newr

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/auto...-for-a-hybrid/

Stage3

iTrader: (3)

I think the Volt is just the product of a hype machine. It's numbers aren't anything 'out-of-this-world' and it's EXPENSIVE... Even with the $10K government rebate. The more I read the auto "magazines" view on the car, the more I think it's just a marketing baby. Car and Driver, Automobile, and Motor Trend jizzed in their pants when they heard an American car manufacturer might be making the vehicle that saves us from the evil Oil companies. It's a step in the right direction, but I honestly think that it'll be yet ANOTHER flop to come from GM. I see the Leaf being more successful than the Volt.

lamar411

Once all the hype for the Volt is done, everyone will really take a look and see how useless it is.

JDKane527

iTrader: (10)

American marketing, as seen here also:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/car...t-of-hate.html

Hype up America's hybrids and downplay other foreign hybrids...which are better.

pbm317

That's if you look at it as a hybrid. But, for most commutes, people will be able to run their Volt solely on battery power. Meaning they'd never use the gas part of it (only when the Volt turns it on every so often to keep the fuel going through). Only when you normally go into extended range would it kick into the semi-hybrid mode.

I for one think that the Volt is a pretty substantial accomplishment and one that is definitely going to change the way people think and accept plug in technology.

I think the Volt will run over the Leaf at this stage of the game due to its extended range capabilities.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

they'll sell a few volts to the true believers but it makes no sense economically.

LexFather

Good article. Going to be interesting what these first few Volt owners say on forums

mmarshall

Well, if the Volt normally sells at $41K (notwithstanding the inevitable early-production dealer mark-ups, of course), and Uncle Sam gives you a 10K credit, you're still talking 30-31K.....which is about what you'd pay for some versions of the top-level Phase V Prius. And keep in mind that the Prius may also qualify for tax credits as well.....maybe not the full 10K, as for the Volt.

If it were my money, for the 31K you'd spend for a Volt or a top-line Prius V, I'd look for a lower-equipped Lexus CT hybrid instead (for several reasons) and just accept (maybe) a few less MPG.

mmarshall

Meaning that, if you don't run the car far enough or let the battery-pack charge get low enough, the gas engine might not (?) run enough to even keep the oil warm and the fluids circulating. That, of course, can lead to engine wear/corrosion damage from non-use. A gas engine cannot simply sit all the time. It has to run to keep its innards lubricated, free of corrosion, anti-freeze coolant warm, and moisture/contaminents out of the oil system. I hope that the Volt's designers have come up with some kind of automatic gas-engine-on feature at certain intervals, even with a high battery charge, to keep that from happening. And most hybrids, of course, use an electric heat-pump compressor for the climate control so that you have heat or A/C when the gas engine is off.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

Yes the Volt's engine is programmed to come on periodically to keep everything healthy, even if the batteries don't need any charging by the engine.

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

The 1st batch of Volt owners will love every single thing about it, it is the best car ever made in the history of man kind. Because they are all fanboys

jadu

iTrader: (42)

fanboys exactly... overrated car of the year

BNR34

iTrader: (1)

There are tons of novelty lovers in this world. Even the worse car ever made, the Smart Fortwo, found a tons of buyers in the 1st year. Sales is now completely dead after all the fanboys bought one.

vipism

Hybrids and electrics will always be about economics, the balance of the cost of fuel vs the cost (or payments) of the car.

the cost of driving a small hybrid is giving up the enjoyment of a luxury car experience. the gain of a hybrid is the savings in gas. these two forces have to make sense. If the cost of a hybrid is too high, it will take longer to make up for it with the savings in gas, this in return, the longer you have to be little tiny, dorky looking box. The cheaper the hybrid, the faster you see your net savings and the more willing you will be to sacrifice luxury for practicality, which translates to $$$.

LexFather

What were sales goals?