would you buy the volt

Yeah or they could slap a Caddilac badge on it and make it the new "CTS hybrid". Then charging more for it wouldn't be that big of a stretch for them. But it would destroy the idea of having it as an accessible fuel efficient car in their fleet... I guess we'll have to see what the final price tag is..

 

The price allegedly is going to be upwards of $40000 MSRP, I'm guessing at about $39000-ish. There seems to be a good chance that the initial buyers will gain a $5000 tax credit ( subject to AMT ). A little pricey but not too out of sight.

In my personal situation neither the Volt nor the Prius PHEV would be of much use, I drive too many miles, so neither would be of interest - at least not at $35000-ish when I can get a 'traditional' Gen3 Prius for about $25000.

Concerns:
1) .. GM
2) .. Will GM ( or Toyota ) be able to warrantee the Li-Ion pack for 8-10 yrs?
3) .. What kind of power will the vehicle have after the charge is depleted and the ICE is essentially running the vehicle?
4) .. I'm spoiled by the Prius hatch design. How useful will a 4 seater be?

 

I have to go with a reluctant "NO" on this one.

It's not that I don't like the concept, but if I put a little reality around it:

1. We are talking about a car that is not in production yet, and there seems to be some concern about whether it ever will be.
   
2. I don't really see cars as "disposable". I just bought a Prius. This car is going to be good for quite a few years longer.
   
3. The Volt is, lets face it, pricey. Given that and GM's reputation, I think if I were going to go there, I'd save my pennies and buy a Zenn.

All of that really kind of "hurts" because I really would like to support the American auto industry in their attempt to finally, just maybe do something that doesn't consume copious amounts of gasoline. However, GM doesn't seem to making it easy for anyone to get behind them.

If I really find myself with $15K (the approximate difference between MSRP for a Prius and the guess at the Volt's price point) burning a hole in my pocket I think I'd look into putting solar panels on the house. OK, not that I see it likely that I'm going to be in that boat in the next two years (I'll count myself lucky to get through the current financial crisis with only a few scrapes and bumps) but I guess I can dream.

Now, if the Volt's price point was positioned so that it was more of a lateral move from a Prius, that'd be a different story. Unfortunately, if the Volt does make it into production, I think it may be the victim of simple rotten luck. By the time it comes to market, the "other shoe" is going to have fallen, our economy is going to be anywhere between "the floor" and "the basement" and no one is going to have the money to buy a green car that's priced more like a luxury car. Unfortunately, this also spells trouble for things like the Zenn, but at least they've got a few out on the road and have some chance of weathering the storm.

 

Based on info available today, I'd have to say no. And that kills me, because I'm a big PHEV/BEV believer. I just think GM has gone way too far off down the wrong path in a vain attempt to "one-up" Honda and Toyota. The conspirist in me has to wonder if thats intentional, what better way to prove that there is once again no market for electric vehicles than to build one no one wants/can afford. I also have almost zero faith in GMs ability to pull this off and be well implemented and reliable.

Rob

 

if the battery remains the property of gm and we don't actually own the battery, would we care about the battery warranty? seems to me that gm would just switch out batteries for us

 

No:

1. Price too high
2. First gen sure to have bugs
3. Don't like its look
4. Waiting for Plug-in hybrid minivan

 

Not a this time. The price is way too high and I would want to wait until it has been on the road for a couple of years. With GM's previous realiablity record I would sure want it on the road for a couple of years. With the new Honda Insight coming out in April I will purchse that for my wife. If will be 2-3 K cheaper than the Prius. Still a question as the the MPG. I have read all kinds of estimates some as high as 62 MPG. Not sure what the final outcome will be but it should at least be in the ballpark of a Prius.

 

Actually, by following nearly all the journalism (good and bad) a coherent story emerges:
1) GM trys to figure out a PR campaign to blunt the Toyota Prius halo
2) GM does a lot of research in what the ideal "green" car should be. The result is the true series hybrid with a decent electric only range (~40 miles)
3) GM takes a studio model of generic new low rider design and pitches as the Volt.
4) GM gets more attention than planned. (GM-"and after the Volt here is the next super SUV." Reporter-"Screw that, tell me more about the Volt").
5) GM's SUV market implodes, leaving the Volt as the only car anyone is reallY interested in. Period.
6) GM's bluff is called.
7) ????????

 

I doubt we would get the Volt over here, but my 2 pence worth echoes most of the opinions expressed here so far - no I wouldn't buy it.

I think Bob Lutz has all the ammunition he needs to say the Volt is a no-go eco EV........... all he has to do is get fed this thread; there's enough home truths in here to use any way he wants.

Mind you I think it serves GM right for squandering the EV1 opportunity they had. Now they are making a baby dinosaur which will be almost extinct as soon as it breathes it first lungfuls of electricity and gas. The competition will almost certainly leapfrog GM on price, performance, quality, eco friendliness, technology etc etc etc.

