Yup. There's a lot we don't know about this new type of electric car. I wonder: what will happen to battery capacity with repeated deep discharge?, when will the battery need to be replaced (and why)?, what will replacement cost?, what happens to the "old" battery?, what is the life and service requirements for the electric drive train?
Batteries have always been the issue. I worked n the lunar rover over 40 years ago and little has changed in that regard. Don't get me wrong. Electric cars have great promise and one day I expect that's what I (or my great grandchildren) will drive. But the Volt/Leaf came about rather suddenly so there's not much track record. And I have to wonder why GM gave up on the Volt last time 'round. Scott -----Original Message----- From: mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com [mailto:mercedes-boun...@okiebenz.com] On Behalf Of G Mann Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 11:05 AM To: Mercedes Discussion List Subject: Re: [MBZ] Volt vs. Gas The entire electric car story is fraught with hyperbole. As an engineer, just give me the facts, not the bullshit. I'll make my own decisions. It has nothing to do with hate or love. Fact: If I spend $46.000 for a car that I can only drive in 25 mile runs, what is the cost/benefit ratio compared with, say, taking a taxi or a limo to work on a cost per mile or cost per day calculation. How many days do I have to drive the Volt to break even on investment? So far, for the Volt and other electric cars, the math shows it to be a bad investment, without factoring in any maintenance issues, or unknown future design flaws that show up in an unproven platform. On the other hand, my 30 yr. old 300D has a long successful history with a known fuel per mile cost and a much lower purchase cost. Easy choice, job security for "Q" and all is well. Grant... On Sat, Feb 25, 2012 at 8:51 AM, WILTON <wilt...@nc.rr.com> wrote: > My elec. costs about $0.09 per kwh. National average is about $0.10 per > kwh. What is it about Eric Bolling's elec. that makes it cost nearly 13 > times what mine costs? Maybe it comes in on 24" wheels or is hauled in on > some ridiculous, "special" vehicle with a hole (gold-plated sunroof) in its > top. ;<) > > Wilton > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Hans Neureiter" <diese...@gmail.com> > To: "Mercedes Discussion List" <Mercedes@okiebenz.com> > Sent: Saturday, February 25, 2012 6:24 AM > Subject: [MBZ] Volt vs. Gas > > > Eric Bolling (Fox Business Channel's Follow the Money) test drove the Chevy > Volt at the invitation of General Motors. > > For four days in a row, the fully charged battery lasted only 25 miles > before the Volt switched to the reserve gasoline engine. > > Eric calculated the car got 30 mpg including the 25 miles it ran on the > battery. > So, the range including the 9 gallon gas tank and the 16 kwh battery is > approximately 270 miles. > It will take you 4 1/2 hours to drive 270 miles at 60 mph. > Then add 10 hours to charge the battery and you have a total trip time of > 14.5 hours. > 270 miles in 14.5 hours would be < 20 mph averge speed. > > According to General Motors, the Volt battery holds 16 kwh of electricity. > It takes a full 10 hours to charge a drained battery.The cost for the > electricity to charge the Volt is never mentioned so I looked up what I pay > for electricity.I pay approximately (it varies with amount used and the > seasons) $1.16 per kwh.16 kwh x $1.16 per kwh = $18.56 to charge the > battery.$18.56 per charge divided by 25 miles = $0.74 per mile to operate > the Volt using the battery. > > Compare this to a similar size car with a gasoline engine only that gets 32 > mpg.$4.00 per gallon divided by 32 mpg = $0.125 per mile. > Gasoline prices would have to rise to $23.68/gal to break even > (assuming the cost for electricity --to charge the Volt's batteries -- > remained unchanged). > The gasoline powered car cost about $15,000 while the Volt costs $46,000. > > So we are encouraged to pay 3 times as much for a car > that costs more that 7 times as much to run > and takes 3 times as long to drive across country.REALLY? > > -- > Hans Neureiter, Katy, TX > '82 300SD > '01 VW New Beetle 1.9L TDI > ______________________________**_________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/<http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/> > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.com<http://m ail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com> > > > ______________________________**_________ > http://www.okiebenz.com > For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com > To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/**archive/<http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/> > > To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: > http://mail.okiebenz.com/**mailman/listinfo/mercedes_**okiebenz.com<http://m ail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com> > _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new and used parts go to www.okiebenz.com To search list archives http://www.okiebenz.com/archive/ To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://mail.okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
