C8 may kill Corvette
01-30-2019, 11:14 PM
#241
Le Mans Master
You are correct that a breakthough is required. That said, many companies are working hard toward that breathrough. We already have decent range, 300+ mi. and that is increasing all the time. The last hurdle is recharge time. The moment you get recharge time for a full charge down to 10 minutes or less, it's game over.
We've got a ways to go.
In many ways, fuel cell electric vehicles are further along. Refill in five minutes, range to 380 miles, cold weather performance to -20F, lighter weight, H2 can be made from renewable energy and stored. California is building out an H2 station infrastructure. GM is working Honda on building a fuel cell plant. Hyundai and Toyota also have fuel cell cars.
Last edited by Michael A; 01-31-2019 at 12:05 AM.
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CorvetteBrent (01-31-2019)
01-31-2019, 01:05 AM
#242
Race Director
Not so fast. To charge in 10 minutes would take about 1500 amps. That would be an awfully big charging cable. Then there is all the heat that would need to be dissipated by the batteries charging that fast Then there is the reduction in battery life charging at that rate. That's not the last hurdle. That 300 miles range...multiply that by 0.8 to get the effective daily range, because Li-ion batteries don't last if charged to 100% on a regular basis. Another hurdle, battery life when fast charged too many times. Yet another hurdle, the life the batteries is far shorter than the life of the car, yet the battery replacement cost if far higher than the value. More hurdles, how to recycle the batteries at a reasonable cost, how to improve charging times in cold weather, how to improve range in hot and cold weather. Another hurdle, the electric grid can't handle an all electric fleet.
We've got a ways to go.
In many ways, fuel cell electric vehicles are further along. Refill in five minutes, range to 380 miles, cold weather performance to -20F, lighter weight, H2 can be made from renewable energy and stored. California is building out an H2 station infrastructure. GM is working Honda on building a fuel cell plant. Hyundai and Toyota also have fuel cell cars.
We've got a ways to go.
In many ways, fuel cell electric vehicles are further along. Refill in five minutes, range to 380 miles, cold weather performance to -20F, lighter weight, H2 can be made from renewable energy and stored. California is building out an H2 station infrastructure. GM is working Honda on building a fuel cell plant. Hyundai and Toyota also have fuel cell cars.
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CorvetteBrent (01-31-2019)
01-31-2019, 01:51 AM
#243
Not so fast. To charge in 10 minutes would take about 1500 amps. That would be an awfully big charging cable. Then there is all the heat that would need to be dissipated by the batteries charging that fast Then there is the reduction in battery life charging at that rate. That's not the last hurdle. That 300 miles range...multiply that by 0.8 to get the effective daily range, because Li-ion batteries don't last if charged to 100% on a regular basis. Another hurdle, battery life when fast charged too many times. Yet another hurdle, the life the batteries is far shorter than the life of the car, yet the battery replacement cost if far higher than the value. More hurdles, how to recycle the batteries at a reasonable cost, how to improve charging times in cold weather, how to improve range in hot and cold weather. Another hurdle, the electric grid can't handle an all electric fleet.
We've got a ways to go.
In many ways, fuel cell electric vehicles are further along. Refill in five minutes, range to 380 miles, cold weather performance to -20F, lighter weight, H2 can be made from renewable energy and stored. California is building out an H2 station infrastructure. GM is working Honda on building a fuel cell plant. Hyundai and Toyota also have fuel cell cars.
We've got a ways to go.
In many ways, fuel cell electric vehicles are further along. Refill in five minutes, range to 380 miles, cold weather performance to -20F, lighter weight, H2 can be made from renewable energy and stored. California is building out an H2 station infrastructure. GM is working Honda on building a fuel cell plant. Hyundai and Toyota also have fuel cell cars.
01-31-2019, 02:05 AM
#244
Melting Slicks
The McLaren 720S and 570GT have a fair bit of luggage space above their low mounted motors in addition to the frunks. Pretty amazing achievement for a RME layout at that performance level.
01-31-2019, 03:37 AM
#245
Burning Brakes
01-31-2019, 04:28 AM
#246
Burning Brakes
The C4 sold well enough to last 13 model years, which certainly is rare in the automotive world. So, luckily for GM and many Corvette fans, lots of folks apparently liked the look of the C4 enough to shell out their cash for it. Of course, everybody's entitled to an opinion. My opinion is that, while some folks prefers one Corvette body style over another, the vast majority of people with whom I have spoken during my 21 years of Corvette ownership (Corvette owners and non-owners alike) seem to agree that Chevrolet has never produced an ugly Corvette, regardless of generation.
