General Motors Chevy Volt vs All Electric Coda
Claims From GM & Coda Automotive about Electric-Powered Cars
Jun 6, 2009
General Motors claims that the Chevy Volt, with a cost $40,000 with a $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit, will enable 75% of commuters in the U.S. to drive to and from work without using any gasoline. To enable Chevy Volt commuters to drive to and return from work gasoline free, the round trip must be less than 40 miles, according to GM.
“Chevy Volt...will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range-extending engine that drives a generator to provide electric power...” according to the information on the GM “Chevy Volt Concept Electric Car” web page.
A 2009 article (author unknown) titled, “One Day, Chevy Volt Will go up to Forty Miles Without Using Any Gas at All,” can be accessed by typing “Chevy Volt” into the GM home page search box which will transfer to the Chevy Volt web page. Readers can then enter the “Chevy Volt Concept Electric Car” link taking them to this article.
GM News About the Chevy Volt
June 1, 2009, GM announced on its Chevy Volt web page that the Volt engine will be built at the retooled GM manufacturing facility in Flint, Michigan. The Volt body is an Swiss import, the European-version Chevy Cruze compact sedan.
The lithium-ion battery of the Chevy Volt is rechargeable while driving, and can be recharged overnight at home “...and get up to 40 miles of driving...from about 80 cents’ worth of electricity...” according to an article in Discover Magazine on-line titled, “Can Smart Tech Keep Chevy Volt’s Battery Running Longer Than Your Laptop’s?” (April 9, 2009 by Stephen Cass)
It's not a problem to replace a battery in a laptop computer every 24 months, however, to change a Chevy Volt battery that often, “...this would be unacceptable in a hybrid car, especially given the large size of the battery pack...difficulty involved in replacing it...” writes Cass.
The article’s subtitle is “GM say that tightly controlling how the battery charges will keep it alive for 20 years/150,000 miles.” The article states that GM will manage how the battery is charged and discharged. The lithium-ion battery is designed to go 40 miles on 80% (set limit) of the maximum of its charge. Also, the battery is designed not to discharge beyond 30% of its capacity.
The Coda 100% Electric Car
A start-up company, Coda Automotive with headquarters in Southern California, will introduce the all-electric Coda automobile to U.S. consumers, in 2010, according to the Coda automotive web site. The Coda will be manufactured in China and imported to the U.S. Coda Automotive claims, “In 2010, we are bringing an all-electric, full performance vehicle to the consumer...motivated to solve some of today’s most pressing [pollution] problems...”.
Kevin Czinger is the founder, president, and CEO of Coda Automotive. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. The VP of Engineering & Project Management is Broc TenHouten, coming from the chassis design department of General Motors.
The claims of Coda Automotive about the Coda are:
- $45,000 price tag, and a $7,500 U.S. federal tax credit.
- 90 to 120 miles before battery needs charging, and the battery plugs into any standard outlet.
- Chinese car design with Porsche-like design on front & back.
- Chinese lithium-ion cell batteries.
- $3.00 electric cost to drive 100 miles.
- Top speed 80 m.p.h.
The Coda Automotive web site provides less technological information than the GM Volt site. The Coda will emit zero emissions which helps reduce air pollution. Only after post- Volt and Coda availability, and testing, will the consumer know the accuracy of the General Motors and Coda Automotive claims about the Volt and Coda.
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