GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt

Ambalanche · 07-08-2008, 05:59 PM

Not as bad as it sounds..

http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-to-cu...html#more-8013

**BigAls87Z28** · 07-08-2008, 06:03 PM

Are you kidding me?
This does make a lot of sense though. A big 15 gal tank will cut weight, price, and the fact that it might take some people a very long time to burn up 15 gallons of gas if they drive mostly on battery power.

What would be smart is take some of that space, add a big more battery capcity, and have the battery range go to 50-60 miles. Therefor you cut back on some of the use of the gas as well as make up for some of the lost range with only adding a bit more weight/price

rbost · 07-08-2008, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Are you kidding me?
This does make a lot of sense though. A big 15 gal tank will cut weight, price, and the fact that it might take some people a very long time to burn up 15 gallons of gas if they drive mostly on battery power.

What would be smart is take some of that space, add a big more battery capcity, and have the battery range go to 50-60 miles. Therefor you cut back on some of the use of the gas as well as make up for some of the lost range with only adding a bit more weight/price

The battery size is probably already locked in. Making the battery larger for the next model year would be a nice uplift.

shabodah · 07-08-2008, 06:14 PM

I don't see how it makes sense at all. They will have to design a new fuel tank that small just to put into this car, and the size difference is not going to save them very much money at all. Seems fishy to me.

ronald mcretard · 07-08-2008, 06:18 PM

sounds like a good way to save space on the vehicle. they need to cram a lot of stuff in there that isn't on a regular car.

ByTheLake · 07-08-2008, 06:41 PM

Sounds good to me. Reduce weight and perhaps cost while retaining the range that most vehicles provide.

jbernie · 07-08-2008, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbost

The battery size is probably already locked in. Making the battery larger for the next model year would be a nice uplift.

Cross your fingers and hope that the next model year gets the same battery size but but the tech improves so the range is greater. At some point hit the magic point where they can offer a 40 mile range with half the current battery size or say a 100 mile battery range with the same battery size as the current model.

Though I wonder if they could offer the 12 gallon fuel tank as an option? That could be attractive to some people. ie something akin to the larger fuel tanks offered on police cars etc.

FenwickHockey65 · 07-08-2008, 06:58 PM

Meh. When you think about it, most people who purchase a Volt will only use it to get to work and back. I bet that the vast majority will only use the reserve gas a few times a year.

crooner214 · 07-08-2008, 07:01 PM

This is a good move, if it is true.

It is good to see GM being somewhat innovative with more than just the batteries of this thing.

One accessory I'd like to see: An add on expansion pack for the battery that could either be rented for trips, or purchased for those who drive more than 40 miles a trip regularly. As an accesory it would not bring the base price up at all, but still give folks who want it even more electric range.

eaton53 · 07-08-2008, 07:01 PM

Smaller tank = less gas sitting in the tank for long periods of time.

Xenon · 07-08-2008, 07:05 PM

Ehh the less weight the better. I'd rather not see them use the weight savings for extra batteries because of diminishing returns.

A Bum In A Bus · 07-08-2008, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eaton53

Smaller tank = less gas sitting in the tank for long periods of time.

And that is exactly the reason they are going this route, to keep the gas residue out of the tank......or gas dregs.

Joe in T.O. · 07-08-2008, 07:57 PM

You could always let the gas tank go dry and not fill it up at all, no?

eaton53 · 07-08-2008, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe in T.O.

You could always let the gas tank go dry and not fill it up at all, no?

You could... if you want to risk getting stranded.

Or, here's an idea GM.... put in a Sta-bil dispenser, like a washer fluid reservoir. If the car senses that it hasn't been gassed up in X amount of time it automatically throws some in the tank.

AndrewGS · 07-08-2008, 08:27 PM

Good. A car that gets the mileage the Volt will get can get by on a smaller tank. It's not like you have to drive over 50 miles from 98% of everywhere in the country for gas, and that should only consume a gallon or less. It will also feel nice not having to pay as much per visit to the pump.

