Replying to GM Executive Calls Out Nissan Leaf, Talks About Spring Hill

something is going to happen at Spring Hill soon. Because if you look at GM's Career site they are hiring for paint shop engineers. and additional production supervisors. I heard a rumor that Caprice production could be shifted to North America..

Good to hear about the hiring. It's an excellent plant, and would be a shame if it sat unused much longer.

something is going to happen at Spring Hill soon. Because if you look at GM's Career site they are hiring for paint shop engineers. and additional production supervisors. I heard a rumor that Caprice production could be shifted to North America..

"The Volt can only take 3.5 KW an hour of charging." Oldsmoboi
Is that @ 110 or 220VAC?

So many are avoiding the big question, COST! What will people's electric bills be? How much fossil fuel and coal will be used at power plants to generate more electricty for grids? How much to charge at a station? We still get electric company bills, and it's not free! No way will Best buy "give away" electricity.

In my area, you'd be looking at a $40 a month increase in your electricity bill. If you fall within the "average commuter" guidelines of the Volt and rarely use gasoline, that $40 would be substantially offset by gas cost savings.

Best Buy will probably be doing a "free charge with purchase" type of deal. But even if they charge for a charge, it wouldn't cost more than a couple bucks. The Volt can only take 3.5 KW an hour of charging. Even at 15 cents a KWH, Best Buy is only looking at a 52.5 cent cost for an hour of charging. (that is only counting the energy costs, the installation of the charger is more of course)

So many are avoiding the big question, COST! What will people's electric bills be? How much fossil fuel and coal will be used at power plants to generate more electricty for grids? How much to charge at a station? We still get electric company bills, and it's not free! No way will Best buy "give away" electricity.

I wouldn't be surprised if early on they did give it away, until it became a really notable cost to them. Early on when actual use of the chargers is semi-rare, they may just take the hit for the green image. But your point is still valid, electricity isn't free, and if electric cars become more than a tiny fad, there won't be many/any places to just plug in without a charge for your charge. Question becomes what the mark-up might be. Just cuz the electric company might charge, say, 5 cents per kwh, doesn't mean that a charging station will.

now just imagine if the companies worked on compatible battiries and you just stopped and switched out batteries, kinda like propane here, you bring in an empty one, they take it fill it and they give you a different full one.

So many are avoiding the big question, COST! What will people's electric bills be? How much fossil fuel and coal will be used at power plants to generate more electricty for grids? How much to charge at a station? We still get electric company bills, and it's not free! No way will Best buy "give away" electricity.

Lets face it Grown Cheapo is one of the last places that would be a good place to plug in. Most shoppers there are men. They go in buy their nails, glue and Monkey Butt powder and leave in 20 min with 10 of these min waiting in line or for them to fix the self check out. They get in, they get what they need and they get out. Most have a project to do or one half torn apart and just want to get the work done.

Agreed... they really should be putting units in places where women shop... or metrosexuals... for hours... places that rhyme with Beer None... Bled, Wrath and Abscond... Eye-Pea-Ahh... or Rome Woods. I kind of thing the Leaf matches their demographics anyway.

(That list is actually my GF's favorite places that I hate... yet, so far the Leaf does nothing for her.)

You could put chargers at bars for the guys but then they could not drive home after a proper charge. LOL!

Lets face it Grown Cheapo is one of the last places that would be a good place to plug in. Most shoppers there are men. They go in buy their nails, glue and Monkey Butt powder and leave in 20 min with 10 of these min waiting in line or for them to fix the self check out. They get in, they get what they need and they get out. Most have a project to do or one half torn apart and just want to get the work done.

Agreed... they really should be putting units in places where women shop... or metrosexuals... for hours... places that rhyme with Beer None... Bled, Wrath and Abscond... Eye-Pea-Ahh... or Rome Woods. I kind of thing the Leaf matches their demographics anyway.

(That list is actually my GF's favorite places that I hate... yet, so far the Leaf does nothing for her.)

On the fast charge cycle, an hour is a quarter charge. Lots of people can blow an hour in these stores. Granted... most of these are just PR stunts, but it's a start.

That is just it PR and marketing. Everyone wants to be painted green today.

Just look at all the companies sporting green colors in their marketing. Banks, insurance companies etc they all want to be that ugly green. They have little impact on the enviroment but they want to push the green agenda anyway they can.

The real need right now is for the companies to come together for an agreed level 3 charging system. Then they need to find a way to keep it from degrading the batteries as if the level 3 is used often the battery will lose capacity vs normal level 2 charges.

There is a lot of technology that needs to be worked as as well as Politics.

There is a level 4 being worked on but they still have not even got the issues settled on level 3 yet. The SAE needs to get everyone togther to set a standard agreed by all. This is similar to the nut and bolt SAE standard 100 years ago. This is something that will help shape the future and right now it is a pissing match with many MFG.