G. David Felt
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Everything posted by G. David Felt
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@William Maley Awesome, thank you, that helps clarify things greatly. -
Just found this new commercial for the European version of the Bolt Opel Ampera-e This is awesome, we need commercials like this here.
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com 20 years from EV1 to Bolt EV Green Car Reports did an outstanding job on reviewing the last 20 years from the GM ev1 to the Chevy Bolt EV. This is a very solid read for anyone that is interested in knowing where we started and are at today with the EV. Good writeup and some very interesting news about the EV industry and reconfirmation of what is being done.
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Exactly, I am still on the Note 3 and was going to go to a Note 7 but have to wait for the Note 8 out April 11th 2017 in the US.
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My Condolences!
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Clarify, This is my take on reading the stories, watching the interviews and how I perceive Fords CEO take on this. Interesting is the recent interview by Ford CEO Mark Fields which clearly states that if possible they would have trump stop all efforts moving forward to make cleaner auto's as he says that with 55 models on the market, which is only 2.8% of the auto sales, there is no market for EV's or hybrids. Yet earlier in the year he contradicts himself and even admits that everything FORD has built to date is compliance EV's / hybrids. On top of this Ford CEO says no reason to not move production to other countries unless tax breaks are given to FORD. Trump has clearly now made us hostage to companies to move jobs out of country without tax breaks being given. Dec 2nd Bloomberg Story Pressure on auto companies without reducing EPA requirements for making auto's. Sees no market for EV's. Bloomberg Interview Where Ford CEO says he will work with Trump to reduce requirements by states and gov to allow making autos more profitable. Pretty much says no market for EV's / Hybrids. CleanTechnica Story where ford states that currently everything is compliance and by 2030 Ford is now reviewing on how to build real EV / Hybrid auto's. Rueters Small Car production moving to Mexico along with Compliance EV / hybrid auto production. Very interesting as this would tend to say that if they get money from the GOV, they will do all the right things in building EV / Hybrid auto's otherwise no need to build better auto's let us just build what we have. GM on the other hand clean sheet the BOLT and from what I have seen it will be a big success for them. Battery tech was always the thing holding back EV auto's. The future will go to those that embrace it.
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The Ford F-150 / F-150 Raptor Is the Best Full-Size Pickup
G. David Felt replied to FordCosworth's topic in Industry News
Gotta love the Raptor! Wish the Power Wagon was at this level also. I think RAM and GM could both offer on par off road trucks that would sell well. -
Forgot to mention that FF has also signed with LG Chem to supply all their battery packs for their auto's and that they have anounced via tweeter that they will have one of the highest density packs for long range driving. More details to some at CES. January is shaping up to be an exciting month.
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G. David Felt Staff Writer Alternative Energy - www.CheersandGears.com Faraday Future Teaser, Pre-order, Reveal and More! Faraday Future emailed out yesterday Dec 6th 2016 confirming that they will at the Jan 5th - 8th CES show in Las Vegas reveal their production ready EV auto. They have also tweeted this and posted to their web site pictures and video's. Interesting is the pictures from Autoblog where you can see their first EV will be more CUV style I think than car. Better yet is that they are clearly using Tesla as a Bench mark.
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^^^ Proof that common sense is not so common!
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Have to totally agree with Blu here and I have raised eyebrows about the Holden. I wonder how much in lost sales they will have with a FWD versus RWD small models of their car line. On the flip side, these are nice looking auto's that should do well in the market place. I just wish the Coupe 4 door sedan look would end. So tired of that look.
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Always did love Bluish Kit Cars! Ford has a hit with their new GT!
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Very cool, but with today's technology, you really have to love wood working to want to take on that much effort.
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Hybrid Cars web site dug into the battery and gear box with GM and has a great write up with comparison to both Tesla and BMW i3. http://www.hybridcars.com/2017-chevy-bolt-battery-cooling-and-gearbox-details/ Well worth the read.
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Per GM own Media Department: Battery system preliminary specifications include: 60 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. 288 lithium ion cells Five sections 10 modules 96 cell groups – three cells per group 960 lbs. (435 kg) total weight “You usually have a battery cell that delivers either the desired levels of energy or power, but not traditionally both. With this cell design and chemistry we were able to deliver a battery system with 160 kilowatts of peak power and 60 kilowatts hours of energy,” said Gregory Smith, Bolt EV battery pack engineering group manager. The battery uses active thermal conditioning, similar to the Chevrolet Volt, to keep the battery operating at its optimum temperature, which results in solid battery life performance. The Bolt EV battery will be covered by an 8-year/ 100,000 mile (whichever comes first) limited warranty. Inside the battery pack – which spans the entire floor, from the front foot well to back of the rear seat – is a new cell design and chemistry. The nickel-rich lithium-ion chemistry provides improved thermal operating performance over other chemistries, which requires a smaller active cooling system for more efficient packaging. The chemistry allows the Bolt EV to maintain peak performance in varying climates and driver demands. The cells are arranged in a “landscape” format and each measures in at only 3.9 ins. (100 mms) high and 13.1 ins. (338 mms) wide providing improved packaging underfloor. The lower profile cell design enabled the vehicle structure team to maximize interior space. The battery system is mated to a standard equipment 7.2 kW onboard charger for regular overnight charging from a 240-V wall box. A typical commute of 50 miles can be recharged in less than two hours. Bolt EV also features an optional DC Fast Charging system using the industry standard SAE Combo connector. Using DC Fast Charging, the Bolt EV battery can be charged up to 90 miles of range in 30 minutes. Outside temperatures may affect charging times. http://media.chevrolet.com/media/us/en/chevrolet/news.detail.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2016/Jan/naias/chevy/0111-bolt-du.html
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True, but we will see the real results soon as these auto's become more main stream. Now I am interested in seeing how big a difference it really is as GM and the EPA have the Bolt range if memory serves me correct at 238 for a 32 to 90 degree range. So in a -4 below zero, it will be interesting to see how far that range really is. This could also explain the added thickness in the over all doors, body panels, etc. Maybe better insulation to off set the affects of extreme temps. Remember, The battery pack is a 60-kWh pack that uses liquid thermal conditioning to keep its operating temperature within the best range for long life. Chevy is Live with the BOLT Build option!
