Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Gas 2.0

Gas 2.0

Chevy Volt Gets Combined EPA Rating of 60 MPG

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 01:05 PM PST

The EPA strikes again! After the Nissan Leaf a 99 mpg-e rating but only 73 miles of range, the EPA has slapped the Chevy Volt with a 37 mpg rating and a 93 mpg-equivalent rating. Combined, it gets 60 mpg.

Somebody over at GM must have given the head of the EPA a call after Nissan released the Leaf's 99 mpg-e rating. I wasn't too happy about it either. Well now we have the Volt's numbers and try to follow along with me here.

So the EPA says that, running on gas only, the Volt gets 37 mpg. Not a great figure but not too shabby. The EPA says the Volt can go 344 miles once the electricity is used up. But is that highway, city, both, or regardless? The sticker doesn't say.

In addition to the 37 mpg rating, the EPA also gave the Volt a 93 mpg-e rating, almost as good as the Leaf…which doesn't use any gas at all. This figure combines gas and electric driving, so combined, the Volt has a 60 mpg rating, and a 35 mile all-electric rating (which is the most reasonable part of the whole damn blunder).

I get what the EPA tried to do here, and I'm sure many of you readers do too. They are working within the confines of an old system. Maybe you even think it makes sense. Then again, if you're reading this blog, you have some kind of interest in these vehicles. But imagine the poor schlub stumbling on to a dealership lot and coming across all these numbers, or trying to decipher this stuff online. There is so much old, outdated information out there on both of these cars (GM’s 230 MPG fiasco for example) and instead of clearing the air, I feel like the EPA just added more uncertainty.

Maybe they should have just waited for the new rating system instead.

Source: GM

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.

Spy Shots of Ford Focus Electric

Posted: 24 Nov 2010 08:57 AM PST

Sometime in late 2011, Ford is supposed to start delivering electrified versions of its new Focus to dealerships. While Ford hasn't given us any "official" pictures of the Focus Electric, these appear to be spyshots of the upcoming electric car.

Upon looking at these photos, your initial reaction is sure to be "So what? Looks like a new Focus to me." Ahh, but the devil is in the details. While carmakers generally dress their cars up in camouflage to obscure design details, Ford long ago released lots of pictures of its 2012 Focus, and its hot-hatch cousin the Focus ST. So what is so special about this Focus?

Well for one, the lack of an exhaust pipe is a very clear indicator that what we are dealing with isn't powered by petrol. Also notice that the location of the fuel-filler door has been obscured on both sides by camouflage. Probably because that is where the charging plug will be instead.

The Focus Electric should have a range of about 100 miles when it comes out in late 2011. Of course it will have plenty of competition from the likes of the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, but I have faith that Ford will hold its own.

Source: Road & Track

Chris DeMorro is a writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to Hemis. You can follow his slow descent into madness at Sublime Burnout.
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