Electric Cars 101

The Basics of Owning an Electric Vehicle 

So you've probably heard us and everyone else talking about electric cars.  However, as if with most new technologies, there are plenty of questions surrounding it.  

In fact a recent study showed that consumers still have many concerns and questions about the particulars of owning an electric car, mostly the charging process.  Today, we're here to answer those questions.  

First off is the electricity behind it all.  It takes at least a 12-amp circuit to charge an electric vehicle in a timely manner. 

Depending on which car you buy and the age of your home, the cost of getting the garage prepared for charging an electric car can range from nothing to a few thousand dollars. Since older homes weren’t constructed with electric cars in mind, and many older homes can’t supply enough power to charge them, you may have to rewire the garage. 

The Nissan Leaf charges in roughly eight hours on a 240-volt circuit, and about 16 hours to charge on a 120-volt circuit. The Chevrolet Volt can be charged in about 5 hours on a 240-volt circuit, and in about 10 hours on a 120-volt circuit.

GM says recharging the Volt won’t add more than about an additional $1.50 per day to your electric bill, based on the national average electricity cost of 11 cents per kilowatt hour. AeroVironment, the company that manufactures Nissan charging stations, recommends installing a special 240-volt station in your garage.

So sure, there are some measures to take but the money you'd save on gas is clearly a consideration. Still plenty to debate, feel free to ask us any questions! 

Plus don't forget the Chevy Volt is currently at West Herr Chevy of OP, your Buffalo chevy dealer!

The RAV4 Is Going Electric!

TOYOTA WILL SOON ADD A NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE TO THEIR INVENTORY

In 2012, Toyota will be adding another vehicle to the electric car market, one that may appeal to those looking for a larger of electric car – the RAV4 EV.

The crossover will look almost the same as the original RAV4 (as you can see from the picture of a prototype [right] taken by autoblog.com) and will be the same size.

According to green.autoblog.com, “The RAV4 EV has 73 cubic-feet of space, which is exactly the same as the standard RAV4 V6.”

Further stats on the prototype provided by the aforementioned blog are as follows:

• The electric CUV accelerates from 0-60mph in nine seconds.
• The vehicle can make it up to 100mph.
• On one charge, the RAV4 EV can do 80-120 miles, though one charge may take as long as 28 hours on a standard 110 volt outlet (only 12 hours if you install a 240 volt outlet).

Autoblog.com also notes that these stats only apply to the prototype and that the model available for sale in 2012 will be significantly improved.

The addition of an electric RAV4 to the car pool could be a huge boost to the electric car market since the vehicle is already so popular. It doesn’t look like it’ll be too far a step from the original to the electric model, after all.

Keep an eye open for it! We know we’ll be excited to see the first RAV4 EVs arrive at West Herr!

Charging From A Distance

Toyota Invests In Wireless Car Charging

Electric cars are all over the news, we've certainly covered them at length.  One of the biggest questions surrounding electrics vehicles (EVs) is the practicality of charging them.  Well, Toyota is looking to improve on that.  

The automaker has signed an agreement WiTricity to develop a wireless charger.  No connection, no point of contact at all.  

Basically, it's not too far off from a wireless connection on a computer.  The car would have to be parked in the general vicinity of the charger to charge.  No charging while driving...yet.  

Toyota hopes to launch this technology with the Prius plug in in a few years.   

"We believe that resonance wireless charging is suitable for automobiles and aims for its early practical use," Toyota said in a statement.  

The hope is that simplifying the charging process, electric vehicles will become more pervasive and accepted.  

Car and Driver said the technology is still a few years away and most likely won't be ready for the initial Prius plug in launch.  They do, however, note the technology's implications for the future of electric vehicles.  

"We imagine that once wireless charging hits the EV scene, nobody will reminisce fondly about the days of plugging your electric car into an extension cord," Car and Driver said.  

The Car of the Year Is Coming

GM to Launch Chevy Volt By Year's End, Exceeding Expectations 

Electric Cars will be here sooner than you think.  GM plans to launch the all electric Chevy Volt, voted "Car of the Year" by Motortrend, by year's end.  

“This is the right thing to do for our customers and our dealers who are seeing increased traffic onto their showroom floors,” said Rick Scheidt, Chevy vice president of U.S. marketing.

