Charge your Volt at a "Smartlet".

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by big swede

I mentioned this when I first learned of the Volt. It could be just like a parking meter but you put in money for a charge. Employers could get creative and offer free charging to certain emplyees or use it as incentive. If employers had chargers, even for pay, it could basically end gas useage during the week for just about everyone.

Somewhat out-of-the-box yet practical thinking. Along with other posts, I find that refreshing.

I believe smart technology is the solution, not the problem. We can use it to live in harmony with the enviroment; we don't have to once again resort to being hunter/gatherer societies as some seem to support here and elsewhere.

[tgagneguam]

Originally Posted by NoNameDenton

Even Wal-Mart is getting in on this game, but somehow I think this will all backfire on us somehow, maybe drive up the electrical use that we pay more or something

If electrical use rises-and it seems like that would be mitigated since much of the recharging would occur during hours that electricity is essentially wasted, anyway, from what people here suggest-then utility companies are placed in a position to profit from increased demand. That makes perfect sense to me.

[tkrelston]

Originally Posted by mikmak

I think copper just became good investment again. How many stupid kids are going to start hacking those things off (whilsted video phoned of course) Jackass style. Anyone wonder why your antenna retracts into your car?

In the U.S. we began ditching external antennas in the early 90s, in fact, other than the GMT 800s, I don’t recall GM even offering mast antennas/ power or otherwise after around 2002! Most are silkscreened on the rear window now. Only OnStar and XM are external, and they are fixed.

Of course your point is valid as here in Detroit, there were several thousand power lines cut last years by vandals for the copper!

[CaptainDan]

Originally Posted by tgagneguam

If electrical use rises-and it seems like that would be mitigated since much of the recharging would occur during hours that electricity is essentially wasted, anyway, from what people here suggest-then utility companies are placed in a position to profit from increased demand. That makes perfect sense to me.

And the electric companies are regulated as utilities. That means they have to request PERMISSION, and prove their need, before they can raise their rates.

Try that Exxon!

[CaptainDan]

Originally Posted by tkrelston

In the U.S. we began ditching external antennas in the early 90s, in fact, other than the GMT 800s, I don’t recall GM even offering mast antennas/ power or otherwise after around 2002! Most are silkscreened on the rear window now. Only OnStar and XM are external, and they are fixed.

Of course your point is valid as here in Detroit, there were several thousand power lines cut last years by vandals for the copper!

.....and stealing entire air-conditioning units to re-sell the copper tubing in it!

Actually, I do envision the future's parking facilities (lots, garages, on-street) of the country (or the world?) being filled with recharging facilities being run like parking meters. If the Volt (and others to come) work out as hoped for, you WILL see it.

We had best start building some more power plants. (investment opportunity!)

[Road Kill]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

Not if you have solar panels!

I Think it would be a good idea to have solar panels built i nto the car roofs so on sunny days the batteries could be charged while people parked their cars for work all day.

[Road Kill]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

Not if you have solar panels!

I think it would be a good idea to have solar pannels installed in the cars roof so the batterires could be charged regardless of where the car was parked on sunny days!

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by tkrelston

In the U.S. we began ditching external antennas in the early 90s, in fact, other than the GMT 800s, I don’t recall GM even offering mast antennas/ power or otherwise after around 2002! Most are silkscreened on the rear window now. Only OnStar and XM are external, and they are fixed.

Of course your point is valid as here in Detroit, there were several thousand power lines cut last years by vandals for the copper!

The Cobalt, G5, Vue and Ion have them.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by ChevroletRevived

Not if you have solar panels!

Bahhh! That was totally my idea!!!!!

[mikest00]

Originally Posted by big swede

I mentioned this when I first learned of the Volt. It could be just like a parking meter but you put in money for a charge. Employers could get creative and offer free charging to certain emplyees or use it as incentive. If employers had chargers, even for pay, it could basically end gas useage during the week for just about everyone.

Thats a great idea, but take it a step further. If I have a retail store I would offer free plugin to all my customers. Chevy dealerships should definately offer it.

[Saturn69]

Originally Posted by mikest00

Thats a great idea, but take it a step further. If I have a retail store I would offer free plugin to all my customers. Chevy dealerships should definately offer it.

