Re:More Range in Chevy's Volt Means You Hardly Ever Need Gas
by ghaff on Tuesday August 04, 2015 @10:42AM
(#10003644)
It will be interesting to see how the different approaches develop. While there's something to be said for the "purity" of an all-electric car, there's also some reasons to think a plug-in hybrid with a moderate size battery may be the better choice for the mainstream.
- Batteries are expensive and buying a vehicle with batteries that are large enough to cover most uses will often be a more expensive approach than hybrid.
- There's a lot to be said for a vehicle that isn't range-limited even if it's normally used as a second vehicle to drive around town.
The Volt weighs much less than the Tesla. The reality is that battery tech is expensive, heavy, and delicate so hybrids still make sense. A near empty gas tank weighs nothing and a near empty battery weighs the same as a full one. This stuff gets a bit more complex as you look into how it really works. Not to mention the Volt comes in at pricing that's half or even 1/3rd the price Tesla, depending on packages/trim.
The Volt is a great concept and the next logical step in hybrid technology. It leans more on the battery powered aspect, than say, the Prius, which is still primarily powered by gas. We're just not at the point where a full electric is in the cards for most people.