Comments on: Electric Vehicle Smackdown: Chevy Volt vs. Nissan Leaf

By: Moteur-roue-HQ

Moteur-roue-HQ — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:09:52 +0000

The Chevy Volt (actually the 1899 Lohner-Porsche) is the solution for the 25 next years. Why?

Because the battery technology began in the 1850, then stopped for 100 years to finally evovle in the 1990.

Because making a HUGE 200-300 miles battery is a HUGE WASTE of energy and raw material. With a ‘real’ 300 miles battery EV, we could make 5 ‘real’ 60 miles Chevy Volt-Like and still reduce up to 90% our petrol consumption! Plus, why have a 300 miles battery when we will plently use it only one time a week, or a month??

‘But the plan is not to make 100% EVs? Well, yes, but the commercial battery technology is not yet ready (I say commercial).

With the Volt, we can actually make more cars with the same amount of batteries and drastically reduce our fuel consumption.

But the remaining 10% is stil a problem. We could replace it by biofuel, like 100% Ethanol and Biodiesel PRODUCED FROM NON-COMESTIBLE PLANTS, like the Myscanthus.

The Lohner-Porsche/Chevy Volt concept IS the solution for everyone’s transportation. On the other Hand, 100% Evs like the Leaf are perfect for City-Only and City-Only-High-Mileage-Per-Day Users.

(Sorry for my so-so english)

By: Eco-Man

Eco-Man — Mon, 09 May 2011 16:57:10 +0000

The Chevy Volt is not an EV. It is a plug-in hybrid.
The Nissan Leaf is an EV.

Comparing the two vehicles is comparing apples to oranges. One should compare the Chevy Volt to a Toyota Prius because both vehicles are more comparable (both have gasoline engines and electric motors for their drive system). The latter is the reason why the Volt is much more costly than a Leaf because it has two drive systems instead of one.

A plug in hybrid vehicle (Volt) is the evolution of a hybrid vehicle (Prius) because it still relies on a gasoline engine for the drive system.

An EV (Leaf) relies solely on an all-electric drive system. This results is a revolutionary change in the auto industry rather than the incremental change that plug-in hybrids (like the Volt) provide.

EVs also have significant implications to the auto industry, the environment, and the whole gas-power auto ecosystem which will result in new support industries/jobs being created as well as legacy ones going away.

It will be very interesting to see how this all plays out over the next 2 years as new EV and plug-in hybrid manufacturers’ products enter the market.

By: Woody14619

Woody14619 — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 20:56:50 +0000

One other bit: Neither car is being sold… both are for LEASE ONLY in the limited markets they’re being sold in.

By: okfourme

okfourme — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 03:43:21 +0000

Seriously, the Volt is *only* relevant on the American market and is overly represented in English-speaking media solely out of nationalistic reasons. Had a hybrid car (the Volt is *not* an EV no matter how much you yanks might wish to twist the definition to claim any local progress in the area) with similar specs been sold by a European or East Asian company it would garnered significantly less attention, although it would of course have compensated with far superior quality and technology. The Leaf however is a significant step forward toward a viable all-electric vehicle and has a global reach and relevance that far surpasses that of the Volt.

By: Gm Customer Service

Gm Customer Service — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 19:44:13 +0000

Hi everyone, I wanted to add some information that wasn’t mentioned in the comparison!
Because batteries are “temperamental” to temperature changes, the Volt’s lithium-ion battery temperature is continually monitored and maintained by an active liquid thermal management system with thermal control. This system continuously circulates coolant throughout and around the battery packs to heat or cool the battery to an optimum battery temperature to help ensure long life. The Nissan Leaf’s battery is air cooled.

Also, Volt owners receive convenient courtesy transportation for 5 years or 100,000 miles, whatever comes first!

Thanks,
Caron – Chevrolet Volt Advisor

By: bkimages

bkimages — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 15:54:01 +0000

Not sure if those charge times are accurate? Aren’t those 220 charge times and not 110? I am leaning towards the Leaf partially because GM killed the electric car and it does run on gas. May just wait for the Tesla S model. http://www.teslamotors.com/models

By: longingfornyc

longingfornyc — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 18:47:39 +0000

neither car is suitable to be the sole car. As a second car the Leaf is much more preferable, not only because it is cheaper, but also because it has a range of 100 miles, as opposed to the Volt’s 40 miles (electric). So the leaf wins even if the commute is as long as say 40 miles each way, not unheard of here in Houston.

For long rides, neither car is suitable, a hybrid Lexus HS250h works fine for me, handles really well even over 100mph (over 35 mpg), obviously the Volt will not perform at that level and still consume gas, so no benefit there.

Good job Nissan, if I am on the market for a second car, the Leaf will be it (unless something else more awesome comes along).

By: Kestrel Jenkins

Kestrel Jenkins — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 17:24:37 +0000

I’m lovin’ the Volt’s supposed range — makes me feel much more confident about jumping in, knowing it has energy for about 340 miles!