Datawiz

What happens if you put it on cruise control on the interstate for an extended period of time? Will the alternator charge the battery, or will it run out of juice?

Midlifegoals

Preface- I have no idea.

That said, I’ve read a fair bit and from what I understand the car can recharge while it’s coasting. I would imagine while in Cruise Control on the highway, it would find ways to charge the battery. My understanding is also that the battery would be used lightly while in Cruise Control, so it may not take much charging to get it back to “full”.

Just an assumption based on reading…not sure.

gunkk

It will charge until it's full then stop charging, like all other modern battery charging systems.

JKU007FL

Assuming the reports are true, one thing I don't like about it is why such a small battery, it seems the battery will be depleted after 3 or 4 miles but most importantly it looks it will be cycling often.
Meaning it could be subjected to way too many charge/discharge cycles while driving normally, batteries degrade quickly this way. The NSX forums claim the cost to replace one is around $5K to 8K, which is not bad.
Of course, just a guess.

NoOne

I was really surprised how small it was.

I looked at the 296 GTB and it's battery is 7.2kw and I even thought that was small.

The E-ray is 1.1kw.

Seems like a very high duty cycle for charging. The hybrid setup has zero to do with efficiency and all to do with performance so if they have something that can cycle that fast, and uses the engine to charge it then it doesn't' sound bad.

Latterlon

It has a 1.9kWh battery pack. I too was surprised at the small size, and it only having one motor.

Z0Sick6

Tadge pulls up in an FPC Twisted Metal ice cream truck and personally charges the vehicle so it can reach its full 655 HP again.

NoOne

That is what I thought but now most of the sites are saying 1.1.

JVi

Gossip sites.
The GM press release says: "a 1.9 kWh battery pack"
https://media.chevrolet.com/media/us...0117-eray.html

EvanZR1

Statements from GM are that the E-Ray battery is not from the Ultium line, but instead, is a one-off specifically designed to be constantly fully drained/recharged. Who knows what that actually means yet, but it almost makes me think the "battery" is more of a supercapacitor system. Lambo is doing this on their new Sian, which granted is a $3M hypercar, but GM has a long history of EV development to draw from, so maybe they've jumped the field here for a performance hybrid.

JVi

"LG makes the battery cells which are packaged and assembled at GM’s Brownstown, Michigan battery plant. While the Ultium cells that are used in GM’s EVs are designed for large storage and long-range, the E-Ray’s battery is small and optimized for in-and-out power flow. "

https://www.hagerty.com/media/news/2...st-vette-ever/

vipervetteguy

GM clearly stated the EV is for performance, not range.

JerryU

Was an AP article in our town paper that clearly said what many are missing. Unlike most hybrids the E-Ray will not increase mpg! In the EPA City Test is will increase mpg slightly. In the EPA Highway test it's less than a standard C8 because of the added weight!

The 1.9 kWh battery is exactly what the leaked in the November 2019 article along with the tire sizes, where the battery, inverter etc would be located. Pretty accurate just a large hp motor! Think of it as a F1 race car hybrid That battery weighs ~40 lbs and delivers ~250 hp. Short bursts of electric power not using gasoline. So you get 160 hp with otherwise waste braking energy!

If you're not going to use 650 hp enough, having fun (or wanting to drive in snow,) it's a waste of money. If you thinking just cruising and being "green" it's not. It also said in Stealth Mode you get only 2 miles at 45 mph! Good only if not wanting to wake the neighbors in the morning. It's NOT a Prius!

Frankly exactly what I wanted! I'll order the Performance option with summer tires, different suspension and a small side skirts I hope big enough to avoid rocks thrown by the front tires marking the rockers.

Michael A

Most don't. They leave some battery capacity available for regenerative braking.

Peppino Esposito

this is very relevant to my post today. What happens if you're climbing a long hill that requires awd? There would be no opportunity for regen during coasting! Is your car suddenly 2wd once the battery dies? I can't see how not! Gm is claiming there is NO connection between the traditional drivetrain and the electric front drive.

EvanZR1

They could easily have it set up to pull power under normal driving if the battery gets too low. It would essentially be like having the front brakes mildly engaged. The downside of course, is that while the electric motors are capturing energy they can't be used for propulsion. However, given their electronic nature, they could switch back and forth very quickly. There's also the potential as others have said that the battery pack might actually be larger than they are stating and that the advertised size is what's presented as available. On every hybrid & EV so far, GM has built in an undisclosed amount of extra capacity that is reserved for operations after the advertised capacity hits zero.

Peppino Esposito

YEAH...going up hill in snow....exactly like i said. I think this is a major downfall of these types of systems.

JerryU

From what has been posted sounds like it charges when braking, coasting and by the alternator. In fact in a post a few weeks ago it said it was only by alternator. Probably wrong but have to believe as everything else in the car a computer and many algorithms it picks what’s needed

Peppino Esposito

I dont think there is any way an alternator running off of the engine can keep up with a 160 hp electric motor going up a ten mile long hill in snow. Is there???

EvanZR1

We don't know yet for sure exactly what they are doing. Is it a 48V electrical system? If so, then yes, it could certainly provide enough to recharge a 1.9kWh battery. What we do know from one of the videos, is that in Charge+ mode it went from depleted to full in just a few minutes.