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01-31-2019, 05:01 AM
#247
Burning Brakes
I understand your point about newer generations having higher performance and smoother rides versus the C4, but it's all a matter of perspective. My neighbor loves the C4 body style and the relative mechanical simplicity, and he insists he wouldn't be caught dead in a C5, C6, or C7. Also, my parents could afford to buy a newer generation Corvette, but they hope to buy another C4 if their current 1985 C4 (with more than 150,000 miles) ever wears out.
01-31-2019, 05:24 AM
#248
Burning Brakes
Time will tell. I view electric cars as a stop gap measure. Issues with manufacture and recycling make them increasingly unpopular with some environmentalists. Another huge problem is that the bulk of the world's lithium reserves are concentrated in three hostile/semi-hostile nations: Afghanistan, China, and Chile. BMW has been using a fleet of hydrogen-powered cars for several years at the Munich airport, in addition to numerous other manufacturers' investments in fuel cell technology. My travels to various foreign countries have revealed that many foreign nations plan to "skip" the electric car cycle because they believe that fuel cells or something else will negate the need to build out an infrastructure of electric charging stations. Interestingly, my hired taxi in Vienna, Austria was powered by CNG (compressed natural gas), and some of my taxis in Ukraine were powered by propane.
01-31-2019, 06:33 AM
#249
Melting Slicks
Maybe they can make the ME a Special Edition Vette and target special customers like Ford did with their GT. If that is the case then GM can charge $400,000.00 like Ford did!! 
01-31-2019, 08:15 AM
#250
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: NE South Carolina
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^^
Yep, they could that and close down Bowling Grasn and send an engine, Tremic can send a trasaxile, Brembo braks, etc to a Detroit rececar shop that bui;d all they will sell!
Don’t need a “Sticking Car Manuscturing Plant” to make a few cars like they will make the C8R racecar!
Yep, they could that and close down Bowling Grasn and send an engine, Tremic can send a trasaxile, Brembo braks, etc to a Detroit rececar shop that bui;d all they will sell!
Don’t need a “Sticking Car Manuscturing Plant” to make a few cars like they will make the C8R racecar!
Last edited by JerryU; 01-31-2019 at 08:19 AM.
01-31-2019, 08:27 AM
#251
E-Ray, 3LZ, ZER, LIFT
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: NE South Carolina
Posts: 29,498
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But I agree, if we continue with the "All EV Soon Dream"" we we all be using battery powered vehicles. Just like those I saw in my last trip to Beijing! Yep, ~80% of the vehicles were battery powered- - bicycles! That is all we will be able to afford and have power to charge!
PS: We could generate electricity like France and use 75% Nuclear power! Waiting for the “Not in My State Crowd’”. to say, “Fine if it’s in several States away from mine.”
Last edited by JerryU; 01-31-2019 at 08:49 AM.
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Rapid Fred (01-31-2019)
01-31-2019, 10:21 AM
#252
Banned Scam/Spammer
A 300 mile range for an electric is like a Vette with only a 12 gallon tank. Can you imagine having only a 12 gallon tank on a Vette, how inconvenient that would be. But that is what electric cars are asking us to accept. At least with a 12 gallon tank we would be able to recharge our fuel tank in about 5 minutes compared to how many hours? for an electric.
01-31-2019, 10:28 AM
#253
Le Mans Master
Many of us actually drive our Vettes further than around the block. You know, as in taking an actual road trip.
Last edited by 69L79; 01-31-2019 at 10:34 AM.
01-31-2019, 10:30 AM
#254
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01-31-2019, 06:27 PM
#255
Team Owner
My God man, drive those things. I daily drove Corvettes for over 10 years including 2000 mile road trips in a week time. My Corvette group used to burn 12 gallons of gas per car before lunch on early Saturday morning runs. Hell my dad drove his 1969 Corvette from Pensacola, Florida to San Diego while in the Navy in 1970.
01-31-2019, 08:45 PM
#256
Race Director
Last edited by Tom73; 01-31-2019 at 08:46 PM.
01-31-2019, 09:30 PM
#258
Le Mans Master
........1969 Corvette from Pensacola, Florida to San Diego while in the Navy in 1970.
route.
With a 427 I used more than 12 gallons a day, every day. I averaged eight miles per gallon. 
Of, course, gas was only 35 cents a gallon.
Last edited by 69L79; 01-31-2019 at 09:35 PM.
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plasboy (02-03-2019)
01-31-2019, 10:46 PM
#260
Race Director
Price is always a concern. I would be happy with a base C8, 1LT trim, NA LT1 variant, and a real manual transmission. Would not mind a DCT but the stories of frequent clutch replacement could keep me away. Basicly a base C8.
Without budget limits then I would go with the 3LT. Everything else the same.
Without budget limits then I would go with the 3LT. Everything else the same.
Last edited by Tom73; 01-31-2019 at 10:52 PM.
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