Volt Birth Watch 114: Does The Engine Recharge the Batteries or Not?

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10 Comments on “Volt Birth Watch 114: Does The Engine Recharge the Batteries or Not?...”

• 	kazoomaloo October 30th, 2008 at 9:13 am
  It makes me a very sad panda to see that beautiful Cruze and know that there’s a good chance we’ll never see it. It looks like it will be a great car and it would suit my needs perfectly, but due to incompetent management GM has shut the door on my being able to give them my money anytime soon.
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• 	WhatTheHel October 30th, 2008 at 9:21 am
  Never mind the Volt. The real story here is that Rick Wagoner was out in the open and a sniper didn’t try to take him out. Must have been an unscheduled appearance.
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• 	Crash80 October 30th, 2008 at 9:47 am
  I bet you could ask two different department heads involved with this car and they would give conflicting answers on what the purpose of the engine really is.
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• 	Schnugullbear October 30th, 2008 at 9:48 am
  What a knockout of a car. Why can’t I buy this now? I would leave my fat, prude wife in a heartbeat to be seen driving something that gorgeous.
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• 	bobhaynes88 October 30th, 2008 at 11:31 am
  The gas engine in the Volt seems to drive it by generating electricity which then passes thro the batteries and out to the electric motor, this can’t be too efficient,and may lead to hot batteries, it may be less efficient than the same 1.4 litre engine would be with a gearbox in a Cruze. G.M. are coy about saying whether the gas engine can charge the batteries, I would guess it can but with such efficiency losses that the equivalent mpg figure is not one they want to advertise probably less than 30mpg
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• 	Paul Niedermeyer October 30th, 2008 at 11:54 am
  Come on, RF, I’ve answered this question a number of times already. It does and it doesn’t, depending on your definition of “re-charge”. Once the battery is depleted, the electricity from the generator drives the electric motor. But inevitably, some juice continues to flow to/from the battery as well, because of regenerative braking, etc. The amounts of electricity flowing between the generator, batteries and electric drive will depend on the software, which will probably be fine-tuned for some time yet. In any case, as I’ve said before, the Volt’s gas engine/generator may/will technically apply some charge to the batteries, but not in any substantial degree, as in substantially or fully recharging them. To do so would be intrinsically inefficient, and negate the whole point of a plug-in vehicle: to take advantage of the cheaper electricity from the mains. Do we have to keep asking this question every two weeks, class, or do we get it now?
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• 	Robert Farago October 30th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
  Paul Niedermeyer : Sorry teach.
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• 	Cavendel October 30th, 2008 at 2:04 pm
  Paul, I understand your argument about efficiency. Of course a full charge from the house is better than running the engine for 30 minutes to charge the battery. But without battery assist, this car will be a dog. On my 41st mile, I won’t be able to pass, go up hills or have any fun whatsoever. If I were to write the software (which I do for a living) I’d definately have driver options. Maybe a charge minimum setting, below which the engine starts a major charge. Another setting that indicates you’re almost home, so no need to charge any further. I don’t think the car will do well in reviews if it is only a viable car for 40 (maybe) miles.
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• 	Landcrusher October 30th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
  The silver one was attracctive, what’s that red bland mobile?
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• 	wave54 October 30th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
  I believe Paul Niedermeyer’s answer is indeed the correct one, plus the Volt only uses half of its total battery charge — from 30-80%. When the initial 40 miles (or so) are complete and the engine fires up, the battery is not discharged completely and will still act as a buffer to provide extra juice for passing or climbing a hill. In sum, I don’t think that the ICE will fully charge the battery pack, but does keep a certain amount of charge flowing in to maintain performance and longevity.
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