Comments on: Column: On The Road

By: Rob Cleveland

Rob Cleveland — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 16:03:22 +0000

Ed, the way you describe the bus makes it sound like a luxury ride. Maybe someday it will be a hydrogen bus – at over a million a pop.

By: Bob Martel

Bob Martel — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 18:29:48 +0000

Ah, yes. The good old AATA!

By: Edward Vielmetti

Edward Vielmetti — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 13:32:57 +0000

I’m happy to be riding these days in a California built, half million dollar diesel-electric hybrid with a GM Allison transmission.

By: Rob Cleveland

Rob Cleveland — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 19:10:14 +0000

Denis. With respect to your issue on nomenclature, the GM Volt does indeed run only on electricity, and can do so for 40 miles making it an all-electric vehicle. If you, or anyone else so choose, you can drive within those confines between charges and be perfectly happy, never burning a drop of gasoline. However, given the changes in battery performance based on temperature, and the unknown, unscheduled realities of life, someone along the line is bound to see their charge depleted before they can plug in. Hence the on board generator that, to be clear, does not turn the wheels, but rather recharges the battery. I wonder what your customers will do when you sell them a Neighborhood all-electric vehicle (someday) and they exceed the 30 mile limit those cars can provide. Introducing something as radically different as an electric vehicle without addressing the practical, real-world scenarios of everyday driving is precisely what has kept the EV industry confined to evangelicals in glorified golf carts with poor range and laughable top speeds. You seem to be willing to suffer the indignities of substandard transportation rather than accept the reality of mass market appeal required to get proper electric vehicles to the showrooms.

By: Denis Lang

Denis Lang — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 16:47:21 +0000

RE: Chevrolet Volt – an all-electric vehicle

Your article has major discrepancies vs. the truth. The GM Volt is not “all-electric.” The GM smoke and mirrors Volt car needs gasoline to enable the vehicle to go forward. If a car needs gasoline, please do not call it an electric car, it is insulting to our intelligent. The Volt is not ‘an all-electric vehicle.”

By: Bob Martel

Bob Martel — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 15:15:33 +0000

Hi Rob,
I’ve been waiting for the hybrid Fusion for over a year now. Finally, a mid-sized domestic hybrid that comes in a subtle yet useful package! I know that it may be made in Mexico, but what the heck, we North Americans have to stick together! Further, the car line has a quality rating that surpasses the Japanese and German competition!