Shame really, GM could have been a contender if they didn't have their heads up their *ss pretending all was right in the world.

 

Fair comments, but I have a question about #4. Would a plug-in hybrid station wagon serve your need?

I've never liked vans and especially not minivans. A station wagon should be able to add an extra row of seating without incurring the aero drag coefficient and increased frontal surface area (double whammy) of a van/minivan/SUV. Weight should be similar or slightly less than the other three types.

 

I've owned both wagons and vans. I like vans better. Roomier, easier to get kids in and out. A minivan that can get at least 40mpg would suit our needs just fine. Any better mpg would be gravy.

 

No.. I wouldn't buy one.

But I do agree that a petrol/electric system is the way to go... That's why trains went desiel/electric..

The trouble is the reliability of the Lithium Ion battery packs.. Toyota are considered the "leaders" in the hybrid market and they are not considering Li-on batteries for the new Prius due to reliability and safety issues.

If GM plan to let the Li-on run to a very low SOC then it'll be knackered out in a couple of years... It's all well and good if GM are leasing the battery packs to offset the user replacement costs but who want a car that could die on you after a year or 2 ?

Not to mention the waiting list that will develop with regards to a replacement battery!

I'd prefer a Prius with a much larger killowatt hour battery pack (double or treble the power) with a plug in option.
As in, plug it in if you want to, but not a requirement like a Hymotion series battery system.

My ideal option would be a Prius with a petrol/electric (series hybrid) system.

A typical deisel/electric train does not have an traction batteries.. it's straight from the generator.. which is fine on a flat track.

It's a shame the current level of battery technology does not really allow this as a deep discharge combined with a rapid charge kills batteries pretty quickly.

Maybe a Prius series hybrid with batteries and super capacitors would be the way to go. The Super caps would be able to charge quickly and provide a slow charge to the traction battery and also provide quick bursts of power to the wheels when needed.

I thnk the future is not one or the other.. but a mish mash of several technologies.. batteries, series hybrid and super capacitors..

 

I have to agree with ( Faith2walk) comment #19. GM,FORD & Chry. all thought trucks were their big money makers. They felt there was too little profit in small cars well look at them now. The dealer lots are full row upon row of trucks , people are out of work , plants are closing down. I hope they made enough money with their trucks for the brass to feed themselves . Toyota had the vision if you can't sell trucks reconfigure the plant to build the Prius, don't lay anyone off and pay them for training classes. BUY American lets see built in the USA by Americans sure beats built in China,Mexico ect. WOW that feels good getting that off my chest. SgtTip

 

I cannot answer the question because, even assuming that I am wrong and they end up selling it:

1. We don't know what it will cost;
2. We don't know how far it will go on electric;
3. We don't know what its performance will be;
4. We don't know what the MPG will be for extended trips;
5. We don't know what the build quality will be;
6. We don't know what the handling will be like; and
7. We don't know what other cars will be available when (IF!!!) it finally hits the showrooms.

If there's no other plug-in car available and if I have not bought an EV conversion in the mean time and if the quality is good (very doubtful with GM) and if the EV range is great enough (below 40 miles at freeway speed, no; above 60, yes; in between, maybe) then and only then would I buy it.

Considering the likely answers to all the above, my answer is probably not.

 

No, Toyota has a problem with their supplier of Li-ion batteries. They won't use other manufactures of batteries, and at least A123 has already proven that their cells will hold up to PHEV & EV use. Tesla has also proven that with their BMS their supplire of Li-ion cells are also ready.

The primary thing that presents a barrier right now is the cost.

They are not. Stop spreading FUD. BTW, your Prius battery could die any day now, aren't you worried?

More FUD.

What's the point of spending a lot of money on a big battery if you aren't going to charge it up from the grid? BTW, you aren't required to plug the Volt in, if you don't, you'll simply run the engine most of the time, just like you do in the Prius right now.

OMG, you've described the Volt!

:lalala:

 

unlike many who have responded, i rather LIKE the looks of the VOLT they rolled out last week (?) ... i like its looks MUCH more than the VOLT that GM has been showing us all along.

still ...

at the presumed MSRP starting / base (?) price of $40,000 the VOLT, quite simply, is WAY out of our league!!! add to that the customary "fees" and such -- including the 7% sales tax we'd have to pay in Indiana -- and we'd be looking at a car costing about $15,000 more than the Pkg #3 Prius we just bought ... and THAT price, for us, was quite a stretch!

so, the short answer is no ... we would not buy a VOLT ... and, just because of its price, i imagine neither will hundreds-of-thousands of Americans who -- if NOT for the price -- would probably LOVE to "buy American" and own one ........

 

You won't be able to buy the Volt, just lease it... silly...

How else can they get rid of those damn vehicles when this fuel efficient and green fad passes?

 

No problem, GM has it all planned out. See attached photo.