Would you buy a Chevrolet Volt?

[Hills]

"When it comes to plugging in, the Volt will be designed to use a common 110–volt household plug. For someone who drives less than 40 miles a day, Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions.(2) For longer trips, Chevy Volt's range-extending power source kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack as required."

"As of April 2008, General Motors Vice Chairman of Global Product Development Robert Lutz was quoted as saying that the realistic unsubsidised price had risen to US$48,000,[11] that he reckoned that US$40,000 might be possible, without making any profit, and that only government tax incentives could take the price tag nearer to US$30,000. When asked directly about the price later, Lutz indicated that this was a misquote - and said "The answer is that we don’t know."[12]"

http://www.chevrolet.com/electriccar/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Volt

[dawtcalm]

I don't drive <40miles a day, so no.
IF I did, and let's assume the price is $42K, I would consider it, I like the look of the car so far...
http://www.autospectator.com/cars/files/images/X07Chevy_Volt_Conc_front.jpg
http://www.gm-volt.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/int.jpg

[ES_Revenge]

I don't drive <40miles a day, so no.
IF I did, and let's assume the price is $42K, I would consider it, I like the look of the car so far...
http://www.gm-volt.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/int.jpg

Wow that interior is horrid. I mean I understand they may be trying to make it look "futuristic" but I don't want to go on a space mission while driving!

I'd consider it, if the price were lower and it were more practical. Which of course means that I'd consider future electric vehicles, but certainly not the "first ones out of the gate". (Yes I know there have been different electric vehicles before but none were really that "serious" at replacing gasoline cars before.)

[RedRooster]

I would if it was way cheaper.
It'd take a LONG time to recover the costs through not buying gasoline over buying an efficient little gas commuter car. A 20K Yaris or a 40K Volt, 20K in gas savings would never come for the life of the car.

[fratello25]

I don't get it. If you're trying to make it as cheap as possible, why not take an existing car and simply modify it to run on electricity? Why spend all the money on R&D for a completely new car, driving up the cost to $48K, when you know that the car will only sell in small numbers until it is comparable in cost to a gas car. It's almost as if Chevy is intentionally trying to make the car expensive, meaning that people won't buy it, which then justifies sticking with IC engines.

Personally, I would love to have an electric car since for the most part, it suits our driving needs. But there's no way I'll be paying that much money for it, and I resent having to pay for for their pseudo-Jetson-rocketship look when I'm perfectly happy with the Optra look.

[roguechameleon]

I drive less than 40 miles a day, so this would be a great commuter car for me.... unfortunately, in order to afford it I would need to get a second job.

[TheCheez]

I would consider a 2nd or 3rd gen model if the price comes down.

They need to be in the same price range as compact/midsize hybrids to get mass market consideration and even those are a bit jacked up.

[roguechameleon]

Wow that interior is horrid. I mean I understand they may be trying to make it look "futuristic" but I don't want to go on a space mission while driving!

That looks like the concept... not the actual car.

[ES_Revenge]

That looks like the concept... not the actual car.
Well yeah, there is no actual car yet right?

[SkiD]

I don't get it. If you're trying to make it as cheap as possible, why not take an existing car and simply modify it to run on electricity? Why spend all the money on R&D for a completely new car, driving up the cost to $48K, when you know that the car will only sell in small numbers until it is comparable in cost to a gas car. It's almost as if Chevy is intentionally trying to make the car expensive, meaning that people won't buy it, which then justifies sticking with IC engines.


New technology (especially game changing technology) is not cheap (there will not be a $20,000 fully electric Corolla available anytime soon). I would suspect about another 10 years for electric to go mainstream and 20 years before a majority of ICE vehicles start to disappear.

The Volt isn't entirely new (platform is based on GM's next gen global compact car chassis - delta II) and a lot of the engineering (electric steering, low power accessories, regen braking, etc.) will be useful in the rest of GM's lineup (especially if they all go BAS+ & 2-mode hybrid to meet CAFE regulations in the states).

In the end, if GM's gamble works, we could see the number of car companies lessened in the future because only the largest will have the resources to build this type of vehicle (unless GM and Toyota license out their tech to others).

[Engi-Nir]

The vehicle platform is a carry over, delta II, and the engine will be a 1.4L turbo, another carryover from their global cruz(cobalt replacement), most of the extra time being spent is on the new battery, making light car components, and making the car work.
Without the battery, the car will go 50MPG with the 1.4L turbo. With the battery and engine, the car will get about 150mpg (give or take.).

My only comment,given ~50mpg on the 1.4L, screw the battery, reduce the cost to 20K and sell it early next year. 50MPG is doable because of the reduced curb weight.

[johnsa]

I would buy a Volt at the 30k price point as it matches my needs ideally...looks/performance/short distances...I doubt they will be available in Canada until about 2012...

[blibbertibs]

The interior looks like a disco party.

No, I wouldn't buy this ugly thing.

[VivienM]

I don't get it. If you're trying to make it as cheap as possible, why not take an existing car and simply modify it to run on electricity? Why spend all the money on R&D for a completely new car, driving up the cost to $48K, when you know that the car will only sell in small numbers until it is comparable in cost to a gas car.

Because they've learned from the Prius' success and the Accord Hybrid's failure?

(Most) consumers don't buy these things to save gas. They buy them to rub their environmental-friendliness in their neighbours/coworkers/etc's faces. If the ONLY visible difference between your funky eco-vehicle and the regular gas burning version is a tiny little "HYBRID" badge and some different wheels, you can't do that.

[fratello25]

Because they've learned from the Prius' success and the Accord Hybrid's failure?

