Look more carefully at the video
markwj posted (above post #424):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ka9A1mgO_rY
At 1:23 the chargeport is demonstrated; completely different from Volt here in US.
In terms of drivetrain differences (Mountain Mode, etc): there could be firmware differences (or additions) that change how the wheels are driven, but it's less than likely. But Nik has a good point:
I saw that, but it looks to me to be a variation of how the charge port was integrated into the trim piece on the Volt concept. I agree that the port is accessed differently, but other than the different connector, I don’t know that it’s functionally any different. The Euro connector is smaller than ours, so there may have been more design options?
The only difference I know of that was considered was the idea of letting the driver reserve EV mode for congestion charge purposes. I don’t know what was decided there, though Mountain Mode can already be used in that way, so it’s possible they’d build off of that. I’m not aware of anything that changes how the wheels are driven w/r/t the Voltgate scenario.
I still wonder if that much distinction is necessary, or helpful to the already confused general public. Yes a Volt PHEV40, or 35, is a different PHEV than a Prius15, beyond the potential electric only miles, but is that difference large enough that the details need to be forced into a general designation? I think the real differences will be quickly described when visiting a dealer.
Sorry, I have worked with too many dealers to have that much faith; they’re there to
sell, and some do it in ways that make Chevy's marketing look like nothing. And I’ve had several Toyota dealers try to explain to me that a non-pluggable Prius is really an electric car. Especially since I’m just a girl, and I couldn’t understand such technical differences.
Then again, I've had an EV manufacturer tell me his car was so much better than a Tesla, not least because I could push a button on the fob to start charging and wouldn't have to get my hands dirty on the connector. Salesman of all stripes.
Much of the automotive media doesn’t understand the differences either, and consumers get info from them. I sat through a Ford media briefing a couple months ago on the C-Max Energi PHEV; it is advertised as having 30 miles of EV range, but the gas engine comes on at 47mph, max. Most of the journos made comments about how that was almost as much as a Volt.
I don’t think we need to work all of the details into a complex scheme, but it would be helpful to have a simple way to categorize those PHEVs that let the consumer decide when to use gas, and those that don’t.
Not sure if you already know, but Tesla has actually proposed basing the incentives on battery size (I think in kWh). They actually already are based on that, but have a ceiling so low that currently most cars get the same $7,500. So Tesla proposed lifting that ceiling much higher (or removing it altogether perhaps), as that would better address the purpose of the incentive.
It is kWh; the push for this started many years ago, specifically because some of the other models (like mileage) were “gameable”, and they favored small vehicles and blended PHEVs. This model gives automakers more flexibility to use those kWh in a way they think will best sell.
And raising the ceiling would be good- but at a minimum, the floor should be.
Well that has certainly been the case here and on other threads on this site. If anyone dared to state the benefits of PHEVs in general or the Volt in particular, they were soundly accused of going over to dark side and of course the Kool-aid pitcher was brought out for display of their obvious situation.
Gee, I never have that experience.
I have come to the conclusion that at least for those living in CA, we just have to let them believe that every state will be like theirs and magically have all kinds of charging opportunities by next year.
Well, some Californians can’t imagine a state not like ours in any way. But some of us are more realistic. Even here, much more infrastructure is assumed to be needed than actually is. So even a sprinkling of it will be more effective than you might think, but options for those who can't or won't buy an EV is important.
I wish you the best in your endeavors in spreading the EV word in a much greater way and we will continue to show our various EVs both "pure" and not so pure at events here in PA.
Thanks, and likewise! I get out there periodically and present at a training session for HS teachers each summer; perhaps we’ll cross paths...
