GM to mold San Fran and D.C. into early adopter markets for Chevy Volt

If General Motors has anything to say about it, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. will be the first early adopter markets for its plug-in hybrid Chevy Volt. The company is currently working with the local municipalities to flesh out the details. The goal is to make tax incentives for purchasing electric cars and build an infrastructure that'll support them. San Francisco is already part of the way there since they, along with San Jose and Oakland, have already endorsed Better Place's $1 billion plan to put electric grids in the Bay Area. Of course, GM's deeds aren't exactly selfless -- after all, more markets mean more potential Volt customers -- but if this is what it takes to foster an eerily silent rush hour, we're all for it.

[Via Yahoo!]

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 3rd 2009 8:21PM]

Let's hope a market for these types of vehicles still exists by the time it is released.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 5th 2009 8:38PM]

This car is a crock, and by crock I mean GM has better technology that is electric only. Yes, the infrastructure for electric only cars is not fully built, but why not put out the cars and force it to be built by tax payer demand. Being on the forefront pushing this forward can only help the image of GM and boost their sales.

On the other hand, with the EV GM made not that long ago with newer battery and other technology, mixed with multi-thin film solar cells could easily make this car go 600+ miles on a single charge. Then you can have it plug into a normal outlet in your garage or other standard electrical plug. You need to stop and sleep anyways, might as well let the car charge up when you do. This could result in many technology ideas, even plug-ins in parking blocks.

All in all, this car is worthless, and offers nothing of value compared to other car manufactures. GM needs to go all out or go the hell home, aka out of business. This business plan is not going to save them from long term failure. So move on to fully new technology, and drop this hybrid load. Also, stay away from the hydrogen idea too, because it isn't that great of an idea. Battery power with solar roof, hood, and trunk or go back to the drawing board for other technology that has yet to see light.

EV1 got 160 miles on lead acid battery, which was out dated for the time even, no reason for the "Volt" to only get 40 miles when technology has gotten a bit further from 10 years ago.

[vandrook Posted Feb 3rd 2009 10:19PM]

I can't understand the obsessive focus on non-commercial traffic/transportation. I live in the North East and the major traffic and pollution issue is commercial. The lack of alternative transport for freight causes a major problem with commercial traffic. Are consumers an issue? Yes. But the quickest solution with the most impact in my area would be on transport. More rail, more shipping ports, more electric TRUCKS. You could transform an entire highway to an all electric, flow controlled trucking route a lot easier than trying to corral the individual commuter. The problem?...teamster unions maybe?

[albundy Posted Feb 3rd 2009 11:12PM]

weren't they begging for money a month ago from congress? this just proves that money does grow on trees, but it takes saps to cultivate it.

[RafterManFMJ Posted Feb 3rd 2009 11:14PM]

You know, all this uproar. Whatever. I subscribe to New Scientist Magazine, published in England...and see in every issue advert after advert for slick diesels that get 68, 74, 80 MPG. Even some small Land Rovers posting low 40's...and no, this is not km/l but actual highway MPG...

Now, I wonder why other than the occasional VW diesel, we cannot get such vehicles here?
SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive, 74.3mpg
Volkswagen Polo BlueMotion, 74.3mpg
MINI Cooper D, 72.4mpg
MINI Clubman Cooper D, 68.9mpg
Mazda 2 TD, 65.7mpg

Say, let me know when these cars get here. Until then..bah!

[tooodles Posted Feb 3rd 2009 11:48PM]

there is no magic. new scientist is an english import. guess what? uk gallon is BIGGER than us gallon, so thats why they have magically high mpg figures.

its sad people use this to slam america:P

uk/european emissions controls on diesels is more lax as well.

[RafterManFMJ Posted Feb 3rd 2009 11:58PM]

Um, no. They rate by kilometers per liter...proper conversions were done to convert to Miles per Gallon. And for the record, I was getting 50 to 55 MPG out of my 03 Jetta TDI in mixed driving. Oh, and the Ford Diesel on sale in England gets 65 MPG...go read about it at businessweek....

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_37/b4099060491065.htm

So, again, why get excited about a 45,000 dollar car that really isn't that much of...anything? Get the price down to 20K, or double the range then we'll talk...

[tooodles Posted Feb 4th 2009 1:42AM]

no no no once again, there is no magical tech they are hiding from the usa.

remember, europe doesn'it use EPA mpg rating testing methods!! and their diesel emissions standards are far more lax.

these cars have no special technology that gives them an edge. the only ones with very high mpgs are ones that are simply too small or have weedy engines.

when you can show that these cars us fancy carbon fiber chassis or something really innovative then you can talk, but until then its just apples to oranges nonsense for drawing misleading conclusions.

[tooodles Posted Feb 4th 2009 2:17AM]

"Making a gallon of diesel fuel requires 25% more oil and emits 17% more heat-trapping greenhouse gases than gasoline reformulated with MTBE. Similarly, diesel requires 17% more oil and emits 18% more heat-trapping gases than gasoline reformulated with ethanol. This means that diesel fuel's advantages from its higher per-gallon energy content and better performance on greenhouse gases are partially offset by the impact of diesel's fuel-production process." http://www.grinningplanet.com/2005/04-12/diesel-vs-gasoline-article.htm

don't get too gushy on diesel before looking at the whole picture.

[RafterManFMJ Posted Feb 4th 2009 10:43AM]

I understand your points. In fact diesel cars usually get 30% better mileage than petrol...and guess what? A gallon of diesel contains 30% more energy than an equivalent of gas. And ethanol per unit volume contains less energy than gasoline. My point is not that there is a magic tech, it is simply that cars are available that get double or treble what we have here in the states.

They would sell if they were modified to comply with our dear EPA, or the EPA standards were relaxed, and (2) if diesel prices were normalized instead of the current haphazard tax schemes. These cars exist, and could be imported or built here. Until they are, I cannot see the excitement about 45K autos such as the Volt. I can see the potential, but they are not cost effective yet compared to the alternatives.

Personally, my next new car will be a PHEV. By the time I'm ready in a few years, barring a complete global economic meltdown, there should be a dozen or so to choose from.

[WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot Posted Feb 4th 2009 12:20AM]

I'm with you brother. I was raised in SF and I hated it when some redneck or some out-of-touch midwesterner would call SF "San Fran". It just reeks of stupidity.

[LUISAMEZQUITA Posted Feb 4th 2009 1:42AM]

I think most people in the area call it one of two things-SF or "The City". If you are in less than a 100 mile radius of SF, I think you know that when someone says "I'm going to the city", they mean SF.

My parents say San Fran, and it drives me crazy!! I correct them every time. I think it was just the slang back when they were young and went there.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2009 1:38AM]

I live in SF and I'm ready to purchase a vehicle like this that I could only fill up on gas when I absolutely need to. I drive a couple of miles to and from work. I have parking in my building... might need to run an extension cord from somewhere. I occasionally drive to LA and Northern California so my long distance needs are very low. I'm interested to say the least.

[(Unverified) Posted Feb 4th 2009 8:37AM]

The volt is garbage. Tell GM to bring back the EV1!!! ev1.org