[Ambalanche]

Not as bad as it sounds..
http://www.leftlanenews.com/gm-to-cut-volt-range-by-nearly-half.html#more-8013

 

[BigAls87Z28]

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

 

[rbost]

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

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

 

[shabodah]

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 McChevy]

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]

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

 

[jbernie]

Re: GM to cut Volt's range by half!

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[Xenon]

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]

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.]

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

 

[eaton53]

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]

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.

 

[kenman923]

If it runs on pure electricity, there is probably no need for a big gas tank.

 

[big swede]

It will still have a range of over 350 miles which is plenty. If I had a Volt I would probably never keep more than a gallon or two in the tank unless I was going on vacation. Maybe more in the winter to keep condensation at bay but that's about it.

 

[SierraGS]

It makes sense to make the tank smaller and 360 miles is about average for cars today, the EPA does MPG tests with a full tank of gas so some weight saved there could help ratings in addition to the added space mentioned by many.

 

[plane]

What's not being stated is that the batteries are so good and the series efficiency so good, the range loss isn't quite as significant as calculations might indicate.
400+ mile range?

 

[Ambalanche]

I hope you're right Plane. I get the feeling too, rightly or wrongly, I have no evidence, just a feeling that the batteries are going to be better than GM originally thought. If that's the case, maybe they can advertise an all electric car that uses no gas until it hits 50 miles! That would be awesome!