07-08-2008, 05:59 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ambalanche 6.0 Liter L76 V8 Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Pensacola, Florida Drives: 2010 Camaro SS Posts: 2,112	GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt Not as bad as it sounds.. http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-to-cu...html#more-8013 __________________ Hotness

07-08-2008, 06:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
BigAls87Z28 GMI Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 10,655	Re: GM to cut Volt's range by half! Are you kidding me? This does make a lot of sense though. A big 15 gal tank will cut weight, price, and the fact that it might take some people a very long time to burn up 15 gallons of gas if they drive mostly on battery power. What would be smart is take some of that space, add a big more battery capcity, and have the battery range go to 50-60 miles. Therefor you cut back on some of the use of the gas as well as make up for some of the lost range with only adding a bit more weight/price __________________ Alexander Villani GMInsideNews Editor Email Me @BigAl@GMInsidenews.com Tweet Me @Twitter.com/BigAls87Z28 2009 Malibu LT 2.4 : 1987 Camaro Z28 : 1972 Camaro RS

07-08-2008, 06:14 PM	#4 (permalink)
shabodah 2.4 Liter SIDI ECOTEC Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 320	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt I don't see how it makes sense at all. They will have to design a new fuel tank that small just to put into this car, and the size difference is not going to save them very much money at all. Seems fishy to me.

07-08-2008, 06:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
ronald mcretard 6.0 Liter L76 V8 Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,408	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt sounds like a good way to save space on the vehicle. they need to cram a lot of stuff in there that isn't on a regular car.

07-08-2008, 06:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
ByTheLake 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Traverse City, MI Drives: '04 Corvette, '09 CTS 4 Posts: 2,970	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt Sounds good to me. Reduce weight and perhaps cost while retaining the range that most vehicles provide.

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07-08-2008, 06:58 PM	#8 (permalink)
FenwickHockey65 News Contributor Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: West Chester, OH Drives: Chevrolet Malibu LS, GMC Envoy SLE, GMC Sonoma SLS Posts: 9,300	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt Meh. When you think about it, most people who purchase a Volt will only use it to get to work and back. I bet that the vast majority will only use the reserve gas a few times a year. __________________ Proud to drive American. Proud to drive GM. Current Cars: 2007 Chevrolet Malibu LS: 2.2L ECOTEC I-4 2003 GMC Envoy SLE: 4.2L Vortec 4200 I-6 1998 GMC Sonoma SLS Ext. Cab: 4.3L Vortec 4300 V6 Former Cars: 1993 Saturn SW2 (1993-2006, 243,000 miles) 1989 GMC Safari SLT (1989-2003, 293,000 miles) Future Car: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro 2LT RS: 3.6L SIDI High-Feature V6

07-08-2008, 07:01 PM	#9 (permalink)
crooner214 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Seattle Posts: 827	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt This is a good move, if it is true. It is good to see GM being somewhat innovative with more than just the batteries of this thing. One accessory I'd like to see: An add on expansion pack for the battery that could either be rented for trips, or purchased for those who drive more than 40 miles a trip regularly. As an accesory it would not bring the base price up at all, but still give folks who want it even more electric range.

07-08-2008, 07:01 PM	#10 (permalink)
eaton53 6.2 Liter LS3 V8 Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 3,430	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt Smaller tank = less gas sitting in the tank for long periods of time. __________________ TiresomeOverratedYawnmobilesOrTediousAppliances When you're falling on your face you're still moving forward. Toyota... moving forward.

07-08-2008, 07:05 PM	#11 (permalink)
Xenon 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: California Posts: 5,840	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt Ehh the less weight the better. I'd rather not see them use the weight savings for extra batteries because of diminishing returns. __________________

07-08-2008, 07:57 PM	#13 (permalink)
Joe in T.O. 3.6 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Toronto Drives: 2002 Trailblazer & 1970 GTO Convertible 2007 Ava Posts: 1,155	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt You could always let the gas tank go dry and not fill it up at all, no?

07-08-2008, 08:27 PM	#15 (permalink)
AndrewGS 6.2 Liter LS9 Supercharged V8 Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Spring, TX, MX (Houston) Drives: Clunker Posts: 8,439	Re: GM To Reduce Gas Tank Size for Volt Good. A car that gets the mileage the Volt will get can get by on a smaller tank. It's not like you have to drive over 50 miles from 98% of everywhere in the country for gas, and that should only consume a gallon or less. It will also feel nice not having to pay as much per visit to the pump. __________________ Andrew - MySpace - Flickr - KD5FHW 1995 Buick Roadmaster Limited - They'll pry this "clunker" from my cold, dead hands! 2005 Chevrolet Silverado C1500 LS ♫ *Listen to the death march... whoo-hoo... of America!* ♫ *- Bearing the General Motors Mark of Excellence*

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