Advantage Volt as Range Anxiety Still Troubles American Drivers?
By Bill Visnic August 24, 2010General Motors Co.'s Chevrolet Volt extended-range electric vehicle and Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s Leaf battery-electric car both are scheduled to launch in December and there's been plenty of debate about whether the two will compete for buyers.
Many analysts don't believe so, largely because the two cars essentially are different animals: the Leaf has a maximum driving range of about 100 miles, after which its lithium-ion battery pack must be recharged. The Volt's all-electric driving range is approximately 40 miles - but after that, an onboard gasoline engine kicks in to generate electricity for the batteries and extend driving range to 300 miles or more.
Chevrolet has said the Volt's layout is the more appealing and makes the Volt a more viable "only car" because it does not have the limitation of battery-only range. And a new study by the Consumer Electronics Association may give foundation to GM's side of the argument.
The CEA survey found that while 60 percent of those polled indicated a receptiveness to battery-electric vehicles by saying they would be likely to test-drive a pure EV sometime in the future, almost half also said driving range between charges is a major concern. And about a third said battery life also is a worry.
Nonetheless, the CEA plans to feature EVs at its Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. The CES has emerged as a major international consumer-electronics showcase event. And there's more detailed coverage of the range-anxiety study at Edmunds.com's Green Car Advisor.
GM also released a new video showing the Volt driving slightly more than 43 miles on battery power during a test at the company's proving grounds in Milford, MI. The video also reveals other details such as a "mountain driving" mode that allows the driver to reserve extra battery capacity for steep or long grades. The video, which can be viewed at Green Car Advisor, also shows the Volt accelerating from 0-t0-60 miles per hour in a fairly brisk 8.5 seconds.
Photos:
1. Chevrolet Volt courtesy of GM
2. Nissan Leaf courtesy Nissan
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GM is right; the Volt will be good for a "one car family"..you can take it on a road trip and just keep adding gasoline.
The Leaf will be good for a multiple car family that uses one car for short distance drives. Until we get charging stations at corporate offices and other workplaces, public parking garages, railway stations and so on, so that charging can take place during the work day and at other than in your garage at home...if you even have a garage (thinking of those apartment dwellers and on-street parkers)..range anxiety will be the concern.
The Volt powertrain configuration is an alternative that surely should be put out into the marketplace to see how it performs in the real world. If it succeeds, further development should improve the breed and lower the costs. It will start out with several burdens, high initial costs and pricing, and the decidedly mixed association with Chevrolet and GM.
If it fails, it may be the Americans-hate-hatchbacks effect. Hatchbacks are extremely versatile and practical vehicles for a single car that can meet most needs. However Americans tend to own trucks and vans to do hauling as well as a sedan or coupe for passenger driving, instead of a single vehicle that does reasonably well for a wide range of uses. If that effect prevails, buyers will be more inclined to live with short-range electric cars for specific commuter use, and an internal combustion vehicle (likely a truck, van, or SUV) for longer distance use.
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