Quote:
Originally Posted by Professor S
Electrics aren't the best compromise either, since you have a 50% chance that your electric car is really powered by coal (at least in the US where 50% of all electricity is from coal fired plants).
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Now wait just a second, that is true to an extent but not entirely. It is true that when you actually plug in the car the electricity could be coming from a coal power plant, I'll give you that. But here is how the Volt actually works for longer distance driving...
Lets say your going on a 200 mile trip. Your car is fully charged before you leave so obviously it will swith over to the gasoline powered engine after 40 miles. But, as soon as it does this, the engine will begin to re-charge the electric motor, so after awhile the gasoline engine will again turn off and the car should be able to go another 40 miles on the electric engine. GM says on a long trip, combining this on and off action of the electric motor, the VOLT should average over 100mpg. That sounds pretty good to me.