GM: Volt will get 93 mpg in electric mode

[cal04]

Nearly matches the 99 mpg Nissan says its Leaf will attain
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40359956/ns/business-autos/

General Motors says its Chevrolet Volt will get the equivalent of 93 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving while powered by electricity.

The automaker says the rechargeable electric car will get an estimated 37 mpg when running on its gasoline-powered generator.

The mileage figures will be on the Volt's window sticker. It's an estimate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

(snip)
The Volt can go 25-50 miles on electricity, then a small electric motor kicks in to generate power for the car.

[Crazy Dave]

1. How much coal and other fossil fuels does it take...

To charge up the battery and then give us the real statistics.

The stats won't be as pretty or impressive.

[Radical Activist]

2. It depends on where the car is charged, debbie downer.

Either way, powering an electric car from coal is still a more efficient use of energy (and has lower lifecycle CO2 emissions) that a regular gasoline car. So it's an improvement even when charged by coal power.

[rurallib]

7. plus it helps isolate the points of pollution to the power plants

which then can be better dealt with.
Every time someone posts on electric vehicles I see this post. I wish whoever it is would offer some practical alternatives. Biking?

[XemaSab]

3. It's one of the few things wind is good for, especially in the west

There's often a glut of wind power on the grid in the dead of night when nobody is using it.

It's one of the few things wind is good for.

[Kennah]

4. A few thoughts

EPRI studied PHEVs and concluded millions of PHEVs would result in cleaner emissions, even if all the electricity came from coal.

45% of U.S. electric comes from coal
18% in California
17% in Washington state

CA and WA have high concentrations of hybrid vehicles so it's reasonable to conclude CA and WA will have high rates of EV and PHEV ownership early on.

Since EVs are 75% efficient, and ICEs are only 20% efficient, I conclude:
1) EVs and PHEVs will lead to cleaner air in the early years.
2) As drivers in coal states buy EVs and PHEVs the air will still be cleaner.

http://www.epri-reports.org
http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epm_sum.html
http://energyalmanac.ca.gov/electricity/total_system_power.html
http://www.commerce.wa.gov/site/539/default.aspx
http://www.polk.com/TL/PV_200903_Issue007_HybridSector.pdf
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/evtech.shtml

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

6. Anything that helps gets us off foreign oil is fine by me.

[MrsCorleone]

9. I dunno. But in the '90s, lessees of the EV Rav 4 could charge up using a single solar panel.

:shrug:

Gee, I wonder how hard it would be to convert to solar power?

[sally cat]

5. Uh, 93 mpg but only 25-50 miles? 37 mpg w/generator? Gas cars are getting this now.

[PJPhreak]

10. Yup and they have been doing so for at least 25+ years.

I have a 25 year old Corolla that gets a "Combined" mpg of 32...closer to 38 on the Highway.

Dont get me wrong,I think the Tech used in the Volt is fantastic...But why does it have to be so large? The Volt is half again as big as my car and weighs several hundred pounds more.

I think it is time American Autos go on a diet.In fact Autos in general need to shrink at the waistline.

[Radical Activist]

11. After being dragged kicking and screaming, GM is doing it half-assed

in a way that shows they really don't get it. Yes, a smaller version of the Volt would make sense.

[tridim]

8. That'd be cool if a "small electric motor" could generate power.

Does MSNBC have editors?