Scheidt also said customers nationwide will be able to order Volts through dealers beginning in the second quarter. Deliveries will begin in select states (sadly, not New York)  in the third quarter.  It will be available in all 50 states by the fourth quarter.  

-See our blog post on the Chevy Volt mobile and web app-

Chevrolet and their retailers are also noticing an increase in inquiries about the Volt, and new customers coming to Chevy because of it.  

"We're hearing a lot more buzz about the Volt and getting people in our showroom coming over from competitors," said Rich Wilkinson, GM of West Herr Chevrolet in Orchard Park.  

Motortrend and other auto publications are raving about the Volt, citing not only it's obvious fuel economy but multiple other beneficial features.  

"This is a fully developed vehicle with seamlessly integrated systems and software, a real car that provides a unique driving experience. And commuters may never need to buy gas!" said Motortrend's Chris Theodore.  

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The Volt is an electric vehicle that offers a total driving range of up to 379 miles, based on EPA estimates. For the first 35 miles, the Volt can drive gas- and tailpipe-emissions-free using a full charge of electricity stored in its 16-kWh lithium-ion battery. When the Volt’s battery runs low, a gas-powered engine/generator seamlessly operates to extend the driving range another 344 miles on a full tank.

The Future Is Now

A Look At 3 Electric Vehicles From West Herr Brands 

It wasn't too long ago that the electric car was just an idea.  Then it became a fringe model, something only a few manufacturers dabbled in.  Now, electric vehicles are bordering on pervasive.  States such as Oregon and Tennessee are installing charging stations to facilitate the inevitable increase in electric vehicles.

With that in mind, we took a look at the electric offerings from 4 West Herr brands, to let you know what you could be driving in 2011.

Nissan Leaf:

We've written extensively about the Nissan Leaf.  It may not be available in Buffalo until the end of 2011, but it will be worth the wait.  Nissan has invested in battery manufacturing plants with the expectation of selling a half-million electric cars a year worldwide.  The electric car is likely here to stay, and the Leaf will play a pivotal role in keeping it that way.  

Chevy Volt: 

This electric car recently took home "Car of the Year" honors from Motortend, with plenty of good reason.  Chris Theodore of Motortrend said:

"This is a fully developed vehicle with seamlessly integrated systems and software, a real car that provides a unique driving experience. And commuters may never need to buy gas."

The Chevy Volt also addresses the fear of running low on battery charge with no power outlet nearby by including a gas-powered generator on board to propel the car to the next charging station.  That should about seal the deal on this fine car.  

Honda Fit EV:  

The Fit won’t reach showrooms until 2012, but like the preceding models it will come from an established carmaker that can provide sales and service from a nearby dealer for most customers. The Fit will have the same 100-mile range as most cars in the battery EV segment, but it offers three driving modes that can improve acceleration or driving range, depending on the program selected. The electric drive motor is derived from the one in Honda’s FCX Clarity fuel-cell car, and the Fit EV can reach a top speed of 90 mph.

These electric vehicles are just a small taste of what the West Herr fleet will offer.  Visit us online today and see what we've got for your driving needs. 

Chevy- Brand of the Year?

Chevrolet Sweeps Motortrend's Car and Truck of the Year Awards

In the eyes of Motortrend, one of the top automobile review magazines, Chevy is on fire.  The 2011 Silverado took home Motortrend's "Truck of the Year" while the electric Chevy Volt won "Car of the Year."

This is the first time a brand has won both awards since 2006.  

The Volt was praised for it's long range capability, one of the most important hurdles to making a proficient electric car.  The Silverado has earned near universal praise from Motortend and other automotive media outlets.  

"On the outside the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD appears to have been given a subtle makeover, but it's what's under the skin that makes this truck a winner," said Motor Trend Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie. "Chevy engineers focused on three key areas - powertrain, frame, and suspension - to deliver a truck with significantly improved capability and more refinement."

The 2011 Silverado HD is capable of towing up to 21,700 pounds, or carrying 6,635 pounds of payload. The new Silverado HD also offers available confidence- and control-related features specifically for towing including electronic trailer sway control, hill start assist and smart exhaust brake system. 

