Poll: Volt (and other "series hybrid") - is it electric.

Chevy Volt is an awesome car. I've never seen in live but I'm very excited by the idea and hope it makes it to production.

Volt is all-electric drive, but it has gasoline generator to recharge the battery for the times when battery charge goes down. This makes it a "series hybrid".

Do you think Volt (and other series hybrids) is an Electric Car or just a Plug-in Hybrid.

I personally think it should be considered an Electric car since it is driven by an electric motor only. It belongs with Tesla and RAV4 EV, not a prius where car is actually driven by the ICE.

One can throw a portable gasoline generator in the back of Tesla Roadster and run it to charge the batteries. ;) This will not make Tesla a hybrid.

BTW, GM itself considers Volt to be Electric vehicle.

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Mykytay

I am replying to your MANY posts because you seem to be well informed.

I posted to another comment today elsewhere in KBB referencing the cost of fueling the Chevy Volt ($8.40). I hope I didn't miss the mark in my response or misinterpreted what was being stated. I presumed that $8.40 was the cost of electrically charging the Volt per day (i.e., cost of fuel per day per recharge).

I am probably in the minority here, but I'm looking for a PLUG-IN electric vehicle with a gas BACK-UP to extend the electrical charge in a single driving event.

Why? Either:

(1) to open up access to driving occasionally on an expressway--which currently is prohibited by Federal law (safety, slower speed), or--

(2) for security backup just in case I've driven more miles than the electric charge carries me in a single event (gas backup).

I'm aware that most people interested in electric vehicles want UNLIMITED milleage for short trips around the neighborhood (NEV's) and don't have a need for gas back-up or trips on the highways.

Since I don't commute to work daily any more, I don't need to drive A LOT or FASTER than 25-35 mph for neighborhood trips, so my needs are for continued independence for short distance needs with an OCCASIONAL trip to an adjacent city to visit family/friends. Currently I drive a non-hybrid Civic Honda.

If I bought an all-electric PLUG-IN vehicle, most of my needs would be satisfied but I would never be able to drive on the expressway which I mostly depend on to get to the next town--either direction--(and keeps me off the highway). Plus, I would always be worrying that I might exceed the distance for which my plug-in electric car has been charged (overnight)--and be stranded on the road before I got back home!

I have solar panels, so I want to be able to plug in my car in the evening to recharge the battery overnight. Hence, no electrical cost to recharge (and only an infrequent gassing up for back-up purposes).

Thus, the term you used of "series hybrid" seems to fit me to a "T"...Or not? Am I totally off the mark? What would you advise?

NinerJan

New electric cars will be capable of driving at highway speeds (with top speed up to a 100 mph) when they come out.

Range is a concern so range-extended electric cars (or series hybrids) may be more attractive over pure electrics.
On the other hand major automakers start to work with electric companies to research and develop an infrastructure for EVs. Mitsubishi teamed up with SCE and PG&E to test iMiEV in California; GM is also in talks with utilities on plug-ins; Nissan works in Tennessee. So it is possible that very soon there will be even less need for range extender on the electric cars. except, may be, for really long trips.

mykytay:

New electric cars will be capable of driving at highway speeds (with top speed up to a 100 mph) when they come out.

Range is a concern so range-extended electric cars (or series hybrids) may be more attractive over pure electrics.
On the other hand major automakers start to work with electric companies to research and develop an infrastructure for EVs. Mitsubishi teamed up with SCE and PG&E to test iMiEV in California; GM is also in talks with utilities on plug-ins; Nissan works in Tennessee. So it is possible that very soon there will be even less need for range extender on the electric cars. except, may be, for really long trips.

Nissan-Renault and Tennessee zero emission vehicle is quite odd and might get negative feedbacks from critics but I think it doesn't matter at all. The style is good and better than gas guzzlers. Nissan auto parts have been improved.