How is it that the 2500lb Tesla Roadster has a range of 244 miles on commodity lithium ion cells and the Chevy Volt has a range of 40 miles on a 375lb advanced technology lithium ion battery pack?
If the Roadster has 6 times the batteries it would have to be a 200lb frame, motor, wheelset, and axels: It's not, there's no way.
Is the Volt simply that much of a power hog? Is Chevy making stuff up because they don't want to ship this car? Is the Volt vaporware?
One more Lincoln cyclist blogging about cycling in and around Lincoln, NE.
Monday, December 15, 2008
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Blog Archive
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2008
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December
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- Awesomeness
- Why Cyclists aren't Cool
- My Next Bike
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- Toyota iQ
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December
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About Me
- re-cycle
- I'm a new cyclist. I ride a low end '07 Trek road bike and enjoy every minute of it.
1 comment:
The Volt has a 16 kWh battery that is designed not to drop below 50% charge so it will last many charge cycles. The Tesla has a 56 kWh battery that is not really ready for road use. Cold temperature performance is bad (the type of battery will hold about 10% change at 25F). The mileage rating is to an empty battery. The real comparison would be 40 miles for the Volt and 122 for the Tesla.
Most Telsa drivers use their rides more aggressively and get lower ranges. The cars are also hanger queens and are in the shop a lot. There will be an enormous cost associated with battery replacement in the Tesla not too far down the road - their hope is that battery prices will fall quickly. Not really ready for prime time.
The energy density of the pack GM has chosen is a bit better than the batteries used in the Tesla, but they will have much longer lives, are less effected by cold and have a lower probability of destroying themselves. A much more sophisticated piece of technology.
It is unclear if the Volt will appear - GM may well be out of business by then. The good news is several competing serial hybrids and extended range electrics will appear in the 2010 and 2011 timeframe.
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