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Hybrid Vehicles Chevrolet Volt Will the Chevy Volt Succeed?
545 messages, Last post on Dec 02, 2009 at 12:57 PM
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Since the words "General Motors" and "success" don't seem to go together anymore, I have to make this point: the Volt can only "succeed" if the GM actually MAKES the car. Right now, it's all hype. Telling everyone in 2007 that you'll build a revolutionary car by 2010 means nothing. The Big Three have been playing this game since the 1950s. We're all hip to the scam now. The Volt project only makes me wonder how advanced electric propulsion technology would ALREADY be if GM had not scrapped the EV-1 project a decade ago. The people who "killed the electric car" are now telling us they're going to build an even better one ..... in a few years. Yeah, right. I'll believe it when I see it.
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Charging Up Still a big hurdle or two if Chevy is going to get the Volt to market by 2010 |
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Replying to: 1stpik (Nov 21, 2007 11:09 am)
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Replying to: tpe (Nov 21, 2007 5:05 pm) |
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..but it has a lot of hurdles to overcome in 2+ years. The vehicle was redesigned as noted in Inside Line this week. The battery technology ...and the supplier/subcontractor hasn't been chosen yet. GM is floating the trial balloon about leasing the batteries. ..to keep the cost down? ..to ensure against premature failures? ..to ensure against too rapid technological developments? The whole concept of plug-ins is still of questionable 'utility' for a large segment of the population ( park on the street in any large city? ) Beyond that evertthing is going smoothly...
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 23, 2007 3:47 pm) What's your point? No one is suggesting that everyone currently buying Accords and Camrys will suddenly transition to an EV. I personally have a garage and a place to plug-in an EV. I don't think that makes me all that unique, but I could be wrong. There is no single model of vehicle sold today that accounts for more that 4% of total sales. So apparently you don't have to appeal to everyone to have a marketable vehicle. The only question regarding the Chevy Volt is whether or not it will meet their 2010 timeline. There is no question in terms of its viability.
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Replying to: tpe (Nov 23, 2007 5:07 pm) Apartments in Anchorage have plug-ins for keeping the car warm. It is a natural for the Volt. |
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Replying to: tpe (Nov 23, 2007 5:07 pm) If however a PHEV has to be actually plugged in to get power then for those parking in spots where there is no ready access to a socket the PHEVs have limited utility. A vehicle for the fortunate suburbanites, the inner city dwellers be damned. This is a tricky market conundrum for the vehicle makers. Are these to be seen as a gift to the more fortunate while the less fortunate have to use older less fuel efficient technology?
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Replying to: kdhspyder (Nov 24, 2007 5:05 pm) The same thing can be said about the OVERPRICED hybrids. It sounds to me like you are making excuses for Toyota dropping the ball on the plug in Prius. Toyota touted the plug in hybrids in the EU. I saw so many posts here at Edmund's about the 100 MPG Prius it made me want to puke. Now that GM is pushing forward on a PHEV you are very negative about the practicality. Glad to see you have come over to my side that thinks ALL hybrids are only designed to take our money and give very little in return. EVs will someday help with the energy problems. The Volt may help the GM image as the Prius has done for Toyota. I would not hope for much more than giving GM a green glow. 'kept' just about anywhere, on the street, in a home garage, in a parking lot, in a parking structure, in a field, on the front lawn, etc. Not in Santee, CA you cannot. any vehicle has to be on pavement or concrete. No parking on gravel pads or dirt is allowed by city ordnance. Vehicles are not supposed to be parked on the street for more than 24 hours. That is not very well enforced. |
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We're not negative on the practicality of an electric vehicle. We're just negative on the idea that GM will ever make one. Or, should I say, make one by 2010 (as promised) and at a cost of under $30K (as promised) that has a useful range ..... you get my drift. Even if they put a base price of $29,900 on the thing, it'll be $35K by the time you drive it away, which makes it cost prohibitive from a gas savings payback standpoint (unlike a hybrid). Look at the 2008 Malibu -- base price $19,900. But the one in the commercial says $26K in the fine print. That's a lot more than my Civic Hybrid cost, and I know it doesn't get these kind of mpg readings: http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40031 http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37754 http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35956 My hybrid took $3,000 extra from me (vs. regular Civic price), and gave me $2,100 tax credit, plus $60/month in gas savings. BTW, I financed the entire purchase price  2.9%, so we can skip the "If you put that $21,000 in a CD paying 6%" scanario. Hybrids give plenty in return, and the giving gets more plentiful the higher gas prices go. So far, GM only gives promises of an EV, or PEV, or whatever. As I've said before, I'll believe it when I see it.
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