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Hybrid Vehicles Chevrolet Volt Will the Chevy Volt Succeed?
544 messages, Last post on Oct 28, 2009 at 1:11 PM
You are in the Chevrolet Volt Forum. Your Host is pf_flyer
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http://www.freep.com/article/20081203/BUSINESS01/81203081 WASHINGTON — General Motors Corp. will press a Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid prototype into service Thursday on Capitol Hill, where GM Chairman Rick Wagoner will use a prototype to emphasize the company’s technology. GM spokesman Greg Martin said Wagoner will drive a prototype Volt wearing the sheet metal of the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze to the Senate committee hearing on the company’s request for $18 billion in emergency loans. How much does this help the Volt? Does it not help that it will be a Volt in Cruze's clothing?? |
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http://blogs.edmunds.com/greencaradvisor/2008/12/november-hybrid-sales-plunge-as- -gas-prices-fall-credit-tightens.html Sales of hybrid cars and SUVs took a worse beating than the industry as a whole in November, plummeting 50 percent from a year earlier and off 24.8 percent from October This is part of the reason I have trouble seeing the Volt as a savior for GM. I don't see throngs of people flocking to buy a $40,000 vehicle. Now to look on the brighter side, the declaration that the recession started in Dec 2007 could be looked on as good news as the average length of a recession is about 14 months, putting us closer to turnaround times. It doesn't take much to start the emotional pendulum swinging. If it starts being reported or projected that there IS a light at the end of the tunnel, the mindset of consumers will start to change. Will be interesting to see how specific GM's plans are as far as when they see a return to profitability. |
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I know they're saying that it's full steam ahead on the Volt, but doesn't reality slap them in the face and say that the first thing GM needs to do is get the business under control before they start making a $40,000 car that frankly is going to have limited appeal to the general car buying public?
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Dec 24, 2008 10:26 am) This could still be a significant number of customers. While GM used information indicating that ~80% of people have a 40 mi. or less commute to work, does anyone have a more targeted criteria that might take into account how many folks might have access to a recharge station or how many might be be expected to have an income that would allow them to afford this vehicle. I would speculate that a significant portion of the population live in apartments/condo's, without access to a plug, and without sufficient income to afford the vehicle. I think it's more likely that folks with sufficient funds and access to a plug (garage) probably have a longer commute, meaning that GM could increase it's target audience by having a greater electric only range battery as an option.
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Replying to: michael2003 (Jan 27, 2009 6:38 am) Maybe the next generation does have options for larger batteries. The trade-offs in cost for this probably don't work at the moment. Most families have two or more cars. If the option costs less than say $7k...it will probably make financial sense as well as foreign oil or greenie sense.. http://www.cleanmpg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16769 |
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| The price is a little high for some but I could have saved a lot of money in gas as neither the wife or I drive more than 20 miles one way most of the year. A few trips to see the kids and a vacation would be the only times 99% of the time. I had my heart and pocketbook set on the Volt but not if it isn't built in the U.S. Most Big 3 employees won't buy a non UAW made car and let me tell you we buy a lot of cars. | |
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$40K is more than a little high for a vehicle of limited range that, despite claims that it will suit the needs of a large portion of the population, simply isn't going to be a practical vehicle for most of us. Anyone who has kids that do anything is not going for a Volt. Picking up from practices, running around to games and activities, there's no way I could use an electric vehicle with limited range. And I'm certainly not going to shell out $40K for a second car to use it as a grocery getter. It may be fashionable to be gung-ho on electric vehicles, but enthusiasm alone doesn't make them practical.
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Feb 15, 2009 7:21 am)
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Replying to: pf_flyer (Feb 15, 2009 7:21 am)
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Replying to: corvette (Feb 15, 2009 8:09 am)
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