anyclearer, you are forgetting that most American aren’t interested in details. So they categorize all Hybrid cars together, and judging from the price point, the Volt will lose, especially when the Prius, Insight and Fusion all have been around for a while to prove reliability. With the Volts, that is an unknown for the first few years. More buyers care about getting from point A to point B, the mpg, and maybe to save the environment at the same time. But not many care about the “new” technology.

Tesla’s are cool because they are pure EV without the added weight of a backup generator and its supporting systems. As battery technology matures all roads will lead to the direction Tesla has chosen but until that time it’s not practical for most folks.

I wouldn’t worry too much about Tesla’s margins on new Roadsters and presumably their sedan. There will be plenty of opportunity to make additional money when upgrading the obsolete battery systems. That is, if Tesla is around long enough to see that day.

Anyway, my only on-topic comment is this: on plugging in during peak hours: Someone said that all the EVs would be plugged in at night, I think that is incorrect. Most people are home from their 9-5 job at what – 6 or 7pm? And what is everyone doing at that time? Watching TV, using the internet, cooking, lots of lights on, etc.

Also one other thing, someone said that the generator would recharge the batteries. I didn’t get that impression from the reading. While that is how a normal hybrid works, it sounds like the gasoline engine (”generator”) in this car will only allow it to continue running. Am I wrong?

GM is getting the durability out of its battery pack by never discharging into the deep cycle stores. This is much easier on the battery. I have heard that when it registers a need to recharge, it still carries about 50% of its capacity. This will keep the range unchanged even several years and 100K miles down the road.

Once the battery is depleted it still will carry a significant charge. It may just not be useful to power a vehicle. I heard a great idea discussed that these “used up” batteries can be used as supplemental power stations in homes. Just think, put a trickle charger on these with solar cells in the day, and low voltage trickle charge at night with off peak power, and you have a significant power backup that can be used during peak demand periods taking strain off of the grid. Or, can be used in emergencies when power lines are down.

I think GM is thinking way ahead with this. I just hope the car ends up being a good vehicle otherwise this will all go down and it won’t matter.

One of the things is that I believe you should really work out how suitable the car is for you. Specifically, on the average day, what distance do you drive? Also, it’ll be are you willing to change your driving style, and can you afford it…If it doesn’t suit, then don’t buy it!

Nothing worse than seeing a Prius driver who doesn’t know how to drive their car.

@ Bankruptcy2009 – I think there was a documentary about how GM killed the electric car (a while ago) – David Letterman brought it up with Lutz and he said something about battery technology… I think that documentary reveals other more ‘alternative’ suggestions about why they killed the EV.

http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/17/news/companies/ford/index.htm

Bankrupt,the tech for these current vehicles was not available 15 years ago. Heck 6 months ago Toyota was telling the world that GM was risking customer death because Li-ion batteries were not ready for prime time yet. BUT as we all know it looks like GM is right on schedule for the Volt.

What false rumors is GM putting out about Ford or Chrysler? help us out here.

What automaker is promising 100 miles on a charge? Please name ANY OEM that will have a normal sedan that is promising this. And 100 miles is not enough unless you have a backup powetrain.

Battery Life: GM’s Volt is being readied for 10 years or 150K miles of battery life. Does Tesla claim this?

Charging: The video states that Volt can recharge in 3 hours with 220v and presumably 6 with 110. how quickly does Tesla Charge.

Range. Tesla does claim 200 miles on a charge but there can still be range anxiety. With Volt, there is never range anxiety.

Price: right now Tesla is about $100K for the roadster and they claim $50K for the upcoming sedan. Volt may be $40K and $32.5K after the rebate.

I think these questions should always be address when ever comparing GM’s Volt and Tesla’s 2 cars. In my opinion GM and Tesla have taken 2 approaches but it is clear to me that both have leapfrogged Insight and Prius.

#1, the Volt doesn’t NEED to be plugged in for it to run. Plugging it in benefits you by allowing you to run without gas for 40 miles. But if you don’t plug it in, you will still get great gas mileage and the internal generator will charge the batteries while you drive. So for those who wonder about people who live in apartments, they won’t NEED to plug it in. It’s just better if they do. That’s all.

#2, it took Toyota over 10 years to sell 1 million Prii world wide. There are over 100 million drivers in the US alone. Less than 1% of drivers in the US drive a Prius, even though they are everywhere. It will most likely take another 10 years before we get anywhere near 5% of cars being plug-ins and EVs. The power companies have plenty of time to update their grids and make them able to handle the “extreme demand” of EVs. I believe we won’t see a serious impact of the power grid caused by EVs for 20 to 30 years. By that time, who knows?

I wish GM had this idea like 10 or 15 years ago like the impact and really brought the damn thing to market it would have sold. @ that time I parked a 2 brand new Volvo’s in GM’s Livonia Michigan proving Grounds and guess what next too. An Impact! tiny little thing, but I bet that dog gone thing would have sold immensely if they were serious about it.
For all the GM bashing I do Ladies and Gentlemen it is MUCH Deserved. GM folks are busy putting out false rumors especially about Ford and poor Chyrsler not to mention the imports.

You call everything else A **** Box unless its a GM product, and if its not that it sucks. I swear you have the biggest Beavis and Butthead Fan base going which is not a good thingcompliment.

But back to the Chevy Volt nice concept;however, Tesla has the S Electric sedan promised to deliver 300 miles on a charge – Its suppose to cost 50K. I mean for 10K more why would’nt I want to spend 40K for a car that has two motors more maintenance down the road and will do an 1/8 the range of the Tesla S Sedan. There is my point. GM Get Moving. I fan never been a fan of yours but if you have a remote sense of ever pleasing me. It will be in really do the electric vehicle correctly.
You should be saing if Tesla a small start up can get 300 Miles for a sedan. Are engineers will shoot for 400 to 600 miles on a single electric charge. Get it Done!

After seeing the prototypes GM could almost sell Voltech CRUZEs and do well by them. Kudos, GM

The CRUZE seems up to the task of being a good compact for GM as well. Looks very good, seems to ride well. I’ve sworn off four-cylinders so I may never know first hand. Still, mas kudos, GM.

I think if it’s interior is unique and it really can be “bought” after everything for $32-35k the Volt will sell. It’s uniqueness will allow it to overtake the Prius as the green car for the stars. Unfortunately it should be coming out now, not next year.