Troubles with the Chevy Volt plague the US all-electric outlook

By special correspondent Bob Brooks

Will U.S dependence on imported petroleum be replaced with dependence on  imported lithium from politically unstable sources such as Bolivia which reportedly controls a large portion of lithium supply?

The GM Volt car will reportedly  be priced at $40K although GM has successfully lobbied for federal $7.5K term subsidy per Volt car paid by taxpayers. Even at $32.5K to car buyers, this prices the VOLT well above the mass market range.

It has been proposed that the Volt car and battery be sold separately. The car would be sold in the conventional way and battery leased separately as a way of masking its cost and  replacement concerns.. . Are consumers ready for this?

GM claims the Volt’s range on electric only is “up to” 40 miles but has not released data on electric only range when cabin heat  and air conditioning are  needed. Aside from this, aggressive driving  impact on range is not defined. Volt electric only range will surely be limited in hilly areas

Will VOLT owners plug in their cars after each moderate trip length so as to have maximum electric range available at all times or neglect this thereby reverting more than needed to the gasoline engine.

DOE’s  Dr. Chu is seeking reduction in national electric use due to coal CO2. He is said to stress more efficient buildings but has apparently not commented so far on new electric vehicle.use..

Unknown is how road taxes will be collected  on Volt electric use or must conventional car owners subsidize roads used  by those on electric power since it is easy to collect taxes on “drop-in” liquid fuels

Information is not generally available on CO2  from electric generation for Volt use.
Over half of U.S. electric power is said to be from coal.

Unknown is the Volt’s MPG fuel economy after its electric range is exhausted and the gasoline engine comes on as primary power? At this condition, the gasoline engine must propel both the car and  added weight of the battery/electric system.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS:

Plug hybrid electric cars made in China and priced well below the Volt will reportedly come to the U.S. soon thereby providing  market reaction including  impact on the Volt program.

Market interest will also reflect forthcoming cost/effectiveness and consumer acceptance  of next generation higher efficiency conventional engine and transmission technology being  readied to meet demanding 2016 efficiency and emissions rules for mass market cars and light trucks..

Important influence on the Volt and similar products will further come  from  the when, how, quantity and price of new drop-in bio fuels……a subject that has received scant public exposure so far by major media.

In effect, outlook  for the Volt must be viewed in context with remarkable fast changes taking place in  the automotive arena, including its  new players. Would anybody have recently  believed the historic largest auto maker would be owned by the U.S.  Government  with its political agenda or another major U.S. auto maker acquired by an EU firm  that may bring us 2-cylinder cars.

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