Comments on: Photos: 2011 Chevy Volt at the Paris Motor Show

GM shows off the 2011 Chevrolet Volt at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

[gerrrg]

When was the last time the marketing machine talked about a car for 3 years before the car was actually going to be made available to the public?

By that time, the car will have needed a redesign to refreshen the nearly 4 year old design!#!@#$!

[ckurowic]

GM is really good at putting out concept cars that never come to be.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Dodge Viper, Plymouth Prowler, Tesla, etc. It's not uncommon.

[eeee]

I like it and all the USA brand bangers get a life. Let's go GM, MOPAR and FORD !

[hjecompany]

All cars, whether GM or Mercedes or Toyota, are planned at least 3 years in advance-it's naive to think that cars are designed every year with a year's lead time to build them and get them to the dealers. The holdup on these electric cars is the battery and it is the battery companies that are fumbling to produce after promising so much.

[rmva]

Cool! Just enough different from the hot, new Chevy Malibu that you can tell it's not a gas-guzzler.

[TotalHosting]

So, are you saying that the target market is for people who live less than 20 miles from their job? Because the last time I looked, my 30-miles-away-job didn't have plugs in the parking lot.

So that leaves the following questions:
1) How long does it take to charge up, plugged in?
2) How much gas does it take charge it up, once the cell is depleted (can I leave it idling in the lot for a few minutes and then have it shut off once charged)?
3) Does it take more gas to both drive and recharge, and does it shut the gas part off, once the battery is charged?
4) Why wouldn't it dribble a little gas when your charge was down to say 25%, so you never have to run out?

I am interested in this, but need a lot more info.

[tipoo_]

hmm, if you had it filled with gas, and didnt use the gas engine for a while, wouldnt the gas go bad? that happened to my friends motorcycle, it does go bad after a while.

[ckurowic]

It is common knowledge that fuel goes bad after awhile, you are correct.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Fuel can go bad after sitting in place without any agitation when left for a year. But in a vehicle where it is sloshing back and forth in the tank and constantly mixing in normal daily driving, this will not be an issue.

[eeee]

it does not go bad that fast; months are fine and any driving above 40 miles (per the article) activates the gas engine so it wont be a problem. If this is a problem with people their driving might not even justify having a car.

[rpf211]

The little motor turns on automatically to charge the battery as it starts to discharge. Range should be over 400 miles.

[psybert]

http://gm-volt.com/chevy-volt-reasons-for-use-and-cost-of-operation/

Good link explaining the Volt's energy usage

[nissanGTRfan1]

it horrible look at it, what is it? the front part is horrible and has nothing to do with the back part. a car needs to be connected in design not like that ugly thing. it looks like the toyota prius ugly sister!!!

[loccsta]

moron

[eeee]

I like it and all the USA brand bangers get a life. Let's go GM, MOPAR and FORD !

[mkaresh]

Totalhosting: if your commute is 20+ miles, this probably isn't a good choice for you. Most people have shorter commutes.

rmva: The regular Malibu isn't a gas guzzler. My main problem with the styling is the band of black paint beneath the windows. Larger windows would have been better.

[ckurowic]

What? Most people have shorter commutes? What planet do you live on? The average American commute is around 50 miles....

http://heartsofthegods.blogspot.com/2007/08/economics-of-extreme-commuting.html

[matttx]

ckurowic, did you even read that link?

"They report an average one-way commute time of 26 minutes (over an average distance of 16 miles)."

So, according to your link, the average American commute is 16 miles each way. Last time I checked, 16 is less than 20+, so mkaresh is correct.

[ckurowic]

Meanwhile, Toyota is grinning just waiting for GM to release this so they can once again destroy the American automakers with their technology that is 5+ years ahead. It won't be the first time that happened....If GM is betting the company on this one, well, you all best keep your Chevy's nice and shined up, they are going to be collectors items very soon.

[eeee]

I like it and all the USA brand bangers get a life. Let's go GM, MOPAR and FORD !
You write your venom with such pleasure and offer nothing regards the topic at hand
What a doomsday attiude you have; if the AMERICAN auto industry goes belly up I hope your job is also affected some way so that you suffer also with your big attiude !

[treet007]

At estimated $40,000 for the Volt, I hope it does more than save gas...

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[eeee]

I like it as is and I hope that many like minded Americans go and buy one as soon as the local dealers have them in stock. It is not just Yaris and Prius and Fit and Civics.
I believe that USA brands including Ford and Chrysler can build a decent, competitive, and reliable car and not be forced to buy and car hwose proficts go back to Japan or Germany unlike the holier than thou naysayers who poulate these discussions would want us to believe!!!