The Chevy Volt

[insidethe8thpol]

Just a few days after the engineering team behind the Chevrolet Volt triumphantly rolled out the production version of its much-anticipated car for journalists to test, the folks in marketing followed it up with folk music, break dancing, and what looks like a few rejects from a 1986 high school production of the "Pirates of Penzance".





They did this dance every hour during 10 days of the car show in LA

[insidethe8thpol]

Now this car will cost $40,000. Here is an interesting read:

base the math on gas at $2.65 per gallon, average miles per year of 12,000, Highway fuel economy from the EPA, and current MSRP and published price of the Volt.


Chevy Volt vs Honda Civic DX sedan auto trans
MSRP for Volt $40,000 Civic $16,925
Estimated fuel economy Volt 230/gal Civic 36
Fuel used per year Volt 52 gallons Civic 333
Fuel savings by driving Volt $745 per year
Number of years driving Volt to break even on added cost 31
That's right, you would need to drive the Volt for only 31 years to make up for the added price you paid for it. I know what you're thinking, nobody drives the same car for 31 years. What you should be thinking is that the battery pack in Hybrid vehicles is designed to last 5-7 years. Since I have no idea how much the Volt's batteries will cost but do know how much they are for a Toyota Prius ($5,000 dealer cost). Lets do the math again. Also, the Prius is much closer to the price of the Civic.
Toyota Prius vs Honda Civic DX Sedan. Both auto trans
Msrp Prius $23,300 Civic $16,925
Fuel economy Prius 45 mpg Civic 36
Fuel used per year Prius 266 gallons Civic 333
Fuel savings by driving Prius $177 per year
Number of years driving Prius to break even 36
Sure makes sense to me to drive those hybrids. How about you???

[insidethe8thpol]

I remember watching 60 Minutes (hey, beck & hannity werent on !! ) and I believe in California there is a guy who was trying to get GOVT money to build an All Electric car that would only cost in the lower 20's and they refused him.

Anyone else read/know about this ??

If I am correct, it was a mid size sedan and he had like a few thousand or more on back order.

[husker]

i saw a long time ago that gas has to be about $5/gallon to make hybrids (about $5,000 more than the same gas car) economical. they are just treehugger feel good cars at current prices. all this doesn't include having to replace the batters.

[husker]

I remember watching 60 Minutes (hey, beck & hannity werent on !! ) and I believe in California there is a guy who was trying to get GOVT money to build an All Electric car that would only cost in the lower 20's and they refused him.

Anyone else read/know about this ??

If I am correct, it was a mid size sedan and he had like a few thousand or more on back order.

The Race For The Electric Car - 60 Minutes - CBS News

[Spark]

All I do know is that they better install some type of noise that you can hear from the outside on these damn battery operated vehicles ... almost got run over the other day in a parking lot by one of them .. it was snowing and winds were 35mph+ ...

I most likely would have knocked it over but it scared the crap out of me .. the damn thing was right on top of me and I did not hear a thing ...

[husker]

Just a few days after the engineering team behind the Chevrolet Volt triumphantly rolled out the production version of its much-anticipated car for journalists to test, the folks in marketing followed it up with folk music, break dancing, and what looks like a few rejects from a 1986 high school production of the "Pirates of Penzance".





They did this dance every hour during 10 days of the car show in LA

this has to be one of the stupidest promotions i have seen. what can you expect from government motors. when will the next bailout be?

[flarendep1]

All I do know is that they better install some type of noise that you can hear from the outside on these damn battery operated vehicles ... almost got run over the other day in a parking lot by one of them .. it was snowing and winds were 35mph+ ...

I most likely would have knocked it over but it scared the crap out of me .. the damn thing was right on top of me and I did not hear a thing ...

Good thing you had reflectors on your wheelchair

[insidethe8thpol]

Good thing you had reflectors on your wheelchair

All the cops found were a couple of pink painted spokes










Sorry Spark

[ctt8410]

Now this car will cost $40,000. Here is an interesting read:

base the math on gas at $2.65 per gallon, average miles per year of 12,000, Highway fuel economy from the EPA, and current MSRP and published price of the Volt.


Chevy Volt vs Honda Civic DX sedan auto trans
MSRP for Volt $40,000 Civic $16,925
Estimated fuel economy Volt 230/gal Civic 36
Fuel used per year Volt 52 gallons Civic 333
Fuel savings by driving Volt $745 per year
Number of years driving Volt to break even on added cost 31
That's right, you would need to drive the Volt for only 31 years to make up for the added price you paid for it. I know what you're thinking, nobody drives the same car for 31 years. What you should be thinking is that the battery pack in Hybrid vehicles is designed to last 5-7 years. Since I have no idea how much the Volt's batteries will cost but do know how much they are for a Toyota Prius ($5,000 dealer cost). Lets do the math again. Also, the Prius is much closer to the price of the Civic.
Toyota Prius vs Honda Civic DX Sedan. Both auto trans
Msrp Prius $23,300 Civic $16,925
Fuel economy Prius 45 mpg Civic 36
Fuel used per year Prius 266 gallons Civic 333
Fuel savings by driving Prius $177 per year
Number of years driving Prius to break even 36
Sure makes sense to me to drive those hybrids. How about you???

Civics and Corollas are definitely more economical right now than the Volt or the hybrids, but how many people drive vehicles other than those? How about a cost comparison between an H2 and a Prius?

[insidethe8thpol]

The Race For The Electric Car - 60 Minutes - CBS News

I thought I heard it was in the 20's for their 4 door. It is 60k for it.

[flarendep1]

Civics and Corollas are definitely more economical right now than the Volt or the hybrids, but how many people drive vehicles other than those? How about a cost comparison between an H2 and a Prius?

Also, the cost to replace batteries in these hybrids need to be factored in. That is a 2 to 3k cost.

Maybe he already did.