RAV4-EV an instant Chevy VOLT: correcting phony engineers

Chevy Volt Scholium.

How the serial plug-in hybrid EV works: it consists of a pack, chosen for the daily commute, a 40-mile pack, 60-miles pack, or 100-mile pack, that runs down to empty during the daily commute, just like a real EV.

Normally, the gas genset doesn't come on during the daily commute; only if you need to go farther, for occasional long trips, or if you forgot to charge the battery last night.

Just like an EV, which it is, the battery runs down, and it gets charged overnight. Overnight slow-charging HELPS the grid balance loads, and it makes NO SENSE to charge the battery during the daytime in ordinary driving.

So the plug-in serial hybrid EV runs EXACTLY LIKE AN EV for the first 40, 60, or 100 miles, just like a RAV4-EV.

If the genset comes on, it doesn't charge the battery! It makes no sense to use it to charge the battery, because you want the battery low in case you need to do regen braking, for example, on a long downhill run.

The genset comes on, and we use it to run the car directly. It's true, the power can be run into the battery, just for leveling-out, but it is NOT SUPPOSED TO CHARGE THE BATTERY!

Of course, it could do so, just as I could charge the EV directly from my solar rooftop system in the daytime. But it's not advisable.

Both the grid, and the cars, need energy at the SAME TIME, during the daytime peak. So that's why we charge slowly overnight (to help the grid balance loads, and avoid turning down generators to warm-start), and also why "vehicle to grid" makes little sense.

Both the grid, and the auto fleet, need the power at the same time, and both don't need power off-peak. So charging the car off-peak makes sense, using it to power the grid instead of driving makes it into little more than a lump of coal battery pack from a diamond EV.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• EV1
• GM
• Chevy
• Volt
• plug-in
• hybrid
• EV

[sprink7787]

Honestly, I enjoyed your rant, and I consider you to be pretty informative. However, GM's strategy is to combat range anxiety in consumers. Actually, the battery is designed so that they keep in mind many of the issues you discussed; Namely optimal, charge discharge... i.e Keeping the cycling at the optimum levels. Never fully charged or discharged.

The Generator kicks in to extend ranges. and actually has an advantage over regular hybrids and pure electric cars.

Awesome video and enthusiasm

[liveoilfree]

So far, there's not been any "range anxiety" amongst those actually driving EVs; curiously, a random sample of people. Those who try an EV get enamored of them, their big problem is not range, it's oil-auto companies CRUSHING their EVs. Ironically, the liars say that no one wants an EV, but they really fear that EVERYONE wants an EV!

[frickandfracksicem]

what if: 40 kilowatt generator, at 220 AC input to the ultra-caps, then into the 220 AC speed controller, bypass the batteries all together and charge them while driving, a diesel gen-set running on altered vegetable oil would use 1/4 of a gallon per hour with a range of 240 miles per gallon, Nickola Tesla proposed this a while back, too bad the tech wasn't available then;why have an energy "sink" you need the 100-300AMPS to accelerate from zero to 40..can we do this now?

signed Scott Watson.

[DanielJaegerFilms]

So why isn't this guy an engineer if he's so "smart"?

[Joshcom88]

I can adopt an EV into my regular lifestyle, commuting to work at T-Mobile on the other side of town from downtown in San Antonio Texas. I just never had a chance here in Texas. Its not fair. I plan on going to Houston to buy an Nissan Leaf, first chance I get... I don't care what everyone else says: I WANT AN ELECTRIC CAR. TODAY.

[liveoilfree]

Will, The problem with this argument - and it's otherwise a good one - is that GM doesn't believe other mfgs are serious...and neither do I. So if it's all a sham, using the wrong battery, it's just to kill EVs all over again.

[liveoilfree]

There's a thing called the 'killavolt" which was developed for the EV1...like an airbag igniter, it detects collisions via G-force and disengages the battery main voltage. So far, in all collisions, no EV has had a battery issue, no fires, no fire department cause for alarm.

[2003SCT]

I am glad that you said that battery packs are not dangerous in a collision because that it not what Toyota said before. I love the fact how they won't be held accountable for it.

[irocx29]

GM WAS My Number #1. Now YOU ARE #1 TY. keep it Coming*

[willdryden]

The Volt is not an EV. I know you and I agree with that. That removes the major problem from the dealers point of view of no service. With all the publicity, the other manufacturers are gearing up to compete with the Volt. GM has to built it or they will be behind again just like they are with parallel hybrids.