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The new Chevrolet Volt electric car is reliably meeting its objectives during testing according to GM’s product supremo, Bob Lutz.
Testing the Chevy Volt mule began on Tuesday on and around GM’s Michigan proving grounds. The finished vehicle is scheduled to be launched in America in late 2010.
Lutz said: “even with a rough calibration, the wrong drive unit, the wrong body it has been hitting its target of 40 miles on electric power.”
Critics have questioned the thermal dynamics of Volt...Read the full article

Why do we in Europe always have to wait until the Americans have it - we can't have a Honda FCX Clarity, Nissan say their electric vehicles won't arrive in Britain until America have had them, and Chevy won't let us loose with the Volt until the Americans have had it for two years before us!!!

Mini1:

Why do we in Europe always have to wait until the Americans have it...

I would imagine it's down to the laws in CA stipulating that they have to offer zero emission vehicles in their range, the larger market and that european markets seem to demand more quality than the US so it's easier to launch new concepts and test the water there than here??

You could always go and buy a milk float.

This forum is becoming ridiculous. Full of bleeding heart, left wing, tree huggers. Where have all the petrolheads gone ?

Is the engine the only part of the car that matters? Would the choice of propulsion be such an awful thing? Do I come across as a left wing tree-hugger?? Who'd have thought it, JJBoxster has me down as some sort of right-wing Nazi in another thread!... but then he is a retarded ***.

No, sorry, didn't mean you specifically, mpw. Its just that there are soooo many people in here who care desparately about the environment and disagree with any car that produces a modicum of pollution. Its just so bloody depressing and really not appropriate for a motoring website. Where's the passion for God's sake ?

Actually, I think the method of propulsion is very important. Its part of a car's soul. I'd rather walk than drive an electric car and I have two diesel cars !

MPW - I am a retard but I do understand when so many of the public hate you then you've got be even more retarded to regard them as "lying, cheating scum" rather than do something about it. Hey deaf, dumb AND stupid is no way to go through life mate.

So when you go back to your seedy little Parking Crimes parasite unit to apply your anal rules with anal vigour for parking 2-5mins overtime (what a 'crime' that is!) bear in mind that it takes a 24 carat jerk to do so. You may have forgotten the public pay your wages. But just keep applying that rule book. It's just soooo very important. 

Ignoring the parts of JJB's post you might not like (try !), there is a good point there. The public really ought to be treated a bit more like customers rather than offenders. Yes, fair enough, rules are rules but there ought to be some leeway if the offence is demonstrably minor. People hate paying council tax (or any other) and local authorities might be so much more popular if the public felt that they were getting value for money rather than it feeling (I'm not saying it is, just feeling) like they are looking to supplement council tax income with petty parking misdemeanours.

JJBoxster:

...I am a retard...

At last you start talking sense!

JJBoxster:

...but I do understand when so many of the public hate you then you've got be even more retarded to regard them as "lying, cheating scum" rather than do something about it...

But the trouble is, you don't understand, and to compound that you won't even try to understand that your talking shite. What's more you're making stuff up you're a fantasist, you believe what only you can, like voices in your head. I never said the public generally were lying cheating scum, YOU did. Please don't assume I agree with anything you say and certainly portray your retarded comments as mine.

JJBoxster:

...You may have forgotten the public pay your wages...

No they don't, but I guess those sorts of facts would get in the way of your fantasies wouldn't they?

James Read:

Ignoring the parts of JJB's post you might not like (try !), there is a good point there...

Okay, let's try that...

JJBoxster:

...I am a retard... ...parking 2-5mins overtime (what a 'crime' that is!)...

...You're right, it does make easier reading if you edit out the utter BS!

The issue of parking over time by 2-5mins being minor is valid, but what level of excess charge should be applied? If you can park with a limit of an hour and return after parking for an hour and 5mins. why shouldn't there be an extra charge applied? Remember that the charge is not for the 5mins. it's for staying longer than the hour, otherwise why don't we just allow all day parking in any space? If you say it's just 5mins. why not allow a leeway than I can tell you that if you allow 5mins. 'free' overtime then people will be an hour and 10mins. and claim they're only 5mins. late. It's human nature.

I suggest that we allow the wardens some discretion and totally remove their earnings' connection to how many fines they apply. It could be a situation like the Police. Sometimes you get a ticket, other times you don't. Depends on the situation. However, just like the Police, traffic wardens' aims should be to keep the roads safe and free of obstruction not as revenue generation devices. Any arguments on charging people does not interest me as it still seems like being penalised by a body that I am paying a lot of tax to in return for services. Traffic wardens should be helping people to park not penalising them. Authorities should be finding more car parking spaces too. One of the most frustrating things about parking anywhere (not just on the streets but multi-stories etc.) is that you get precisely nothing for your money. The spaces are too small, there aren't enough of them and you don't even get any legal rights for your money either. Parking, like museums, should be free.

James Read:

I suggest that we allow the wardens some discretion and totally remove their earnings' connection to how many fines they apply...

When I was involved in Parking Control this was the case, despite urban legend not ALL parking control officers are on commission. From personal experience I can tell you also that discretion is used, but of course for every 10 parkers who benefit from this discretion there's 1 that doesn't, who do you think makes the most noise?

James Read:

Sometimes you get a ticket, other times you don't. Depends on the situation.

Nice idea, but in practice you end up with people bleating that their mate got away with it last week so why shouldn't they now?

At the end of the day, there are a set of rules for a reason, we all know what they are so why be shocked when you get caught out side them and have to pay the consequence?

James Read:

Parking, like museums, should be free.

And why should those not using car parking have to pay for it? Surely a charge for using a service is reasonable? How much is collected in total from parking? would you be happy to have that added to your council tax? (if you're in the UK that is) Do you think free parking would ease the parking problems wherever it is you wantto park?