Electric Cars: Chev Bolt seems to be the first practical one.

[vvanders]

Glad you liked it! They don't work on commission so the sales experience is very different. A large part of the stores in the malls and test drives are to share information and help squash common misconceptions about them.

I think calling current auto-pilot an advanced cruise control is a pretty accurate assessment. That said just back from ~300mi, ~7hr roundtrip today(on top of a normal work day) having it available for heavy traffic is greatly appreciated. Between Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia I see my fair share. Even though we have our Model S I'm still super excited for the Model 3. If it works for your usage I think EVs offer an awesome driving experience that has a ton of advantages when a car is built from the ground up to take advantage of it(safety, running the AC while the car is off, low center of gravity and gobs of torque , etc, I could go on...).

 

[FergieFriend]

Ugly??? No, it isn't. The hatchback is very right for a big boot and much place over the rear passengers' heads. But by the way: all the drivetrain together with battery and charging system are very right. In Europe this car is named Opel Ampera-e, but only the name and badges are different, even now, after Opel belongs to the French PSA group (Peugeot, Citroen and a few several companies) and no longer to General Motors.

 

[California]

Is the Ampera-e now being sold by dealers? Are there many on the road?

We (USA) don't hear much details, aside from just that Bolt is being built for the European market also.

 

[FergieFriend]

As I know the Ampera-e is sold by dealers first this summer, but I don't know the real date. Many people are glad that Opel's first full electric car is on the streets soon.

Will the Chevy Bolt be on the streets still this year? I wish it for you all. Or doesn't the Trump administration like a small electric car for a thin vallet? Oil is ending the next few decades, we all must open new ways of energy now. Let's think it over!

 

[California]

I first saw a Bolt on the street about a month ago, then saw lines of 30 to 50 Bolts for sale at two different dealers here in Northern California. And then one driven by a neighbor here at my place in town. So yes, they are being sold now.

I've read they were first introduced in a few states early this year, then will be sold in all the other states by summer or fall.

I agree. I think it was Elon Musk who said petroleum is better used for plastics manufacturing where the object will be in use for a while, in contrast to just burning it up. But our fuel costs here in the US are low, so it will be other nations that lead the way into EV's.

 

[houstonscott]

Tesla car battery production releases as much CO2 as 8 years of gasoline driving | Watts Up With That?

Let's put the green stuff to rest for electric cars.

 

[hawkeye08]

Anyone know about spark ignited diesels with high pressure air injection.

I don't know about the spark ignited diesels, but read an article several years ago about the auto industry needing to choose between the "lean" method and "direct injection" method of better fuel economy. They chose direct injection. I believe they should have went with the lean method, but believe the oil companies convinced them not to.

 

[IslandTractor]

Tesla car battery production releases as much CO2 as 8 years of gasoline driving | Watts Up With That?

Let's put the green stuff to rest for electric cars.

What is it about you and your naive regurgitation of fake news??

Tesla Battery Emissions Study - Carbon Emissions From Making EV Batteries

 

[drssg]

Tesla car battery production releases as much CO2 as 8 years of gasoline driving | Watts Up With That?

Let's put the green stuff to rest for electric cars.

I saw a similar article, and it made me curious. I tried to look at the underlying study, but it's written in some foreign language. Those Swedes aren't polite enough to speak 'merican! :laughing:

The more important statistic is the entire picture: vehicle production, energy production, and vehicle operation. The following article gives more of a big picture. It is also not from a non-biased source, but it appears more rational to me than the anti-electric car articles.
The ‘electric cars aren’t green’ myth debunked – shrinkthatfootprint.com

Key quote:

Using coal powered electricity electric cars do nothing to cut emissions, using natural gas electricity they are like a top hybrid and using low carbon power they result in less than half the total emissions of the best combustion vehicle, manufacturing included.

To me, this article passes the sniff test better than pulling a single statistic to conclude that electric cars are worthless.

 

[vvanders]

Not sure if the Bolt does it but as the temps start getting up around 100 here I'm remember how awesome being able to run the A/C anytime, anywhere is.

Waiting in line at the store I can flick on the A/C and have a cool car to return to or just keep it running while I pop in somewhere. Sounds like a small thing but so handy when you have it.