Bought an EV (Volt)

[sutyak]

For what it's worth, I really like the idea of a 100% electric vehicle. The battery technology has a long way to go, though to make the mileage more realistic for more than just a short commute. The technology is out there, it just needs adopted by the manufacturers.
I'll miss the sound of a gasoline engine, but I'll gladly take the torque of an electric and won't miss the trips to the gas pumps at all.

[phillysrt4]

Be careful........you may mistake it for a new Camaro........

why? its slow like one too? ziiinnnggg!!!

[phillysrt4]

For what it's worth, I really like the idea of a 100% electric vehicle. The battery technology has a long way to go, though to make the mileage more realistic for more than just a short commute. The technology is out there, it just needs adopted by the manufacturers.
I'll miss the sound of a gasoline engine, but I'll gladly take the torque of an electric and won't miss the trips to the gas pumps at all.

I've driven an EV converted motorcycle and I loved it. The fact that its so quiet means I hear more of whats going on around me making a more enjoyable ride.

[SK360]

It is weird to get in and hit the start button and hear nothing but the entertainment system starting up. No one believes the car is on until you pull away... in silence.

The instant torque and constant pull feels great. Not as great as the Tesla Model S 85 that I drove of course. The Volt is computer limited in how much power is delivered to the electric motors 0-30mph, you can tune them via EFILive and some guys have dropped 0-60 from 9.2 to 6.1 by unlocking the power limiting and some other tricks.

[scorpio333]

My buddy works for BMW. The dealership is trying to get everyone to take an I3 home for a weekend. His weekend was a few weeks ago. We took it out for a day and to be honest I never thought much of electrics. That car was incredible, I was completely surprised. 0-40 it's faster than any non turbo BMW, it's crazy quick from a dead stop. No clue how it stacks up compared to the other electrics out there, but my wife is goo goo about trying to get one. As the range improves and more people just try one I think they're going to sell.

They look like crap. 90% of my driving is in a F150, so the size of them makes it feel like a rolling coffin. In a collision I'll take the high, heavy truck.

[PaxtonShelby]

I bet that's a kick ass message board.

Have to admit that was F'n hilarious!

[zxgto06]

Nice car Matt, congrats on the purchase!

[somethingclever]

I admit - I am impressed by the price/mile....$1.44/44 miles is about 76 miles/gallon of equivalent 87 octane @ 2.50/gal.

Does the warranty cover battery replacement and is it pro-rated against the warranty term?

What is the typical battery life reduction as miles increase?
(ex: I have a volt with 50k miles - i can only get 35 miles/charge as compared to when it had 5k miles I got 45 miles/charge)

[SK360]

I admit - I am impressed by the price/mile....$1.44/44 miles is about 76 miles/gallon of equivalent 87 octane @ 2.50/gal.

Does the warranty cover battery replacement and is it pro-rated against the warranty term?

What is the typical battery life reduction as miles increase?
(ex: I have a volt with 50k miles - i can only get 35 miles/charge as compared to when it had 5k miles I got 45 miles/charge)

The 8 yr/100k warranty covers everything with the battery and electric powertrain afaik, there have been no batteries replaced due to being "worn" out so not sure on just a routine replacement.

There has been no life reduction reported yet, anywhere. The volt battery is underutilized for that very reason. The battery in our 2013 is a 16.8kWh battery but only 10.8kWh is actually usable.

[JeffreyCole]

Hmmmm.

The tweakers haven't found out how to unlock that extra 6 kWh?

[SlowSix]

I just don't understand why most electric cars have to be so damn ugly

[Dan B.]

I just don't understand why most electric cars have to be so damn ugly

Hippy chicks dig it.

[thedak]

I just don't understand why most electric cars have to be so damn ugly

My Old DD

Maybe you aren't looking for the regular ones ?.....

15175487852_1982b5086f_c.jpg

[ttk53]

Burning coal to power our cars, what next steam power?

[SlowSix]

Burning coal to power our cars, what next steam power?

True. People don't realize that electric is often generated by fossil fuels

[JeffreyCole]

True. People don't realize that electric is often generated by fossil fuels

Approximately 67% is still produced by fossil fuels. Breakdown Below.

• Coal 39%
• Natural Gas 27%
• Nuclear 19%
• Hydropower 7%
• Other Renewable 6%
  
  • Biomass 1.48%
  • Geothermal 0.41%
  • Solar 0.23%
  • Wind 4.13%
  
  
• Petroleum 1%
• Other Gases < 1%

PLUS, there is the waste/pollution generated from making the batteries.

If someone wants to utilize an EV to save some cash on gas, that is a perfectly viable reason for buying one. If someone expects to "do their part" for the environment by purchasing, they are a moron.

If you want to save the world, run an ethanol based fuel vehicle.

[Dan B.]

If you want to save the world, run an ethanol based fuel vehicle.

Methane........Cow farts....

[JeffreyCole]

Methane........Cow farts....

Methane is another viable option, as it is a by product of treating human waste as well, and god knows we have enough human excrement to... power .... a LOT of cars.

According to this article, it takes the poo of 70 houses to power a VW for 10,000 miles.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencete...ves-waste.html

This thread has officially derailed.

[Dan B.]

If it's on the internet it must be true.

[ERR0RMACR0]

If you want to save the world, run an ethanol based fuel vehicle.

This is exactly why I do it...

lol, joking aside, that was very informative--thanks for posting.