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Chevy Volt VS Nissan LEAF
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Written on: 20 August 2009 [13:55]
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iafb83
Topic creator
registered since: 20.08.2009
Posts: 5
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So I must admit I'm a little new to the whole green car scene, but I now do a lot of driving for my job and was about to purchase a Prius to commute until I saw the following article. I don't think that there will be enough electrical recharge stations in Phoenix in the near future for me to buy a Nissan LEAF because I often am required to do more than the 100 mile range, but I think the Volt might be a good option. I read the comparison about the Volt and Leaf here, which made me lean towards the Volt for practicality reasons: http://www.acceltimes.com/news/8/featherweight-challenge-chevy-volt-vs-nissan-leaf.php Just wanted to know what everyone thought about the Volt, do you think I'll run into problems in the 110 degree heat running on batteries alone (will the charge really last 40 miles or is that just while its new, like my laptop  )Just wanted some input advice. Thanks! |
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Written on: 21 August 2009 [21:48]
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ecoadmin
Administrator
registered since: 20.07.2007
Posts: 583
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iafb83 wrote: Just wanted to know what everyone thought about the Volt, do you think I'll run into problems in the 110 degree heat running on batteries alone (will the charge really last 40 miles or is that just while its new, like my laptop )Hi there and welcome on the Green Car Network. GM must have thought of this, although they've proven that their not error free... On the other hand, new Li-Ion batteries warm up only little when charged respectively used. And since the sunshine is not hitting them directly, the temperature should stay within limits. Having said that, the cooler the better... Who knows, maybe someone will introduce a solar-based cooling system for batteries...? Mass produced electric cars will most likely come with a warranty for the battery. From my own experience I can tell you that you should be able to enjoy the range of your battery a bit longer than a year  Cheers, Twike 890
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Written on: 23 August 2009 [22:58]
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insight
 registered since: 26.04.2008
Posts: 34
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I assume since you would consider the Volt over the Prius that money isn't a factor. The Prius is a reality and proven over numerous miles throughout the extremes mentioned. The Volt and Leaf are still not in production and are unknowns. No one on this or any other forum can provide you with first hand experience of these two cars until they are on the market for a while. With the Prius you could be driving one immediately,they are proven and have a ten year warranty on all hybrid parts. The Volt pure electric economy would be cancelled out by the Prius price advantage unless you were useing it mostly within the projected forty mile range. It all depends if you are willing to wait for an unproven more expensive item when you could be saving on gas and emissions immediately with a proven technology that millions have enjoyed. I can share user info with you on the Prius but the other two cars are still vaporware until we can walk into the show room and drive one. |
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Written on: 24 August 2009 [10:34]
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Yardonn
 
registered since: 22.08.2007
Posts: 160
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As always, it sounds very Promissing. But let us wait, what becomes reality , at waht time and cost. Batterie - Heat problems are solvable through proper design (including active cooling and heating) of the batterie packs. Tesla has proven that it is possible to solve these problems, but it is yet quite expensive! Alleweder 4
http://www.akkurad.com allmost full weather protection for one person at 0 - 1.5 kWh / 100 km CityEl as secondary E-Car |
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Written on: 25 August 2009 [00:33]
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iafb83
Topic creator
registered since: 20.08.2009
Posts: 5
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Yeah, it sounds like the proven hybrid system is a better bet for the next few years until the electric vehicles get proven. Does anyone here have a Prius that's more than 5 years old? I'd like to know if the mpg decreases or the batteries really hold up over the years. |
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Written on: 25 August 2009 [22:16]
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insight
registered since: 26.04.2008
Posts: 34
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Yes I have an original spec 04 second generation Prius and get anywhere from 55 to 66 mpg per tank imperial. I have never gotten below the lower figure and regularly run on electric only through small villages (30 mph)and low speed areas. Before the Prius I owned a Honda insight ( 2 seat aluminium coupe) which would return 83 mpg per tank on a regular basis and on occasion 93 mpg. This car was a 2000 year model on original batteries and was 8 years old when I sold it due to needing a four/five seater. Neither of these hybrids have had any problems or anything replaced. My driving style is varied..anywhere from eco to very aggressive but the monitoring equipment encourages new techniques for getting good mileage. As they say once bitten forever smitten...I will never drive anything else except maybe a full electric. |
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Written on: 26 August 2009 [01:23]
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iamian
 
registered since: 23.02.2009