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True, we have had EV boats, auto's since the World fair in the early 1900's, but battery tech has been the one thing holding it back. I think we are in pretty good shape now and the Bolt will be the first low priced auto to help move the over all market in that direction. So how many miles per day do you drive and what all do you need in your auto? Have you actually seen a Bolt in person? If you have no need for transporting people with the front seat and back seats down, a ton a space and the range is excellent. Testing in LA, Motor trend got 306 miles out of a single charge and yes that was on fairly flat ground compared to places like Seattle with plenty of hills. I still think most people can use this auto as a daily driver.
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Motor Trend is saying a Regal Station Wagon will come to the US. Interesting, Regal Performance model Station wagon with AWD would be Hot HOT HOT!!!
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Keep in mind that Japan being so small and having limited resources put in place regulations for pushing the EV / Hybrid auto to help their own country. This was them putting themselves first and then the world. Having attended and graduated form Kobe University, I can tell you that if you ever visit japan, they are all about taking care of themselves first and at the expense of the world. They will and do move forward with technology to make their own place a better place to live. It is a very interesting and lovely place to visit. I will always go back to visit but love my state of Washington first. Plus as big as I am, it is so hard to get a big auto there.
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Very cool, I agree that it is crazy to make a product, break it into pieces and ship it over for reassembly and then say it is local. Glad to read MB is doing the right thing in building them truly locally for the NA market. My gut tells me that more and more companies are gonna want to have core models built locally or face the wrath of the local country tax man.
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Continue your hate racist spew against anything EV. My knees are not in my chest and I have plenty of room and if you understood photography you would realize it was a wide angle camera that allowed me to show that I was in the back seat. It is far roomier than you realize. Also if you had spent any real time with a Bolt and then gone to the new Encore you yourself as others also noticed that the doors on the encore are like a pop can, versus rock solid on the Bolt. I truly believe GM is putting resources where they see the future. Does this make the Encore bad? No, but when you see the encore as mid $20's and the Bolt at Mid $30's, I would expect a better feel of solid quality to it. Your welcome to your opinion about the gov we all have our own views, but more and more people want less maintenance quiet auto's and many want what Tesla S has delivered but in a less expensive package. GM has led in giving the world the Bolt and it will be a success. People have bought the Encore/Mokka/Trax/Tracker due to price, long range capable driving, life style and more. The Bolt will give them what this product line needs in a very quiet, solid well built package that will cost a fraction to fuel, cost less maintenance and give people an auto that meets the lifestyle needs. I am sad for you Ocnblu as you really have become that old person with blinders on that can only see a narrow view of the future world and will fight to his grave to not have anything change. Best of luck as at your resistance, the world will pass you by faster than you realize.
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Got a Crack At the New Golf Alltrack
G. David Felt replied to Frisky Dingo's topic in Reader Reviews
Glad you liked it Frisky, I hope you can make it happen to have it in your garage. -
Yes if the selling price is stated is not to be over $30K MSRP, but it does not say you cannot take a New Auto that has a advertised price below MSRP which the Equinox does have in my choice. I did my best looking at new and used 30K and under. not everyone needs or wants two new auto.
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Have to say that the BOLT is quality BUILT and worth every penny. I was very suprised at the Seattle 2016 Auto show where the Buick Encore I have always loved shocked me how inexpensive it felt and lack of interior room after having spent so much time in the Bolt. The Doors are solid like a rock on the BOLT, the Encore was like a pop can. The multiple seals allows for a very quiet ride plus a solid close. The screen is much larger than Chevy pictures have shown it to be. Very happy with the feel of the buttons. Something SMK has said makes or breaks a quality built auto. Here they are solid and feel like a quality component. Have to say I also like the feel of the shifter. While I would have liked it to be on the dash or steering column to free up space in the center. It worked and felt solid. I also like the electronic break as it frees up space for your feet, especially for us big guys. Rear cargo space is huge. I was surprised that you have small storage cubbies under the bottom carpet pad that covers the spare tire, and of course the raised floor that levels out with the rear seats down, but if that floor piece is removed, you have a very deep big space. So what does the motor bay or engine look like?Over all well packaged, clean and like everything else in life, full of electrically shocking stuff! Fuse box is in the engine bay, no fuses at all in the passenger cabin that I could find. Even the hood of the engine bay is insulated to help keep the auto even more quiet. Loved the 360 vision surround. If your not sure where all the camera's are at, you have two in the back, 1 under each side mirror and one in the front. Ultra wide angle so you can see on the big nav screen a 360 picture of your auto before you go into drive or reverse. Rear door One of the side mirrors Front of the car camera The camera is in the bottom black section at the top and I missed it the first few times as it blend in real well until you get down to look closely. Interesting that they went with the weird windshield wiper design that has them pivot from both sides. Never having driven an auto with wipers like this, anyone else know if they clean the window any better this way? Final pick is that with the front seat set for my comfort of driving, here is what it is like when I get in the back seat. Yes all 6'6" of me. Enough room to still go for a drive, Yes it is actually a couple inches between my knees and the back of the seat.
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Very true, all companies will do what the GOV says to keep making a profit and hopefully keep the GOV out of other areas of their business. Balance, give and take is what is required to make all things better.
