Everything You Need to Know About the New Chevy Volt

You are missing the point

Those of you who are complaining about the price of the Volt should realize what a technological advance this car represents. Correct me if I am wrong, but please point me to any other production car that can go 40 miles without a recharge!

The battery alone is a technological advance, not to mention onboard systems that use less electrical power.

Every new technology comes on board with high initial costs, and then the prices can come down over time.

Perhaps GM should consider what Honda is doing with their fuel cell vehicle, the Clarity. Because the price of the vehicle is so high, they are not selling it, but offering it by lease only. Eventually, the technology will be refined and prices will come down.

Walt of NJ @ Sep 18, 2008 11:20:23 AM

$40k

Now what do I do about my neighbors hooking up to my power line at night in the city and stealing my power hehe

UrbanPrep of NY @ Sep 18, 2008 11:17:22 AM

The Chevy Volt Will Make Its Numbers, but it's Imperfect

I did my own calculations based upon 25% use of the gasoline engine, and came up with just south of 50 mpg, which is hardly better than a Prius, which will cost 60% as much.

Nevertheless, GM is to be applauded for making the first plug-in that can be somebody's only car, and for that reason alone, it will make its sales numbers handily.

Improvements are coming, just as they did with flat-screen TVs and laptops. A Tesla will run almost 200 miles on its battery, with a lot more power than the Volt. If this is feasible now on a limited-production vehicle, it will be in the mass market in years ahead. And those cars and trucks need not look like geekmobiles. So we can be sure that future plug-in hybrids will get over an effective 100 mpg with far more power, as the gas engine will be rarely used.

I'm no tree-hugger, am a global warming skeptic, and drive BMWs (which get excellent gas mileage themselves), but the Volt points the way to the future for all automakers.

Dan Silagi of NJ @ Sep 18, 2008 10:35:49 AM

What

$40k and 3 years late. And GM wonders how they got in trouble. Rick needs to take a trip, especially if us taxpayers bail them out.

of @ Sep 18, 2008 08:45:49 AM

I love the notion how Americans think they are individuals. Most complaints of this car are boring, repetitive, and cliched. Look people, the car goes 40 miles (covers most daily commuters). We have global warming, terrorism, and a screwed-up economy that are all much influenced from energy issues. This car is one attempt to solve those problems. It's not perfect. There is no perfect answer.

Get your head out of simple interpretations of what is attractive or not attractive. Get your minds thinking of better policies to solve our larger problems. Do you have kids? Think of how your squabbling isn't going to help them.

Yes, it's expensive. New technologies are. They come down in price in time. That's how it works. You can buy a car like this later. Maybe you didn't have a microwave or VCR when they came out, but now you probably have more than you want.

MIke Lancer of WA @ Sep 18, 2008 01:05:11 AM

same as it ever was.....

I view this "revolutionary" car just like everyone should...Do the math on an average tank of gas being over $40 a gallon vs. the price of the car! I suspect that if the books were to be examined that GM is filtering government monies for this project elsewhere. That's not fantasy on my part (just look up other such ventures that got caught). As per usual, the things the feds should be doing as far as protecting us against gas gouging etc. is being covered up by this sort of nonsense. I feel that solar and such is possible but not until all the parties that hold interest in the gas game are gone from the scene. As an example, look at the tobacco thing (and I am a smoker). The companies get huge fines and then the prices go up for products (to "curb" the kids from smoking is the "official" reason) but if you look close, up until recently a LOT of the house members and above owned stock of some kind in tobacco. Now see how of those types are connected to the oil industry....

same as it ever was....

musclemccoy of LA @ Sep 18, 2008 00:28:49 AM

What about battery life?

Despite to high cost. How long will the batteries last?

More importantly how much will it cost to replace them?

Only Chevy car shops and certified garages will be able to work on the vehicles batteries.

How much is the labor going to cost for a certified mechanic?

I might be able to pay that price in a few years if the economy gets better and I can move up in my company.

But battery replacement costs...$5000....$10000...the public needs these numbers!

John Q. Public of MA @ Sep 18, 2008 00:10:57 AM

Price

I think Price killed the Chevy SSR, a vehicle concept I really like but could never see buying with that price.

Now again comes a great original concept from Chevy but this electric car is giving me sticker shock.

Dan of MI @ Sep 17, 2008 23:17:35 PM