have the specifics on how long it will be out there.”

The Chevrolet Volt was named North American Car of the Year at the Detroit Auto Show on Monday. Finalists for the award included the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Sonata. Forty-nine auto journalists from the U.S. and Canada served as judges.

This is another award in the Chevy Volt’s trophy case, after also winning the Motor Trends Car of the Year.

Tom Stephens, General Motors Co. Vice Chairman accepted the award saying, “Let me start by saying thank you [...] to all of the jurors who Volted, or voted, for the Chevrolet Volt.

Gas prices are on the rise again. Some commodity experts are predicting the we will soon see 100 dollar barrel oil soon and that will quickly translate into 4 or even 5 dollar a gallon oil. This looks to be the new norm as world demand is not slowing down. Thus, people will need to look towards alternatives to gas powered vehicles. Electric powered vehicle like the Chevy Volt and the Nissan Leaf, which finally has hit the US market in mid December, will become more and more a viable next step in the evolution of cars. General Motors and the government have a vested interest in creating and sustaining this market to lessen its dependence on foreign commodities. The new technology is here and now people need to embrace it. With the continue rise in gas prices, we might see the Chevy Volt have a very successful and long run.

Customers in California, Texas, Washington D.C. and New York will start receiving the first batch of the Chevy Volt being shipped today.

If you are one of the lucky few who receives this vehicle later this week, please write to us and let us know how it went.

Here is amazing video showing the entire production process of the Chevrolet Volt at the Detroit-Hamtramck plant. You can get a glimpse at the construction of this electric vehicle starting from the bare frame, wiring the accessories, dropping in the engine, installing the doors, and driving it off the assembly line. All this in under two minutes.

The Chevrolet Volt will first go for sale in the form of an auction with the proceeds going to Detroit Public Schools for the improvement of education in fields such as math and science.

Mark Reuss, President of General Motors North America stated that the Volt was able to become a reality because of a careful combination of math and science and hence, the car itself is symbolic of the importance of the two subjects. He continues on saying that by investing in these critical areas of learning, they hope to spawn a generation of brighter minds that can further develop the technologies that power the Volt.

This announcement was made at an event that took place in Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly where Reuss said that the first Volt to come out of regular production will be kept by Chevrolet as a reminder of the hard work put in by the team to turn their dream into a reality. The first Volt with a vehicle identification number that ends with BU100002 will reportedly be going to an auction that will benefit the Detroit Public Schools Foundation.

The opening bid for the Volt will be $50,000 and with good reason. The car has a beautiful Viridian Joule exterior that is complimented by an interior of Light Neutral with dark accents. Other features such as the Premium Trim Package, Rear Camera, Park Assist Package and polished wheels will also be included. Additionally, the winner will also get to take home a 240-volt charging-station with free home installation.

Interested buyers can bid for the Volt online at www.bidonthevolt.com. The bids will be closing on the 14th of December at 6pm, and the winner will be announced on the 16th of the same month. The winner will have their Volt delivered to them by the end of the month.

The funds that will be donated to the Detroit Public Schools Foundation will be used to support a variety of initiatives, such as robotics competitions where the entry fees, travel costs and required equipment will all be included for the students.

Chacona W. Johnson, President and CEO of the foundation stated that math and science are some of the subjects they are focused on because the success of the students in higher levels of education is dependent upon the knowledge they hold on topics such as science, technology, engineering and math to name a few. They need to have some basic knowledge of these fields in order to become a competent workforce in the 21st century.

The Detroit Public Schools Foundation also supports programs for fine and performing arts, athletic and academic leadership skills, and investment for college preparatory to assure the kids of a bright future.

Robert Bobb, Detroit Public Schools emergency financial manager stated that in the next decade, about 80 percent of jobs will require for people to possess skills in math and science, and that the generous move by GM will ensure that students from Detroit will be able to contribute to the development of the United States in the near future.

The upcoming release of the Volt has generated a lot of enthusiasm about the revolutionary design and features of the car. The Volt is indeed a memorable milestone in the automobile industry.

The Volt will be arriving in Chevrolet showrooms in 2011 and people can expect a lot of advertising and promos in the upcoming weeks leading to its release. The Volt is reportedly going to be equipped with a new fuel economy label that will be incorporated with its state-of-the-art propulsion system.

The Volt is a hybrid unlike any before it. It can operate without the use of any gasoline whatsoever for a range of 25 to 50 miles. During this period, the Volt will have no emissions at all. After the specified range, the Volt can continue on an indefinite basis with its range-extending engine. This unique feature of the car enables it to run efficiently, depending on how the driver utilizes the car.

The Volt is so awe-inspiring that General Motors has collaborated with the US Environmental Protection Agency on designing a new label that will best describe what drivers can expect from the Volt.

Traditionally, drivers would have to optimize their mileage by filling their car tank with fuel and then driving the vehicle, while dividing the distance by the amount of fuel that the vehicle consumed. But now, cars like the Volt have revolutionized that by allowing for plug-in technology that drastically changes how a driver can get the most out of a vehicle with minimum input.

Electric cars still use energy so in order to determine the MPG equivalent (MPGe), the use of electricity is measured and based on the energy content in a gallon of gasoline, the result is converted. This MPGe rating allows for the Volt to be compared to other vehicles in terms of its efficiency so that buyers can be assured of their investment.

The Volt is powered by two sources of energy, with the first one being the electricity from the grid, and the second one is gasoline from the pump. The overall efficiency result is based on the length of the drive and how frequently the battery is changed. With all the futuristic equipment and makeup, the Volt itself is extremely easy to use. The new fuel label, though sufficiently complex in appearance, provides more necessary information that any other EPA label that was designed before it.