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Can someone explain to me, why, exactly, this should be better than a hybrid design? A hybrid design can use a comparatively tiny combustion engine together wi

Can someone explain to me, why, exactly, this should be better than a hybrid design? A hybrid design can use a comparatively tiny combustion engine together with an electric motor, which saves fuel consumption and does not need to be plugged in ever. The Volt needs both a full-fledged combustion engine and a full-fledged electric engine and needs to be plugged in after each drive. That sounds basically like combining the disadvantages of electric motors and combustion engines in one car. Why would anyone want that? (And electricity is not exactly free, either)

JoeAltmaier 15y ago
Well, 80mph as the article indicated.
- Derbasti 15y ago
  Are you saying the Prius (for example) does not reach 80 mph but the Volt does?
  - JoeAltmaier 15y ago
    Ahgh! 80mpg! mpg! I hate it when I do that.
sliverstorm 15y ago
I don't think the idea is that it is better than a hybrid. I gather that idea is consumers get to "test-drive" the electric concept for the first 40 miles of every "tank", and that they will begin to realize that's all they need. Currently a hybrid like the Prius is largely indistinguishable to the driver from a gas-only car. It sounds to me like GM is aiming to give drivers the electric car experience, with the gasoline as a safety net.
stellar678 15y ago
In discussions about electric cars there always seem to be two arguments that end up head-to-head: 1. That average or mode of distance traveled per day is less than X miles. (60 or something, a distance many electric car designs have no problem achieving) 2. That people won't accept a car that can't do long-distance trips. The Volt/serial hybrid (which Volt actually isn't) design responds to both of these arguments. If we transitioned all cars on the road to this, the average drive wouldn't consume any gasoline at all but people could still take their infrequent longer road trips. That's the premise I've seen at least.

JoeAltmaier 15y ago

Well, 80mph as the article indicated.

Derbasti 15y ago
Are you saying the Prius (for example) does not reach 80 mph but the Volt does?
- JoeAltmaier 15y ago
  Ahgh! 80mpg! mpg! I hate it when I do that.

sliverstorm 15y ago

I don't think the idea is that it is better than a hybrid. I gather that idea is consumers get to "test-drive" the electric concept for the first 40 miles of every "tank", and that they will begin to realize that's all they need. Currently a hybrid like the Prius is largely indistinguishable to the driver from a gas-only car. It sounds to me like GM is aiming to give drivers the electric car experience, with the gasoline as a safety net.

stellar678 15y ago

In discussions about electric cars there always seem to be two arguments that end up head-to-head: 1. That average or mode of distance traveled per day is less than X miles. (60 or something, a distance many electric car designs have no problem achieving) 2. That people won't accept a car that can't do long-distance trips. The Volt/serial hybrid (which Volt actually isn't) design responds to both of these arguments. If we transitioned all cars on the road to this, the average drive wouldn't consume any gasoline at all but people could still take their infrequent longer road trips. That's the premise I've seen at least.