Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
#51
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
The problems with H2 are more cost than practicality.
H2 works great, but admittedly there are still water management issues in freezing temps. I worked for a couple years with several fuel cel companies on R&D project and I am convinced that the products work. However, the most practical source of H2 is still reformation of petroleum. This process will be really costly for many many years to come. That is the biggest obstacle.
The fuel cells are actually pretty cool technology.
I still am convinced that electric cars (even those powered by electricity from dirty coal fired power plants) has much lower total emmissions when compared to the best IC engines.
H2 works great, but admittedly there are still water management issues in freezing temps. I worked for a couple years with several fuel cel companies on R&D project and I am convinced that the products work. However, the most practical source of H2 is still reformation of petroleum. This process will be really costly for many many years to come. That is the biggest obstacle.
The fuel cells are actually pretty cool technology.
I still am convinced that electric cars (even those powered by electricity from dirty coal fired power plants) has much lower total emmissions when compared to the best IC engines.
I have faith...the technology is still very young.
#52
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
I saw my first working fuel cell last year at trade show. It was small (about the size of a briefcase), but it worked! Very impressive. It generated 7-8 amps @ 14VDC, twenty-four hours per day! It consumed approx. one gallon of meth-alcohol/week (and generated power, heat, and a cup of water with ZERO emissions), but the biggest problem seemed to be the necessity of changing out the membrane once per year (expensive!).
Bob Wilson
#53
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
That's the point. You CANNOT plug it in at home UNLESS you have the SPECIAL CHARGING STATION that GM provided lessees. There is / was a special inductive charging device that looks like a ping pong paddle with an extension cord that provided the connection from the charging station to the car. If you went on a trip that was a little further than half the charge life of the vehicle and couldn't make it back home before your charge ran out, you're screwed. Now, it very well could be that some of the later vehicles had a different arrangement, but every EV-1 I ever drove had the inductive charging paddle set-up. To make the EV-1 viable as more than just a short range commuter car would require SOMEONE to set up inductive charging stations where drivers could conveniently recharge. That is not mainstream business for any automaker. California originally committed to the concept on some level and never followed through.
Peace,
Martin
Last edited by martinjlm; 01-18-2007 at 01:17 PM. Reason: Added photo of EV-1 being charged
#54
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
Martin -
I do have a question regarding your statement about the lack of infrastructure. I have never read or saw anything stating that was the reason the car was pulled. All I have heard or read was GM stated there was no interest. I'm just curious why this was never brought up.
I do have a question regarding your statement about the lack of infrastructure. I have never read or saw anything stating that was the reason the car was pulled. All I have heard or read was GM stated there was no interest. I'm just curious why this was never brought up.
Peace,
Martin
#55
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
Are these issues really that complex?
#56
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
For goodness sakes the charging infrastructure for the EV1 consisted of a special box that plugged into your home outlet. This is about as simple as it gets, but I get the feeling that some find this simple concept overly complex
#58
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
That all depends on what is used to produce the hydrogen. It could be a renewable or fossil fuel source. The same applies to the EVs - the power plants charging it could also be wind or coal.
#59
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
I think the Volt is the best of both worlds, it carries its own generator if needed. Per the Volt site, it seems it can be charged using a common household outlet. If this is the case, then businesses, (Restaurants, Places of Interest) could probably add additional "charging outlets" for a fee of course if needed to recharge. In the SW Solar is so abundant, maybe solar stations could be set up or Wind Power ones like in Palm Springs to generate the power for some of the stations. I think there are many options available.
#60
Re: Chevrolet Volt concept... plug-in hybrid
Peace,
Martin
Speaking of LOGIC - Delta Flyer.....Love your new tag line. Wish I had thought of it first.