SegwayChat
Home . Old Gallery

Go Back   SegwayChat > Other Topics > General Discussion

Notices

General Discussion Miscellaneous topics and for general social, non-Segway discussions.

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-03-2011, 10:06 PM   #1
segsurfer
Senior Member
segsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to all
 
segsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Posts: 1,357
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner Segway Polo Player SegwayFest Attendee
Default So I drove a Chevy Volt yesterday...

I didn't drive it very far as I'm still a relatively inexperienced driver, and it had been several months since the last time I had driven. Not to mention, I was filled with a paralyzing fear of crashing my friend's brand-new car; but once I overcame that fear, I was filled with a sense of utter joy. Not unlike the same feeling I had when I first rode a Segway. Out of the handful of cars I've driven (a 2005 Dodge Magnum, a 1991 Jeep Wrangler, a 2006 mini cooper s convertible with the supercharger, a 2005 Ford Expedition, and a 1973 MGB) the volt was hands-down the best. Now admittedly, I am a car buff, and while I've only driven a handful of cars, I've ridden in virtually every thing you can imagine, from exotics, all the way down to little British sports cars. In my opinion, the volt somehow manages to pass them all. I guess the thing that impressed me most about it was that it was able to take something as mundane as your average commuter econobox, in turn it into a truly enjoyable experience. because the battery pack is situated right in the middle of the car, running along the center tunnel, the weight is well distributed throughout the vehicle and the center of gravity is quite low, leading you to believe that if you're driving a sportier vehicle than you actually are. to put it simply, I went in to the driving experience of the volt, expecting to mock it and to write it off is simply another Prius. But I left the volt with a Segway smile.
__________________
Life is not a Roadrunner cartoon, and you are not the Roadrunner!.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
segsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-03-2011, 10:16 PM   #2
PeteInLongBeach
Member
PeteInLongBeach has a spectacular aura aboutPeteInLongBeach has a spectacular aura about
 
PeteInLongBeach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,127
5 yr Member
Default

I wanted to like the Volt so much, because I like its particular design concept as a hybrid. But, I would have a very difficult time living with it long-term for a couple of simple & basice reasons:

-The front seats are very flat, contourless, hard, and basically uncomfortable. I can't imagine a long trip...
-Considering this is a 4-door sedan, the back seats are relatively useless, except for small adults and children. There is very little headroom for normal size adults.

The rest of the car seems great.
PeteInLongBeach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 01:17 AM   #3
KSagal
Glides a lot, talks more...
KSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud ofKSagal has much to be proud of
 
KSagal's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Pelham, NH, USA.
Posts: 10,356
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner SegwayFest Attendee
Default

What is the range of the volt?
__________________
Karl Ian Sagal

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.


"Well done is better than well said." (Ben Franklin)
Bene factum melior bene dictum

Proud past President of SEG America and member of the First Premier Segway Enthusiasts Group and subsequent ones as well.
KSagal is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 11:27 AM   #4
segsurfer
Senior Member
segsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to all
 
segsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Posts: 1,357
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner Segway Polo Player SegwayFest Attendee
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by KSagal View Post
What is the range of the volt?
The volt has anywhere between 25 to 50 miles of all electric range, averaging about 35 to 40 miles. After which point a 1.4 L gasoline engine kicks in to turn a generator and provide power to drive the wheels, giving you another 370 or so miles out of a tank of gas.
__________________
Life is not a Roadrunner cartoon, and you are not the Roadrunner!.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
segsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 11:35 AM   #5
segsurfer
Senior Member
segsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to all
 
segsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Posts: 1,357
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner Segway Polo Player SegwayFest Attendee
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by PeteInLongBeach View Post
I wanted to like the Volt so much, because I like its particular design concept as a hybrid. But, I would have a very difficult time living with it long-term for a couple of simple & basice reasons:

-The front seats are very flat, contourless, hard, and basically uncomfortable. I can't imagine a long trip...
-Considering this is a 4-door sedan, the back seats are relatively useless, except for small adults and children. There is very little headroom for normal size adults.

