small dead animals: We Don't Need No Stinking Sparky Cars

March 27, 2012

We Don't Need No Stinking Sparky Cars

You can't make this stuff up. GM replacing almost all Chevrolet Volt power cords

Posted by Kate at March 27, 2012 9:12 PM

Comments

Of course they are...

Posted by: syncrodox at March 28, 2012 2:16 AM

GM found most of them were caused by a worn or damaged AC wall outlet
Well welcome to pulling the max current out of a standard 15 Amp/120 Volt circuit. Stuff gets hot, the usual weak link is the household standard outlet. It must be in the fine print to recommend an upgrade to industrial grade 15A garage outlets. (there is a big difference)
My garage is secretly 20A industrial, but that's between us and the rest of the people who understand electricity.
And the only batteries getting charged belong to my 18V cordless drill.

Posted by: dwright at March 28, 2012 3:32 AM

dwright

geeee, stoves are 240V 40A, water heaters 240V 30A, then there are many 240V 20A circuits

why would GM and U use 120V 15A???????

or are U like most electricians, just a wire-puller????

Posted by: NME666 at March 28, 2012 4:33 AM

Luckily, there's only 10000 to replace.....

Posted by: daryl at March 28, 2012 7:34 AM

Read the whole article. The new cords are 1500 km long. Extended range, indeed!

Posted by: Lickmuffin at March 28, 2012 8:14 AM

Besides the bailout (funded with $$$ obtained by the coercion of taxpayers), if this wasn't so pathetically wrong, it would be hilarious.

Of particular note is in one breath:

"Fox added that, since many Volt owners need to contact their Chevrolet dealers to begin scheduling appointments to have additional crash structure enhancements added around the vehicle's battery packs...",

yet in nearly the very next:

"GM will reportedly continue to sell Volt models without the new structure and sensor, saying neither poses a safety issue."

Also, isn't "$360 and up" a bit much for a 120V extention cord?

And the present administration in Washington DC thinks it can manage the healthcare of the nation?

Posted by: Jeff Bauer at March 28, 2012 8:27 AM

NME666,

How many garages and driveways are equipped with 20/30/40 A 240V receptacles? Not too many I'd guess. In order to sell the scheme (plug-in vehicles) they have to, at least initially, go with the pervasive interface (15A, 110VAC). They don't want to add another bump on the rocky road that is "green" transportation.

Posted by: betacamsp at March 28, 2012 8:39 AM

It gets better - Fisker is recalling 640 of its pricey Karmas to replace the battery packs:

http://www.tgdaily.com/sustainability-brief/62353-fisker-to-replace-battery-packs-on-640-karma-sedans

This is the car that bricked itself halfway through its Consumer Reports testing - the first time in the history of the tests that this has happened.

Posted by: rick mcginnis at March 28, 2012 11:46 AM

Wrong Rick! The Fisker did not "brick(ed) itself halfway through its Consumer Reports testing". It bricked itself BEFORE the actual testing, while it was being checked out in the parking lot after unloading!!!! :)

Posted by: Red Jeff at March 28, 2012 2:37 PM

The article says that the new cords will bring "more consistency in charging," I'm not sure what that means, but I sure am glad I don't own one!

Posted by: John Lewis at March 28, 2012 2:44 PM

NME666 at March 28, 2012 4:33 AM
You are so full of retard, I have a 240V 3 phase extension cord from my main house panel.
My garage is 30 Meters from the house.
We ran #AWG 12 wires out and at 120V we can draw 20Amps without tripping the breaker,
Idiot.
dwright

Posted by: dwright at March 29, 2012 5:02 AM

No, what we need is good old chunky vaporize-y cars.

http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/tes3.jpg
http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2011/10/tes-3-more-pix.jpg

lol.

Posted by: LittleStalinist at March 30, 2012 3:13 PM