Chevy Volt a flop?

**yourmom_is_hot** · 03-01-2012, 02:47 PM

Rick is going all Mhuemme over the Volt

**phillyfan** · 03-01-2012, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by The Great Gazoo

http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/29/e...share_facebook

Hopefully it can be manufactured.

**RickFromFowler** · 03-01-2012, 07:08 PM

Originally Posted by SportsFromA2

you can't really compare the battery charge to oil, that's not really fair... if you run out of gas, THAT is an "apples to apples" comparison. Will your engine freeze up if you run low on gas? will gas disappear by the car sitting?

This is a pretty interesting how Telsa is handling this, fwiw- they're not denying this... Reading Tesla's link that you posted, they keep talking about how the newer cars *shouldn't* have similar problems- why not keep the focus on the Tesla Roadster, the car in question?

And what if you have to travel and the Tesla is your primary/only car? the airport is what, 50-60 miles away from you? Unless airport parking everywhere begins to have charging stations, I could see this potentially being an issue...

I don't agree.. when the Tesla gets to 5%, it shuts off. That is running out of gas. Letting it sit for 6 weeks after you have run it to 5% will result in permanent damage to the batteries.. that is the same as running out of oil, and then running it for another 6 weeks after its out of oil.

**SportsFromA2** · 03-01-2012, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by RickFromFowler

I don't agree.. when the Tesla gets to 5%, it shuts off. That is running out of gas. Letting it sit for 6 weeks after you have run it to 5% will result in permanent damage to the batteries.. that is the same as running out of oil, and then running it for another 6 weeks after its out of oil.

cars are designed to constantly use up oil? oil is lost while a car sits?

**phillyfan** · 03-01-2012, 07:15 PM

Originally Posted by SportsFromA2

cars are designed to constantly use up oil? oil is lost while a car sits?

I hate it when I run out of oil.

**RickFromFowler** · 03-01-2012, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by SportsFromA2

cars are designed to constantly use up oil? oil is lost while a car sits?

If you run your regular car battery down to zero charge.. and then let it sit.. it won't take a charge either.

What is being spoke about here is normal car maintenance. Like I said earlier, you can't idiot proof a machine.

The car shuts off at 5%, and from 5% to zero, is 6 weeks. From 50% to zero is a year.

You get home, you plug it in. Its an electric car, that's what you do. Taking off for a year to go hunt elephants in Africa.. plug it in.

If you don't follow basic maintenance issues on your car.. you'll have to suffer the consequences.

**RickFromFowler** · 03-01-2012, 07:20 PM

Originally Posted by phillyfan

I hate it when I run out of oil.

Happens all the time... ask JDC (or someone who has worked in a quick lube) how often cars come in with no oil in them.

**SportsFromA2** · 03-01-2012, 07:24 PM

Originally Posted by RickFromFowler

The car shuts off at 5%, and from 5% to zero, is 6 weeks. From 50% to zero is a year.

lolz nope. Tesla says: "will take over two months to discharge if parked at a 50 percent charge without being plugged in." (and like all companies, I'm sure those are "best case" / "in perfect conditions" type estimates)

**sseelhoff** · 03-01-2012, 07:29 PM

Originally Posted by RickFromFowler

If you run your regular car battery down to zero charge.. and then let it sit.. it won't take a charge either.

What is being spoke about here is normal car maintenance. Like I said earlier, you can't idiot proof a machine.

The car shuts off at 5%, and from 5% to zero, is 6 weeks. From 50% to zero is a year.

You get home, you plug it in. Its an electric car, that's what you do. Taking off for a year to go hunt elephants in Africa.. plug it in.

If you don't follow basic maintenance issues on your car.. you'll have to suffer the consequences.

Auto Zone. $80.

Run your Tesla down, it's a $40,000 hit.

**SportsFromA2** · 03-01-2012, 07:29 PM

oh and there have been at least 5 bricked Tesla Roadsters...

As a second Roadster owner discovered, the Tesla battery system can completely discharge even when the vehicle is plugged in. This owner's car was plugged into a 100-foot long extension cord for an extended period. The length of this extension cord evidently reduced the electric current to a level insufficient to charge the Tesla, resulting in another "bricked" Roadster.

**SportsFromA2** · 03-01-2012, 07:33 PM

oh you can can pre-pay 12K for a replacement battery (because the battery pack doesn't last long - 7yrs is the expected life of the system I guess), but you still can't use that if your ruin your battery

Due to Tesla batteries naturally decaying over time, Tesla offered Roadster customers a $12,000 "battery replacement program". This program is intended to replace a Roadster battery with a new one seven years after purchase. When asked, the Tesla service manager said even if owners had paid in advance for this replacement battery program, they would not be allowed to use it to replace an accidentally discharged battery - they would have to pay the full $40,000-plus cost

imagine if a regular car company said the lifespan of their products, IF you follow EVERYTHING they tell you to, is only 7yrs..

ridiculous