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...

[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...

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!