Clearly, Chevrolet is on a roll.   So why not stop by West Herr Chevy in Orchard Park or Hamburg for a test drive?  

Control Your Chevy Volt Over The Internet

Electric Car To Feature Online Updates, Charging Reminders and Much More

GM and Onstar's partnership is bringing automobile interaction to a new level.  Chevy Volt drivers will be able to control all types of functions with the new MyVolt.com, which also has a social media tie in and will be available as a mobile app. 

One of the website’s key features is the ability to schedule the times at which the Volt will charge from grid power.  Volts can also be instructed to charge only during off-peak hours (when electricity is cheaper), or to ensure charging is complete by a predetermined departure time. 

Volt owner’s can also published to Twitter or Facebook feed with myvolt.com. The updates detail the distance driven, fuel economy, amount of electricity used, and other statistics.  Plus users can join the "Voltage Community" and interact with other Volt drivers. 

MyVolt.com also allows owners to view their Volt’s battery charge level, charging status, fuel economy, odometer reading, electric-only range, and more. Owners can lock or unlock the car, activate the lights or horn, and remotely start the climate-control system so the cabin is cooled (or heated) before a journey.

HORNS & LIGHTS

Forgot where you parked and need to locate your Chevrolet Volt? Click here to send a Remote Horn & Lights command to flash your Volt's lights and honk the horn.

 

HORNS & LIGHTS

Forgot where you parked and need to locate your Chevrolet Volt? Click here to send a Remote Horn & Lights command to flash your Volt's lights and honk the horn.

Chevy Volt... Powerfull?

Excerpt from Detroit Free Press:

Chevy Volt Electric CarGeneral Motors drove a stake through the notion that environmentally friendly electric cars can’t also be fun and sporty in a brief test drive of the company’s Chevrolet Volt powertrain this morning.

A fast, smooth blast from zero to 70 m.p.h. on the roads within the GM Tech Center in Warren proved the car can be electrifying as well as electric-powered.

The Volt is on schedule to go on sale in November 2010, GM vice chairman Bob Lutz said.

GM has about 35 test vehicles on the road equipped with the electric motor and lithium-ion batteries that will power the Volt. Those development cars have the body of the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze compact, which uses the same architecture as the Volt.

GM will put 80 Volts with the production car’s sleek and futuristic body on the road beginning in June.

The test vehicle ran with smooth, quiet power, but driving it felt reassuringly like getting behind the wheel of any new car. That’s a key goal for the Volt program, GM electric vehicle chief Frank Weber said.

“People must understand that you don’t have to give anything up to drive an electric vehicle,” Weber said. “This is something you will really like and enjoy.”

The test car’s electric motor provided immediate torque for acceleration most sporty small cars would envy.

The Volt is designed to cover about 40 miles on electricity stored in the big lithium-ion battery pack that runs down the center of the car. For longer trips, a 1.4-liter gasoline engine will kick in to recharge the batteries. Unlike hybrids, the engine never drives the wheels.

The onboard generator frees the Volt of the drawback that crippled previous electric cars: range. While an electric vehicle without a generator must stop and recharge when the batteries run low, the Volt has an essentially unlimited range, and should be able to cover 500 to 600 miles on the combination of battery power and a single tank of gasoline.

Contact MARK PHELAN: phelan@freepress.com or 313-222-6731.

From GM-Volt.com

These are very interesting questions. About a year ago we worked through them and here is where we are...

1. Customer access to High Voltage
The customer will have no access to high voltage. In fact, if the customer accidentally takes some action that might get them close to high voltage (e.g. disconnects a HV connection) then the system will cut off that voltage up stream of the potential breach. As with all systems, “nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently talented fool”, but we have a number of layers of HV protection for the customer, the service technician, and the vehicle assembler.

2. “Jump” Start
We had also wrestled with this issue on the EV1. Answer there was no jump start of any kind, but the EV1 had a different electrical architecture that offered other remedies. For Volt the answer is a bit more conventional. Yes, we have a 12v battery. It is not a typical automotive “flooded” lead, but a sealed “acid starved” type.... and it is capable of providing enough power to jump start another vehicle.

Chevrolet's Electric Car Site .