GM to Build Its Own Batteries

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• 	Most Energy Efficient Plug In mkogrady on 01/13/2009 at 12:43 PM
  Posts: 132 Avg Rating:	The most energy efficient plug in vehicle made is a laptop computer and a high speed internet connection. It's so efficient that Congress won't pass laws mandating Telecommunting as a National Priority. Telecommuting policies won't use too much of the 2007 Energy Independence Act funds either. Telecommuting matters in a power hungary world! www.digitalfuel.org Rate this comment: (Reply)

• Vulvox research program protn7 on 01/13/2009 at 1:44 PM

  Posts: 43 Avg Rating:

  Vulvox has begun experiments on lithium ion batteries with unprecedented energy storage capacity; 42 kwh/kg. They also take advantage of inexpensive processes of manufacturing silicon nanowires. Our breakthrough batteries will store as much energy per unit weight as fuel cells and will be used in the growing fleet of plug in hybrid vehicles. Our R&D program has been underway for several years. Vulvox is developing a comparable battery that will cost much less to manufacture, and we've been in the race to develop a super lithium ion battery for some time now. Our research was based on the same theoretical foundations as the research at Stanford. Our patent pending carbon nanotube adhesive material has shown properties such as ultra high porosity; necessary to manufacture ultracapacitors and it might be useful as electrode material for lithium ion batteries also. HTTP://VULVOX.TRIPOD.COM Rate this comment: (Reply)

• 	Volt RogerB34 on 01/13/2009 at 10:51 PM
  Posts: 5 Avg Rating:	The Volt is designed to be an EV for (hopefully) 40 miles then ICE power to the electric motor.   The primary purpose of the ICE is to power the motor and not to charge the battery. Battery charge is only incidental. A 1.4L engine to power a 2900 lb car? Magic EE. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • 	Re: Volt jadamone on 01/15/2009 at 7:09 PM
    Posts: 3 Avg Rating:	RogerB34 you are "mistaken" the Volt ICE is only used to charge the battery which supplies electricity for the electric motor, http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-10053541-48.html . A turbocharged version will be used to power wheels of the GM Cruze. The Volt does not have a transmission. It works like a variable speed drill's electric motor. Rate this comment: (Reply)

  • Re: Volt tomgarven on 01/16/2009 at 12:09 AM

    Posts: 3 Avg Rating:

    It is quite understandable that people believe it takes quite a bit of power to achieve good performance and if you want a high performance sports type vehicle you might be right.  But all the Volt gas engine does is turn a generator that keeps the batteries charged which in turn runs an electric motor. Here is another way to look at it.  As you drive your normal car down the road you are only using about 1/4 of it's available power.  For example a 150 hp gas engine is producing about 37 h.p. which is enough on flat level ground. Of course this varies with wind resistance, highway conditions, number of starts and stops, weight of car, etc.  Given that same car then 37 h.p. is enough for level ground but we need a little extra for the Volt for hills, stop and go and other conditions like 0-60 mph runs in 10 seconds.  So we will have a smaller engine that produces maybe 50-70 h.p. which should be enough to keep the batteries charged no matter what we do.  This is why electric vehicles are so exciting.  You can use a much smaller engine running at it's most efficient power range and convert that power to electrical energy to power the vehicle. We will no longer need 150 h.p. gas engines which are over powered for most conditions and underpowered for some.  Hope this helps explain things.  Rate this comment: (Reply)