Topic: Comparison Test: Best Fuel Efficient Cars

[dirtyjeffer]

Volt sales in the US:  2011 - 7,671, 2012 YTD - 20,828
Canada Volt sales :  2011 - 275, 2012 YTD - 1,168

November sales in the US:  2011 - 1,139, 2012 - 1,519
November sales in Canada:  2011 - 28, 2012 - 93

i would be curious to see what the sales numbers would be like if you and i weren't paying for every single one sold.

[tenpenny]

So the rule of thumb is 1:3 for tonnes of coal burnt to CO₂ produced.

i'm no scientist, but that still doesn't make sense...when you burn coal, you are releasing the contents of coal as it is burnt for fuel...you aren't using nuclear fusion here, combining molecules to end up with "more weight" than what you started with...if you are burning 90% carbon coal, then let's pretend the left over 10% is the O2...if you burned 10 tons of coal, you would have 1 ton of O2 released.

isn't that how it works?

Combustion means combining with oxygen from the ambient air, so that's where the extra mass comes from. 

1ton of carbon plus 2 tons of oxygen =3 tons co2


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[Neromanceres]

Volt sales in the US:  2011 - 7,671, 2012 YTD - 20,828
Canada Volt sales :  2011 - 275, 2012 YTD - 1,168

November sales in the US:  2011 - 1,139, 2012 - 1,519
November sales in Canada:  2011 - 28, 2012 - 93

Those November numbers are actually low numbers too due to low inventory of the 4 week shutdown of DHAM to tool for the 2014 Impala.

http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2011/01/chevrolet-volt-sales-figures.html

[Neromanceres]

Cabin heat is a major issue.

I think that is very subjective and highly overrated.  Every vehicle takes some time to warm up.  My Volt has to be the by far the fasted vehicle to warm up I have ever owned.  Mind you if you do have it in comfort mode it will suck those electrons quick till the coolant is up to temperature.  The defroster is what really sucks on electrons and eats the EV range.

In comfort mode the 360V DC electric heater can consume up to 7KW of power.  That's like running 5 space heaters at the same time.  Don't worry it can bring the heat if you ask for it.

I usually keep it in ECO mode  (limits the heater to 3KW) and run the seat heaters full out (90W each on full).   ECO does take a while to bring the cabin to temperature but the seat heaters use practically negligible power and keep your buns and back nice and toasty.

I think on the article you linked the user had his electric heater fuse open.

[ChaosphereIX]

i sat in a volt last year at the car show and was dumbfounded by the terrible quality of the materials.  the interior felt cheap.   it looked like a gm parts bin car from 10 years ago.  at least with the new ats, gm showed that they could design a well crafted interior when they actually want to.  as for the the exterior? it is sophomoric at best.  ohhhhh it's eeeeelectric so let's make it look like a circuit board.   how creative!!      the future is not tron, that was the early 80's.

wow I have no idea what car you sat in, but it sure was not a Volt. That car has some of the best build quality I have ever seen from a GM product.

[Mike]

i sat in a volt last year at the car show and was dumbfounded by the terrible quality of the materials.  the interior felt cheap.   it looked like a gm parts bin car from 10 years ago.  at least with the new ats, gm showed that they could design a well crafted interior when they actually want to.  as for the the exterior? it is sophomoric at best.  ohhhhh it's eeeeelectric so let's make it look like a circuit board.   how creative!!      the future is not tron, that was the early 80's.

wow I have no idea what car you sat in, but it sure was not a Volt. That car has some of the best build quality I have ever seen from a GM product.

I agree, the Volt interior is great for what the car is.  Some may not like its Maytag-Appliance center stack, but I think in a 'future-technology" car it works.

[JohnM]

Just a note on Prius fuel consumption numbers.  I'm getting around 5.1 on the last three tankfuls on my '07 which has included minus 15 weather with snow, 400 series highway driving and city driving.  About 10% to 15% better than the Echo. 

However, given the fuel tank bladder issue, that makes it hard to really fill the tank consistently, I can't totally vouch for the accuracy of the fuel computer.  Ditto I'm sure for all the vehicles in this test given the relatively short distances involved.

My area is fairly hilly and I have Nokian WR2s on and don't hold up traffic.   Acceleration from a dead stop is less than burnout rate however.

One thing the reviewers of the comparo failed to mention is how quiet the Prius is, ICE on or off.  This is the most important component of any luxury vehicle in my view.  I'm sure the other vehicles are quiet as well (as are probably all midsized new cars).

If they can match the incredibly slick technology of the Prius then the automotive world is indeed making progress.

Cheers and Happy New Year,
John M.