Volt Sales On The Rise But Will Still Fall Short Of Original Sales Estimates

The volt can go over 100mph and still not have that engine engage. 1911 fail.

Hey BSBB....while the gas engine MAY not be able to power the wheels by itself....it does send power directly to the wheels in cases where the demands are not being met by the electric motor. You can argue degrees (the Volt goes further/faster) but if the gas engine powers the wheels it's a hybrid.

Here's my selective cut and paste:


http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/alternative-fuel/cells/chevy-volt-hybrid-drive-system


At low speeds and with a fully charged battery, the ring-gear clutch is engaged and the main electric motor routes power to the front wheels. As vehicle speeds increase to about 70 mph, the main electric motor starts to fall out of its most efficient operating range so then two things happen: The ring-gear clutch opens, and the motor/generator clutch connects the second motor to the ring gear. Then both motors power the car.

When the battery is depleted, the operation slightly shifts. Again at low speeds, the ring gear is locked in place via its clutch but now the clutch between the engine and the motor/generator closes, which spins the generator to supply the electricity. This setup is known as a series hybrid because the gas engine does not directly power the wheels.

But the Volt isn't always a series hybrid. Once the speed climbs to about 70 mph, the motor/generator again couples to the ring gear but now—in "charge-sustaining" mode—the smaller electric motor is also affixed to the running gas engine. In effect, the gas engine supplies power directly to the transmission, which is just like a parallel hybrid.

This last mode has caused some consternation because over the Volt's development GM has stated that the gas engine never directly powers the car. While that's not entirely true, there are a few things to keep in mind. The first is that the car can't move solely on the gas engine—if the main electric motor quits, the car will be stranded. Secondly, the engine routes its power through the motor/generator.


Read more: Chevrolet Volt Hybrid Drive System - General Motors Volt Powertrain - Popular Mechanics

That is very funny, thanks for the laugh.

So it looks like 1911 knows it all.Why dont we drain the fuel on a Volt and a Prius.With a full charge I will drive the Volt 35 to 40 miles and the Prius Mr 1911 will be stranded in will make him realize he is a Dumbass.

Fijian....you have the question backwards. IF both the Prius and Volt completely exhaust their batteries would they still be able to move forward? If the they do they are hybrids. THe Volt CAN supply gas engine power to the wheels, even if only in rare occasions.

It is notable that GM is advertising the Volt intensely, and this time trying not to scare people like they did with the EV1. They have also made sure that every dealership has a demo car for people to try out. I have not seen such a push from Nissan to sell the Leaf. All things being equal, due to the extended range mode of the Volt we would expect it to sell better than the all-electric Leaf. Of course they are not equal and the Leaf has had decent sales.

Both cars are great ideals but the leaf is just not as useful as the Volt.

"useful" is a relative term. Most people drive less than 40 miles(round trip)to work and drive alone. Unless you drive over 200 miles a day or buy $500 worth of food every week, the Leaf is just as useful as the Volt. If you take into account fluctuating gas prices and maintenance, one could argue that the Leaf is not only the better buy, but more useful as a city car than the Volt.

p.s.

Your opinion is obviously biased.

Well, many of the EV drivers will not live in the city and the necessity to plug in the car all the time may not be easily met. Also one doesn't have to drive over 200 miles a day to make the Leaf "less useful" just has to drive over 75 miles at a time, anytime, like a weekend trip.

With the Leaf you have to have a planned life.If you have an emergency or something important comes up you can get in problems.This car is for the tree huggers.

SO people who drive a Malibu never experience an "emergency" when their car won't start? Everything is relative. How do people who don't own a car deal with emergencies? How does an 21 year old without a car deal with "emergencies". THey deal with it somehow. Just like cars that only go 75 miles.....you get used to it. For SOME it works just fine. That's why this car isn't for you....doesn't mean it's for nobody.