(Most) consumers don't buy these things to save gas. They buy them to rub their environmental-friendliness in their neighbours/coworkers/etc's faces. If the ONLY visible difference between your funky eco-vehicle and the regular gas burning version is a tiny little "HYBRID" badge and some different wheels, you can't do that.

Good point!

[mr_raider]

(Most) consumers don't buy these things to save gas. They buy them to rub their environmental-friendliness in their neighbours/coworkers/etc's faces. If the ONLY visible difference between your funky eco-vehicle and the regular gas burning version is a tiny little "HYBRID" badge and some different wheels, you can't do that.

Plug-ins, the new 323i?

[gordholio]

I'll be surprised if the Volt ever hits the market. How many people are going to fork out $30,000 or $40,000 for it?
Back in the 80's or so when GM put out another electric car, some people did buy it, but the price was not so unrealistic.

[D-3vil]

Because they've learned from the Prius' success and the Accord Hybrid's failure?

(Most) consumers don't buy these things to save gas. They buy them to rub their environmental-friendliness in their neighbours/coworkers/etc's faces. If the ONLY visible difference between your funky eco-vehicle and the regular gas burning version is a tiny little "HYBRID" badge and some different wheels, you can't do that.

I agree with your points ... and yet the Civic Hybrid is in high demand (and it only features a hybrid badge, not even unique wheels)

[ifeature]

I think the plus 40 grand price is the most risky part of the car. At say 28 grand these things would be flying off the lots. At 40 they'll still sell. But not nearly at the same volume.

[ES_Revenge]

I'll be surprised if the Volt ever hits the market. How many people are going to fork out $30,000 or $40,000 for it?
Back in the 80's or so when GM put out another electric car, some people did buy it, but the price was not so unrealistic.

Not only that, those are US "estimates" on price too. A car that's $30-$40k in the US is gonna be like $50-$60k in Canada, LOL. Good times.

Though I like the idea of the Volt, I can't take it very seriously yet. Wait 'till it's released (if ever) and see what happens in the years after that with both GMs additional offerings in the segment as well as other manufacturers. Oh yeah and the fuel prices too. I mean if this is like another 70s fuel "crisis" by the time these cars start coming out, if fuel prices drop later, the Volt may turn out to be the next EV-1...

Out of curiosity, and forgive my ignorance about hybrids here, but isn't there a way to make current hybrids do something similar by preventing the engine from ever running? Someone on another thread mentioned a kit to allow you to charge a Prius on home AC power--wouldn't that accomplish the same thing?

[Bullseye]

Out of curiosity, and forgive my ignorance about hybrids here, but isn't there a way to make current hybrids do something similar by preventing the engine from ever running? Someone on another thread mentioned a kit to allow you to charge a Prius on home AC power--wouldn't that accomplish the same thing?

Yes, plug in hybrids;

http://www.wheels.ca/reviews/article/256058

Volt-killers, for sure.

[amplified]

I have my doubts for a few reasons. 1) Demand for electricity is increasing at an exponential rate, if we start driving electric vehicles where is this extra electricity going to come from? coal? how would that improve anything environmental wise. 2) Where are all these batteries going to go and how much will they cost to replace? 3) Will GM survive long enough to produce this thing and if they do, will they have scrapped the project in favor of something more economical from a company prospective?

Good concept, but I feel GM will fail miserably with this project.

[B0000rt]

I have my doubts for a few reasons. 1) Demand for electricity is increasing at an exponential rate, if we start driving electric vehicles where is this extra electricity going to come from? coal? how would that improve anything environmental wise. 2) Where are all these batteries going to go and how much will they cost to replace? 3) Will GM survive long enough to produce this thing and if they do, will they have scrapped the project in favor of something more economical from a company prospective?

Good concept, but I feel GM will fail miserably with this project.
1) Well Quebec can leverage their Hydroelectric and other provinces will have to ramp up production with alternatives, such as Nuclear, Wind and Solar. These vehicles will be charged during the night time for the morning/daily commute or taxi duties during the day, so I don't see it encroaching on power consumption as much as you think it would. America is in a shitfart for this though, but I don't think it'll initally have an impact on power consumption, but it will be a driving force to the Nuclear Renaissance

2) Good question, there will have to be a infrastructure setup to recycle them, but not to worry, if there's loads of money to be made, people will develop their own ways to do it.

3) The state definitely intervene before it will allow GM to go belly up, so fat chance in hell that will happen,..

[ShadowVlican]

they need to lower the price dramatically

the people who can afford $40K cars aren't likely to worry about gasoline prices

only tree-huggers would buy this car

[B0000rt]

they need to lower the price dramatically

the people who can afford $40K cars aren't likely to worry about gasoline prices

only tree-huggers would buy this car

Well, don't you think Americans would jump all over this?

'Supporting' the American economy and the 'environment'

[bobby5]

If it's selling in Canada for $60k, I might as well get an SUV for $30k , and save the other $30k for gas :D

The govt needs to chip in, or/and the car industry should think long term, rather than their stock prices for next quarter...

[VivienM]

3) The state definitely intervene before it will allow GM to go belly up, so fat chance in hell that will happen,..

I think you're misreading US politics.

Democrats HATE GM for making "gas guzzlers". They like Toyota for making Priuses and Corollas.

Republicans HATE GM for having a well-paid unionized work force in Democrat-friendly states. They like Toyota because Toyota has plants in their states, and they're non-union.

So, if BOTH parties want GM to fail, WHO is going to bail out GM?

[VivienM]

Well, don't you think Americans would jump all over this?

'Supporting' the American economy and the 'environment'

Americans don't care about "the environment", as demonstrated by... lots of things.

Americans ALSO don't care about supporting the American economy, as demonstrated by i) their ever-increasing love for foreign cars, and ii) the lack of American companies in a lot of fields, e.g. consumer electronics.