Monday
Mar072016
by
Bishop Hill

Stupidity signalling


Everyone has now heard of "virtue signalling", the idea that words are uttered or actions taken simply to demonstrate membership of the group of "right-thinking people". Taken to its extreme, however, virtue signalling becomes "stupidity signalling" and here we have a truly epic example in the shape of the EP Tender, a trailer containing an electric generator, which you tow behind your electric car on longer trips.
Speechless.
Reader Comments (106)
'It is stupidity beyond belief ....' - ImranCan
True. The trailer shouts, for all the world to hear, "I shouldn't have bought this damn car in the first place."
Gamecock:
Propulsion on a volt is COMPLETELY due to the electric engine. The Volt has an onboard gas engine generator which exclusively exists charge the battery. This is different from a plug in hybrid, but I believe this is exactly what is being accomplished with the trailer generator. Please explain what I am missing.
James
You are mistaken, James.
http://gm-volt.com/2015/02/20/gen-2-volt-transmission-operating-modes-explained/
anonym
"no auto manufacturers support the thing at present"
Funny, that. It must destroy the aerodynamics of the EV, too.
Gamecock:
Aha! Now I see. The original voltec gas engine produced electricity to drive an electric engine, but the gen 2 voltec gas engine can be used to drive the car directly. I was not aware of the gen 2 change. I guess I should have said this Renault is more akin to a gen 1 Volt.
Thanks,
James
Not really, James. You were tricked by Chevrolet marketing.
http://www.motortrend.com/news/unbolting-the-chevy-volt-to-see-how-it-ticks/
'Yes, Virginia, the Chevy Volt’s gas engine does turn the wheels.'