OMIGOD! Are you insane? You'd go bankrupt giving away eletricity and little baby kittens would die because of all the pollution from your smokestacks!! How thoughtless of you!

J/K. Trying to sound paranoid...did it work? Actually, that's a cool idea to offer that.

[solman98]

Originally Posted by Saturn69

The Cobalt, G5, Vue and Ion have them.

So did the 04/05 Classics/Malibus, HHR's and I'm sure a few more.

Plus many Fords/Dodges.

[FenwickHockey65]

Originally Posted by tkrelston

In the U.S. we began ditching external antennas in the early 90s, in fact, other than the GMT 800s, I don’t recall GM even offering mast antennas/ power or otherwise after around 2002! Most are silkscreened on the rear window now. Only OnStar and XM are external, and they are fixed.

Of course your point is valid as here in Detroit, there were several thousand power lines cut last years by vandals for the copper!

GMT-360s still have them to this day I think. Equinox/Torrent had them for the first couple years of production, they just switched over for the 2008 model year I think.

[gm world]

[quote=HoosierRon;1354947]The main source of electricity in the USA is coal from the USA.

Glad you asked! Your question further illuminates our need to get off our addiction to foreign oil.





Crude Oil and Total Petroleum Imports Top 15 Countries

December 2007 Import Highlights: March 3, 2008
Monthly data on the origins of crude oil imports in December 2007 has been released and it shows that two countries exported more than 1.50 million barrels per day to the United States. Including those countries, a total of five countries exported over 1.20 million barrels per day of crude oil to the United States (see table below). The top five exporting countries accounted for 73 percent of United States crude oil imports in December while the top ten sources accounted for approximately 88 percent of all U.S. crude oil imports. The top sources of US crude oil imports for December were Canada (1.784 million barrels per day), Saudi Arabia (1.675 million barrels per day), Venezuela (1.246 million barrels per day), Mexico (1.234 million barrels per day), and Nigeria (1.210 million barrels per day). The rest of the top ten sources, in order, were Angola (0.439 million barrels per day), Iraq (0.378 million barrels per day), Algeria (0.348 million barrels per day), Ecuador (0.195 million barrels per day), and Brazil (0.171 million barrels per day). Total crude oil imports averaged 9.823 million barrels per day in December, which is a decrease of 0.125 million barrels per day from November 2007.

Canada remained the largest exporter of total petroleum in November, exporting 2.360 million barrels per day to the United States, which is a decrease from last month (2.431 thousand barrels per day). The second largest exporter of total petroleum was Saudi Arabia with 1.686 million barrels per day.

Crude Oil Imports (Top 15 Countries)
(Thousand Barrels per Day)CountryDec-07Nov-07YTD 2007Dec-06Jan - Dec 2006CANADA1,7841,9191,8641,8301,802SAUDI ARABIA1,6751,5301,4531,4711,423VENEZUELA1,2461,227 1,1501,0451,142MEXICO1,2341,4841,4101,2451,577NIGE RIA1,2101,2451,0821,0101,037ANGOLA439408496610513I RAQ378508485419553ALGERIA348184443406362ECUADOR195 154198240272BRAZIL17178167130133KUWAIT158154176163 179AZERBAIJAN13477576827LIBYA11666844666COLOMBIA11 319713774141UNITED KINGDOM934210293130 Total Imports of Petroleum (Top 15 Countries)


(Thousand Barrels per Day)CountryDec-07Nov-07YTD 2007Dec-06Jan - Dec 2006CANADA2,3602,4312,4262,4612,353SAUDI ARABIA1,6861,6201,4891,4911,463VENEZUELA1,3871,381 1,3621,2741,419MEXICO1,3221,5811,5331,3661,705NIGE RIA1,2711,3061,1321,0681,114ALGERIA600447670662657 ANGOLA439415507620534VIRGIN ISLANDS387414346334328IRAQ378508485419553RUSSIA306 470413369369UNITED KINGDOM238210278199272ECUADOR201161203240278BRAZIL 17885202162193KUWAIT158154183169185NETHERLANDS1575 812798174

Note: The data in the tables above exclude oil imports into the U.S. territories.

[gm world]

Sorry Guys, that chart did not turn out very well.
But as you can see the United States actually gets most of it's oil from Canada. Isn't it strange though that we pay over $4.00 per gallon of gas here in Canada.