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Evan Brom @ Jan 14th 2008 5:50PM
With all of these plug in cars, people will likley use the full electric charge first to minimize gas use. This will stress the battery backs and cause them to fail sooner. Who will foot the bill for them? You know they will not be cheap in any way. Would you spend 8-12k to repair a battery on your 2-4 year old now worth 10-15k car?
Allen @ Jan 14th 2008 5:59PM
Stop hating.
TBlueMax @ Jan 14th 2008 6:06PM
Maybe, maybe not. I'm not an engineer and it doesn't sounds like you are either. How about we just wait and see what the engineers do to resolve this potential problem?
I'm just as skeptical as the next guy - and I'm not an early-adopter but I suspect GM will stand behind this technology lest they revert back to 1980's GM and disappear from the marketplace.
Tim @ Jan 14th 2008 7:14PM
I doubt that the ten mile estimate accounts for stop and go, A/C us and hills so people Will Use GAS. Who knows though replacing batteries may be cheaper than filling up with petroleum in the future. GM or Toyota or Ford or Hyundai the consumers are the winners of this Race.
Dustin @ Jan 15th 2008 12:40AM
Quoted from Christine & Scott Gable on about.com:
"In short, yes, it is expensive to replace hybrid batteries—it can cost in the neighborhood of $3,000 for a full hybrid battery replacement. But on the other hand, hybrid batteries have proven themselves to be extremely reliable. And as long as they are not abused and the vehicle charging control system operates effectively, they can be--not unrealistically—expected to last for nearly the life of the vehicle.
Manufacturers are providing generous battery warranties (generally about 8-10 years and 80,000 to 100,000 miles), but as with most warranted components, they are designed to last well beyond the coverage period. It would not be unreasonable to expect the life of a battery pack to exceed 150,000 miles."
GM is warranting these batteries for 8 years or 100,000 miles. I'd say sufficient.
scappy @ Jan 15th 2008 10:31AM
I would venture to guess that they claim the car can operate as a full electric for ten miles even though it may have the ability to go 20. The car will just be programed at 10 to start the engine. This will prevent the deep drawing on the batteries that you speak of.
Evan Brom @ Jan 15th 2008 11:29AM
Dustin "can cost in the neighborhood of $3,000 for a full hybrid battery replacement." Try 6k for a Civic and 8k for a Prius and these are much smaller cheaper batteries than the ones that will be used. And for the people who will buy this car 100k miles is not some far fetched millage it probably will be 3-5 years of driving.