The rest of the car seems great.
I hear you, as a car I could really kind of take it or leave it. The part that excites me is the drivetrain. With the way technology is advancing, I would expect to see this system in a wide variety of vehicles across GM's range, and I think it could really improve the driving and fuel economy characteristics of a wide range of vehicles. I mean personally, I'm holding out for a pick up truck with this type of drivetrain. as much as I like the volt now, it wouldn't really work for me either, as I use a Segway for mobility purposes, and it's a bit difficult for me to get a segway in and out of a hatch or trunk with ramps. that being said, I have a 40 mile round-trip commute to and from school, and if I could do it without any gasoline whatsoever I'd be a happy camper, and gladly put up with the inconveniences of having to use ramps over a segvator.
__________________
Life is not a Roadrunner cartoon, and you are not the Roadrunner!.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
segsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 01:55 PM   #6
Bob.Kerns
Advanced Member
Bob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of light
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Marin County, CA
Posts: 3,783
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by segsurfer View Post
I hear you, as a car I could really kind of take it or leave it. The part that excites me is the drivetrain. With the way technology is advancing, I would expect to see this system in a wide variety of vehicles across GM's range, and I think it could really improve the driving and fuel economy characteristics of a wide range of vehicles. I mean personally, I'm holding out for a pick up truck with this type of drivetrain. as much as I like the volt now, it wouldn't really work for me either, as I use a Segway for mobility purposes, and it's a bit difficult for me to get a segway in and out of a hatch or trunk with ramps. that being said, I have a 40 mile round-trip commute to and from school, and if I could do it without any gasoline whatsoever I'd be a happy camper, and gladly put up with the inconveniences of having to use ramps over a segvator.
Why couldn't you use a Segvator? Are hitches not available? Are custom ones not possible (or would they be too pricey)?

Prius's aren't supposed to tow, but I have an after-market hitch designed specifically for the Gen1 Prius. Since lots of people use hitches for all manner of non-towing attachments, like bike racks, I would expect hitches to become available if the Volt is sold in any appreciable numbers, unless there's some serious technical barrier.
__________________
Bob Kerns:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
,
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Obviously, we can't have infinite voltage, or the universe would tear itself to shreds, and we wouldn't be discussing Segways.
Bob.Kerns is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 03:42 PM   #7
PeteInLongBeach
Member
PeteInLongBeach has a spectacular aura aboutPeteInLongBeach has a spectacular aura about
 
PeteInLongBeach's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Long Beach, CA
Posts: 1,127
5 yr Member
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by segsurfer View Post
The volt has anywhere between 25 to 50 miles of all electric range, averaging about 35 to 40 miles. After which point a 1.4 L gasoline engine kicks in to turn a generator and provide power to drive the wheels, giving you another 370 or so miles out of a tank of gas.
It's not quite that simple - there is a mechanical propulsion element to the gasoline motor in range extending mode at 70 mph +

http://gm-volt.com/2010/10/12/chevro...stem-unveiled/
PeteInLongBeach is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 05:37 PM   #8
Gihgehls
Senior Member
Gihgehls is just really niceGihgehls is just really niceGihgehls is just really niceGihgehls is just really niceGihgehls is just really nice
 
Gihgehls's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Galactic Sector ZZ9 Plural Z Alpha
Posts: 2,086
5 yr Member
Default

Sounds similar to the Prius
http://eahart.com/prius/psd/
__________________

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
"...if you insist on being imprecise in use and unique in definition, you should hardly be surprised that your attempts at communication are poorly understood." -a wise man
Gihgehls is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 05:55 PM   #9
segsurfer
Senior Member
segsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to allsegsurfer is a name known to all
 
segsurfer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Posts: 1,357
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner Segway Polo Player SegwayFest Attendee
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gihgehls View Post
Sounds similar to the Prius
http://eahart.com/prius/psd/
In some respects yes, granted the Prius' electric motor isn't capable of solely powering the car at high speeds.
__________________
Life is not a Roadrunner cartoon, and you are not the Roadrunner!.

To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
segsurfer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-04-2011, 07:59 PM   #10
Bob.Kerns
Advanced Member
Bob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of lightBob.Kerns is a glorious beacon of light
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Marin County, CA
Posts: 3,783
5 yr Member HT/PT Owner
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gihgehls View Post
Sounds similar to the Prius
http://eahart.com/prius/psd/
The Prius, however, allows an arbitrary split of power via the electrical vs mechanical paths. I don't know the details of the Volt's mechanical path, but the PSD allows close optimization of the ICE, where both power draw and ICE RPM are independent of the wheel RPM. Can the Volt system do that? There are other ways, but planetary gears are dead simple and reliable.
__________________
Bob Kerns:
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.
,
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Obviously, we can't have infinite voltage, or the universe would tear itself to shreds, and we wouldn't be discussing Segways.
Bob.Kerns is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:04 AM.
Copyright © 2002-2023 SegwayChat.org.
All rights reserved. Not affiliated with Segway Inc.

FreshBlue vBulletin skin by
VayaDesign
Powered by vBulletin
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
SegwayChat Archive