Posts: 110
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I'm still driving a 2000 Model year Gen-I ~9 year old Honda Insight. Last year when it was ~8 years old ... I pulled the 144V NiMH battery pack out and tested it... it still showed ~90% of the original capacity still available... not bad for 10 year old technology freezing every winter ... baking every summer ... discharging up to ~15C and charging up to ~7C in the car... with a very primitive BMS. As much as I love the car ... eventually I would like to upgrade it to a PHEV ... ultimately a EV ( optional detachable range extending trailer ) with Twike like pedal exercise option is my ideal direction. I just had the brakes changed for the first time after ~9 years and ~127,000+ Miles... love that Regenerative braking RE & Efficiency enthusiast
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Written on: 26 August 2009 [12:51]
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Yardonn
registered since: 22.08.2007
Posts: 160
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Its said to say, the electric system in these (non plug in)hybrids does not have to much impact to the mpg (of course depending where and how you drive...). Even thoug i would love to drive a hybrid (i agree, regenerativ breaking is wonderfull...), the mpg improvement compared to my "always in reality more than 47 mpg" - diesel is just to small to justify the cost and the limited choice of vehicles. Especially for me, going most of the time "overland" with very little stop and go in the cities. But i have to admit that i had to search quite a bit (and downsize in Horsepowers) to get such a good milage (Peugeot 206 SW 1.4HDI 68 hp, quit seldom engine, alkmost all people bought the 1.6 l 90 hp engine...) I was so much hoping the new prius would be a plug in Hybrid, so i could buy a used one in a few years... So now it looks like i will have to convert a used one into a plug in in a few years (already saw some solutions...). For my driving habits the range extender is the way to go (usually about 30 to 60 km per trip, but not so seldom above 100km) when not alone or without time. When going alone, the 2350 mpg (yes, no mistake, 1 kWh per 100 km) makes all the hybrids look not better than regular cars, isn't it? Alleweder 4
http://www.akkurad.com allmost full weather protection for one person at 0 - 1.5 kWh / 100 km CityEl as secondary E-Car |
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Written on: 27 August 2009 [00:38]
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brighterplanet
registered since: 27.08.2009
Posts: 1
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EVs and plug-in hybrids are great... but the electricity grid's still dirty enough that in many states a gasoline-only Prius is actually greener. http://blog.brighterplanet.com/2009/08/25/think-the-volt-is-greener-than-the-prius-think-again/ |
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Written on: 27 August 2009 [02:31]
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iamian
registered since: 23.02.2009
Posts: 110
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Yardonn wrote: Its said to say, the electric system in these (non plug in)hybrids does not have to much impact to the mpg (of course depending where and how you drive...). Agreed depending on the driving method and the route the hybrid system may have very little impact. It is a way of promoting certain technology that needs stepping stones to mass production ... and to general public acceptance... the public is more likely to first go to hybrids with the small MPG gains ... always a few early adopters than more and more over time ... then some early adopters for the short range 10 Mile or so PHEVs ... we already see some of those starting to getting commercialized while every year there are more and more HEVs... Then with the Volt and Aptera and such we will begin to see some of the REEVs with 40+ Mile EV ranges ... Then finally to the public acceptance of mass produced EVs. The other nice thing along the way is that if I am going to spend the same $ money for a vehicle ... the HEV serves more to benefit battery , motor , controller , charger , etc... types of technology... the diesel doesn't... and at least for me ... I see the electric path having far more potential in the long run. Yardonn wrote: the mpg improvement compared to my "always in reality more than 47 mpg" - diesel is just to small to justify the cost and the limited choice of vehicles. Of course there are the freak things like that one tank I got like 90MPG or something... I tend to rule those out for any car... because any car can have that unusual exception... the always in reality figure for me is my Insight is over 60MPG as an average for over 127,000 miles... I am not the hyper miler drivers out there who do much better... I know several people who have hypermiled their Gen-I Insight ( I1 ) to over 90MPG Life time ... but that is more the odd exception as far as I am concerned. I agree there are several vehicle limits ... to me the I1 was a great combination of light weight aluminum frame , aerodynamics , etc... not perfect ... but for a commercially produced and available car I bought for ~$11k... a nice deal. Yardonn wrote: So now it looks like i will have to convert a used one into a plug in in a few years (already saw some solutions...). This is kind of my most likely path. I added MIMA to manually control the IMA motor in the I1 ... I am following some others who have added additional battery power ... one guy in the UK took out the 6.5Ah NiMH battery pack and replaced it with a grid charged 40Ah LiFePO4... My progression as I see it... is to continue to work on my own DIY PHEV modifications ... then eventually to switch over to the EV ( maybe my same I1 ) with a generator like trailer option. My only real temptation away from this DIY I1 conversion steps ... is something more Twike like ... oh well... we'll see what happens. RE & Efficiency enthusiast
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